Random Showcase - The Odyssey

In the beginning, the islands of Thylea were populated only by harmless plants and gentle animals—the flora and fauna a reflection of the nurturing spirit of the Mother Goddess that sacrificed herself to create them. A virgin paradise, the Forgotten Land was kept safe from the perils and evils of the outside world by the giant Kentimane of the Hundred Hands—Thylea’s lover and protector. And together, the two were content. But one day, the tree at the center of the islands—the transformed heart of the Mother Goddess herself—blossomed with seven strange fruits. Each the size of a boulder, they shimmered and pulsed with vibrant, shifting colors, almost as if alive. Seeing the tempting bounty sprouting from the branches, Kentimane reached from the ocean and plucked the fruit. His fifty heads gorged themselves on the succulent flesh, tearing and chewing until all that remained were seven spike-covered pits, which he tossed into the ocean.

Instead of sinking, the pits floated on the waves, bobbing up and down. Offended by their taunting presence, Kentimane seized each pit in a clenched fist, squeezing so hard the spikes bit into his flesh and drew blood. Howling in rage, Kentimane slammed the pits down beneath the water, burying them deep beneath the muddy bottom of the ocean floor. But the next morning the pits floated back up to the surface. Before Kentimane could seize them again, the pits burst open and the children of Thylea and Kentimane sprang forth into existence. The hundred-handed god stared in wonder at his offspring: eight Titans born from the fruit of Thylea’s tree, fertilized by the blood of Kentimane himself. Each of the first six pits had incubated a single child blessed with a different attribute drawn from one of their parents: Strength; Beauty; Wisdom; Craft; Prophecy and Swiftness. As these six Titans grew from children into adults, they became demi-gods, each representing the aspect of their parents they most embodied. However, from the seventh pit two Titans were born: Sydon and Lutheria, twin brother and sister. Sydon embodied his father’s raging fury, and as he grew he became the God of Time and the Lord of Storms. His sister, Lutheria, inherited her mother’s stillness and calm... but without Thylea’s compassion or gentleness, she would eventually become the Goddess of Death and the Lady of Dreams.

But all this was far in the future, and Kentimane did not foresee what his offspring would one day become. He could not imagine the strife and suffering the Twins would bring to the peaceful islands. If he had known, he might have drowned them on the spot. But instead, he scooped up his children from the waves—including Sydon and Lutheria—and placed them gently at the base of the great Heart-Tree rising up from the center of the island, where Thylea could watch over them. Having deposited the children in the warm bosom of their mother, Kentimane returned to the sea and resumed his eternal vigil, bound by his sacred vow to keep Thylea—and now also their children—safe from the outside world.

Thylea is one of the The Ancient Titans. She is the namesake of the Lost Land. She takes the form of a gargantuan tree on an island at the heart of the Cerulean Gulf, and her followers believe that her roots reach deep into the earth, binding the world together in an eternal embrace. Thylea is believed to be a generous, life-giving goddess. The Druids of the Oldwood believe that her will is communicated through the changing of the seasons, rather than through words. Long winters, for example, signal her displeasure; long summers are a sign of her approval.

Her symbol is the eternal golden ash tree

Piety

Earning and Losing Piety

You increase your piety score to Thylea when you expand the titan’s influence in the world in a concrete way through acts such as these:

Turning a wild field into fertile cropland
Feeding those who are starving
Defending a farm from monsters
Building or restoring a temple to Thylea

Your piety score to Thylea decreases if you diminish her influence in the world, contradict her ideals, or undermine her civilizing influence through acts such as these:

Destroying a settlement’s food source
Releasing and scattering domestic animals
Diverting a water source needed for irrigation
Starting a fire that threatens a settlement

Rank	Piety Needed
Devotee	Piety 3+
Votary	Piety 10+
Disciple	Piety 25+
Champion of the Harvest	Piety 50+

The storm relented. Light broke through the clouds, spilling down onto the marble pediments and wet paving stones of the city. Dazed citizens beginning to emerge from their homes. Before long, the silence that came after the storm is replaced by a wave of sound as thousands of citizens started clapping and cheering. Cries of “The Heroes of Thylea!”, “The Chosen Oness” and “Peacebringerrsss!” could be heard. As The Heroes of Thylea and the Gods recovered there was a wooshing noise, King Acastus riding Icarus in the sky, surveying his domain. The Dragon roared and headed back to the castle. Everyone helped each other on their feet, Talieus taking the opportunity to explain how he thinks the New Dragonlords are a force for good to Tryntia. She told him that her ire was not directed to him but againt King Acastus, the descendant of Estor Arkelander.

The chosen ones headed back to the King, where they were praised and given a map leading to the legendary Ultros as a reward. The party raised some concerns that some of his closest advisors were allied with the Titans but the King explaiened how important to peace was keeping a balance between all the factions in the city. The King showcased a keen understanding of what makes people tick. However while he spoke he revealed that the Ultros was captained by bandits which rang false to the heroes. They kept quiet about it but it was noted. As he finished his speech he dismissed the heroes and wished them well on their journey out of his city. As the heroes were leaving they were intercepted by the Queen's bodyguard Makhaira who informed them that the Queen wished to speak to them. The heroes promised they would but set to securing lodgings first. Taran, a powerful noble descended from Adonis Neurdagon himself offered his house to them for no cost. While his guards seemed similar to the soldiers that served the Temple of Sydon, his hospitality was impecable and they were invited to a feast in their honour. Before this was done however, Praxos called a team meeting, to discuss the heroes next steps. Much talk was had, around the reappearance of Dragons and all the events they had seen so far.

After this talk they headed to meet Queen Vallus. They saw the Queen being extremely busy, tending to the administration needed to rebuild the city. She warned them not to trust her husband and suspected him sending them to the Ultros was expected to end in their death. He was not always such a paranoid man but she admitted that he had trouble sleeping and seemed distrubed by something. She does not know from where he obtained Dragons All that withstanding, she admited that the ship needed to be rercovered if the heroes wanted to venture to the sea. To that end, she asked the heroes to come straight to her when they retrieved the ship as if the public was made aware that it was THEY who reclaimed the King would have to honour that and not claim The Ultros for himself. Additinally, the Queen asked them to do anything they could to help the city and spread the word of the five. The ritual that they cast to dispell the storm had left all of them euxhasted. Things like damaging the reputatyion of the Titans temples or looking into the flooded sewers would all help.

In the end she revealed information that could help the heroes such as the location of one of the old flying fortressess of The Order of the Dragonlords which could be found in the Garden of Unknown. She said that while he thinks himself as a god he is a vain and foolish creature. The garden of Helios is found under the constellation of the chariot with the heart tree being under the constellation of the heart. Finally she warned them to beware Sydons and Lutherias children, known as the The New Titans.

The heroes then went to The Academy of Mytros where they engaged in debate and sought knowledge. Their day ended in the feast at Tarans where they were asked to elimintae Unknown for a large monetrary amount and perhaps future funding of their expedition. He explaiend that her activities were extremely damaging to the cities prosperity and slowed down the rebuilding needed to be done. Sullas, Tarans song tried to use the heroes influence to secure an audience with Vallus who he wanted to seduce but when that did not appear achiavable he asked Euryale out. To everyones suprise she agreed and they would meet at the great gardens on the morrow.

In essense they now need to discredit the temples of the twins; fix the sewers; reclaim the Ultros; romance Sullas; travel to the heart tree; find the garden of helios; find the dragonlords’ flying fortress; deal with the lady of coins for Taran; find the island of Helona; head back to the island of Themis; find the lotus witch; find the seers; defeat or reason with the twin titans, and probably a lot more.

Pasteli at first, glance seems a simple yet tasty snack. However, it has a significant spot in Thylean culture as honey is considered one of Thylea's greatest blessings and its abundance has saved myriads from hunger. Traditionally, every piece is cut in a diamond shape and then placed in a lemon leaf but on the road, travellers will often carry a large slab and break off pieces when needed. Nowadays it is often served at weddings, baptisms and social events. The Temple of the Five will give some to any who ask, no matter their circumstances.

To make it, you just need the same two ingredients that have been used for millennia: honey and sesame seeds. The quality and taste of the honey will have an effect on the final product. Pasteli that has been made using ingredients found on the Heart Island is said to provide enough nourishment to sustain a creature for a whole day and even heal small wounds. This recipe calls for an optional lemon peel to give the pasteli a light hint of citrus. You can omit it, but the lemon flavour adds a bit of zing to this treasured treat. One variation you might try is adding some crushed nuts to the mixture or, lightly toasting some of the sesame seeds to add a roasted flavour.

Ingredients

1 1/3 cups honey
3 cups white sesame seeds (hulled)
Optional: 1 strip lemon peel (about 1/4 x 1 inch)

Steps to Make It

Gather the ingredients.
In a stone pot, bring the honey and lemon peel (if using) to a boil. Add the sesame seeds, stirring continuously. Continue to cook while stirring to mix completely and thoroughly. When the seeds are fully mixed in and the mixture has boiled again, remove the pot from the heat. Remove the lemon peel and discard it.
Place a piece of baking parchment on a cool work surface and spread out the hot mixture thinly and evenly (about 0.635cm deep).
When the pasteli cools to room temperature, leave it on the parchment paper (it doesn't need to be covered) preferably in a room with good airflow. Let it chill for at least 2 to 3 hours.
Once the cooling is done use shears to cut the pasteli together with parchment paper into small pieces, and serve. Alternatively, transfer each piece on a lemon leaf for that added flavour.
To eat, peel off the parchment paper/lemon leaf. Store in a container such as a sealed vase or stomach bag.

Enjoy!

Ah, the tritons. Imagine if the elves spent a few centuries far beneath the sea, where their arrogance and pretension could grow undisturbed. At least the tritons spent that time fighting sahuagin and worse, so you know you can count on them in a fight.
— Brego Stoneheart, sea captain

Tritons guard the ocean depths, building small settlements beside deep trenches, portals to the elemental planes, and other dangerous spots far from the eyes of land-bound folk. Long-established guardians of the deep ocean floor, in recent years the noble tritons have become increasingly active in the world above.

Aquatic Crusaders

Centuries ago, tritons entered the world in response to the growing threat of evil elementals. Tritons waged many wars against their enemies on the Plane of Water, driving them into the Darkened Depths where they escaped into the crushing pressure and utter darkness. In time, the tritons noticed that their ancient elemental foes had grown quiet. Expeditions to the depths revealed that krakens, sahuagin, and far worse foes had fled the Plane of Water for the Material Plane.

The tritons, driven by a sense of duty and responsibility, would not allow their foes to escape so easily. A great conclave of tritons chose volunteers skilled in weapons and magic as part of an expeditionary force to enter the Material Plane and seek out their enemies.

Those tritons spread across the world’s oceans and established protectorates to watch over deep sea trenches, portals, undersea caves, and other locations where their enemies might lurk. They defeated their foes when they found them and drove the rest into hiding.

With their foes banished to the deepest reaches of the sea, tritons settled in to watch for any sign of their return. Over time, the tritons extended their stewardship over the sea floor from their initial settlements and built outposts to create trade with other races. Despite this expansion, few folk know of them. Their settlements are so remote even merfolk and sea elves rarely encounter them.

Haughty Nobles

As a result of their isolation and limited understanding of the Material Plane, tritons can come across as haughty and arrogant. They see themselves as caretakers of the sea, and they expect other creatures to pay them deep respect, if not complete deference.

This attitude might grate on others, but it arises from a seed of truth. Few know of the tritons’ great victories over dreadful undersea threats. The tritons make little allowance for such ignorance and are delighted to expound upon the great debt others owe them.

Tritons also have a tendency to emerge from their isolation under the assumption that other folk will welcome them as respected allies and mentors. Again, distance drives much of this attitude. The tritons’ limited view of the world leaves them ignorant of the kingdoms, wars, and other struggles of the surface world. Tritons readily see such concerns as minor events, a sideshow to the tritons’ role as the world’s true protectors.

Staunch Champions

Despite their off-putting manners, tritons are benevolent creatures at heart, convinced that other civilized races deserve their protection. Their attitude might grate, but when pirate fleets prowl the waves or a kraken awakens from its slumber, they are among the first to take up arms to protect others.

Tritons readily sacrifice themselves for the common good. They will fight and die for humans, merfolk, and other creatures without question. Their self-absorbed nature makes them overlook the history of other creatures, but they also endure a sense of guilt over allowing the evils of the Plane of Water to enter the Material Plane and threaten its inhabitants. The tritons believe they owe a debt of honor to the world, and they will fight and die to pay it.

At times their fervor and ignorance of the world can lead them astray. Tritons encountering other creatures for the first time can underestimate them, leaving the tritons vulnerable to deception. With their strong martial tradition, tritons can sometimes be too eager to leap into a fight.

Strangers to the Surface

Given their isolation, most tritons have never been to the surface world. They struggle with the idea that they can’t easily move up and down out of water, and the changing of the seasons mystifies them.

Tritons also find the variety of social institutions, kingdoms, and other customs bewildering. For all their proud culture, they remain innocent of the surface world. The typical triton protectorate is tightly regimented, organized, and unified around a common cause. A triton on the surface becomes easily confused by the bewildering array of alliances, rivalries, and petty grievances that prevent the surface folk from truly unifying.

At its worst, a triton’s arrogance compounds the tendency for the triton not to understand the ways of the surface world. It’s easy for a triton to blame baffling social practices on what the triton perceives as the barbarism, weakness, or cowardice of surface folk. While tritons pay respects to many gods, they tend to revere Thassa, god of the sea, above all other deities. Her devotees see her as the primary god of the pantheon, believing she will bring their people to ascendancy over the monsters of the sea and the poleis of the land.

Depths of Curiosity

Many tritons are intrigued by surface culture. The curious among them venture into sunken ruins and shipwrecks, sifting through the debris for whatever grabs their attention. Often these tritons develop collections of a specific kind of object or lore, trading with one another as they develop a sort of expertise in their field. Some tritons approach investigations of the dryfolk with scientific rigor. Such scholars often hold theories to go along with their collections, hypotheses many are eager to test upon meeting new dryfolk.

For a time the eight children of Thylea and Kentimane lived quiet and contented lives, sheltered on the islands spawned from the body of their mother. But, in time,contentment became loneliness. They were gods, but they had no purpose. Talieus The First, the God of Crafting, first born of the siblings, gathered his younger brothers and sisters together and proposed they create races of mortal creatures to worship and revere them. He would help each of them to create something of their own. Of all the Titans, only Sydon and Lutheria, his youngest siblings, refused: they were united by the powerful bond, and did not feel the empty loneliness of their kin. The other Titans created Centaurs, satyrs and nymphs, who quickly spread to populate the islands. Yala The First strove for beauty and grace and made the Nymphs. Chalcia The First strove for freedom and speed and made the Sirens. Goloron The First strove for wisdom in all things and created the Satyrs. It was not clear what Versi The First strove for but in the she created the Centaurs. Hergeron The First created the Cyclopses and Gygan, great giants capable of moving earth and stone to build massive temples in honor of Talieus The First and the others who had given them life.

Sydon and Lutheria regarded these new mortal races with contempt. They became bitter and resentful, and isolated themselves on the last uninhabited island of Thylea, where their hatred festered. Until one day. Lutheria approached Talieus, claiming she and her twin had grown weary of their solitude. Offering praise and flattery, she urged him to create a new race, one greater than all the others, to dwell on her island. Weakened by his sister’s adulation, Talieus did as he was bade and the Unknown were born. They quickly spread out from their isolated home, overwhelming and conquering the native species on nearby islands. The other Titans condemned Talieusfor creating such aggressive and dangerous creatures. Talieus, burning with parental pride, refused act against his newest children. It fell to Sydon, the God of Storms, to halt the Unknown’ advance. As they piled into their ships, he unleashed the fury of the sea, dashing their vessels to smithereens with howling winds, drowning them beneath the waves. Even Sydon could not halt their advance forever. The other Titans, fearful the Unknown would continue to spread, begged their father for help. Moved by the fears of his children, Kentimane used his hundred hands to gather all the Unknown onto a single island. Calling on the strength of Thylea herself, he bound them there with powerful magic so they could never leave and removed the island from Thylea itself.

As punishment for his foolishness and pride, Kentimane stripped Talieus of his power and gave it to Sydon. Using his older brother’s former power against him, Sydon bound Talieus The First and presented him to his sister and now wife as a gift. Lutheria took no pity on her helpless elder brother. She blinded the mighty Titan and sewed his lips shut, so he could never tell the others the truth of his downfall. Then she bound his power to her crystal scythe and forced him to wander eternally in the Nether Sea, dragging her throne-ship across the waves behind him by a great chain strapped around his neck. Seeing Talieus’ fate, the other Titans were horrified. Together they began plotting revenge against the twins, but Lutheria and Sydon were ready for them.