Chapter 1 - No Silent Secret

Astraea forces her eyes open, braving the spears of light that stab at her brain. She's been awake for twenty minutes, summoning the courage to tackle her hangover. There wasn't much urgency, no pressing engagements or responsibilities to attend to, but after twenty minutes lying on her backside she had gotten curious as to where exactly she had gone to bed last night.

Blinking away the haze she focused her eyes and found herself in a comfortable bed of moss surrounded by hyacinth flowers and low bushes.

She rose to her knees to greet her flower friends, her mild headache soothed by their scent. Who could feel bad when surrounded by the most exquisite beauty and utmost cheerfulness of the hyacinth?

Her revelry was interrupted by the galloping horse tearing around the corner, which nearly crashes into her as it barrels through the undergrowth. As the dust clears, Astraea calls out to the two of them:

"By the Gods! Are you two okay?"

Saya the centaur travels this path often in her patrols, looking for danger along the road that would threaten any of the good people in the area, but rarely finds anything. Until today, when the horse and rider round the bend, clearly hurt and exhausted.

As the horse and rider come crashing down, Saya gasps and rushes forward to see how she can help, "Are you okay?" she calls at the same time as the little satyr nearby.

Having decided to protect human settlements, Saya moves to the humanoid figure and looks it over to see if she can help in any way.

Astraea approaches the prone horse with overflowing compassion in her heart. She opens her being to the natural world, and her eyes see with the warm rays of the sun while her voice is softened by the gentle breeze wafting through the grass. Immediately she is by the horse's side, a reassuring hand placed on his neck.

"My dear four-legged friend, that was quite a tumble! Are you hurt?"

Astraea looks up to see the Centaur also so quick on the scene. Gratefully, she focuses on the horse knowing the weird masked rider is in good hands.

So far, Scylax's travels have been relatively peaceful compared to life on the wild grasslands of Oreskos. Now he's able to see firsthand how the safety of civilisation makes its citizens soft and complacent. Some travellers have at least the presence of mind to render assistance, but the majority simply stand around shocked and gawking. Nobody seems alert to the potential threat the rider's sudden arrival represents.

"Beware!" he roars, grabbing everyone's attention. "The rider may have been pursued. If you can fight, make ready and watch the road. If you cannot, make haste to Meletis and tell the guards. Move!"

Kalstios is still stewing. He's in a strange part of the continent that he's never been in before, the grasslands seem foreign to him, so different from the dusty plains of Phoberos but he secretly kind of prefers it. He never felt at home in the lands of the minotaur. His mind is however still preoccupied with the events a few days prior. When the band of pirates who had started to feel like friends to him, despite their natural predilection for random violence and carnage that should be inherent to Kalstios' own nature but for some reason isn't, decided to turn on him and throw him overboard along with his meagre belongings.

He closes his eyes, breathes deeply and listens for the sea. He had only known the sea for a short time, but it feels much more like home than anywhere he's ever been especially after the strange occurence that happened as he had already resigned himself to losing his young life at the bottom of the Siren Sea. He had heard the voice of a goddess, he was not in any doubt. She had called herself Thassa, and thanks to a few of his fellow pirates, he knew quite a bit about her. He had awakened on a rocky beach not too far from where he is now, his clothes tattered but with his belongings magically next to him. She had saved his life, no question about it, and for once in his life he was dedicated to a higher power. He has just been walking since, trying to reach the biggest city he can find, feeling a need to learn more about why he was saved...and maybe a way to satiate the rage burning just below the surface. Despite having rejected Mogis all of his life, the anger and bloodlust that legend says he bestows on the minotaurs is still very much present.

Once he got to the main road, he's just been trying to follow the steady flow of people, hoping they would lead him to a polis. Hopefully one not too hostile towards his kind. He's been attracting some looks, minotaurs doesn't seem to be common here and his shabby appearance probably doesn't help.

Suddenly a rider races by him, Kalstios only just getting out of the way in time. He sees the horse crumble to the ground just a short distance ahead of him, a centaur and a satyr rushes to the aid of it and the rider. A leonin starts to shout a warning for potential foes following after. Kalstios whips his head around and tries to scout into the distance.

What caught her attention was not the arrows, or the panicked horse but the mask.

Sarlyn had been walking trying to make sense of a map she had. She still had no idea where best to travel on her journey to track the returned. She had hoped people in Meletis could guide her. The triton wore her holy symbol openly, over her armour. She had tried a cloak to hide her aquatic nature, but found it made others more suspicious. In the end as no one tried to interfere with her service to Arethos, she did not care.

The mask though, she cared about that. Others who had also been travelling the road were starting to react as she reached up to her symbol. 'Stay back. They may not be what they seem' She calls as she moves over to look at the rider herself, ready to act if it was what the mask could indicate. A returned. Her mission.

She ignored the Leonin roars. If this was a returned, then that was what was important. Not the attacker. She could worry about that afterwards.

'He is not the only 'heretic'. Sarlyn doesn;t flinch as the arrow passes over her. This was it, what she had trained for. She raises her amulet. 'Let me guide these lost to where they belong' As she speaks she throw out her hand aiming at the returned who targetting her, firing a bolt of radiant energy.

Attacking folk who had done nothing to warrant it other than trying to aid a horse and its rider? They are in for a world of hurt. Saying a silent prayer of thanks to his new goddess for saving his gear as well, Kalstios draws his greataxe and goes for the nearest masked man.

Saya doesn't know what's going on, but she can't help but assume that anyone who'd attack innocents who are just trying to help must be bad people. She grabs her spear and charges forward, stabbing at the first foe that she can get to.

[Soundtrack for Astraea's Turn]

With Astraea's soothing of Photina so rudely interrupted, she sees the masked troublemakers barrelling down on the other travellers who have come to help. Ducking under the stray sling bullets, she screams out at the top of her lungs:

"You threw a rock at me? YOU threw a rock at ME? You THREW. A rock. AT ME?"

Her head clears nicely as her blood gets pumping and her lips spread into a dangerous smile.

"Hey! Ho! Let's GO!"

Astraea leaps to her hoofs and stamps into the fray. She draws her blade but recklessly leaving her shield strapped to her back. She charges at a foe that is engaged, using the distraction to find a weakness. All the while she sings!

"Hey ho, let's go
Shoot 'em in the back now
What they want, I don't know
They're all revved up and ready to go"

Scylax hefts his greatax and charges into the fray with a snarl, heading for the closest rider.

Scylax rushes the other figure, hoping to catch them unprepared.

Seeing them drop the triton, Kalstios goes into a rage and attacks the nearest opponent.

Astraea turns to the dude that knocked down the Triton in one hit and says "Woah, big spear. Compensating much?"

She darts in range, hurls a dagger at the man with the big spear and then pulls away again.

Kalstios calm himself down, the familiar shame that he normally feels whenever his rage subsides starts to creep in. He looks over at the fallen triton and looks to see if he can manage to stabilise her. But his clumsy fingers doesn’t do much to stop the bleeding. "Come on Thassa, this is one of your folk, my queen. Save her."

The first hurdle, she;d fallen. Taken out by that she was sworn to destroy. She had been sure she would be taking the returned's place for failure. There were s many questions she wanted to ask of the figures, what did they mean? Important, was that why she had been sent to travel?

Yet before the words could leave her mouth she was awake. In pain. She let's out a groan as she seens up, investigating the wound. Had Arethos stepped in? He normal did not interfere. Yet, eh other option would be Thassa, and while her people gave her some worship and gifts as the ruler of the seas, they were not beholden to her like most Tritons.

'The returned. They must be destroyed' She hisses at those leaning over her. 'I am fine, that is the important thing.' She looks around, trying to see sign of them.

Satisfied that their foes are dead, Saya turns her attention to the triton. When the woman opens her eyes, Saya breathes a sigh of relief, "It's okay, they're already dead."

Astraea plucks her dagger out of the Returned's eye and takes of the gold mask to see what kind of being is underneath.

"Let's see what kind of ugly we're dealing with here... "

Kalstios laughs, "Thassa you’ve done it again!". He then goes to investigate the corpses along with the satyr.

Scylax helps Sarlyn to her feet and checks that she can stand on her own.

"You called these 'Returned'. What does that mean?"

Kalstios pockets the mask, the silver and the shard. He looks down at the black-grey face or kind of face chuckles, "Ugly bastards...". He then walks over and searches the body of the rider.

'They are those who have escaped the underworld. In doing so they have lost their identity and who they are. It is my mission to send them back in Arethos's name' She lets the Leonin help her up. 'They are not truely alive anymore. Though I do no know why they were fighting one another.

"Wow, that's not something you see every day!" she replies to the Triton. "Wait, I saw that spear go right in your chest! How are you alive? And who are you all? You fight almost as good as I do (although my wineskin's empty)!"

She gives everyone a wink to know she's just razzing ya.

"My name's Astraea of the Skola Vale"

Kalstios doesn’t look up from rummaging through the corpse, "My name is Kalstios, the triton is surely alive thanks to the grace of Thassa, just like me. Does anyone of you know anything about pottery?"

Astraea finds that a strange question.

"Pottery? Not a lot, why do you ask?"

'Funeral masks.' She speaks as she looks over the bodies. 'They use the shards as currency, holding onto something they no longer have. That their own masks are gold, instead of clay, are what marks them as returned.

She looks over at the minotaur, and back to the wound. 'Perhaps it was Thassa, but it may also have been Arethos. While I still respect Thassa as a Triton, my own tribe pay more reverence to the ferryman. I..saw something. I do not yet know what to make of it.

'Sarlyn. Sarlyn of the Lethe Triton.' She finally registers the others are starting to share their names.

"Pottery shards as currency!? That's BRILLIANT! You could order a cup of wine and smash it when you're done to pay for the next one!"

Kalstios chuckles, "You’re funny little one". He looks at the corpses, "I don’t know anything about these...things...but why would they attack each other?". He looks down the road towards Meletis and points, "Are you all heading there?"

Saya bows as low as she can, "My name is Saya," she introduces herself, "And I am indeed headed to Meletis."

'Not all pottery. Just shards of clay masks. To them it holds meaning. Why they were fighting I do not know. I am travelling to Meletis yes, to find out were to travel next'

"Why use shards of clay when they have enough gold to make masks?" The leonin muses, then introduces himself. "Scylax, of the Swiftclaw. I also travel to Meletis."

"Meletis? Ugh, all those philosophers thinking and their sewers stinking. Oh wait a sec..."

Astraea opens her wineskin and turns it upside down. A last, lonely drop comes out.

"Yeah okay I guess I'm going to Meletis ..." she declares with a heavy sigh.

Kalstios pauses to try and process what just happened, "...tell me you guys just saw that...". He looks around and back down at the clay shard in his hand. He relays the message to the rest, "I wonder what would make one of these things be regarded as a heretic by the rest.... He slowly glances towards Sarlyn as if he expects her to have the answer.

"Woah, I'm glad you guys saw that too." Astraea senses something familiar about the text. She feels her hoofs rooted in the mud and draws from the strong and rich soil beneath her to jog her memory.

'That was..I do not feel good about involvement from Phenax He left where he should be, he is like the returned.

"Phenax," Scylax mutters, with echoes of the pride's elders and their growls of "meddling gods!" in his head. But in his heart, he feels proud and excited to have had another brush with the divine.

"Some great deception is afoot," he says to the others. "Take care. Things may not be as they seem... especially that mask."

"Yeah these masks give me the creeps. But ya know, greatness always attracts this kind of trouble. You know what else would be great? Selling these creepy gold masks in Meletis and splitting the cash! Hmmmm?". She looks for confirmation from the others at her plan, eager for some drinking money.

Kalstios looks around, "Hmm, could use the coin, as you can probably see I'm a little light on possessions. By the way, does the word 'Khea' mean anything to any of you?"

Scylax looks puzzled. "Who would be willing to purchase the death-mask of one who escaped from the Underworld? Surely that would incur the wrath of Erebos, not to mention that Phenax also seems to have taken an interest. The leonin do not revere the gods, but even we do not treat them so lightly."

Kalstios laugh, "Well, if no one is interested in buying them, we can throw them into the sea and gain Thassa's favour...it's a win/win really!"

Saya is thoroughly confused by the events that just occurred, but takes it in stride like the others seem to be doing, "Very strange things, indeed," Saya says, shaking her head, "But I am glad that we are mostly unharmed. I would be okay with burying them or giving them a sea burial. But I don't want to leave them here."

'You have already done well in Arethos's eyes as well. Forgive me, I have not thanked you all for doing my duty where I failed, and protecting me.'

Khea? Ugh is this one of those things the Druids were always trying to teach me while I was trying to pay attention to more important things?

Hmm... Khea? That doesn't sound familiar.

"Cool, let's hit the road. A Khea ... that's like a Meletian furniture store, right? Maybe these masks belong to them and they'll pay us to return them! Oh but first, let's free these beautiful horsies! Oooh, maybe one of them knows a thing or two!"

She helps Photina to his? her? feet (and maybe takes a peak underneath to reveal the answer to that little mystery), and casts Speak with Animals.

"Hi Photina! I'm Astraea, sorry about the accident back there! Are you okay? Who are these wierd guys riding you and where did they ride you from? Do you know anything about a Khea? Would you like me to let you go, or take you back to a barn somewhere?"

The red mare lied catching its breath the entire time the strangers had been fighting. Things seemed to calm down, but Photina was still too tired to get up.

Photina. Yes that name meant something once. She looked up at the satyr. "You're very kind. I'm tired...They chased me for a really really really long time." She closed her eyes, taking a couple more breaths. "They were scary. I'm thirsty." Another long few breaths. "You're much nicer than my last master. Can I come with you?" She begins to heave herself off the ground, and eventually stands.

Kalstios haven't been around much magic and is absolutely dumbfounded by the satyr asking the horse all these questions. "Uhhh...I...did you get hit in the head? It's just...you're talking to a horse..."

"A bull-man, talking to a goat-girl, asking why she's talking to a horse?" Scylax chuckles. "Truly, these are strange lands."

Astraea is too busy to notice the others comments.

"No problem Photina, you can come with us. We'll find a nice farm along the way for you maybe? Big cities are no places for an animal. Hey, does anyone have any water they can spare for dear, sweet Photina? "

Along the way to Meletis, if they come to a nice, spacious farm and the owners seem nice, she'll leave Photina in their care.

Kalstios looks uncertainly at Astraea, fully believing her to have lost her mind, "Sure...there there horsey...drink up". He lets the horse have some water from his water skin. "So...do you guys want to walk to Meletis together? I’m thinking it might not be the worst idea to have strength in numbers in case more of those...things...come by"

"Absolutely, travelling alone is B-O-R-I-N-G. Tell me all your life stories! Spare no details!"

Kalstios shrugs, "Eh, rejected Mogis, travailed the plains, became a pirate, got betrayed by my fellow pirates, got saved by a goddess...the usual really, how about yourself?"

'The masks, it may be best we pass them to a temple of Arethos or Erebos. ' She looks around at everyone. 'If there are more turned around, a group will be good' She looks back in the direction the riders came from. Part of her wanted to turn around and head that way, but sh was still injured and would have no idea where to go from a certain point.

'Arethos, I apologise for my failure, but please grant me the strength to try again.' As she speaks she holds the symbol around her neck, letting divine energy flow to her wound.

Astraea hangs on the edge of every word Kalstios says. Her usual flamboyance is replace with a rare moment of humility. "Wow, it takes a truly special person to go against the grain of the world like that and follow your heart and conscious."

But the flippant attitude comes back quickly. "Me? Oh you know, chosen of Nylea. Wasting my potential, they tell me but let me ask you this: if something is destined then you ain't gotta WORK at it, it's gonna happen no matter what right? So I'm just living life to the fullest while I'm on hold with the whole destiny thing. Technically exiled, but just for a while. More like a time out."

Astraea hears Sarlyn's comments and responds. "Okay, I get it. Don't want to catch a curse. Sigh, that would have been quite the score though. To the temple, yay..."

She watches as she knits her own wound as she invokes Arethos's name. "That was... amazing! What's your story?"

'It's not so much avoid a curse as avoiding displeasing Arethos. These are those who escaped from his and Erebos's domain, it will be good to discourage others doing the same.'

She looks at the satyr. 'I was raised in a temple of Arethos, and recently chosen to travel and hunt the returned. My 'destiny' as you would call it' It's clear she doesn't agree with how the satyr put it. 'It seems..I was brought back for a reason. If Arethos had a hand in that, it is even more serious. Though I feel I didn't not completely cross, which is an area he is more lenient in.'

"Wow you hunt these returned things? No wonder it came after you hard. Wait... You said brought back, did you just... die???"

Goosebumps spread over Astrea's forearms.

'No, I doubt I actually died Arethos does not easily permit the dead to return to the living. Still, something stopped me making that transition. She touches the wound at her chest. 'And yes it..seemed to have a reconfigure of this' She holds the holy symbol up.

"Good-bye! I'll miss you!"

Astraea waves to Photina as they depart. The rest of the journey she's quiet, a little forlorn even. But begins to change when they get to the gates of Meletis.

"Not sure if it's too late, but let's dump these creepy masks off at the temple before we get that curse Sarlyn was talking about" which of course Sarlyn wasn't talking about but once Astraea gets something in her head it's hard to get it out again.

Astraea strides up to the gates.

"The mask was the focus of an omen from Phenax. I think we should seek guidance from his temple first."

""Fine by me ..."

Astraea will peak longingly in the windows of every feast hall, tavern, and tap house along the way, but she does want to get rid of these masks for sure.

Kalstios seems cautious about the idea of going to the temple of Phenax. The whole 'devotion to a god' thing is incredibly new to him and the rules are uncertain. "Maybe we need to know what the inscription says first...what if this temple are bad guys...besides my goddess wouldn't approve of me fraternising with other gods after she saved my life". He keeps an eye out for a temple of Thassa as well.

"Wait, Phenax? Thassa? I thought we were taking them to Temples of Atheros or Erebos? Ahh, whatever you guys think, it's fine, let's just get it done."

'It would not do good to walk into Phenax's temple and admit we killed some of his followers, even though they deserved it. An Arethos temple may know what the fighting was about. It does good to study your enemy.

Scylax nods at Sarlyn. "That sounds wise, and you know the gods better than I. We shall do as you say, and take them to Arethos."

Kalstios is still a bit hesitant, but he agrees for now to go to the temple of Arethos. The experience of being a god fearing creature is new to him and not very pleasant

Astraea pats Kalstios on the shoulder - or tries to at any rate, hits more around the elbow region.

"The gods are totally fickle, Kalstios. You can try to live your life in strict accordance to the rules, but the earth is still going to quake and storms are still gonna blow. I'm not saying you should try to break the rules, but every ounce of energy you spend tiptoeing around the rules is one less ounce you spend on being glorious.

Besides, you already forsook the god of slaughter, I mean DUDE that must've taken some bronze cajones! If any deity is gonna blast you to bits, it's gonna be the Mogis."

You make your way to the region of the city near the waterfront, which takes a bit of walking. The streets are soon filled with lamplighters, and an orange glow fills the streets.



You soon come up on the Temple of Silence, devoted to Athreos. At first glance, it resembles a rotting cathedral, but you soon realize that the "rot" is actually part of the intentional architectural design. The tall pillars are only designed to appear falling apart. Several torches stand at the bottom and top of a tall staircase leading to double doors. To Sarlyn, this reminds you of home. To everyone else, this place feels like death and the grave.

You make your way up the stairs and through the large, wooden doors. Once inside, you are met with a large open chamber that is dimly lit. Near the doorway is a large desk. A dark-skinned human woman sits there, reviewing a large leather bound tome. When you enter, she looks up, and then closes the book. "Good evening. How can I help you?"

Kalstios considers Astraea's words, "Mogis is a warrior, I am a warrior, I like my odds with him...but what kind of man would I be if I turned my back on Thassa after she saved my life? My life is her life now..."

Walking into the temple, his uncertainty spiral into new heights. "These are the priests that we're seeking help from?"

'Good Evening' Sarlyn nods her head. 'I am a fellow servant of Arethos. We encountered and defeated some returned on our way here' She gestures towards whoever is holding the masks. They were acting strangely. Two were fighting another. We wondered if you had more knowledge into the infighting?

The woman's face lights up when she sees Sarlyn. "Well I'll be. We don't get too many of the Lethe around here. How very nice to meet you." She looks you up and down. She then straightens herself out. "My apologies, where are my manners. I'm Nanrella Mind, and I'm one of the scholars of Athreos here in Meletis."

She looks at the masks, and her brow furrows. "Returned fighting each other. Hmm...that's not unheard of." She holds out her hand, asking to see them. "May I?"

Kalstios hesitates and the cautiously hand over the mask from the dead rider. He mumbles a silent, clumsy prayer to Thassa. "Oh Thassa, you great sea goddess, please don't...err...strike me dead".

Nanrella takes the masks and inspects them.

She smiles at Kalistios. "Don't worry, big guy, Thassa and Athreos both take issue with Phenax's...mischief." She looks up after looking over Varyas's mask. "Did you notice this etching here? It look like some sort of cypher." She traces her fingers over the etching for several seconds, then stops. "Wait...Khea?" She looks up at you. "Where did you say you found this? Why would Khea's name be on this mask?" She looks at the group, and realizes the lot of you may be from out of town.

"Khea is a local sage here in Meletis. Have you never heard of her?" She looks over the other two masks, notices they don't share the same etching, and places them on the desk behind her. She holds Varyas's mask out, handing it back to Kalistios. "If Khea is involved in some way, I feel that she'll want to be informed." She turns back to the other masks. "I have no idea how to read that, but Khea might be able to decode it. As for these other two...I'd only be speculating."

Kalstios smiles back uncertainly, "If you say so lady.... He observes her as she studies the masks, upon hearing that Khea is a person in town, he smiles relieved. "So...she's not connected to another god then? PERFECT! LET'S GO! Thank you!". He starts to march out of the temple in a brisk walking tempo, clearly happy to escape without angering his deity. He suddenly stops and sheepishly walks back, "Erm, and where can we find this Khea?".

Nanrella smiles. "I recognize that look, friend. The life of devotion can be...confusing. I myself have found that the gods can be fickle and difficult to pin down." She waves you back, pushing herself up onto the desk and sitting on it. "You are unlikely to convince Khea to speak with you tonight. You've been on the road. Won't you come in and rest a moment?"

At first blush, Nanrella was dignified and formal, but you quickly sense a level of matriarchal empathy in her eyes. "I personally found Athreos to be my home. A singular focus to guide those who find themselves between worlds is comforting. Thassa in particular seems to look down on the other gods. However, even she should be able to understand we mortals' need to work together toward common goals. I think she often plays the long game."

Kalstios sways a bit on the spot, undecided as to what he ought to do, finally the weariness of his journey wins the battle and he nods, "Thank you miss, I guess a short rest won’t hurt anyone. Thank you for your hospitality". He looks around as he thinks about something to say, "So...nice temple you got here...what can you tell us about Khea?"

"Khea is a bit of an enigma, honestly. She's entirely refused to be a part of the usual beurocracy of Meletis, instead desiring to pursue her own studies. She's one of the most respected experts in the city on the history of the Gods, honestly, and I know it pisses off the big wigs that she won't join them."

Scylax doesn't know exactly what "bureaucracy" means, but he gets the general idea.

"How foolish," he snorts. "Scholars should have peace to pursue their studies, not pressure to get involved in business or politics. These Big Wigs of yours should heed the wisdom of experts when it is offered, and otherwise leave them alone."

Finding the place altogether creepy and unnatural, Astraea avoids the spotlight. While Nanrella is explaining the masks, Astraea tries to angle herself in a non-conspicuous sort of way to see what the leather-bound tome on her desk is.

After a bit more conversation, Nanrella smiles. "Well, listen, I'm going to finish up my work here. If you're new in town, I would suggest the Prancing Pegasus for a place to rest for the night." She points at Sara. "They even have accommodations especially made up for centaurs, which I hear are some of the best in the city for the meager price."

She takes the two remaining Returned masks. "If you're in the market to sell these, we have a policy to purchase them for 50 gold each. Keeps them off the streets and out of the hands of troublemakers."

"Prancing Pegasus? Now that sounds like a jolly places for a pint and a pillow. Thanks lady!" she says as she counts the gold coins.

"To the inn!", Kalstios starts to stomp towards the exit only to circle back, "And thank you for your hospitality, may Thassa keep your swims free of seaweed..........TO THE INN!", he stomps out of the temple.

Kalstios hasn't felt this refreshed in a long time. An actual bed can do wonders. He walks downstairs, humming to himself and walks up to the counter. "Good morning madam, good sir, what do you serve for breakfast? I'm famished!".

Kalstios thinks it sounds a little light, but he orders two. "So...anything happening in the city?", during his time with the pirates he quickly learned that inn and tavern workers tend to know most interesting things happening in an area.

So it had been Arethos who saved her. As Sarlyn wakes she lies in bed considering the dream. He had been pleased with her, even after she failed in her task and needed to be rescued. For that she was grateful, but wondered if she was really deserving. That morning she spent longer her her prayers, thanking the god and affirming she would try not to let him down.

She walks downstairs to spot the Minotaur is already there. She nods at him, looking around the room. She hoped they served fish, she still was unsure trying other cuisines.

Waking up from her dream, she declares half-heartedly "I gotta lay off the drink!" She stumbles to her feet and gets herself presentable.

She strides out into the open courtyard, stiff from sleeping in one of those cursed human beds (eventually she just gave up and slept on the floor). She walks up to Sarlyn and Kalstios and takes a seat while flagging down a server.

"Hey guys, it's great to see you again. You guys want to kept following the trail of this Khea? It's been mighty profitable so far!"

Scylax enters the common area from outside, his fur steaming in the cold air. Slightly out of breath from his morning run, he grabs two plates of scrambled eggs from the bar and heads over to join the others.

"Ah, you're finally up! Yes, Khea - I'm curious to see where this leads, so I'd like to come with you, if you don't mind?"

"Great! If we find a fletcher along the way I'd love to top up my quiver."

'Khea has something to do with the returned. I would be turning my back on my calling if I turned a blind eye. I will travel with those who also are pursuing it. As it has been proven to me already allies are useful.'

Kalstios nods interested at the story of King Antigonos while he quickly eats his breakfast. He greets the rest as they arrive downstairs. "Why not, I’m too curious to not follow the thread. Also yes, this has been really lucrative already, I don’t hate that..."

You make your way to the Northern rim of the polis, near where you entered yesterday, and ask around until you find a small, nondescript cottage. On the front door, a large wreath of lavender hangs and the smell of lavender permeates the air. One of you knocks on the door, and you hear a female voice from within. "Hello?"

"Hello! We found something with your name on it on the road to Meletis!"

You hear a long pause, then the door cracks open slightly, and the smell of lavender wafts outward toward you all. The face of a dark skinned woman emerges from the dark interior, and for a moment, you notice the appearance of glimmering stars where she stands before she emerges into the light. Her hair is black, but the roots appear to glow like amber starlight, and her eyes glow in a similar manner. Her countenance is stoic and confident, and she speaks with a husky baritone voice. "How can I help you? What did you find?"

Kalstios decides that it's best to cut to the chase and shows Khea the mask

Sidenote, this morning, Saya wished you good luck on your journey, and continues to a previously arranged obligation. You all miss her terribly, but figure you'll get over it.

Khea takes the mask from you, turning it over in her hands. "I see." She looks at the four of you, then back at the mask. She widens the doorway, and motions you inside. "Please, come in."

As you enter, you find a large sitting room, with drying lavender hanging through much of the room. There are several tables, with books and scrolls scattered across them, some in languages you recognize and many more that you do not. The light is dim, and he gestures to you to find a place to sit. As the four of you sit, she sits in a large chair, looking over each of you, and ponders for a moment before grinning slightly. "A leonin, a satyr, a triton, and a minotaur. The gods have their hand in bringing you together, that much is sure."

Her body now draped in shadow, you clearly notice the starry shadows that cover her entire body. It is as though the very essence of Nyx, the night sky and realm of the Gods, has been infused into her very being. She scans the mask for a moment, then looks back up at you. "Where did you find this mask? Tell me everything you know about it."

Kalstios leans back and recounts the events of the previous day, "So we were walking along the road, minding our own business, when this horse came riding with a corpse. He's the one with the mask. Then these other two guys came along and we killed them because they were being real assholes.", he gestures towards Sarlyn, "This beautiful one called them Returned. Then I grabbed the mask, read "Silence the heretic Varyas. His secrets must remain dead." and everything went all grey and the etchings in the masks lit up...and then we decided to come here...basically...". He rocks a little awkwardly in the chair observing the strange woman.

Sarlyn nods along with Kalesios's story. 'The one wearing this mask was also returned, but he definitely seemed to be fleeing from the other two, which is not something I have heard of.' She hesitates, wondering how much needed to be shared.

'The gods seem to have some interest in what happened, or at least... Arethos saved me from death, and I do not know if it is related or not.'

She listens intently, reading your faces. "Varyas? Really? That ill-tempered rabble-rouser..." She looks up at you, smiles faintly, and pours you each a cup of lavender purple tea. "Varyas was an oracle devoted to Phenax who died mysteriously a few years ago. He was...well, he was a pain in my ass, frankly. Ever since I roasted his play, The Satyr's Half-Horn, he seemed to be out to get back at me." She placed the mask down, took a sip of tea, and then returned to the mask. "I wouldn't be surprised was petty enough to harass me even in death."

She stood up and walked to a table covered in several scrolls. "Then again, if Varyas had secrets, maybe there's more to it than that." She places the mask on the table and begins flipping through scrolls, clearly lost in thought, then looks over at you. "Go on, drink up, you'll find the taste quite pleasant."

Astraea is distracted, but at the words "drink up" snap her back to reality. "Don't mind if I do!" She guzzles the drink but then recoils she realizes it's tea

"If this turns out to be nothing more than a spurned playwright's petty vengeance from beyond the grave, that would be rather anticlimactic. That surely wouldn't be sufficient to be branded an heretic by the forces of the Underworld, though?"

Scylax takes a sip of his tea and muses, "Imagine how frustrating his life must have been as an oracle of Phenax. Every vision, another misleading half-truth or cruel trick. And nobody would trust any foresight you gave them anyway, unless they were crazy. A wretched existence indeed."

Kalstios looks skeptically at the tea, he politely puts the cup back down untouched. "Did anyone in the polis know Varyas well? Maybe someone can help us uncover what he might have been hiding?"

Khea is half listening as she consults the mask, then scrolls, then back to the mask. "Varyas always claimed to be in on the ruse. As an oracle of Phenax specifically, he took part in the subterfuge as much as anyone could." She stopped, beginning to read the mask again. "Well shit...this cipher is incomplete. Hang on, this is going to take a minute."

She turns toward the back room of her cottage, calling out. "Kyrios, would you please entertain our guests? I need a minute."

You hear a soft thump from the other room, and a small purple hairless cat emerges, it’s fur shimmering like starlight in a similar way to Khea. The cat considers you all, meows gently to Khea, then hops up onto Astraea’s lap, beginning to purr. After a moment, it looks up at you all and, in a very dignified and gentlemanly accent, says "Pleasant morning, isn’t it?"

"Wow, a talking cat! Yes, it is a pleasant meowning! WhatsyournameimAstraeanicetomeetyou!"

'Was he trying to trick the returned? But I fail to see the purpose'

As Kyrios emerges she watches the cat suspiciously. As it speaks she just nods, assuming that all cats from the land spoke if he could. 'Indeed it is'.

Astrea's energetic response tells otherwise

For a moment, Kyrios is taken aback by Astraea’s sudden enthusiasm, then relaxes and nuzzles in. "So are you new here to Meletis? What are you, heroes of the gods or something?" He looks around. "I do say, there’s no question."

Khea grunts from the corner of the room in agreement.

"Quite right, my dear." He looks down at Astraea’s wrist. "What’s this, my dear? A mark of Nylea. Very rare indeed. You have been blessed by her, it seems."

Kalstios eyes the talking cat and then the tea, "I could’ve sworn I didn’t drink any of this..."

Astraea takes her wrist in her other hand, concealing the symbol.

"Chosen? Just kinda. More like freelance contractor. These things come and go with their divine whims. Probably be gone by next week."

Something about the way Astrea's cheeks turn ever so slightly red tells an astute observer that she hopes otherwise.

"Your query also begs the question: What are you and Khea? Not ordinary mortals, it seems."

The cat seems to almost smile at you, Astraea. "Ah, of course, the first step on the Hero's Journey is always a denial of the call. Do not worry child. Once you cross the threshold, you will see what the Gods have in store for you."

At you question, Scylax, the cat rests its head on Astraea's arm. "We are what is known as Nyxborn, a consequence or manifestation of the gods interacting within the world." His tail flicks back and forth, the starlight within its shadows glimmering. "As far as Khea has been able to tell, she came into being as a way of creating balance when Meletis organized their structured academia and government. There must needs be balance in all things, and she believes that is why she sprung into existence.

"As for myself, well, I'm here because the life of a nyxborn sage can be...well let's just say I'm here to keep her company."

Khea grabs the mask and sits back down across from the rest of you.

"Hid from eyes of mortals and gods
Lies wither in Orestes’s rot."

She looks up at you all. "Okay, so this text isn't complete in its current form. It's intentionally vague and the cypher is incomplete. Letters have been removed, and its impossible decode in its entirety." She stops for a second, then stands up and moves back to her scrolls. "Orestes's rot..."

'The gods do not choose lightly Astrea' As she speak the Triton places a hand over where she was skewered. 'It is a honour and a cause to live up to with all of ones devotion.'

'I served Atheros willingly, with no expectation or recognition. Now I have it, my faith is only stronger.'

Kalstios looks at Khea. "Do you know who this Orestes fella is?", his eyes keep darting back to the talking cat, the minotaur clearly unnerved

"Ah ha! Here it is." She picks up the scroll and brings it to the group, beginning to read from it.

"The Court of Orestes. A legendary tomb of one of Phenax’s earliest followers. Orestes was said to be a master thief and an oracle who foresaw who would become Returned. According to myth, the site also holds "Phenax’s Silence," though none know if the name is that of an actual object or merely a poetic flourish."

She picks up the mask again. "I wonder...perhaps the remainder of the cypher lies within the Court of Orestes...in his tomb."

"Exploring an old tomb? That sounds like fun. I always like to stay away from the tourist traps when I hit the big city; the spike traps and poison dart traps are where it's at! How do we get there?"

Astraea affects this silly attitude, hoping to deflect away from the serious talk of piety and devotion, but her companions' words do have an affect on her.

'Are you sure that is necessary?' Sarlyn frowns. 'A tomb is someone's place of rest, even if he has now been claimed by Athreos and Erebos it would not do to disturb it.'

"Well, the guy was a master thief! Maybe he'd be honored, or at least amused depending on how our luck goes."

Scylax folds his arms. "Remember that we are dealing with Phenax here, and an artefact delivered by one of his oracles who was self-professed to be in on his patron's schemes. They have set up a trail that seems to lead naturally to Orestes' tomb, but we should consider very carefully whether we are being tricked into serving Phenax's interests rather than our own. Perhaps consulting with an oracle of a different deity might be prudent, just to be sure we're on a righteous path?"

Khea listens to your conversation, paying close attention to each of you. "The exact location of the Court of Orestes is lost to history, but ancient tales hint that it lies along the Khystonos River to the north. I'm not sure if this is a coincidence or not, but I also recently heard that an earthquake blocked the flow in a region about three day's travel from here. Apparently the lack of flowing water revealed some ancient etchings and ruined structures hidden beneath the waterline."

She looks at each of you. "If you would be willing to investigate the ruins, I would be very grateful. Varyas, my name on a mask, Phenax, Orestes...you may have stumbled upon something much larger than any of us." As Scylax voices his concerns, she adds "If you like, I can send Kyrios with you. He has proven to be a valuable companion in the past, and feel that he may serve you well."

Kalstios hammers a giant fist into the table, the wood cracking a bit. "Hot damn! I’m on board, it sounds like fun...and sure, let’s bring the...talking cat...", he once again gives the cat a massive bit of side-eye

"I wouldn't miss this for all the wine... Wait, let's not get carried away here! I'm in. Three days' travel? No sweat. Which direction? I'm ready to go!"

Kyrios looks at Khea and emits a sound that almost sound like a sigh. He gives her the closest thing that a cat can give to a deadpan glare.

"Of course, I love travel," he says, dryly.

He hops off of Astraea's lap and picks up a map, pulling it onto the table. He then taps the map with his paw, leaving a glowing purple mark. "This right here is the Khystonos River, in the Katachton Mountains. It's probably two days to Setessa, then another day beyond that to the general region."

"Adorbs!" Astraea sighs as the paw print radiates its iridescent glow. "Do you want me to fasten a little harness to carry you, sweet Kyrios? Or maybe buy something on our way out? We got a lot of coins from the temple for returning those masks! I'm sure we can spare a few for a little palanquin or something."

The cat looks at Khea, who stifles a chuckle. "If I’m honest...perhaps something not too ostentatious would be preferable to walking."

He looks to the rest of you. "Is there anything else you wanted to ask or talk about before we depart?"

Scylax shrugs. "I came to the city to find greater challenges. I had assumed these would be on the track, but what greater test of strength and skill can there be than a quest from the gods? I am ready."

Astraea spares no expense for the cat, purchasing the 2gp option. Also, she gladly drops 3gp for the mysterious Arrows of Replenishment.

He looks at the bag (made of leather and a fishnet-like mesh), then at Astraea. "Surely, Miss Astraea..." he says dryly, "You spoil me. You shouldn’t have." As you place him in the Chateau, he stares straight into the camera like he’s in an episode of The Office.

Kyrios settles in, placing his paws on the floor of the Chateau before placing his head gently on them. "Actually, no, I could get used to this." He closes his eyes and yawns. "I believe the best course would be to go for the first two days towards Setessa."

Kalstios flies into rage at the sight of the fallen cat, he was just starting to get used to it.

"Oof!" exclaims Astraea as she straps the feline conveyance apparatus onto her shoulders. Astraea is pretty wiry but carrying weight long distances has never been particularly appealing to her. Yet, she's willing to do it for Kyrios.

"Setessa! Cool, I've never been there and it will be sooo good to back to the forest and way from these Stinky poleis. Those Setessans are totally hardcore though, never can take a joke! Which makes it all the more fun to prank them. Did I ever tell you the time when... "

Astraea starts telling a ribald but (mostly) good-natured tale of trickery as they head to the city gates and beyond!

"KYRIOS!" Astraea screams. She's already moving into action as her instincts take charge. She somersaults past the lion's paws and scoops up Kyrios as gracefully as an acrobatic and then darts away behind the fire where she begins ministering aid to their little fallen ally.

"Dammit, I should have paid more attention to the druids!" she admonishes herself as she realizes she has no idea what she's doing.

Rolling a death save

Scylax curses himself for losing focus during his watch. Hefting his labrys, he leaps into the fray with a mighty roar.

'Atheros, please let it not be Kyrios's time.' Sarlyn mutters as she lifts her symbol, transferring healing energy to the cat, before she turns it on the lion. 'However it is yours' A loud ringing sounds out targeting the lion.

"Sarlyn! Your prayers are answered!" tears glisten in the corners of Astrea's eyes.

Realising the threat that the lion embodies, Kalstios throws caution to the wind and recklessly swings his axe at the beast.

Relieved that Kyrios is healed, Astraea faces the lion.

Surely this is no natural beast! remarks Astraea to herself. Even still, she hesitates to draw her bow on the magnificent creature, but after that last swipe on Scylax she snaps off a shot without a second thought.

She then moves behind a tree and hides (bonus action: cunning action)

Scylax takes the full force of the lion's blow but shakes it off with a snarl, answering with his axe.

Kyrios's eyes flutter, and he lets out a low rumbling sound. "A sign...of Iroas..." His head is lying on the ground, but he's starting right at Scylax.

Scylax roars to the heavens, raising his axe in triumph. Then he seizes Kalstios by the shoulders.

"You fight with the ferocity of a leonin warrior, my friend! This victory belongs to us both. And many more to come!"

Kyrios, I hope you are still on the right side of the rivers. Is anyone else hurt and needs my prayers?' Sarlyn moves closer toe everyone else, eyes searching for any harm or scratches.

She pulls a faces at Scylax celebrating the victory, but if that was what would motivate him to protect them as they looked into this mystery, she could put up with it.

Astraea comes out from behind the tree.

"Yeah, that was, uh, totally just tactical positioning there. Not like, cowardly hiding or something... OH COOL NEW TAT SCYLAX!"

Astraea will take a look at this dire lion creature to understand better what they fought and why it was so angry.

Kalstios roars triumphantly and laughs at Scylax, "What a blow that was, my friend! It came clean off, that is no small feat! You sure you don’t have minotaur blood in you? God I could use an ale!". He chuckles and then looks towards Kyrios, his face falling more severe. "Are you okay, mr. Cat?"

The nyxborn purple cat lies on its stomach, breathing heavily. He looks up at you all. "It appears that Khea was right about you. A sign of the gods this early."

He glances at the enormous lion's corpse. "A mighty Fleecemane is said in legends to be sent by the gods as a messenger or guardian to do their bidding." He turns to Scylax. "In this case, it seems it may have been a test of might. Given your marking, it appears you have passed."

"Fleecemane, got it. And Kyrios, you totally took one for the team! Thanks for distracting it with your FACE while EVERYONE was GETTING ready to POUNCE!"

She punctuates her statement with shadow boxing, throwing a jab with every emphasized word.

"Well, I'm heading back to sleep my pretties! We got a long road a head of us."

Kyrios licks his wounds as he nestles into the grass. "Ah yes...that was my plan all along. Kyrios the feline meat shield."

"I regret that you were injured, Kyrios - if this Fleecemane was indeed a test and intended for me, then I would have faced it gladly even without it threatening the lives of innocents. Perhaps such creatures simply have a taste for the Nyxborn, eh? It did seem to ignore everyone else and go for you directly. Still, I'd wager there are not many cats who can say they have faced down a lion and lived - now you are truly a champion among your own kind!"

Astraea applauds Scylax's rousing speech as she climbs into her bedroll!

"Huzzah!", Kalstios collapses on his bedroll and almost immediately starts snoring loudly

Scylax drags the lion's body a short distance away from the camp, then resumes his watch - he is far too worked up to sleep now in any case. Instead, he sits and tries to find calm in the stillness of the night.

Kyrios had been quick to judge the creature as a test sent specifically for him, and his new mark seemed to bear out that Iroas had at least witnessed the battle. Would the gods truly waste such a magnificent beast on a mere contest, and send it to steal into their camp like an assassin? Messengers or guardians, the cat had said, but could this message truly be from Iroas? There were other, more insidious gods who would surely be taking an interest in their quest as well.

He wakes Kalstios for his turn on watch, and has troubling dreams.

Kalstios grunts as he gets woken up, the adrenaline shot out of his body as soon as he laid down and now he’s surly and groggy. He stares up into the sky, crossing his huge legs as he sits and says a silent, clumsy prayer to Thassa (using words such as "great sea lady" and "o lady who must surely be the dampest of them all"

The morning comes, and each of you feel much more refreshed. As you see Kyrios for the first time that morning, you notice how quickly his wounds have healed. In fact, he's almost entirely healed.

He rubs up against Astraea to wake her up. "Rise and shine, Lady Astraea. Your destiny awaits."

"Wow, I am no more a lady than you are a lion, but destiny can wait til after breakfast! Slaying fleecemanes is hungry work!"

Astraea fixes up a trail breakfast for everyone, and though it is clear she hasn't much training in the culinary arts.

"Onward to Setessa?"

Astraea will tell a ribald tales that will make even the sailor blush.

"So... has anyone had cause to explore a mausoleum, or any other kind of ruin, before? Any idea of what we should expect?"

'Absolutely not. It is disturbing a resting place. I request none of you touch what is not necessary.' The triton is clearly still uncomfortable with the whole idea.

Kalstios pauses a beat, "...but what if there’s like a really cool magical axe, surely that’d be okay to take"

"That would be so cool, Kalstios. Ooh, or maybe a huge gem! Do we have to leave huge gems? It's not like the dead have much to do with them, ya?"

'The wealth is intended to help one in the afterlife. Yes there is still a need for such things. Though I accept this timb sounds like and unusual case.'

"Okay, well I'm more in it for the adventure anyway. It's cool. Just checking, you okay with robbing living bad guys? Asking for a friend."

'The living are not my concern. As long as they are still alive, and not dead without the gold they need for passage.'

Astraea gives you a wink and two big thumbs up.

Kalstios leans towards Astraea and whispers, "So basically, you take their stuff WHILE I'm swinging the axe...problem solved"

Astraea keels over laughing at Kal's suggestion.

The four of you get to know each other more during your walk, and spend most of your time walking in a thickly wooded forest. As day begins turning to early evening, you begin to notice more people around the forest, and suddenly you find yourselves standing in a town square. You soon realize that you are, indeed, in the middle of a settlement, and as you cast your eyes through the forest, you notice that there is an entire city built into the forest itself, to the point that you hadn't even noticed that you had entered it.

"Welcome to Setessa, friends. Blessed polis of Karametra, god of the harvest." Kyrios, now mostly healed from his encounter with the Fleecemane, pokes his head out of the Chateau and looks around. "It's been some time since I was here. Have any of you been here before?"

"No, mr. Cat, I have not...". Kalstios haven't known much variation during his life so far. A life in a sea of sand, rock and dust was switched to a life on a sea of...well, just the sea with the occasional harbor town. The forest itself had been wondrous enough, although he had managed to contain his wonder, this however is extraordinary to the young minotaur.

Astraea is reveling at being back in the forest again! She pauses regularly to smell the wild flowers and has butterflies nestling in her horns.

"Yeah me neither. My home of Skola Valley might be right next door, but we give these warrior gals a wide berth".

'No, it is only recently I have left my home at all.' The triton is clearly amazed at the trees, even more so when she realises it is actually a city.

The dark skinned human seems lost in the roughly drawn schematic he's studying, sparing a short glance at the new entrants to the tavern.

As the realization of just how odd such a group is, even in Theros, Tacloth looks up and his eyes widen slightly more as he looks at each person in turn, growing widest at the purple cat. A satyr or a minotaur might be uncommon where he's from, and possibly noteworthy. But a *purple cat*? And not only that, but the kennel. That's certainly not a standard construction.

He does his best to wipe the charcoal smudges from his hands, rolls up the parchment before putting it away, and then stands to follow the group.

He taps lightly on the satyr's shoulder and asks, "Pardon the intrusion... but what is that *that*," he says, motioning to the backpack-kennel.

The cat sighs momentarily, speaking to Astraea. "Is he talking about me or the Chateau?"

Kalstios stares at the newcomer, "That...is a fine, functional, portable home for Mr. Cat".

'That is apparently what happens when you give a Satyr a talking cat. Sarlyn nods towards the stranger as Astrea makes introductions.