Chasing a Blaze in the Northern Sky Session 31 Summary

With most of the Combative Companions out and about doing their own business, a small group comprised of Halthor, Matthias, and Joe, gather a few extra men in Saliagos, creating a team of mostly fragile men to explore the first floor of the Palace of Arekasadra. Not having some of their more hardened members, there's a sense of tension looming among the trio, but with a combined group of six, they may be able to cover some decent ground within the palace.

Traveling up the mountain leading to the site brought few issues. Halthor and Matthias were even able to meet a group of Lestryhonian men who were going to plunder the palace in the name of King Huhalyn, and they shared a night by the warmth of a campfire talking about religion and how the CeeCees should totally join a cult. They probably should have asked about the palace at some point, but by the time that thought had crossed their mind, it was already morning and the men were gone.
The party then make it to the pyramid, taking note of the statues of giants that lined the doorway.

"Boy, it's a good thing those are just statues, because having to face one of those sure would be scary," thought Halthor.

The men enter the complex, and after taking a single left turn are immediately met by a group of four dog headed men inquiring if they had wine. Upon being told that they didn't, their follow up was an inquiry to see if they were here to loot the palace. Now, at least 2/3rd of the men there were certainly not racist, but these dog headed men are probably monsters, which makes what they asked an incredibly loaded question, so Matthias and Halthor go for the classic lie that their cartographers who have been tasked with mapping the area. Unfortunately Halthor doesn't really know what a cartographer is, and kept calling them "cryptographers" instead, which was kind of a dead giveaway that they were full of shit. Thankfully these dog men were banking on them rummaging for treasure, because they wanted to make a deal.

The dog headed men were planning on taking fine wine from a room filled with Gigenes, who just so happen to be the giants depicted in the statues outside. Halthor sweats. They figured, with their combined numbers they'd be able to kill the Gigenes, and if the CeeCees were willing to help, they'd offer something of value in return. This seemed like a bad idea considering the frail men that were in the group, but combined it would be the ten of them versus...five giants.

They still somehow managed to convince them.

Together, the men rushed into a nearby room where the giants were minding their own business talking about how tasty human flesh was, and began their gambit. The dog raced men threw their spears, and a few of the CeeCees began firing arrows and throwing axes as Matthias and Halthor rushed to hack away at one of the giants. It did fuck all. Oops. The giants then begin absolutely wrecking them with their spears and dedicated set of extra arms that are wielding bows and arrows. Two of the dog men are killed, all of their extra men are killed with the acceptation of Stefanos, who's understandably terrified, and Joe is unconscious in a pool of blood from his now missing jaw. Things are going really badly, and the party almost retreats, but after a few lucky blows and a blast from the ray gun, thus removing its final charge, the men are able to somehow turn the tides, killing three of the giants, and leaving only two. They continue despite the Gigenes's terrible might, and after a long and hard fought battle, the men are able to succeed.

The dog headed men reward their efforts with information. Not as glamorous as a jewel or sword, but still useful none the less, as they are now aware of a treasure that is north of the palace, and a nearby trap if they travel right. Treasure can wait though. For now, they need to retreat so they can heal their wounds and try again with more people in the future.

Session 31 Downtime Events

Following their first journey into the Palace of Arekasadra, Stefanos, Matthias, Halthor, and Joe traveled to Saliagos. As winter fast approached the skies cleared and the days grew shorter. Halthor, Matthias, and Joe all sought out to obtain more information about the Palace of Arekasadra. 

Rumors gained during downtime:

1) Those initiated into the chaotic mysteries of Hekatapotropa are able to perform necromancy forcing secrets from those long dead.

2) The Dog-Headed Men who dwell within the Palace of Arekasadra were once part of the vanguard who sacked the halls of the Vampire King.

3) The lawful temples of Cycladea can craft replacement limbs of enchanted marble for a donation of 1500s.

4) Within the woods of the Palace of Arekasadra is a fountain whose waters would make the drinker forever stronger.

5) Pheromones can be used to bypass the hive gold-stealing ants and enter a deeper portion of the Palace.