Session 9 Recap (Day 06)

During their long rest, The party investigates the lair of the lamias. Near the door to the lower chamber sits a large dais adorned with an eight-pointed star in the center and eight pillars surrounding it. Roondar and Maul recall that this symbol holds tremendous significance for the One True Religion. This recollection in turn causes the pantheon to flood back into their minds:

• Pas, father of the gods, god of the sun and the rain
• Echidna, consort of Pas, mother of the gods, goddess of fertility
• Hierax, god of death
• Molpe, goddess of music, dancing, and art
• Phaea, goddess of food and healing
• Scylla, goddess of lakes and rivers (patroness of Viron and the surrounding territories)
• Sphigx, goddess of war and courage
• Tartaros, god of night, crime, and commerce
• Thelxiepeia, goddess of magic, mysticism, and poisons

Carric boldly steps on top of the eight-pointed star and somewhat mockingly questions the power of the gods. In so doing, he is suddenly struck by his own prior relationship with the gods, and realizes that, were his former self to see someone blaspheme the pantheon in this way, he would not stand for it. Thinking more deeply on this, Carric recalls fleeting images of his intensive indoctrination into the Defenders of the Whorl and, more intensively, into the Order of the Crescent Sun. He wonders, is it the gods themselves, or the worldly institutions that venerate them, that should be held accountable for the current state of the Whorl?

Descending deeper into the ruins, the party finds another decaying, cavernous room with many crumbling walls, columns, and colonnades, dimly lit by torches. Passing through a partially flooded room, they find a painted relief carved into a wall, depicting the pantheon of the One True Religion, each holding the symbol of his or her office:

• Pas, holding an orb with rays emanating from it
• Echidna, holding a lamb
• Hierax, holding a human skull
• Molpe, holding a lyre
• Phaea, holding a sheaf of wheat
• Scylla, holding an oar
• Sphigx, holding a sword and shield
• Tartaros, holding a set of scales
• Thelxiepeia, holding a round bottle with a stopper

Roondar's examination of this mural is cut short by Maul, who urges him to stick with the rest of the group. Maul then accidentally initiates combat by nearly stepping on a poisonous snake.

As the party deals with the snakes, another woman with the lower body of a snake suddenly appears and fixes her petrifying gaze on Maul, who is once again able to shake off the effect. Owynka, too, is initially able to avoid petrification--as is Roondar. But as the medusa continues to catch the party by surprise, Owynka at last succumbs, and is turned to stone.

Attempting to put an end to the battle, Maul says to their foe, "Maiden of Thelxiepeia, put down your arms and we will let you live." To which the medusa replies, "Impudent mortal, I am no maiden." She then slips through a door in the northwest corner of the room, leaving the party to contend with their comrade's petrification--and with whatever else might lurk behind that door.