Liberty Beguiling

With a nod to Sval, Aleixo heads for the door with Azul. "So Azul, tell me about where you are from." He strikes up conversation as they head down the road. "You mentioned the Sarameian desert? I must confess I have never ventured far from the sea here in Hellenia."

Azul walks with Aleixo towards the Tavernia and with a thoughtful look says "It is very different from Hellania. The Sarameian Desert is vast ,with pockets of great beauty but on the whole dominated by the sands & sun. It is my home and at times I miss it. But I'm happy I left to find my own way." Azul then looks around at the festival attendees taking in their revelry, thinking how different it was from his home.  He looks back to Alexio  "Your people are full of life and passion and I have truly enjoyed my time with them. What part of Hellania do your people come from Aleixo?"

"I should really like to see it someday. I keep working up the courage to leave, get to the border and something turns me back. Comforts of home I suppose. I don't like to be far from the fires and the drinks and the festivals, in a land I don't know." He smiles. "The adventures are there though. And truly I would like to see more of what is out there." Pointing out to the distance he continues. I grew up just along the coast from here, a small village. I have not been back there either for many years. My father is a smith there, makes the finest shields in all of Hellenia"

"I've grown quite found of Hellinian shields, during my time in your country. I had one made in the Hellinian style after my battle with the harpies, a bit lighter than yours but it has helped keep me alive in my travels. Did your father make your shield as well, I would love to see some of his work?" He says as he continues on his path towards the Tavernia 

Petros eventually finds his way back to the feast, and loads a plate, joining the remaining members of the team.  

“Wonderful I’ll come along as well. Gives me a chance to check in on Alagos.” Eager to leave Luthien will follow closely behind, tipping the musicians on her way out.

Aleixo casts his eyes downwards. "No, unfortunately not. Mine I made myself. My father once gave me a shield but..." He draws a deep breath. "I was once told that if you ever wish to conquer your shame, first you must be open about it." He looks for understanding in Azul's eyes before continuing. "I cast it down to flee from a battle. A shame that I must hold on my shoulders and the reason I have not returned home. But, now with Sval at my side, I labour to overcome this past transgression, to collect honour and glory that I may once again return home. It is why my shield remains unpainted, I will not take my father's motif until I can once again look him in the eye and receive his proud acceptance." He looks sadly ahead for a moment, but then smiles, claps Azul on the back and gives a half laugh. "But come, on to happier things! You killed some harpies eh? No mean feat!"

At the manor the party is in full swing. Many of the gathered adventurers have relaxed significantly and are drinking together. In the streets of the city the celebrations are similarly raucous. Wine flows freely and the steaming smells of hot meat waft through the air. However, at the Taverna Leonidas, many seem to be leaving. Apparently there is a party in the forest outside the city limits...

" I was going to wait for you Petros.  The others are heading back to the Taverna we are staying at. If you want company  I will stay otherwise I will leave with the others and get some sleep. I dont fully trust everyone to behave here so I dont think we should be going off on our own. One of us could easily meet with an unfortunate accident in this type of situation. Especially when the stakes are so high." Xan looks the other aasimar over then shrugs "Looks like you might have had enough excitement for one night, unless I miss my guess."

Azul takes in Aleixo's tale and at the end places his hand on the human's shoulder looking him in the eye and says "There is no shame my new friend. My clan has a saying, "One can only fail if they fall from their path and remain on the ground". This is the beginning of your tale Aleixo, and the storytellers love a tale of redemption. We will tame the North and our names will be known throughout Hellinia. Your shield will soon bear your families sigil proudly, and you can return home a hero." Azul smiles and continues walking again He goes onto say in his gravelly accented voice  "And if the mayor's offer holds true, you & Petros seem to be the logical candidates to rule the new lands. Most of us our foreigners and are unfamiliar to Hellenia's customs and people. Petros seems well placed but I thought I sensed a hint of deception when he was explaining his story. It may be unfounded but it still gives me pause. The mayor's offer seems too good to be true but you should consider the possibility of it. I've only known you for a short time, but you would have my support my new friend. And wouldn't becoming a lord of Hellinia be a great way to return home to your people?" Azul adds with a chuckle

Aleixo laughs loudly, mirth evident in his voice. "I have never considered myself a leader. Perhaps once, but it ended badly. I turned away from that path to let Sval's wisdom guide me, rather than fall into traps of honey'd words only to find myself on the wrong end of a fight. Come though, let us focus on the immediate deeds, and the rest will unfold itself before us. I appreciate your trust, truly I am glad to have made these new friends. " 

Petros looks over at Xan with a slight grin evident in his eye as he gulps down some turkey.  "I Léaina indeed.  Thanks for waiting for me.  I actually need to go pack for the trip, myself.  I'll be back in an hour or so."

Azul smiles and pats Aleixo on the back as they enter the Tavernia. He retrieves his armor and shield. Taking the time to inspect and don his armor. Breathing a sigh of relief once he is properly equipped. His chain mail had become like a second skin to him, the weight more of a comfort then a hindrance. He then moves to stables and saddles Seian preparing her for the trip to the Governors mansion.  He prepares to go but seeing the crowds of people leaving decides to ask one of the patrons heading to the forest  "This forest party seems to be drawing quite the crowd. What's going on out there?"

Sval looks at Petros, confused as to why looking over the map had taken as long as it did. Enough excitement for one night? What does Xan mean? It dawns on him. Of course. It hadn't occurred to him at first because it wasn't something he had very much experience with -- or any at all, really. It wasn't as if he had met a lot of suitable partners while out on the road. And anyway, his scars were quite off-putting. Most people were uncomfortable around him to begin with. It had been a pleasant surprise that this new group hadn't immediately been put off because of his appearance. Of course, they could have just been hiding it well.

"The dying god is risen," the patron tells Azul excitedly, before hurrying on.

Azul is puzzled, which has been an all to familiar experience for him the last few years. He looks to Aleixos as the patron runs off and says "Dying god? I'm not familiar with this deity , is he a local god? Either way I would like to see this, the others may as well. It's not every day you see a god rise, that would be a fantastic story to tell."

Aleixo looks equally puzzled. "It makes little sense to me. Hades is the god of death, but he is not dead to rise." He finishes strapping on his own armour, picking up the giant shield with what seems to be minimal effort and strapping it to his arm. "You want to find out more about it? I just worry it will leave us tired tomorrow, but we could spare a few minutes if you like."

With her equipment retrieved she sits outside in the stables feeding her horse, “ah noble steed, I know you too are eager to leave.” She takes a bite of an apple before feeding to her horse. “Soon we will take to the winds again this time with some companions, do try to behave yourself.” She laughs quietly as her horse snorts and stomps his hooves. Noticing the droves of patrons moving to leave the city she listen in and over hears about the party in the woods. Luthien thinking to herself, “party in the woods, rise of a dying god. I think that’s enough to warrant a trip.”  Thinking twice and glancing towards the tavern where her new friends still sit, “perhaps it’s best that I leave you here so they don’t think I abandoned them.” She finishes feeding her horse and flags over what she assumes to be the stablehand, “If anyone comes looking for me please tell them I went to see the rise of the dying god.” She smiles and throws him a gold coin before rushing off to join the crowd heading into the woods. “Gods damn, I hope he was actually a stable hand.”

He nods at Aleixo and says with a chuckle "My clan often says, that if you place 10 bars of gold on one side of a scale and the worth of stirring story on the other. The gold will rise and the story will fall so heavily that the scale will tear itself apart. I don't share many similarities  with my people but to be apart of a good story is something that I am more than willing to lose a bit of sleep over. Should we grab the others or head over ourselves" He adds as he mounts Seian.

Aleixo looks around unsure. "I would hate to leave Sval out of a good story, and I don't much fancy dragging everyone else's possessions from the city behind us. We should at least let them know where we are going, it is a short ride after all." He mounts his own horse and loops Xan and Sval's reins into his belt so that their horses will follow.

It takes some time to follow the crowd out of town. The seem to be heading upriver and towards the forest that lies north-west of Appolis.

Azul looks around trying to find Luthien but is unable to find their new elven companion. She must have turned in early, for tomorrow's mission . He then rides Seian, moving as quickly as she will allow towards the mansion. He doesn't want to miss any of the events happening in the forest. 

Against her better judgment, Luthien will continue behind the crowd. Stopping hesitantly before the gates. Scanning behind back into the city hoping to catch a glimpse of her party. Thinking to her self her impulsiveness is surely going to be her demise eventually.

Leaving the horses tied at the fence, Aleixo heads back into the mansion with Xan and Sval's gear. Placing it down gently at the table, he glances around. "There's something odd happening in the town. Lots of people are heading off to some strange ritual. Azul and I wanted to go and see what was going on. Do you want to come or were you looking to turn in for the night?"

"What kind of weird?" Sval asks, standing and grabbing his gear. "Should we be putting our armour on?"

Aleixo pats his own armour that he has secured in place. "I don't know. Better safe than sorry. The people were talking about a dead god rising, sounds very much like a dangerous thing to me, but not something I feel I can ignore and sleep right now while something like that happens just outside of the walls." He makes no effort to keep his voice quiet, if anything making sure those nearby can hear.

Sval takes his armor and moves to somewhere with more room to begin putting it on. Strapping on the armor, slinging the quiver across his lower back, the cloak over top and the bow over one shoulder. He returns to Aleixo. "Let's go find out then."

Petros enters his modest rooms halfway across town having ordered the stablehand to ready Keravnos.  He looks around and decides to pack essentially all of it.  Who knows when I'll be back. And I've got the space.   He stuffs most things in the arcane satchel he got a few months ago from a tiger of a woman.  She could teach the general a thing or two.  The last few things he belts on to himself--weapons and armor--or stuffs in his saddlebags.  Fair well room.  I hardly knew ye.

The party-goers leaving the city gather in a grove a short distance into the forest that lies outside the city limits. In the heart of the grove stands an enormous effigy of green leaves and woven vines. It depicts a huge bearded man with his arms spread wide. Those gathered around it seem lost in the haze of their celebrations. Drinking, dancing and fornication abound. Back in Appolis, Amiri happily follows Petros wherever he goes. The more she drinks the more she talks, until it seems like she will never stop.

Azul rides into the gathering awestruck by the debauchery. Generally he enjoys watching the Hellinian's revelry but here he truly feels like a foreigner out of place. He looks around for Luthian but not immediately seeing her. Azul approaches one of the attendees looking for one who retains at least some of his senses and says "I have never seen a gathering such as this before, what are you celebrating? And who is bearded man, that the effigy depicts? I am new to Hellenia and Appolis and still learning the ways of your people"

"Oh," Sval says as the group rides close enough to the gathering to see what is happening. He can feel the blood rushing to his cheeks at the carnal displays of lust. He looks down at his armor and looks back out across the people in the grove. I think we're the only ones that got dressed up for this party.

Luthien quite interested though never expected to see such a display this far from home. Everything about the revelry and dancing reminds her of home, fornication aside. Eager to learn more about this she meanders her way closer to the effigy as memories of her troupe come flooding into her mind. She actively keeps an eye out for her party and takes time to ask more about the ceremony to anyone who is willing to answer.

A group of nubile young Hellenian women pass by, dressed in loose white dresses with garlands of flowers hung about their necks. They press cups of wine into the hands of the newcomers with a wild look in their eyes.

Luthien accepts the wine but does not drink it, meeting the gaze of the wild eyed women, “Warm greetings! And what a lovely night for a fine display of life, forgive me I’m not familiar with your customs and I am curious, what calls for such a gathering?”

"The dying god is risen!" The woman who gave Luthien the wine eagerly informs her before moving on.

Azul waives off the offered wine and wonders aloud "Who is this dying god and where has he risen too?" He has a strong grasp of the Hellenian language but worries he may be missing some slang he asks Aleixo and Xan "Are we sure the phrase they keep repeating, isn't some form of innuendo for an orgy? From my short experience in Hellenia your people seem to love orgies"

Back at the mayor's manor things are winding down, many of the recruited adventurers are retiring to their accommodations and the conversations in the banqueting hall have grown more muted and less raucous.

"I really have no idea, it looks fun though. And to be fair we try and have a few days off a week or the orgies get a bit samey. Be careful, for young and impressionable dragonborn sometimes seeing some of this can be an eye opening experience, try not to get into more than you can handle ." Xan claps the dragonborn on the shoulder, with a chuckle adding. " I'm joking, mostly, have fun but be careful, I will be ."

Aleixo grins. "Yes, have fun, relax, you should try everything the culture has to offer. That goes for all of you!" He begins to take off his armour and head to join the revelry, avoiding the wine though having already partaken too much and knowing he needs a clear head for the early start tomorrow.

Sval, his armor decidedly on , leans against a tree, trying to blend into the bark itself. He knew Aleixo. He knew what was coming. He would try to get Sval to join in the revelry. The man was adamant that Sval should enjoy himself, but Sval just wasn't sure that it was a good idea to enjoy himself here.  Dark forest, potentially drugged wine, and people that they didn't know. It was too dangerous. But since Aleixo seemed dead set on joining in, Sval would stay and make sure nothing untoward happened to his friends. He forced himself into the tree, and begun to prepare his defense against Aleixo's insisting.

Aleixo ties his horse and straps his armour and shield to it. Dancing off into the crowd after the ladies he beckons to Sval and Azul to come and join him. Big grin on his face and flexing his muscles, showing off his impressive form.

Bidding Amiri good night, Petros retires from the banqueting to his room. Some hours later he is woken by the sounds of clamour from the halls of the guest house and an insistent tapping at his bedroom door. At the gathering in the forest, Aleixo is whisked away by a pair of giggling young women and soon very much involved in the celebration surrounding the effigy.

Taking in the intoxicating delights of the young women and the pile of wriggling bodies on the floor. Aleixo loses himself for a while. Before long though he becomes concerned for his friends who do not seem to be enjoying the revelry. He scoops up a young woman in his arms, throwing her over his shoulders playfully like she is nothing. Standing in the mass of people he calls out to his friends. "Sval, don't you think she is beautiful? She'd love to meet you!" He jostles the woman playfully. "Come down from your tree and join us!" He takes a step towards his friend, at the edge of the festivity. Several hands grasp out at his ankles and calves clawing at him. " Stay!The dead god is risen!" Aleixo laughs, a little confusion in his voice now. "I'm not going anywhere, just trying to get my friend to lighten up and join us!" He swings the woman back down from around his shoulders, planting her feet on the floor and holding her in front of him. "Azul, what of you? Surely you would not pass up all the delights Hellenia has to offer? No sense to visit a new culture if you don't immerse yourself!" Another pair of hands grasps at him firmly from behind. "Though perhaps this is a little intense for a beginner." The certainty in his voice cracks further, giving way to nervousness. "OK I'm coming! Clam down and play with someone else!"

Noticing her party, Luthien will prance her way to them avoiding women and men reaching for her to join them.  On her way she will Druidcraft herself a crown of flowers. by the time she makes it to her party she also has made them each a garland,  "Ah! you've made it, sorry for running off ahead, a party in the woods was too good to pass, here take these, I noticed a lot of people are wearing them so i figured we'd blend in a bit better with these, and they're fun to make," grinning widely she offers each of them one, "This is certainly more entertaining the manor, what a display! Now i know we have quite a journey ahead of us but i see no problem in enjoying ourselves tonight. this might be the last time in while, Azul maybe you can put on a show, something tells me the people here will be more forgiving then the tavern." 

Petros gets up from bed, disturbed at the commotion, and straps on his sword belt before quickly opening the door a few inches to see who it is and what is happening.

"I'm not sure but this doesn't seem quite right, do they seem a little bit too animated to you, something is off. Don't split up, and we should try and get everyone back together. I hope I'm wrong, but I'm worried I'm not." Xan looks at Sval and Azul "If things go wrong I will try and make sure I strengthen our resolves but be strong ."

Azul looks extremely uncomfortable, as he listens to Aleixo's call to join the fun.  I came to Hellenia because of their vibrant culture, their passion, pride and individualism was intoxicating. I wanted to become more like them, but right now I feel like more of an outsider than I ever imagined possible.  He places the crown of flowers on his head and listens to Luthien as she invites him to perform, looking on at the hedonistic display he isn't sure if they would even notice his flames. He is about to speak when Xan cautions the group. Azul is near elated at finding an acceptable out to this dilema and says "Maybe another time. I agree with Xan, we have a great undertaking tomorrow it may be wise to gather our friends and get some sleep." His voice sounding clearly relieved

Luthien a bit disappointed but understanding,  "ah shame, wise enough. We can head back, did you all ride on horseback? perhaps I can ride, with one of you, I did not bring my own. Where is Petros?"

"Petros stayed back at the mayor's mansion," Sval says. "I will try to extract Aleixo from his...enjoyment. I don't want to leave him here." Sval moves into the fray, keeping his wits about him. Reaching Aleixo, he sees the man trying to extract himself from the mess of people around him. Sval speaks in a voice just louder than the din of the ecstasy around him. "Aleixo, we have an early morning tomorrow. We should go." He holds out his hand for Aleixo to grab onto.

"Help! Help!" Shouts a halfling girl through where Petros has cracked the door open. He recognises her from the banquet. "The mansion's under attack, we need to help! Some kind of raiders broke in and started killing everyone - I barely made it. Hurry, we have to help the guards fight off the attackers, or we'll all be cut down one by one!" As if to lend credence to the girl's words, a scream echoes from the hallway.