3,384 Thriambion 20,
K,
I went on a strange expedition. I hope you would be proud of my restraint.
It all started when Satyr Dawngreets began appearing in the farmlands outside of Neolantika. They were telling of a grand festival they planned to throw at the end of the month, celebrating a day holy to Satyrs called the Xenousia. All who wish to celebrate life were invited.
While Pericles didn’t believe much would amount from the satyrs, he thought it was still good to see them handled and advised me that he had encountered them years ago. They were abducting people by drugging them and people were willingly entering into an agreement when they didn’t know what they are doing though.
Tridax arranged for us to meet with, Leah, his Satyr contact at a farm south of Neolantika. After Anekdotos, Arktouros, Koal, and I left our arms with Ismenee, a farmer at the adjacent farm, we joined the crowd of 19 mostly peasants.
Leah led us southeast toward the Eldenwood. They danced and sang as they walked, and I joined in with some solid horn playing.
After an hour, we reached Eldenwood and Koal Messaged us that 30 more people were already dancing in the woods.
Entering the woods, we joined the celebration as it was beginning. Leah commenced the festivities with a feast supposedly donated by friendly farmers. She announced mud wrestling and drinking games followed by a speech and awards.
As everyone made merry, I assisted with bringing out the food and drink.
In the evening, the Grand Poobah, a buff Satyr named Goatbeard, made a speech from the stage, encouraging everyone to have fun and toasting the King of Revels.
Thridax informed us that the Satyrs are not from the Cult of Horns, but the dangerous and destructive Cult of Xenagos.
As a caped human began dancing on stage, Koal almost had an altercation with a Satyr and challenged him to a dance competition. Arktouros joined the dancing and showed everyone up.
I followed Anektdotos to the mudwrestling pit. Two wrestlers fell into the mud and started sinking until Anekdotos helped them out. Anekdotos won his first competition. He faced Diamedes in his second competition, who bested him though they both lost for falling in the mud.
I was fuming at Diamedes’ smugness and wanted to challenge him then and there, but I knew I had to be at my best in case any real fighting broke out.
Arktouros quickly bested Diamedes’ pupil. A satyr named Armoros arrived to judge the next wrestling match. Diamedes spread rumors about the polemarch starting the war against the Tritons and being unable to defend Neolantika. Arktouros challenged Diamedes, besting the champion quickly.
I was relieved that Arktouros had put Diamedes in his place, but this Armoros was an even worse braggart. I was itching to get into it with him.
Leah introduced Escales, a famous actor from Neolantika, to compete in the dance competition. A woman named Reora competed against Koal, besting him with her traditional moves.
Thridax caroused at the drinking games, joining a Satyr named Kytie with his lyre. Meanwhile, Kleon accepted a drinking challenge from a human named Nikomedes, adjudicated by a Satyr named Illeous. While they drank they needed to answer a numerical riddle. Kleon was unable to solve the riddle before he passed out from drinking. Illeous gave him a drink of something bitter to help him recover and he staggered off.
Thridax convinced Escales to swap cloaks.
Leah announced that the Grand Poobah would hand out awards at midnight. Then she left the camp to see the Grand Poobah. Later she called Thridax to the dancefloor and complained that Periandros had kicked them off his land.
Thridax shared that Leah might have seen his dad, who was in the Cult of Horns. Leah then vomited all over Anekdotos.
Armoros and Arktouros competed in the wrestling finale on the main stage. Arktouros quickly tossed Armoros from the stage. The defeated Satyr tried to attack him but Arktouros kicked him back down the stairs. Thridax heckled Armoros, who turned to attack him, but the Grand Poobah stopped him before I could.
Thridax suggested we investigate the Grand Poobah’s cave. Arktouros hung back at the party, while the rest of us followed Thridax. Koal was so drunk, I had to practically carry him. A Thornbearer guard tried to stop us, but Koal distracted him with vomit. Outside the cave, Thridax had to use his Suggestion to get a seductive Satyr to rest off her drunkenness.
Inside the cave were five potions against a wall, they were clear, red, orange, yellow, and blue. On the floor was a note that read:
Each potion affects if taken one way,
If the potion affects you at all.
One is drunk for health, one drunk for naught.
Others can bring your downfall.
Two vials have no power if swallowed,
Three have no power if touched.
One of these liquids will kill you,
Another won't do very much,
Another will bring you some good,
Another will rid you of sight.
The last potion you can take with you,
To poison your foes in a fight.
Mix any two vials and you'll see
The new colour is what you'd expect
And that your brand new concoction
Has both of the potion's effects
All purple potions will kill you,
Some green potion contains some good.
The original orange isn't neutral,
But is safe to put on your food.
Six mixes make orange potions,
And half of them, drank, make one blind,
Four of them certainly kill you,
Four can be used in a bind.
Thridax took a sip of the sweet orange potion, then the lemony yellow potion. Then Anekdotos took a sip of the blue potion and saw a rock that was the handle to the secret door.
Further in the cave was an altar. In the back were two crates and five barrels. Anekdotos said the altar was glowing. In the crates were glassware and pottery filled with silver. The barrels were filled with wine.
Thridax drank some blue potion and also saw a strange light coming from the altar.
We returned to the party as Arktouros was being awarded a crown of fire for winning the wrestling tournament. Reora was awarded for winning the dance tournament. Escales was awarded for winning the drinking tournament.
As everyone danced, the Grand Poobah was waving a scepter that Thridax said had the same glow as the altar.
Thridax questioned the Grand Poobah and grabbed his scepter to Identify it. Offended, the Grand Poobah subsequently banished us from their wood. Thridax wanted to rob the cave, but I convinced him it was dishonorable and we returned to Neolantika after retrieving our weapons.
I’m sure those Satyrs are up to no good, but after what happened with the Brethren, I can’t just go on hunches alone. As far as we know, everyone returned safely from the party to Neolantika.
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