The dark princess

Greetings and warmest wishes oh spectacular and transcendent matriarch, 

  It has been a challenging couple of days since I last wrote. The companions have had a challenging time, success entwined with moral torment. I suppose I should start by where I left off. After a few moments sitting near the damp stone wall to catch my breath, the other companions had questions for the survivor Philion. During the questioning the helot nearly died, so weak was his constitution after being the plaything of these creatures. Nicolos tended to him and helped him into our boat, surrounded by the water putting him at ease. While the companions cared for Philion, I examined the creatures lair for clues to their nature or history. I found several more of those wooden boxes called coffins. Each inscribed with a series of names, as if they were repurposed several times. There was also a stone seemingly marked with tallies by chisel or talon, well over 200 marks. I know not if they measure days, years, or some other measure. As will become apparent later, the thought of years is less laughable than you might expect.

  Our companion Silenos moved quietly up an unexplored passage, hearing muffled voices he returned. He and I stalked into the darkness, well less dark for us than others. Lady Thalia and the bird companion are not made for quiet. Getting closer I was able to note the conversation was between a man and a woman. Both speaking the Persian tongue, thankfully I’ve a gift for language thanks to father’s auspice. I was able to steal my way closer I was able to see the speakers. The man was dressed in the Spartan fashion, less the iconic helm and shield. The other was a veiled woman, in more Persian style, with a belt festooned with various pouches and vials. It seemed to indicate a magus of some sort perhaps. They stood in some improbably lush wild space, water and moonlight filtering in from a rock chimney of some height.

 Silenos and I slinked back to the other companions. We imparted what we saw and overheard. Ladies Thalia and Alexandra, and Ouroboros would approach the pair directly to converse. Silenos and I would move to an adjacent space under the cover of silence to observe and flank should it go to confrontation. Lady Thalia acted and the herald for the companions. There was a good deal of back and forth we eventually settled on some truths. The creatures we encountered are spawns of the woman. She claimed to be the princess Drypetis of Persia, daughter of Darius, the wife to Alexander’s most trusted companion Hephestian. I don’t know much of that history, but Lady Alexandra seemed convinced as was Thalia.  Drypetis indicated that she lives beyond death as a creature of night. She called her kind a vampire. She created the creatures, called spawn, we encountered on our arrival. They survive by drinking the blood of sentients. She indicated that the problems Nicolos and others found in the village, wain youth near unto death, were caused by one of her former spawns who stole free will and broke with Drypetis. The end of the dialogue resulted in us undertaking the silencing of this creature known as Nicomeadus; in exchange she would share the secret of Alexander that she’s been guarding for years untold. This is expected to be the arcane circle that Alexandra has been tasked to seek. Drypetis told us of how to slay her kind so that we could better cope with Nicomeadus.

With that the companions retreated leaving the Princess and her bodyguard to their own means. It became time to discuss the possibility of outcomes for Philion. He’d been in this cave complex as an aperitif for some time. He knew of the creatures who reside here and that would be their undoing. It would also spell an end to the guardianship of the arcane secret. The companions were split about what they should do. Some wanted to turn Philion free, others suggested turning him back over to the Princess’s ministrations, likely condemning him to replace her recently deceased spawn. Other’s counseled let him pass from this world quietly. However, as was warned by Drypetis we would need to burn the body lest it rise from the grave. Round and round the companions spoke of freedom, choice, fate and lofty things. For myself I could only think of Amos. Amos was a deck hand and carpenter on my voyage to the isle of Sicily. After a storm one of the seams of our ship started taking on water, Amos after patching internally was lowered over the side so he could patch the exterior. His harness slipped in the choppy water, sliding him along the hull where some barnacles sliced into his feet and calf. Over the next week Amos’s came struck with a fever, and his wounds wept and limbs swelled. It wasn’t long until we could see the faint green and dark veins of the rot. He was sick, not likely to recover, but if he had any hope at all it would mean both his feet and one leg. The crew myself included were wracked with what to do for Amos. It was finally the captain who decided to shoulder this choice, and he quickly and carefully slit Amos’s neck, letting him pass from this world into the next. The captain explained that sometimes doing nothing was the greater unkindness. We said words over Amos’s body and sent him to the depths.

Just as I was reflecting on this, I could see Ouroboros attempting to explain the situation to Philion. He became more and more freightened, panicked, trying to back away and flailing about. In his panic he fell over the side. Ouroborus suggested we all look away for a moment, at the same time the spectral hand of Alexandra appeared and pulled Philion to the depths of the pool. Several people tried to pry him free, but the arcane hand was mightier. Seeing the wisdom and kindness in the act, I sped the water into Philion’s lungs, drawing his misery to a close. I hope he finds a peace he didn’t know in life. Nicolos wasn’t very happy with the entire situation but agreed to perform some rites to lay him to rest before we put him to the pyre. With smoke billowing in the cavern, we ascended the river course and out of the complex.

The companions all needed some space to consider next steps. Some went to the temple to check on the other victims and to relay a warning about burning the dead. We later find out the Ouroboros found a lead to the villainous Nicomeadus. Silenos and I went in search of the son of Philion. I explained I was a sailor recently come to port and that we’d found a body adrift in the bay. It had been savaged and gnawed upon as happens to bodies at sea. I explained that I’d found this moonstone ring, that I’d come across, clutched in his hand. It felt like the right thing to return it. Hopefully it will buy some peace with his father’s fate and some comfort for some time.

We all eventually found ourselves back at the Temple to Apollo. That’s when we’d learned that Ouroboros had found the lair of Nicomeadus. The hour was in the twilight, and we had been told to see him during the day when he was most vulnerable. Ouroboros didn’t want to wait. Several others wanted to go the following morning when we would have the advantage. Much discussion went back and forth eventually leading to Ouroboros accepting the delay. Silenos communed with Artemis and verified that he sensed the waking dead, fiends and dragons within a mile of the port. This was disturbing indeed.

The following morning, we went to the villa Ouroboros told us of. I volunteered to have a bit of a peek and see. There were normal household activities going on, but there was an upper floor suite that seemed to be shrouded. Lowering myself over the side the villa, I was able to tease open the window and slip the curtains apart to peer inside. As a blade of light stretched across the room, the form of a man rose screaming in pain from the sheets. Acting quickly, I dove inside and thrust a wooden stake into his chest as we had been bidden to do by Princess Drypetis.  It seemed to do nothing. I equally quickly dove out the window, catching the whole of the curtains and ripping them free as I dove. The massive influx of light caused Nicomeadus to scream even louder and flail about himself. The Lady Alexandra must have heard because in moments the shining light of Apollo bloomed up in the chamber showering it with radiance. Now smoking with tongues of fire licking up from his flesh, Nicomeadus dove from his room into the central courtyard. He rolled through the small pool and fountain and wedged himself between the wall and ceiling as his flesh knit. I know not who, but one or more of the companions struck Nicomeadus with radiant blasts, further igniting him. Howling in pain and panic Nicomeadus fled into the morning, eventually ending as a statue of quickly crumbling ash. Lying in the pile of ash was an amulet of some sort dedicated to Hades, which we felt would serve as proof of deeds done.

With evidence in hand, we returned to the halls of Drypetis and were eventually shown to a space beyond verdant cover where a circle of some import had been inscribed into the living rock and filled with metal. Lady Alexandra confirmed this was the object she’d been tasked to seek. Further three puzzle boxes of some sort that served as keys were given into her care. Drypetis indicated she would remain and continue to guard her charge. We’re not certain what’s next, nor how everyone feels in light of events, but another task is complete.

I miss you daily and look forward to my eventual return.

Gyasi