Session XXII - A grounded spear, a rising path

6/8/42 Aper Tertius (mid-afternoon)

The party reach the obelisk in the valley to discover it is carved upside down, emulating a spear plunged into the ground. It tells the tale of the Flint-bearer.

They spend the night here with a sense of peace over them, agreeing to tackle the pilgrimage in a single day.

7/8/42 Aper Tertius

The group journey to the base of the mountain, leaving offerings at a small statuette of Maahet near the base of the path up. 

A short while in they spot a body, fallen from the path. Batthu ventures down to find it but discovers is was not really there. She feels a sense of peace pass over her for her altruism. 

Around midday they find a group of Dire Vultures. Tian attempts to lure them off using bait but ends up becoming surrounded. The group manages to extract him with violence and heads further along the path. Tian and Batthu begin struggling but as night falls they see lights up ahead on the mesa. They are eventually greeted by three bald monks who shows them to a hidden settlement. These monks don't speak but are friendly. The people living there seem to respect the monks but did not share a vow of silence.

The head monk takes the group to a private chapel where she washes their feet and then speaks softly to them. She is called Isha and she is the leader of the settlement and the cult of Maahet. In this sanctum speaking is permitted by the monks to their own. Due to the pilgimage, Isha has determined that they meet this criteria.

She speaks of the coming of the desert gods....

Diechtine, the River Mother, stepped forth from the north. Her steps carved a valley before her and brought a river behind her. From the river came her children. She brought with her people, who were to live here. Ahom, the eagle, who flew over and remained watchful. He ensured all was seen and kept justice. Maahet tended the land and taught how to use the things that grew. She brought people together. Sochet, the crocodile, patrolled the waters, to keep the people safe. Sabba was to patrol the borders. Over time Sabba became jealous of their siblings and disappeared into the sands, never to be seen again.

Isha offered them beds and sustenance.