Season 3, EP 2: Ezodwyn

When the group finally arrived from their long trek in the desert, they came upon a weird sight: An old oasis town, seemingly stuck in time. Many stone statues of people were scattered around the old town. Very quickly, they realized that these weren't statues, they were people, tuned to stone.

Seeking further advice, they sought to use one of two vials of Stone to Flesh on one particularly well kept statue. Carefully pulling out the vial, Sam sprinkled it over the man, and his body slowly shifted from stone to reveal an older gentleman who was none other than the famous historian: Aldous Brec.

After revealing to him of how long he's been a statue, Aldous pleaded the group to find Leyon and pointed them toward the hidden dungeon door. When they got to the entrance, they saw old Aarakorcan text, very similar to Draco's Heel, carved on the floor with arcane runes, protecting it from outsiders.

THE BLOOD OF MY ANCESTORS SHALL SHOW ME THE WAY

Taking a chance, Crystal took a dagger and sliced her hand to release blood on the arcane runes and revealed that something in her blood allowed the door to open.

The dungeon’s interior echoed the bizarre, alien architecture of Draco’s Heel, filled with intricate puzzles that barred their path. Solving these riddles, the party activated a magical elevator, descending deeper into the earth’s crust. Within these subterranean levels, they encountered numerous grotesque aberrations and the occasional cursed Githyanki, creatures unlike any they had ever seen. The encounters were disorienting, pushing their understanding of reality. One particular door led to a chamber filled with destroyed statues. Among the rubble, a single, remarkably preserved statue stood out: that of a Githyanki woman locked in mid-combat with a basilisk. The party, at a loss for how to proceed in this strange, alien dungeon, decided to use one of their only two vials of “Stone to Flesh” on the mysterious figure.

As the statue transformed, the newly freed being met them with unbridled ferocity. However, through quick thinking and a display of non-aggression, they managed to convey they were not enemies. The warrior calmed, revealing herself to be Vyska, a mighty Githyanki warrior, trained in the royal knightdom of Tu’narath (a kingdom entirely alien to the party's understanding of Sidera). Vyska, recognizing their shared opposition to the forces at play, chose to share a profound and terrifying hidden history of Regalia.

She spoke of a time many thousands of years ago when great wars raged simultaneously across the world.

"You fight against forces you barely comprehend. It's time you understood. This world you call Regalia... I know it as Sidera. Many thousands of years ago, great wars raged simultaneously across different planes. The Aarakocra battled the Cult of the Dragon, the Gith fought the Thay. Many forces are fighting for the control of Sidera."

Recognizing Thane's tiefling horns, her eyes lingered on Thane "My ancestors fought in this great war," she continued, "as did yours."

"What do you mean, 'my ancestors'?" Thane interjected, a flicker of confusion and unease in his eyes.

"Baator, the Nine Hells? The Blood War between Demons and Devils? You've probably heard of it. It's all connected. Forces from all planes vie for control of Sidera." She continued, "In the Aarakocra's desperation to protect Regalia, they unlocked a vault containing ancient and dangerous Netherese scrolls. Scrolls that were locked away for a reason. These scrolls held two critical blueprints: The first blueprint was for weapons to fight their Blood Moon enemies..."

Sam frowned. "We found those already."

"Helpful, but negligible in the grand scheme of things." retorted Vyska. "The second blueprint was the Four Pillars of Aegis. The defense weapon meant to save Sidera from outsiders."

Crystal questioned, "What are these Pillars? What do they do?"

"They were conceived as a solution," Vyska corrected, a grim edge to her voice. "A way to hide Sidera from outside forces. This world of yours has immense power, something within Sidera's core energizes its inhabitants. Particularly in Regalia. Its people have great untapped power hidden within them just for being born here. Outsiders know this...want this...desire it...you are simply a juicy fruit waiting to be plucked by predators willing to satiate their appetite for power. The Pillars were meant to suppress Sidera’s vibrant magical beacon. But the Aarakocra, magical beings themselves, tragically misunderstood its side effect..."

"So the Aarakocra didn't go extinct from natural causes," Goen's face turned dark, "they were their own demise."

Vyska looked to Goen, "Precisely." her voice dropped, filled with a chilling solemnity. "Slowly, over years of suffocation, Sidera indeed lost its bright beacon, safely tucked away from prying eyes. But at a devastating cost. These Pillars slowly drained the Aarakocra of their very lifeforce, little by little. And just like that, the last voices of the Aarakocra vanished from the world."

Crystal stepped forward, "So why are YOU here? And what of my ancestor, Leyon?"

"Legion." Vyska replied.

"We've heard this name before." Sam noted, "First at Wave Echo Cave, second at Draco's Heel, then from Ramiel."

She continued, "After millennia had passed, a new group emerged, calling themselves 'Legion'. These zealots, so indoctrinated in their beliefs, found the four Pillars, read the texts, and convinced they were the key to unlocking what they termed the 'Prophecy of Truth'. They truly believe that they are helping Regalia, to Become One with a higher power they simply referred to as 'Mother'.

Wong's brow furrowed, "That is madness! They want to feed us to our enemy?!"

"Yes, and thanks to them, your enemies now know of Sidera's power. You are no longer hidden from outsiders. You're like a beacon at sea, luring predators for a hungry snack. The Pillars do nothing now except to suppress your true potential. There's nothing you can do about that...however, you can make them work for it! Go down fighting. I was sent on one last quest: At the four corners of Regalia, find the four Pillars buried deep within the earth and give that power back to its people. Give them the power to defend themselves."

This new lore dump gave the group a lot to think about, but Vyska being the paladin herself, promised to help the group on their adventure, recognizing that their missions are aligned.

Together, they made their way through the dungeon, cutting their way toward its core, and the final floor that housed one of the four Pillars, protected by none other than Leyon himself, trapped in the body of a Mindflayer.