The Riddle of the Sphinx
June 5, 2022
- Antonio (Tiefling Hexblade) – Mark
- Athyra (Tiefling Rogue) – Katherine
- Murky Waters (Lizardfolk Druid) – Ross
- Zedicus Cypher (Dragonborn Fighter) – Jacquelyn
- Zippideedoodah Dibbler (Tinker Gnome Artificer) – Paul
The adventurers made their way up the stairs on the mountainside toward the fog-shrouded top with Zip piloting their stolen skyboat while the party guided him by a tetherline. At one point, they found their way to what they believed was the Aerie of the Sphinx but it was actually an illusion woven by a Lamia and her Harpy minions who would prey on pilgrims seeking the Sphinx.
Upon reaching the summit of the mountain after sundown, the adventurers were challenged by the Sphinx to answer her riddle and, when they failed, she transported them to the Shadowfell where they would have to learn the answer by approaching a weird lighthouse with all manner of writing scrawled on it.
A Banshee was bound to the lighthouse and her wailing summoned a herd of Wretched and a spindly Lost Sorrowsworn. Recognizing the monster for what it was and reading the inscriptions on the lighthouse, Antonio surmised the answer to the Sphinx’ riddle was “The Lost” and they made it back as quick as they could to answer the Sphinx, who then transported them back to her Aerie in Baxia.
Having successfully answered the riddle, the heroes asked the Sphinx how they can defeat the Orc Menace. She told them to eliminate the wizard Alledrekma, the source of their power, and to seek him at the Wailing Cliffs of the Vazabio Mountains. Zip, whose own question concerned the murder of his master, found his destiny intertwined with the adventurers when the Sphinx told him the killer’s identity was Alledrekma.
Exhausted from their long, long day, Zip sailed the party back to the pyramid where they used the Aquaportal to return to the pyramid of Salabima, two thousand miles to the east.