- Sydon (appendix A) is not currently in his tower. Instead, he is checking on the progress of the fleet that he has assembled to send against the city of Mytros. He only returns when he senses that there are intruders on this floor. Sydon senses intruders in the following events:
The heroes kill the cerberus (area S30)
The heroes open the final door to The Vault (area S31)
The heroes release the dying star (area S34)
It takes Sydon 1d6 minutes to return to the tower, and he does so by emerging from the magical map on the floor of the Throne Room (area S28) to hunt down the intruders.
When he finds the heroes, read out the following:
The heroes have two options: forge a new oath, or fight. If the Gifted One is present, then Sydon will pause as he recognizes them.
If the silver dragon, Nephele, is with the heroes, possessed by the Gifted One’s grandmother or not, then she shrieks in rage, transforms into her Adult Silver Dragon form and attacks.
A New Oath#
If the heroes decide to forge a new oath with Sydon, read the following:
Despite Sydon’s demands, he is willing to negotiate. The heroes may attempt to sway him with one of the arguments below, or present their own reasoning.
Fear of the Father (Pythor’s Advice). The heroes can claim that Kentimane disapproves of what his son has done. His wrath is coming, and it will be terrible. Sydon must swear an Oath of Peace, binding himself to commit no violence against the settler people of Thylea for a fixed time. Such an oath will stay his father’s hand and prove Sydon’s wisdom. This requires a successful DC 25 Charisma (Deception) check.
Sydon is no King (Kyrah’s Advice). True gods are loved, not feared. The heroes offer a path to that devotion: Sydon swears an Oath of Protection, binding himself to defend the settler races of Thylea when they call upon him. This requires a successful DC 20 Charisma (Persuasion) check. Even with a successful check, Sydon will not grant the oath freely. The heroes must swear an Oath of Service, binding themselves to a future task of his choosing.
Sydon’s Offer. If the heroes have no counteroffer to Sydon or fail to convince him with one of their other gambits, then Sydon demands they swear an indefinite Oath of Service to him and proclaim him King of the Gods. The Five imposter gods must return their power to him and his sister. Their children are to be revered as the new pantheon. In return, he will make the heroes the new Lords of Thylea. They can take whichever cities they please, and his armies will ensure the sanctity of their thrones.
If a new oath is sworn, Sydon calls off his invasion of Mytros and allows the heroes to leave his tower. If no agreement has been made with Lutheria and she still lives, Sydon warns them that the new oath holds no power over his sister.
For more information on the oaths, please refer to appendix D in The Great Labors.
Fighting Sydon#
Fighting Sydon will be difficult. One of his few weaknesses is his supreme confidence that he can defeat them alone. The party may have gained several advantages in their fight against Sydon:
The Fallen Star. Helping the fallen star escape from the Hall of Travel (area S34). If the heroes freed the star, then they should have the benefit of the Foresight spell.
The Furies. The heroes might be able to forge a pact with the Furies in The Room of Far Sight (area S33). Having done that, they could lure Sydon into that chamber and use the Orrery to gain an advantage. Sydon does not know that the Orrery has the power of time stop, and he will pursue heroes if they retreat here. Sydon’s Retreat. Sydon has no desire to fight to the
death at this point. His fleet is already gathering for an attack on Mytros, and there is no reason for him to remain here bickering with mortals.
If you want the Lord of Storms to participate in the Battle for Mytros, then he should escape through the magical map when he is Bloodied.
Death of the Storm Titan#
If the heroes manage to kill Sydon, read the following:
This Is Not a Skill Check Scene Do not let this moment feel like “roll Persuasion to win.” The dice matter, but they should never replace the players’ words. Let the heroes speak first, and allow their arguments to determine whether they gain Advantage on any skill checks.
With utter amazement, Sydon realizes he is dying. He cannot comprehend defeat. Rage overwhelms his features as life leaves his body. At the very last second, he screams, and his body is consumed by lightning as a massive storm rages overhead. When the lightning stops, the Titan’s body is gone, leaving behind the scent of fresh rain, which blows away on the wind.
