Areus nods as Tisto speaks "We will never leave this place if we do not decide." says to both Callaphe and Soren. "We will not be able to stop Callisto from here."

"Unfortunately looks like if we all do not make a decision, we are going to be stuck in here." Saya says to the group.

Callaphe looks between the two gods, then her friends. "There is a cycle, a natural order of things. The hunt must be finished. Callisto needs to die to maintain that order."

Soren looks distressed as his eyes flit from one god to the other "I suppose you will not let us leave if we don't choose. Because of that, and only for that reason, I choose Kruphix."

Areus briefly shakes his head and says to both Gods "It looks like that we have made a decision. Our group will support Kruphix."

"See Boss - they came around to your point of view eventually!" Tisto thinks at Kruphix with a smiley face "now lighten-up will you?"

Saya readies her shield and battleaxe. ”We have decided. I am ready to what comes next.”

“It is decided then. As a mark of good will, I grant you each the Blessing of Unbound Potential. ” Kruphix intones, as the stars part beneath you, revealing a whirling vortex of darkness, “we shall deliver you to where you need to be.” The astral dimension begins to ripple and tear, ripping itself away from you as your mind tumbles into the void. 

You stand on a road paved with bone, a row of ruined houses to your right and a river to your left. The wind howls and cries despite being perfectly still. The air feels both too thin and too thick. Shadows cloak the world, twisting and turning in the corner of your eye. No sun adorns the sky. You look again at the river — its waters are unfathomably black, yet something about it seems familiar...

Areus holding his spear in a defensive stance, turns around scanning the area "Where are we? This does not like Theros at all."

Areus holding his spear in a defensive stance, turns around scanning the area "Where are we? This does not like Theros at all."

Tisto smiles and says with a grin "it's as sure as hell not Kansas either!" he pauses and then continues "I don't know why I said that I've never even hear of Kansas. Oh well I must have heard the saying somewhere probably in some taverna!"

I need each of you to make a Wisdom (Perception) or Wisdom (Survival) check

and

another Wisdom (Perception) check.

Areus perception check 7  and survival 14
            

Saya Survival: 10, Perception: 12

Saya looks around trying to get her bearings. "Why do I have a bad feeling about this place?"

Tisto's Wisdom (both Perception and Survival have a '0' modifier) checks - 1st = 6 / 2nd 14

Survival: 10

Perception: 19

Perception X 2 10 10

Perhaps its the nature of her trade, or her instincts to survive, but Callaphe is able to recognize the feeling of familiarity that each of you have regarding your surroundings.  Areus is half a step behind her but also makes the connection.

The river is the Kheir which runs through Meletis. You realize that you are in a dark mirror of Meletis.  While the city looks...familiar it is also strange.

It all makes sense now.  You were killed by the god Mogis and you are still dead and are now in the Underworld.  Kruphix did not restore your lives but sent you to the underworld.  As these revelations come clear several things happen at once. 

On the ground at your feet you see the Green Fragment of the Elpis Mask.  One of you quickly picks it up.  As they do so you see that it is made of marble with green colored veins of mana. It smells like verdant forests and feels somehow alive.  

As you pick up the mask fragment the echoing voice of Kruphix is heard in your heads "Keep the fragments from Calisto and find the last fragment.  Black is its color.  And remember your bargain and do not try to cheat me...You must spare her life when retrieving the Ainoe mask from her." 

Without having time to rest and attune to the green mask you stuff it in a pack.  As you look about trying to decide what to do or where to go next you realize that your disorientation has allowed your quarry to sneak up on you.

The warlady Calisto emerges from the ruined buildings. She’s clad in splint armor, and armed with a battleaxe of black metal. She wears a smaller axe on her belt. The Ainoe mask obscures her features, and her dark hair falls down her back in a thick braid. Calisto and three minotaurs have caught you unawares, emerging from the ruins to surround you on three sides with the river to your back.

You recognize all three minotaurs - Gundak of the Golddust family whose life you saved when you first arrived in the Planes of Strife.  You saw him die on the battle against Dakun when you collected the red fragment; Nalke of the Mocid family who aided you and it seems must have died at some point; and Dakun of the Felhide family, the one you killed to gain the red fragment.

Dakun snarls, brandishing his own battleaxe and is clearly keen for a fight while Gundak and Nalke seem more standoffish and not so ready to fight.

Calisto does not immediately attack but does speak.  "And so here we are.  Like flies caught in a trap.  Have you come to seek the black fragment as well?"

"So... You are the one called Calisto. I wonder what makes you so special that even the Gods have a keen interest in you." Says Saya half seriously. She nods towards Gundak and Nalke. She tries to determine if they are friends or foes. (Insight: 24). She takes a non-threatening step towards Calisto. "Now, if we ask nicely for you to hand over your mask, what would you say?" She asks seriously.

Gundak and Nalke do not appear to be enemies and seem friendly to you. And yet they are with Calisto...

Calisto laughs. "I would consider you fools to think it was that easy." She says in answer to Saya's question.

Realising that he and the others are still dead confuses a bit Areus, but he soon shakes off the feeling. He starts to say "We have to..." as Calisto speaks to the group interrupting him.

The Akroan seeing Calisto, the person that played and betrayed him, grasps with all his strength the shaft of his spear making his knuckles white as he restrains himself. "We meet again." replies as much calm as possible. "You state the obvious. We are here for the Black Fragment as you and your companions are." he pauses before adding "The Ainoe mask does not suit you, it may be for the better to consider to hand it over as my friend Saya just asked you."  Persuasion 14