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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Voadam" data-source="post: 8284171" data-attributes="member: 2209">Mythic Odysseys of Theros5eEidolon: When a mortal soul traumatically sacrifices its identity in order to escape the Underworld as a Returned; its identity manifests as a spirit-like eidolon.Returned have escaped the Underworld and dwell among the living once more, but their second lives are rarely what they expected-not that they remember what it was they expected. As a result of having followed the Path of Phenax, the Returned lose their identities, which manifest as separate beings known as eidolons.Since Phenax's escape, other souls have repeated his dangerous journey. When mortal souls travel the Path of Phenax, the Tartyx washes away their identities, symbolized by their faces, which become nothing more than blank flesh. Souls that successfully emerge on the mortal side of the Tartyx River become Returned with no knowledge of their former name or past life. As this is a known consequence, most souls forge a gold mask to carry with them. This mask becomes the proxy identity worn by all Returned. Souls' lost identities continue to exist, though, becoming eidolons, which scatter throughout the mortal realm, having no connection to their Returned bodies.Traveling the Path of Phenax can present an exciting but challenging option for most parties, as it results in affected characters becoming a monster of some type-either an eidolon or a Returned.Walking the Path of Phenax doesn't restore a soul to its life. Those who return from the Underworld are hollow shells inhabited by grim and purposeless spirits. These Returned are separated from their memories, which become wandering eidolons. They retain their personalities and skills, but each Returned tends to be a very different being from who they once were.Phenax, Eidolon: ?Flitterstep Eidolon: ?Varyas, Flitterstep Eidolon: ?Ghostblade Eidolon: Ghostblade eidolons typically arise from fallen warriors and believe they're endlessly embroiled in great battles.Phylaskia: ?Returned: Returned have escaped the Underworld and dwell among the living once more, but their second lives are rarely what they expected-not that they remember what it was they expected. As a result of having followed the Path of Phenax, the Returned lose their identities, which manifest as separate beings known as eidolons. The experience of escaping the Underworld also causes them to lose their faces, which become expressionless surfaces with empty eye sockets and gaping mouths.Phenax was once a mortal who, like all mortals, passed on to Erebos's care in the Underworld when his time among the living came to an end. But Phenax found a way to escape the Underworld by sacrificing his identity to the memory-draining waters therein. He was able to cross the Rivers That Ring the World wrapped in a shred of Athreos's cloak. Since he had no identity, Athreos couldn't detect him, and thus Erebos couldn't use his great lash to pull Phenax back. When he emerged back into the realm of mortals, he did so as the first of the Returned. In time, others discovered this quandary of metaphysics, which is now known as the Path of Phenax.The necropoleis of Asphodel and Odunos are home to the Returned-zombie-like beings who have escaped the clutches of the underworld at the cost of their identities.Before becoming a god, Phenax died, passed into Erebos's realm, and ultimately escaped the Underworld. His escape route, the Path of Phenax, has since been employed by rare, but over the ages innumerable, individuals.Walking the Path of Phenax doesn't restore a soul to its life. Those who return from the Underworld are hollow shells inhabited by grim and purposeless spirits. These Returned are separated from their memories, which become wandering eidolons. They retain their personalities and skills, but each Returned tends to be a very different being from who they once were.Since Phenax's escape, other souls have repeated his dangerous journey. When mortal souls travel the Path of Phenax, the Tartyx washes away their identities, symbolized by their faces, which become nothing more than blank flesh. Souls that successfully emerge on the mortal side of the Tartyx River become Returned with no knowledge of their former name or past life.Traveling the Path of Phenax can present an exciting but challenging option for most parties, as it results in affected characters becoming a monster of some type-either an eidolon or a Returned.Returned Drifter: ?Returned Kakomantis: Although the dead typically recall little of their lives, some have an obsession with magic that survives both death and rebirth as a Returned.Some theorize that in life each kakomantis was a spell caster, and the trip along the Path of Phenax corrupted their abilities.Returned Palamnite: These Returned led violent Jives, existences filled with such pain and hatred that violence now suffuses their deathless bodies.Returned Sentry: Most new or purposeless Returned are easily manipulated into serving their more forceful brethren. Having purpose forced upon them, these Returned perform simple, artless tasks with middling efficiency. Their one virtue is their tirelessness, which makes them exceptional guards. In the necropoleis, this sees many Returned employed as sentries, though they might also be messengers or laborers.Returned Sentry Triton: ?Phenax, Returned: Phenax was once a mortal who, like all mortals, passed on to Erebos's care in the Underworld when his time among the living came to an end. But Phenax found a way to escape the Underworld by sacrificing his identity to the memory-draining waters therein. He was able to cross the Rivers That Ring the World wrapped in a shred of Athreos's cloak. Since he had no identity, Athreos couldn't detect him, and thus Erebos couldn't use his great lash to pull Phenax back. When he emerged back into the realm of mortals, he did so as the first of the Returned. In time, others discovered this quandary of metaphysics, which is now known as the Path of Phenax.Tymaret the Murder King, Returned: When Phenax made his escape from the Underworld, there was one witness to his escape, an unremarkable soul called Tymaret. Sharing what he'd seen with the god of the dead, Tymaret received a cursed blessing from Erebos: he would be restored to the mortal world, but as a Returned, and with the task of slaying Phenax.Returned Raider: ?Returned Bandit: ?Erebos, Returned: ?Undead: Those who don't have a coin with them when they die and aren't given funeral rites have no means to pay Athreos's toll and thus have no way of reaching their place of rest. These lost souls primarily collect along the Tartyx's shores where they languish or beg for coins to pay for their passage. Some wander away from the shore, though, becoming ghosts or other undead.Dangerous Undead: ?Wayward Undead: ?Evil Undead: ?Black Oak of Odunos, Amalgam of Undeath: Before Odunos became a necropolis, it was a thriving city akin to Akros or Meletis. When the city fell before Phenax's assembled forces, some ofthe populace begged the god of lies to spare them the touch of Erebos's dread lash. Never one to miss an opportunity to cheat Erebos, Phenax made a solemn promise to those asking for his mercy, assuring them that they wouldn't be forced into the Underworld, on his honor. Soon afterward, the Returned that had invaded the city murdered these people to the last one whereupon Phenax, true to his word, bound their bodies and souls to a great oak, making a terrifying amalgam of undeath to guard Odunos and haunt the living for eternity.Ghoul: ?Ghost: Those who don't have a coin with them when they die and aren't given funeral rites have no means to pay Athreos's toll and thus have no way of reaching their place of rest. These lost souls primarily collect along the Tartyx's shores where they languish or beg for coins to pay for their passage. Some wander away from the shore, though, becoming ghosts or other undead.Restless Ghost: Sometimes these dead are restless ghosts that can't pass into the Underworld until they finish a piece of business.Restless Dead: ?Shadow: ?Specter: A nightmare shepherd takes over a crossing and doesn't allow souls to pass into the Underworld. As a result, they become specters that harass the living in the mortal world.Wraith: The victims of the canyon's inhabitants rise as wraiths determined to end all life in the area.Fiery Zombie: ?</blockquote>

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