The Lazarus Expedition: Episode 06

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==Synopsis==
The party, on their way out of the desert, confront Saffron over her selling a fake magical potion to to the party. Saffron ties to escape, but eventually gives up and refunds the party their money. Saffron is convinced by Cassian that she had to travel with them to Bellwind to repay her debt in full. Everyone makes it back to the walled Village and get their horse back and rest for a week before traveling towards Bellwind. 2 days before they get to Bellwind they see a Village under attack by bandits. The party kill or drive off the bandits in the town and then rest up in the village for a week.
==Recap==
===Fight with the Scam Artist Continues===
We continue the combat that began last episode. Saffron Shadowwalker had attempted to scam the party by selling them a fake magical potion. When the potion didn't work she went invisible and tried to flee. Cassian managed to hit her and make her visible again. Styrmir cast Calm Emotions on everyone.
: Combat: Party vs Saffron Shadowwalker
* Round 2: The party hold their actions, not wanting to hurt Saffron directly. Just wanting her to stand down. Saffron holds her hands in the air and pretends to negotiate, but casts the spell Mirror Image, creating some fake copies of herself. Vasher & Cassian try to attack her but miss. She dashes away from the party. The party give chase.
* Round 3: Styrmir is unable to keep up due to his exhaustion crossing the desert. Roy Waystar joins the chase after Saffron, not wanting to magically attack her since she hasn't attacked the party. Vasher casts Compel Duel which succeeds. Saffron casts sleep spell, making Cassian fall asleep. Saffron then passes a Wisdom Saving throw to move away from Vasher with her mirror images. 
* Round 4: Styrmir throws a rock at Cassian to wake him up but misses. Roy decides to use a Firebolt which hits the real Saffron. Catches up to Saffron and casts Vasher Compel Duel again. Saffron casts sleep spell but it isn't strong enough to knock out Vasher. She tries to flee and Vasher gets an opportunity attack, hitting the real Saffron. 
* Round 5: Styrmir casts Thaumaturgy to try to wake Cassian with a loud shout but it fails. Roy moves to Cassian and physically wakes him up with a slap. Vasher catches up to Saffron, then Saffron flees.
* Round 6: Vasher gives chase. Saffron again flees but is stopped by the Compel Duel. She then casts Sleep on Vasher, but again it isn't powerful enough. Cassian starts to catch up to the 2.
* Round 7: Vasher catches up and hits Saffron. Saffron shoves Vasher but achieves nothing. So she gives up and returns the gold to Vasher.
: Combat Ends
Roy and Cassian catch-up as Styrmir talks with Saffron's minstrel companions. Vasher casts Cure Wounds on Saffron as a sign of good faith. Saffron came from the previous town the party were at and heard from Fenix that the party were dealing with a hydra in the desert and running out of water. Fenix talked about the way the party had trusted him with their horse and trusted that he would come back. Roy is excited that stories about the party are spreading.
Meanwhile Styrmir uses thaumaturgy to intimidate the minstrel companions. They have no money to give him to repay the money she took. Styrmir takes some food and water and sits down.
The party return to Styrmir and the minstrels. Saffron claims the potion she sold the party was a failed potion and everyone just overeacted. The minstrels accuse Styrmir of theft, but Styrmir denies it, but admits he took some food. Cassian gives Saffron 2 gold for the food that Styrmir took.
Everyone then head back to the walled village. On the way the party talk with Saffron. She talks about the stories she heard about the party. The topic turns to that of resurrection and Saffron shares the story she had heard about it.
:They say very first king of the very first city that ever existed lived for a thousand years because every time he got old and died he was resurrected again and at the time when he was resurrected he was resurrected as a young man in full form.
The also talks about Drexl the Bloodthirsty, who kept coming back from death and plagued the world in the Ages of Mist.
Styrmir asks if there were any more recent stories. Saffron heard rumours of the elves using resurrection, but believes they are just long lived instead. The elves live in the woods on the North-East peninsula, over the mountains, also over in the west as well.
Styrmir asks about how to make healing potions, but Saffron says that it is too complex to explain at the moment. Styrmir believes she really can't make potions at all.
===Back to the Walled Village===
The party arrive back at the Walled Village. Fenix and Scamp are also back in town, having searched the desert for the party. The party wish to rest for a week. The party try to convince Saffron to rest for a week also.
Saffron explains she had been hired to escort the minstrels to Bellwind. 
The party talk about their goal to get the Scroll of Resurrection for Good King Arnold. That she could come with them on this journey and take the other treasures since they don't need them. She will travel with the party as far as Bellwind then talk more. Cassian mentions Heatstroke. She says to get to Heatstroke they have to go though the Badlands then the Swamp, then across the plains, then though a forest, then though the eastern desert to get there. A long journey. She will think about.
The trip to Bellwind would take 4 or 5 days and there are bandits on the road. Saffron is convinced and convinces the mistrals.
During the week of rest the party get new supplies to replace those they lost to the hydra attack. They are unable to get a cart, but are able to buy a Donkey to carry their supplies. They are unable to find any bedrolls to purchase in town.
==Experience==
309 exp each
==Recap==
===Journey to Bellwind===
The party, Dara and Plax, set out with Saffron and the Minstrels towards Bellwind. 
On their second day of travel the party split ways with Dara the Merchant who arrives at her destination. Dara pays the party 7 gold for the escort and says she will spread stories about Roy and the Waystars.
Later on the second day the party see a huge boat on the Great River. The ship carries the flag of an unknown place, with the symbol being 3 camel prints. On board are nobles having a party. Plax identifies them as people who had previously owned him and used to work loading & unloading luxuries to that very ship many times. The Waystars find it abhorrent to for nobles to use slavery while living such a life of luxury. 
The party keep traveling. The next day they see a village being under attack by a band of bandits. Vasher is one wearing Leather Armor at the moment, with the rest of the party without, having lost theirs in the Hydra Attack. Roy's Familar, Vika, is still dead at the moment.
The party hop into action to fight off the bandits. Saffron urges the party not to get involved.
: Combat: Party vs Bandits Raiding Town
* There are 4 bandit archers on nearby rooftops, and 4 bandit archers on further away rooftops. There is a mounted Bandit Captain on a camel.
* Round 1: Styrmir casts bless on himself, Cassian & Vasher. Roy casts Magic Missile at 2 of the bandit archers on rooftop. 2 bandit archers on rooftops fire at the party. 1 flee having lost moral after beeing hit by a magic missile. A bandit captain rides towards the party. 
* Round 2: Styrmir casts Spiritual Weapon and has it attack one of the archer bandit on the rooftop, taking them out. Roy casts Magic Missile at a Bandit Archer, taking them out. Cassian moves in and readies an attack against the Bandit Captain. The last nearby bandit archer misses a shot at Vasher. Vasher rides up to the Bandit Captain and attacks and adds a divine smite of justice. The Bandits Archers on the further away rooftops take long range shots at Vasher. Bandit Captain misses his attacks on Vasher so tries to retreat, but Vasher's opportunity attack (including a smite) hurts the Bandit Captain badly.
* Round 3: Styrmir casts Guiding Bolt on the Bandit Captain but misses. Roy casts Magic Missile at the Bandit Captain. Cassian dashes up to the Bandit Captain and Action Surges to attack with his sword. The Bandit Captain is near Death. Cassian says unless the Bandit Captain stands down he will die. A bandit archer hits Cassian with an arrow. The Bandit Captain does not surrender. Vasher charges on his horse to the Bandit Captain and finishes him off. The far group of archers fire at Vasher, with 2 of them hitting. 
* Round 4: Styrmir takes out the last near Bandit Archer with a Guiding Bolt. Cassian tries offers to the remaining Bandits to stand down to survive. The last near archer misses a shot at Vasher. Vasher lay on hands himself. A far archer hits Roy, Roy uses Shield to reduce the damage. A bandit archer hits Cassian with an arrow. 2 bandit on foot come out towards the party with a Hellhound Pup. 
* Round 5: There are 3 Far Bandit Archers left and one Near Bandit Archer left. Styrmir and his spiritual weapon move to the last Near Bandit Archer. Roy Firebolts a Far Bandit Archer but misses. Cassian calls out for everyone to regroup and takes cover. The last near archer fire hits Cassian with an arrow. Vasher regroups with Cassian. A Near Archer hits Vasher. The hellhouse chases after Vasher. 
* Round 6: Styrmir's spiritual weapon finally reaches the last near Bandit Archer but it misses its attack. Styrmir flanks the Hellhound and lands a hits with his flail. Roy casts Firebolt at the Near Bandit Archer and this time hits then goes back into cover. Cassian attacks the hellhound and hits. Vasher land an attacks the hellhound with a smite. The hellhound is near dead. The archers open fire on Styrmir hitting him twice. The near-dead hellhound breaths firebreath on Vasher, Cassian and Scamp the horse. Styrmir gets hit by 2 more arrows. The hellhound handlers stay back, seeing how much damage the party did to the hellhound.
* Round 6: Styrmir's spiritual weapon takes out the last Near Archer. Styrmir takes cover from the archers and spots 2 bandits hiding around the corner, so he kills them with a Shatter spell. Vasher finishes off the Hellhound Pup. Vasher and Cassian use the horse as cover from the remaining archers. The 4 remaining archers open fire towards Cassian and miss. 
* Round 7: Styrmir's casts cure wounds on himself. Roy casts Firebolt at an archer. The party take proper cover. The bandit archers start to disappear from the rooftops. The bandits on foot backoff as well.
* Round 8: Styrmir's moves in to look around and intercepts an archer. The rest of the party move up towards the town centre, taking cover as they move. The bandits retreat from the party.
* Round 9: Styrmir spots another Bandit Captain in the centre of town with more minions and with some villager prisoners. Styrmir casts Sacred Flame at 2 nearby retreating Bandits. Vasher rides up and kills one of them. The rest of the party move up to catch up.
* Round 10: Styrmir Sacred Flames a retreating bandit to death. Roy firebolts a bandit. Vasher kills a retreating archer. The New Bandit Captain notices the party and takes cover. The archers in the town centre fire at the party. Other bandits charge towards the party.
* Round 11: Styrmir casts Sacred Flame at one of the approaching Bandits but they resist. Roy casts Firebolt and hits a bandit. Vasher hits a bandit. The 2 Bandit Archers in the town centre and one from the other part of town open fire and miss. One injured bandit flees from the battle. The last melee bandit charges Vasher but then realises he is alone after he misses. The Bandit Captain is still in cover, but moving closer to the party.
* Round 12: Styrmir misses with his flail. Roy firebolts the last melee fighter, killing them. Vasher charges on his horse at a bandit in cover and kills him in one shot. The Bandit Captain says he can't give up until he sees how strong the party is, and approaches Cassian. Cassian hits him with a readied action. The Bandit Captain multiattacks Cassian. 2 archers shoot at Vasher but miss. 
* Situation description: Cassian and Styrmir are with the Bandit Captain. In the town centre are 2 melee banits with the prisoners. On a rooftop in the town centre are 2 bandit archers.
* Round 13: Styrmir moves up to the Bandit Captain but misses his attack and taunts him. Roy uses his last magic missile at the Bandit Captain. Cassian attacks does a massive hit against the bandit captain. Vasher charges into the town centre at the 2 melee bandits with the prisoners. The bandit captain falls for Styrmir's taunts and attacks him. The rooftop archers fire at Vasher. Saffron catches up to the combat and enters a nearby building. 
* Round 14: Styrmir hits the Bandit Captain with his Flail. Roy firebolts the Bandit Captain. Cassian misses his attack on the bandit captain. Vasher. Vasher kills the melee bandit in front of him then takes cover behind a building. The wounded Bandit Captain attacks Styrmir but is rebuked with a Thunderous Rebuke then steps back but is hit by an opportunity attack. The last Melee Bandit in the town centre loses Moral and retreats. Saffron gets to the roof of the 2 story building and jumps over to the roof where the 2 archers are and sneak attacks them, killing them both. Only the bandit captain is left of the enemy forces.
* Round 15: Styrmir attacks the bandit captain, taking him down.
: Combat Ends
Cassian frees the captured townsfolk while Styrmir loots the Bandit Captain. The townsfolk cheer in celebrations. The party group up in the town square. With the prisoners is a chest full of gold and silver the bandits had stolen with the townsfolk. The party leave the wealth with the town elder, Dorovar, to return to her people. Dorovar thanks the party, and offers them hospitality. Dorovar had lost all 17 of her children to the bandit raid today.
Graves are dug and Styrmir leads some funeral rites.
The party take a week long rest in the town. Saffron and the Minstrels continue on to Bellwind which is 2 days away. Saffron says she will wait in Bellwind for the party. The party will give Saffron a cut of whatever reward they are given by the townsfolk.
==Experience==
1121 exp each
The party level up to level 4.
* Vasher: +12 Max HP (Max HP = 43)
* Cassian: +5 Max HP (Max HP = 37)
* Styrmir: +8 Max HP (Max HP = 30)
* Roy: +1 Max HP (Max HP = 11)
Category:The Lazarus Expedition Episodes
Category:Save Or Die Episodes
Category:The Lazarus Expedition