The Lazarus Expedition: Episode 04

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==Synopsis==
The party fight off 3 griffons as they journey then rest at a nearby village. The village guard talk about a nearby cult of Ponos that is trying to end the world and bring their god into the world. The cult has taken in many of the the youth of the town. The party agree to deal with the cult. The party fight their way though the cult and find the cult has sacrificed the youth in order to summon beings from another plane. All the cultists and monsters are defeated, but the leader of the cult, Drakthar Planebane, escapes. The party return to walled town to rest.
==Recap==
===Griffon Encounter===
The Lazarus Expedition are on their long journey to Heatstroke. At the moment traveling north-west from Abalar along the Great River towards Bellwind (near the badlands). Along this journey the party encounter a group of 3 who are after Vasher's horse Scamp. Scamp is currently pulling a wagon of seaweed. Griffons wear heraldry indicating they are tamed mounts. The sigil is 3 shooting stars of gold over a field of blue. The party fight off the 3 griffons. 
Party vs 3 Griffons
* Round 1: Vika, Roy's familar, holds their action. Vasher defends his horse with his shield. Cassian imposes himself and another griffon (1st griffon) lands in front of him that he attacks. Roy casts Dragon's Breath though Vika, who breaths on the 1st griffon. Roy Fire Bolts the 1st griffon. Styrmir casts Bless on the Cassian, Vasher and himself. Vasher gets up upon his horse and hits Divine Smites the griffon that hit Scamp. The 3rd griffon stays in the air.
* Round 2: Vika breaths firebreath at the 1st griffon. Cassian hits the 1st griffon. The 1st griffon, now badly injured, disengages from Cassian and retreats. Roy magic missiles the griffon yet to engage in combat (3rd Griffon), while yelling out in dwarven that they come in peace. Vasher holds his position on the horseback. The 3rd Griffon lands and tries to attack the horse again, but Vasher's Mounted Combatant feat protects the horse, but he gets hit by a beak attack instead. 2nd Griffon stays in the air.
* Round 3: Vika breaths dragon breath at the 3rd griffon. The 2nd Griffon now lands and goes to attack the horse, but hits Vasher instead with their beak. Cassian hits 3rd griffon with his sword. 1st griffon continues to retreat away from the fight. Roy magic missiles 3rd griffon. Styrmir casts Shatter at the 2 nearby griffons. 3rd griffon is reduced to 1 hp. Vasher finishes off the 3rd griffon.
* Round 3: Vika breaths dragon breath at the last griffon (2nd). The 2nd griffon starts to retreat.
:Combat ends
Cassian tries to medicine check the downed griffon (3rd) but fails. Cassian watches as the other griffons fly up to the east up to the great plateau were Vodan is. Their slave/guide Plax confirms the heraldry is that of Vodan and they have a basecamp at the base of the plateu. Vasher wants to put the dying griffon down while the others debate saving its life and taking it to Vodan. Vasher relents and lays-on-hands the griffon 1 hp. The griffon's beak is bound by the party.
The griffon is upset and isn't calmed down by the party's efforts. Cassian and Vasher however are able to force the griffon on the back of their wagon. The griffon does injure while Cassian in the process. Vasher gets fed up and hits it with the pummel of his sword non-lethally to knock it out. The party then die down the griffon to the cart.
The party then realise they can't cross the river here to get to Vodan. They need to cross at Bellwind or back at Abalar, both days away. The party decide to leave the griffon behind, and take it off the cart. Cassian leaves an apology note.
===Resting at Walled Village===
The group keep traveling and reach a walled village. They hear the news of local bandits who are preying on the local villages. The bandit gang is sized around 30 in size. The village will only let the party into the town after they give up their weapons and armor (to be returned when they leave. The party agree and head inside to rest. The party split up to different places where to rest. Most at the inn, some in barns.
The next day Styrmir, who isn't injured, does some manual labor at the farm he is staying.
After 2 nights the party is ready to leave. The town guard talks about a nearby Cult of Ponos (God of Suffering) trying to end the world with suffering and bringing Ponos into the world. Some local kids ran off willingly to join their cult after one of their Priests & some accolates visited a few times.
After a little debate the party decide to deal with the cult in order to save the world. The party decide to head into the hills to the west to investigate. The merchant Dara who has been traveling with the party so far decides to witness their fight with the cult, but she won't fight herself.
===The Temple of the Ponos Cult===
As the party travel west they find a sign. The party will fight the cult, but will try to go as non-lethal as possible, especially towards the children involved.
The party follow the trail further and at sun set they see a stone pathway lined with stone pillars. The pathway leads to a cliff face. It appears to be a temple under construction.
The party approach the temple, leaving the cart behind. Styrmir calls out a greeting to the visible person on watch. As the party approach they see some strange pig-faced red humanoids off the sides. The lookout acolyte does the speech about the suffering in the world. Their leader is Drakthar Planebane. Styrmir however says they are just travellers looking for shelter. 
Cassian asks what the strange humanoid, and is told it is their great assistant to help end the suffering of the innocent. By killing everyone and letting the souls return to Felumbra. The party drop pretence and demand to know where the children are, and are told they are inside.
Combat Begins: Party vs Ponos Cult Outside Guards & Monsters
* Round 1: The monster charge towards the party. They only have 20 movement. Styrmir casts Shatter on 2 cultists and one monster, killing all 3. 3 monsters remain alive. Roy casts Dragon Breath on Vika to cast. Roy casts Fire Bolt at the monster (1st) next to Vika. Vasher attacks the monster (2nd) next Roy. Cassian attacks the monster (3rd) and kills it in one blow then moves to flank the 1st monster. A new monster join the fight. Monster 1st dies to Vika's Dragon Breath. It appears these monsters have limitless moral and doesn't seem to care that their colleges died. 2nd and 4th Monsters remain.
* Round 2: 2nd monster hits Roy with a ram attack, but Roy casts Shield on himself as a reaction. Styrmir goes behind 4th Monster and attacks it from a flank. Roy Shocking Grasps 2nd monster. Vasher longswords the 2nd monster to death. The party surround the last monster. Cassin misses his attack. The last monster rams Styrmir.
* Round 3: Vika goes under the monser and breaths fire up vertically. Styrmir finishes off the last monster
Combat Ends
The passage inside the temple is dark. Vika, as a fire beetle, sheds light around them. As the party step inside a new combat begins.
Combat: Party vs Interior Ponos Temple Guards
* Round 1: Vasher is hit by a sacred flame from an unknown person. Roy firebolts a monster he spots. Styrmir casts Bless on the party. Monsters charge towards the party. Then a Death Dog charges towards the party. Cassian attacks one of the monsters. A cultist throws a sacred flame at Vasher but it fails. The party is surrounded by monsters and cultists. 
* Round 2: Cultist throw more sacred flames at the party, but both fail. Roy casts magic missile at a monster. Styrmir attacks with his flail. Death Dog attacks Vasher, but he is immune to disease so resists all their inflictions. Cassian kills a monster then attacks the Death Dog. 
* Round 3: Cultist throw more sacred flames, this time hitting Cassian. Vasher hits the Death Dog with his sword. A cultist heals the Death Dog slightly. Roy casts Burning Hands at 3 monsters and 1 cultist, killing one monster. Styrmir casts Thunderwave on 4 enemies, killing 2 cultists and 1 monster. The last monster at Styrmir attacks him, but Styrmir Rebukes in return, killing the monster. Cassian finishes off the Death Dog. All the monsters are now dead, as well as the death dog. Cassian walks towards a cultist. The cultist tries to flee but is cut down by Cassian. Vasher takes down the other nearby cultist.
Combat ends
The party continues towards a flowing object in the distance inside the dark temple. It is a summon circle with a rack covered in blood in the center. Styrmir warns the party not to cross the circle, stopping Cassian just in time. Styrmir studies the summoning circle and sees it is divine in nature, written in a language that he doesn't speak. Inside the summon circle are modified versions of the symbol of Ponos. Cassian is then allowed to try to attack the rack in the middle of the summoning circle. It takes a minute for the torture device to be destroyed.
The party continue onwards into the passageways of the temple. A voice calls out, Drakthar Planebane, asking who they are. Styrmir explains there are here for the children. Drakthar is sceptical to the party's noble intentions.
The party reach a chamber where 3 demons and 2 cultists with Drakthar in a deeper chamber. Drakthar reveals the monsters were created by using the children they took from the town, and she needs more to complete their task of ending the world.
Combat: Party vs Drakthar Planebane & Minions
* Round One: Drakthar strikes from the darkness with a tentacle at Cassian, grappling him. Cassian feels weakened by the grapple. Drakthar then casts Dissonant Whispers at Vasher. Cassian tries to break free from the tentacle and fails. A monster attacks Cassian, but Vasher reduces the damage. A cultist casts bless on their team. A monster blocks the chokepoint into the room the party is using. Vasher strikes the tentacle holding Cassian. Styrmir almost kills one of the monsters in front of him. Roy casts Shocking Grasp though Vika on to the Tentacle. 
* Round Two: Drakthar starts to reel in the seized Cassian towards her. Drakthar then casts Blindness on Vasher but Vasher resists. A Monster attacks Vasher. A cultist casts a sacred flame on Cassian. The nearly dead monster rams Styrmir and retalisates with a wrath of the storm (Rebuke), killing them. 2 monsters and 2 cultists are left. Vasher stabs the monster to his side. A cultist heals up that monster who then attacks Vasher. Roy casts Firebolt but misses.
* Round Three: Drakthar casts Vampiric Touch on Cassian. Cassian attacks Drakthar and breaks her concentration. A monster attacks Vasher. A cultist rushes over and heals Drakthar. Roy's fire-beetle moves towards Cassian and illumines Drakthar. She is revealed to be in a crimson robe and have a tentacle for one of her right arm, and sharp teeth. Vasher attacks a cultist and misses. He then casts Turn the Tide on the party. Styrmir attacks a monster with his Flail. Cultist throws a sacred flame at Roy but misses. A monster attacks Vasher. Roy firebolts one of the monsters.
* Round Four: Drakthar tries to bite Vika but misses. Cassian lands a blow on Drakthar with his sword. A monster knocks out Vasher with their attack. Styrmir takes out a monster with his flail. A cultist attacks Styrmir and he responds with a rebuke, killing the cultist. This leaves behind one monster and one cultist left. The monster charges at Roy but misses. Roy casts Blade Ward to protect himself.
* Round Five: Drakthar casts Vampiric Touch on Cassian. Cassian hits Drakthar with his sword. Styrmir goes to fight the last monster who is after Roy but misses. The monster hits Roy though the barrier. Roy shocking grasps the monster. 
* Round Six: Drakthar casts false life and releases the reel on Cassian and retreats into the darkness. Cassian attacks the nearby cultist, killing them. Cassian then rushes back to help the party with the last monster. Styrmir takes out the last monster. Roy rushes over to help stabilise Vasher. 
* Round Seven: Drakthar casts entangle between her and the party then flees from the building.
Combat Ends
The party investigate the temple and find hymns about pain and suffering. They then console an overwrought Roy. The party then carry Vasher out to the cart. They then loot the temple and find 61 gold, 102 silver, 123 copper. Cassian takes some of the monster heads and the Death Dog onto the cart.
It is too late to travel as the sun has gone down, so the party camp at the temple overnight. They have some of the sacramental wine, with Styrmir praying to Jexel for that transgression. After some time Vasher wakes up.
Styrmir is happy where were able to stop this great evil for today, but knows it isn't over until Drakthar Planebane is stopped. Vasher is furious and horrifyed about the murders of the children and what occurred in the temple. Roy continues to be disillusioned with the concept of adventure and heroism. Cassian regrets letting Drakthar escape.
===Back to the village===
In the morning the party travel back to the village to rest. Styrmir reports in what he found out at the temple to a town guard. The guard is horrified and shaken by what he learns. Styrmir leaves it to the guard to spread or hide the news as he wishes.
At the inn the party get some rooms to rest. Styrmir tells the story of what happened at the temple, leaving out the fate of the youths. Dara and Plax testify that they saw what happened outside the temple. The innkeeper asks if they saw what happened to his daughter, Jenny, and Cassian tactlessly reveals the head of one of the monsters and says that is what happened to her. The innkeeper breaks down and cries. Styrmir comforts the innkeeper.
The party are given a week free at the inn. Styrmir leaves 10 gold behind.
==Experience==
1200 exp each
Category:The Lazarus Expedition Episodes
Category:Save Or Die Episodes
Category:The Lazarus Expedition