Double Cult Surprise (11/20/2021)

## Shopping and Chasing

For the first time in their adventuring career together, the group had a free day to explore Alescia. The group split up a little and had a few separate adventures.

Ryafyrie found a tavern with a performing bard who was just struggling. Taking some pity on the singer, she decided to help out a bit and ended up blowing some minds and attracting a large audience. Kizzik managed to collect a few gold in tips while the Dragonborn ripped out sax solos.

Leaf and Fen went shopping. Leaf initially visited some weapon shops but didn't find much. Fen on the other hand found Harrison's Haberdashery which was a true diamond in the rough. A fancy little gnome found a bright red wizard's hat (with a feather) for Fen and a Bycocket for Leaf. Both of these hats bestowed some minor benefits, but the real benefit was looking fancy as hell. Alluin was generally unimpressed by their style choices.

Hadrian, Alluin, and Talek found themselves some trouble. In their exploration, they realized they were being observed by a suspicious looking Tiefling. As they made this observation, the Tiefling began to flee through the crowded streets. The group immediately gave chase, but unfortunately couldn't keep up.

Once the group re-assembled, Talek shared the news of this Tiefling and informed everyone of his checkered past as part of an Asmodeus Cult. He believed that this cult was tracking him and anyone who travelled with him and that we were all likely in danger. After some debate, the group decided to stay one more night in Alescia and try to set a trap for these other cultists.

## Setting a trap

Much preparation was done. Alluin setup a number of spells in a tavern room that the group would be staying in. Talek made a show of "getting drunk" in the tavern (Fen actually achieved this goal) in the hopes that the cultists would see Talek deep in his cups and choose the night time to strike. Xofren setup Pass Without Trace in the small room where the party setup an ambush and waited. Sadly, the entire night passed and no ambush occurred. They did find a delightful origami swan on the outside of their tavern room window however, with only the word "Amateurs" written on the inside. Talek is reasonable sure that this isn't the last time we'll encounter the Asmodeus Cult.

A knock came just then as Graves appeared at their door. He made it clear that we were all needed in Milldale immediately as this was the expected location where the blood cultists would be striking next. The party quickly packed their things to begin the journey. As Xofren had previously tried to murder the party's horses with poison, they had no horses left. Generously (or by force), Xofren turned into an Elk (horse) to pull the wagon along and the party rushed south to Milldale with the Inquisitors.

## Milldale rescue

Making as much haste as they could with an Elk (horse) pulling their wagon, they journeyed to Milldale with the Inquisitors. As Milldale started to come into view, the horizon began growing dark and glowing red. It seemed that the party showed up just a little late. The Inquisitors doubled their speed, putting space between the themselves and the party towards Milldale. Hadrian tried whipping our work Elk to move him along, only resulting in a cry of pain.

As they pulled up to Milldale, the telltale signs of Blood Cultists were all around them. Just at the gates, a guardsman came running out, impaled by a blood spike and coughing up blood. Talek whispered a quick prayer to Avandra in an effort to stabilize the dying man. Through his coughs of blood, he informed the group that the Cultists were indeed upon the city and that the non-combatants of the town had been gathered up and locked away near the center of town for their own protection. Unfortunately, this was also near the realm shard which was the most likely place that Cultists would want to be. Sending the man off to safety, the party pushed ahead into Milldale to make their way towards the villagers.

On their ascent to the center of Milldale, they encountered a number of small groups of cultists dragging villagers towards a certain doom. Through spells and swords, they dispatched a few Cultists and made their way through the chaotic streets. Reaching the center of town, they met back up with the Inquisitors who had cleared a good number of Cultists. Just as it seemed that things were turning in the party's favor, the main waterfall and river that powered the giant water wheel in the center of Milldale turned red and was no longer water, but blood. A massive figure appeared in front of them.

(insert some cinematic-level dialogue here)

Graves hollered at the group to save the villagers and that the city of Milldale was lost. The party rushed towards the locked cathedral (cathedral?). Talek bashed down the door, yelling "I'M HERE TO HELP YOU!!!" which terrified the villagers into hiding. After some gentle coaxing from the rest of the party, the villagers realized that they were indeed here to help and began fleeing down the path, leaving their homes towards safety.

## Blood Golem

As the party crashed through the bloodied streets and rounded a corner, they came across what appeared to be a pile of Cultists corpses and one living Cultist. It was at this point that a huge crash could be heard as the Water Wheel that was the focal point of Milldale broke free from its bindings and crashed through the town, sending rivers of blood down many streets. The corpses were bathed in blood from this river and seemingly melted down while the living Cultist cackled ominously. What arose what something horrible. A giant golem made of flesh and blood and the heads of Cultist corpses , giant cleaving swords in hand. It immediately leveled its many eyes at the party.

Leaf, no stranger to battle, immediately leapt forward sliding under the golem and slicing its legs open. Ryafyrie whispered words of heroic goblin deeds in Kizzik's ear. He ran as fast as his goblin legs could carry him and mounted the creature, stabbing and poking. Hadrian and Talek waded into battle, shields at the ready. Alluin and Fen chanted incantations and flung missiles and fire. All was going well until Leaf took head on blows from the golem's giant cleavers and was knocked unconscious. Fortunately, Talek was able to provide him with Avandra's light and prevent a horrible tragedy. Hadrian also bared the brunt of the golem beast and was able to harness his inner light, laying hands on himself to steady his wounds.

As the battle raged on the golem smashed wildly, knocking out some pillars that were holding up a walkway above. As this occurred, Cultists began falling from above. This could only spell trouble for the group as the Cultists were not likely to be friendly. Alluin, recognizing that this battle needed to end quickly, blasted the Golem with blazing magical missiles bringing the abomination down finally. Exhausted, the party did their best to escape the city with as many villagers as they could. Milldale was indeed lost, just as Abbington was before it.