Sixtieth Session - The Siege of the Shrine

Session resumes with combat underway at the Oasis Shrine Alana - casts Cure Wounds on Markoris @ lvl 3, +10 hp

ROUND TWO
 * 1) Ghost - tries to possess Max, he rolls a 1 on the save, Ghost is now wearing a Max suit
 * 2) Markoris - disengages and repositions, fires arrow at the Devourer w/ Hail of Thorns, misses
 * 3) Max - attacks Raul for 10 damage
 * 4) Skeleton Army - attacks Markoris, misses
 * 5) Celia - casts Bane, Max and two skeletons are affected - -d4 to attack rolls and saves, knows there's a way to get ghost out of Max
 * 6) Sol - casts Hold Monster on the big guy, big guy is held
 * 7) Ishaq - moves back, hits big guy with Synaptic Static, monster makes save, takes 10 psychic damage
 * 8) Raul - disengages and moves, shoots at big guy, 6 damage
 * 9) Big Guy - fails WIS save, remains Held
 * 10) Alana - Moonbeams the thing, its makes the CON save, [I DIDN'T GET THE DAMAGE TOTAL]

ROUND THREE
 * 1) Ghost - Max's turn
 * 2) Markoris - attacks skeleton, 12 damage, skeleton is almost destroyed
 * 3) Max -d4 to attack rolls - misses Raul
 * 4) Skeleton Army - misses Markoris, misses Alana, hits Alana for 6 damage, flanks Raul to hit for 6 damage
 * 5) Celia - concentrating on Bane, INT check to figure out Max's situation, Turn Undead would free Max, casts Turn Undead - Max is free, all the skeletons are DESTROYED in one burst, Bane is cancelled
 * 6) Sol - maintains concentration on Hold Monster, lvl 4 Magic Missile on big guy, 22 force damage
 * 7) Ishaq - lvl 5 Fireball on the big guy, 29 damage, ignores target's Fire resistance due to Elemental Adept, Sorcery Point to hit again with Firebolt, 10 more damage
 * 8) Raul - bow attack on big guy, 5 damage, hides in Shrine
 * 9) Big Guy  - fails save against Held, takes 22 damage from Moonbeam
 * 10) Alana - turns into a tiger, Pounces on the big guy, misses

ROUND FOUR OUT OF INITIATIVE
 * 1) Ghost - flees
 * 2) Markoris - bow attack on big guy, 10 damage
 * 3) Max - uses Action Surge to attack for a bunch of crits for 57 slashing damage
 * 4) Celia - Sacred Flame to finish enemy off with 7 radiant damage

But then Ishaq and Celia hear a wailing sound, signaling another enemy approaching. Max suggests taking shelter in the Shrine behind the Ward. Arcana check by Alana confirms that they know how to activate the Shrine's protective Ward.

Ishaq investigates the Devourer's remains for signs of how it was summoned: there was totally a person inside its chest. He finds humanoid remains and scraps of padded silk clothing inside, green-gold, embroidered, likely gear of a Xiangou officer.

Everyone then hops in the Shrine for protection. The shield seems weaker than while it was warding off the storm - will last maybe an hour. The party agrees that they should save their charge for when the next threat is in sight. No one recognizes the wailing noise coming closer.

They talk about Celia's faith and/or sex life for a time. Max gives Markoris a Greater Healing Potion, he regains 15 HP. Then Alana rolls perception, hears *something* on the wind. She turns into an owl, and Ishaq turns her invisible for scouting.

Meanwhile, Alana spots a Medium-sized humanoid entity shuffling toward the oasis. She reports back, and deduces that it's probably five minutes out from contact. Time to activate the ward! SHIELDS UP. Party hunkers down, Max equips javelins.

Markoris rolls Perception to spot a shambling undead humanoid in torn clothing crests the dune. The creature walks into the water, then starts bumping off the shield underwater. Ishaq tests the barrier with Prestidigitation, and confirms the party can't attack outside the shield just as it can't get inside. Ishaq also establishes that the creature can be baited to follow whoever's on the other side of the bubble. The creature looks *engorged*, like it's filled with fluid - also wearing similar clothing as the scraps found in the Devourer.

While the party waits for the shield to fall, Alana heals herself, Sol and Raul and Markoris take a Short Rest, and Max booby-traps the fuck out of the landing zone, Caltrops + flammable oil + Readied Firebolt by Ishaq.

After an hour, the shield collapses and the creature shambles forth. It avoids the caltrops but can't avoid FIRE - 5 damage sets the area alight - the creature takes 5 fire damage immediately and its clothes start burning away. Markoris immediately destroys the ghoul with 31 damage, and the party realizes that the fire will destroy any loot or clues on the body.

Ishaq prestidigitizes the flames out, then searches the body with help from Max. The Ghoul is carrying some gold and a flower. Ishaq recognizes it as a Starfleck flower, and recalls he gave Starfleck flowers to about four members of the Host Radiant leadership. Ishaq confirms the body isn't anyone he knew.

The party resumes their long rest. Markoris takes watch, but nothing else transpires that night.

In the morning, Ishaq consults Sol on flower language. Sol tells him a starfleck means 'forlorn hope.' Ishaq guesses the flower might have meant that Ayleen is indicating that his hopes that she is doomed are forlorn. Ishaq then indicates that he's open to Alana being courted by Sol. Sol flees for his life.

Ishaq then chats with Celia about Sending more messages. Celia perceives that Ishaq isn't sharing everything about why they were attacked last night, leading to a lengthy discussion.

Meanwhile Max shares his backstory with Alana and Markoris in preparation for them going after Cyrus, revealing that Cyrus was his childhood friend and most trusted ally before he betrayed Max's mercenary company, Troublestab, to their deaths and sent Max to the Traitor's Keep. Max also commits to giving them any loot they get from fighting Cyrus in exchange for their help.

Meanwhile, Ishaq to Ayleen via Celia:

Hey Ayleen,

''Didn’t work, did it? Don’t ever send me flowers ever again, unless you have a more explicit message attached, it’s rude.''

Only response is a chuckle, '' 'Oh is someone else flirting with you darling? What a shame.'''

Was Ayleen not behind the attack? Celia's insight check indicates Ayleen wasn't surprised, she's just teasing Ishaq.

An absolute clusterfuck generates between Ishaq, Alana, and Celia over who is fucking who. Ishaq then chats with Max about Feelings, and reinforces his commitment to helping Max surmount his trauma.

Session then ends with the party proceeding to Sarashim's Temple without further incident.