Forty-Fifth Session - Canyon Ambush

Session begins with the Keepers leaving the tavern after their meeting with the Host Radiant faithful. Max and Ishaq talk about leveraging Celia’s Zone of Truth power to make sure which members of the Host can be trusted before committing to Radiant Con.

Max and Markoris then go fence the trinkets from Jaydith, and on the way Max expresses his misgivings about taking a job against the Starred Guard when they’re allied with them. Thanks to Markoris’ negotiation skill, the sale nets 31 gold and 4 silver for everyone in the party.

Ishaq uses the Nose Stone (?) to get the location of the retrieved Priest Nailth from the Warden, and they return to the Pantheon to debrief the rescuee. After another encounter with Wimpy Priest, they hear Nailth’s story of how the LOTLE’s temple was besieged by the Dream Devourers and how Nailth sacrificed himself to save Hypatian, the governor’s son.

They return to the Pantheon and are hailed as heroes by Celus. The Governor greets Nailth, and praises the party. Max and Ishaq notice that the atmosphere is a little more relaxed at the palace, and warn Celus to stay on-guard against further infiltration.Talking to the Governor, the Keepers get permission to consult the city's archives for understanding our mission. Party is also paid 80 platinum for the rescue of Nailth.

After discussion and leaving the Palace, the gang heads out to the temple of the desert goddess. Marching order: Passing through a canyon outside the city, Markoris spots a flash of motion above them. As the group discusses what to do, Markoris is attacked by a crossbow bolt. The party is under attack from an elevated position by unknown enemies.
 * 1) Alana
 * 2) Markoris
 * 3) Max
 * 4) Ishaq
 * 5) Celia
 * 6) Raul

ROLL INITIATIVE
 * 1) Markoris
 * 2) Celia
 * 3) Ishaq
 * 4) Raul
 * 5) Max
 * 6) Alana
 * 1) Alana

ROUND ONE
 * 1) Markoris - spots enemy attackers, shoots bow, misses, moves to G20
 * 2) Celia - moves to I20, casts Guiding Bolt, misses
 * 3) Ishaq - casts Synaptic Static at L15, 29 PSY damage on failed save, 14 on success, afflicts target with -1d4 to rolls for duration
 * 4) Raul - bow attack, seven damage to one of the enemy
 * 5) ??? - enemy caster, Cone of Cold on all of us - 43 cold damage on a fail, 21 on a save (Ishaq retroactively did Inspiring Leader this morning, 10 temp HP to everyone)
 * 6) Max - climbs up the cliff using bonus action Dash, shoves enemy caster off the cliff, caster takes 8 falling damage and is Prone
 * 7) Alana - casts lvl 4 Blight on enemy sniper, 35 necrotic damage
 * 8) ???? - crossbow attacks on Ishaq, he Shields away the first bolt and the next one misses, attacker fails INT save against Synaptic Static, another attacker pops out and shoots at Alana, Alana gets hit by a poisoned crossbow bolt, 25 total damage, Alana is KO'd

ROUND TWO
 * 1) Markoris - stabs enemy caster, 20 damage
 * 2) Celia - Mass Healing Word on everybody, 7 healing, Alana's conscious again, helps Alana back on her feet
 * 3) Ishaq - casts Fireball upwards to detonate at M14, 41 damage on a failed save, can't see the effect, but hears one of them is screaming
 * 4) Raul - helps beat up the enemy caster, 21 damage
 * 5) Enemy Caster - casts FUCKING TIME STOP, uses four turns to climb back up the cliff, casts Cone of Cold on everybody again, 30 damage for those who don't save, Alana is KO'd again
 * 6) Max - moves to M17 and grapples the mage
 * 7) Alana - Death saving throw - SUCCESS
 * 8) Assassins - strikes Max with surprise, both miss, she hides again. The other assassin is apparently destroyed by Ishaq's fireball

ROUND THREE Session ends with the battle all but won, with the last enemy standing retreating, but with the party not knowing who these enemies were or what they wanted.
 * 1) Markoris - drinks healing potion, dashes up cliff
 * 2) Celia - Cure Wounds on Alana, hands Raul a Greater Healing Potion
 * 3) Ishaq - Dimension Doors above the caster's head! Takes 3 falling damage, inflicts 5 on caster, stabs the dude with a magic dagger he took from Ayleen, 5 piercing, 14 poison, and Poisoned condition
 * 4) Raul - drinks potion, heals 14, climbs up cliff
 * 5) Enemy Caster - tries to cast verbally, Max grabs his mouth as a reaction, caster fails to squirm free
 * 6) Max - finishes enemy mage with 14 slashing damage from shortsword, heals 9 HP with Second Wind
 * 7) Alana - casts Cure Wounds on herself at level 4, heals 19 HP
 * 8) Assassin- hauls ass