Ballista Backstabbing 101

Back tracking through the hallways, the party spies a fortified platform of fire cultist lizardmen.  The impressive iron ballista causes the party to act with unusual caution.  Sneaking up to the platform, Kushii and Luce invisibly start the ambush.  Billy has already maneuvered into his sniper position.  The party is surprised to find out that the lizardmen can breathe fire, and that fire seems to heal them a bit.  Just as the fight begins to go the party's way, a pyrohydra wanders around the corner followed by another clutch of cultists.  Kushii, Lars, and Zadora struggle to gain control of the top of the platform while Hazel, Max, Luce, and Billy direct their efforts at the fiery hydra.  Finally, the adventurers gain control of the platform.  Lars, with the help of Zadora, aims the ballista at the hydra.  With an arcane strike and a critical hit, Lars kills the hydra with the ballista.  Lars kicks back with the obligatory, "do I have to do everything around here".  Meanwhile Billy and Hazel are busy putting acid and cold on the pyrohydra stumps after Luce decapitates the heads.

Further exploration of the area reveals the cultist hatchery, a hydra nest, and a couple of common rooms.  The cultists have a nice vestry with a big statue.  Lars uses magic to look for secret doors and finds on located next to the statue.  The party prepares to open the door...

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Session Characters:  Kushii, Lars, M. Max, Zadora, Luce, Hazel
Session XP:  4300 XP each
Session Loot:  9 masterwork heavy maces, 9 masterwork iron longbows (+2 Str),  5 potions of cure moderate wounds, 4 potions of shield of faith +3, 9 masterwork chain shirts, greater bracers of archery, 500 GP.