With the PWT spell from Lena you bypass the huts and the Pond Mothers home.  Lena and Karea scout the place using the darkness as much as possible and learn..

The religious center of the village, this enormous building made of wood and mud bricks has been turned into a prison where the evil yuan-ti are holding some of the followers of the Scaled Mother. The hemispherical building, 20 feet high and 50 feet in diameter, is by far the largest structure in the community.

The ground level contains a pool of water in the center, directly beneath an opening in the roof of the same size. The marshy ground around the pool serves as an assembly area for group ceremonies. Two staircases on opposite sides of the dome lead up to the second floor, which is divided into four chambers, each about 10 feet square. Three of these rooms currently hold a total of ten wounded yuan-ti purebloods with half their hit points remaining. These benevolent, neutral good yuan-ti are being guarded by four evil yuan-ti purebloods stationed just outside the cells.

You keep going to the temple going by the Brood Pools.

Brood Pools

Near the outskirts of the village is the grippli nursery. In five places, built up like the sides of a well, stand 3-foot-high mud-brick walls enclosing 20-foot-diameter circular areas. These repositories, filled with clean, fresh water, are where the grippli lay their eggs and nurture offspring as they mature.

This location is under the control of four yuan-ti purebloods and two yuan-ti malisons (any type). They permit a small number of grippli to tend the eggs, which is why the eggs haven’t all died since the arrival of the serpentfolk. This permission could be an act of mercy, or it could just be that the yuan-ti like to eat the eggs: each of the malisons has been consuming at least one egg per day, and always within sight of one or more of the grippli for no reason other than cruelty.

Evening is setting in so they are all laying down for the night.

You bypass the Brood Pool and continue along the river up to the access to the Temple.

 At the Temple....At the top of a short set of steps lies an open area enclosed by a ten-foot-high outer wall and paved with tightly fitted stone slabs. To either side are truncated ramps that lead down to a lower area, still blocked with earth and rubble that needs to be cleared away. Ahead of you, some fifty feet away, is another short staircase that leads to a ten-foot-high inner wall with a door-sized opening in it that’s covered by a curtain. Coming from beyond the doorway inside the enclosed area, you can hear the groaning and plaintive cries of creatures being mistreated.

A couple of the Grippi warriors think they spot something but know better than to raise the alarm if there is any chance of a rescue.

The upper court of the temple has been completely cleared of debris. Six pillars support the ten-foot-high ceiling, and the northern half of the enclosed area is bathed in bright light, making it easy for you to see the horrific scene playing out in the far end of the room.

Karea and Lena take a quick peek staying outside the curtain.   You spot.

The following events are unfolding as Karea and Lena peek in. Lashed to a makeshift altar are two neutral good yuan-ti, a type 1 yuan-ti malison named Maaz and a yuan-ti pureblood named Vorsa. They are being tortured by an evil yuan-ti abomination that is presiding over a ritual. An enormous sarcophagus rests behind them, its exterior carved with serpents. Two yuan-ti malisons, a type 1 and a type 3, are positioned on either side of it. Both are evil. One carries a lantern that is the source of the illumination, and the other one is holding up a chime and preparing to strike it. As the characters take in the scene, the abomination is studying the script on the sarcophagus intently, engrossed in what it sees. At a gesture from the abomination, the chime is struck. As it rings out, the seam around the lid of the sarcophagus glows brightly for an instant. Then the sarcophagus comes open partway, and the bound prisoners howl in agony.

Karea and Lena quickly fill in Matheris and Faith.

Actions:

(To be crystal clear - the hemispherical building was the pond mother’s house, not part of the temple?)

Faith clicks his finger. He knows little of the Yuan-ti but he knows evil ritual when he sees it. 

“We can’t allow them to finish this ritual,” says Faith. (Can he make a check for any recognition of the ritual?). “We need to disrupt the magic before we focus on the enemies. We need to make sure we’re not flanked, too, if you have a way to hold the door.”

Solace is already in motion, Faith’s order clear in its mind: Solace soars to swoop and steal the chime and return it to the adventurers. 

Faith runs a little into the room, drawing a knife from his belt. With his other hand on his amulet, he says a prayer for Guidance to Mystara on Solace’s behalf. 

Quote from NycrolB >>

(To be crystal clear - the hemispherical building was the pond mother’s house, not part of the temple?)

Faith clicks his finger. He knows little of the Yuan-ti but he knows evil ritual when he sees it. 

“We can’t allow them to finish this ritual,” says Faith. (Can he make a check for any recognition of the ritual?). “We need to disrupt the magic before we focus on the enemies. We need to make sure we’re not flanked, too, if you have a way to hold the door.”

Solace is already in motion, Faith’s order clear in its mind: Solace soars to swoop and steal the chime and return it to the adventurers. 

Faith runs a little into the room, drawing a knife from his belt. With his other hand on his amulet, he says a prayer for Guidance to Mystara on Solace’s behalf. 

 

 Correct- The hemispherical building is the Pond Mother's home.

The group has surprise and are unseen as the Yuan-ti are performing a ritual.  

Lena and Karea using the column to advance with stealth.  Solace is attacking from above and has advantage on the Yuan-ti with the Chime with Guidance.

OOC - This potentially will be a tough encounter.

Roll initiative for the surprise round.

Matheris Initiative:  23

Lena  Initiative:  13

Karea  Initiative:  18

Faith

For Placement....The Yuan-ti Abomination is in the center square in front of the Alter.  The Yuan-ti Malison A with the Chime is on it's right and the Yuan-ti Malison B with the Lantern is on the left all facing away from you towards the Sarcophagus that has two Yuan-ti strapped to it.  You are coming from the curtain into the room 25 ft from the front row of squares in front of the alter.

Faith Initiative: 18

As a Familiar, Solace can’t actually attack, I think, but I’m not sure whether that means it’d be an ability check/mechanically how it normally works for this sort of thing for familiars. 

I will allow Solace to distract the Yaun-ti with the chime as a bee or fly would buzz around someone's head.  In this sense the attack would be to distract not do damage.  IMHO.

Initiative 

Matheris 23

Karea 19..Bumped up from 18 since her dex is higher than Faith's

Faith 18

Yuan-ti Malison B 16

Lena 15

Yuan-ti Abomination 9

Yuan-ti Malison A 7

Karea, Faith/Solace, Matheris.  I'll post in 24 hours all three actions in initiative order.

Matheris

In Hybrid form as they enter the temple. 1 hr timer  

Crimson rite active at start of the day or after a long or Short rest..While the rite is in effect, attacks you make with this weapon are magical, and deal extra damage equal to your hemocraft die of the type determined by the chosen rite. A weapon can hold only one active rite at a time. Other creatures can’t gain the benefit of your rite.

Movement: Move 25 ft to be behind the Yuan-ti Abomination

Rapier of Warning Attack: Yuan-ti Abomination: 27 Damage: 15 (Piercing damage) + 2 (Lightning Damage) + 8 (Green Flame damage) + 0

Damage Second target Yuan-ti Malison A chime: 10 (Green Flame damage) + 0

Damage: 5 (Sneak attack Piercing) + 0 If attack hits.

Bonus Action:  Starting at 1st level, you gain the ability to place a baleful curse on someone. As a bonus action, choose one creature you can see within 30 feet of you. The target is cursed for 1 minute. The curse ends early if the target dies, you die, or you are incapacitated. Until the curse ends, you gain the following benefits:

• You gain a bonus to damage rolls against the cursed target. The bonus equals your proficiency bonus.
• Any attack roll you make against the cursed target is a critical hit on a roll of 19 or 20 on the d20.
• If the cursed target dies, you regain hit points equal to your warlock level + your Charisma modifier (minimum of 1 hit point).

Reaction: Opportunity attack

The zero's are to be ignored.  The damage from Matheris was correct on the other dice.  I'll have to look at the formula to see what it was though.

Matheris did 41 damage to the Abomanation and the green flame blade also damaged the Chime holding Yuan-ti.

Quote from Cwreando >>

I will allow Solace to distract the Yaun-ti with the chime as a bee or fly would buzz around someone's head.  In this sense the attack would be to distract not do damage.  IMHO.

 

 So he can’t sleight of hand or agility steal it? 

I'd say it's a possibility...Lets do this.  Have Solace do a Sleight of hand with advantage.  Matheris just attacked the chime holder so that and surprise from Solace is How I'll DM that.

On a successful DC 15 Sleight of hands Solace grabs the chime.

Solace Dex(Sleight) check with advantage: 18

Solace goes after you on your initiative and is successful in grabbing the chime and flying away.

Faith, Karea and Lena are up:

Matheris has already wounded the Abomination and put a small green flame on the Malison A to his right/east.  

At the Alter facing away from us towards the Sarcophagus is Yuan-ti Malison B with Lantern 5 ft to Yuan-ti Abomination Chanting 5ft to Yuan-ti Malison A who had the Chime, but Solace (faiths Familiar) does now.

Faith calls to Solace, and tells him to take the Chime out the temple, and to circle high, high up until he sees Faith step outside. To have the Chime on his person is too risky. 

The prisoners are within sixty feet, by his reckoning, so the warlock takes his knife in a third invisible set of fingers, the grip of his Mage Hand and uses the magic to cut the ropes binding the sacrifices to the alter; while the others are fighting the abomination. 

He keeps back from the melee. Once the sacrifices are free, Faith can let loose. 

Karea

MOVE: Karea moves 30ft of 40ft available, into the room and will use a column to get some cover after shooting.  Second Column east side of the temple. (spending 30 feet of movement; first diagonal costs 5 ft. of movement, second costs 10 ft., third costs 5 ft., etc.)
BONUS: Cast Hunter's Mark, targeting Yuan-ti Abomination and its “type an” ability checks
ACTION: Attack with Longbow of Warning  Yuan-ti Abomination: 22 Damage: 6 (Piercing) + 2 (Favored Foe Piercing) + 6 (Hunter's mark Piercing) = 14

Dread Ambusher Extra Attack: Yuan-ti Abomination: 28 Damage: 5 (Piercing) + 3 (Favored Foe Piercing) + 4 (Hunter's mark Piercing) + 3 (Dread ambusher Piercing) = 15

Sneak Attack: 1 Piercing damage Yuan-ti Abomination.

Step partially behind the 2nd column on the East side of the Temple. End of turn!

Reaction:  opportunity Attack if available.

Lena

MOVE: Lena runs to opposite column from Karea (spending 30 feet of movement; first diagonal costs 5 ft. of movement, second costs 10 ft., third costs 5 ft., etc.)
BONUS: Hand Crossbow : Crossbow expert:  Attack Yuan-Ti Abomination: 26 Damage: 7 (Piercing) + 1 (Favored Foe Piercing) = 8
ACTION: Hand Crossbow Attack #1, Yuan-Ti Abomination: 20 Damage: 5 (Piercing) + 4 (Favored Foe Piercing) = 9
Hand Crossbow Attack #2, Yuan-Ti Abomination: 23 Damage: 8 (Piercing) + 2 (Favored Foe Piercing) = 10

Dread Ambusher first attack only : Hand Crossbow bonus Attack #3, Yuan-Ti Abomination: 28 Damage: 8 (Piercing) + 8 (Favored Foe Piercing) = 16

Reaction:  Absorb elements or opportunity attack if available.

Lena ducks partially behind the Column

Lena + 4  bonus damage 

The yaun-ti all turn and the Abomination howls at the damage the 4 heroes have dealt.  It is barely alive.  The main threat it sees is Matheris, but senses others are present.

Matheris is up:

Matheris

In Hybrid form as they enter the temple. 59 min 54 sec timer  

Crimson rite active at start of the day or after a long or Short rest..While the rite is in effect, attacks you make with this weapon are magical, and deal extra damage equal to your hemocraft die of the type determined by the chosen rite. A weapon can hold only one active rite at a time. Other creatures can’t gain the benefit of your rite.

Movement: none

Rapier of Warning Attack: Yuan-ti Abomination: 14 Damage: 15 (Piercing) + 10 (Green Flame Blade Piercing) + 4 (Lightning) = 29

Damage Second target Yuan-ti Malison A chime: 4 (Green Flame damage)

Bonus Action:  Place Bloated agony amplified, on Yuan-ti Malison A to the right of the Abomination.

As a bonus action, you curse a creature that you can see within 30 feet of you, causing its body to swell until the end of your next turn. For the duration, the creature has disadvantage on Strength checks and Dexterity checks, and takes 1d8 necrotic damage if it makes more than one attack during its turn.

Amplify. This curse lasts for 1 minute. The cursed creature can make a Constitution saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the curse on itself on a success.

Still active Starting at 1st level, you gain the ability to place a baleful curse on someone. As a bonus action, choose one creature you can see within 30 feet of you. The target is cursed for 54 seconds left. The curse ends early if the target dies, you die, or you are incapacitated. Until the curse ends, you gain the following benefits:

• You gain a bonus to damage rolls against the cursed target. The bonus equals your proficiency bonus.
• Any attack roll you make against the cursed target is a critical hit on a roll of 19 or 20 on the d20.
• If the cursed target dies, you regain hit points equal to your warlock level + your Charisma modifier (minimum of 1 hit point).

Reaction: Opportunity attack

The Yuan-Ti Abomination crumples under the shear amount of damage.  Yuan-ti Malison A is hit with green flame again scorching it a bit as hit howls in agony and has disadvantage on Str and Dex and once per turn can roll a Con save vs DC 15 to end the curse.   If it attacks more than once it takes 1d8 necrotic damage.

Both Malison's are up the look pissed but are a little shaky after seeing their leader die.

Karea and Faith are up: