D&D 5E PotA-Spoilers may follow

[Balfore]

I stand by my previous comment.

I guess I'm not understanding, if there are no cultists left after a temple... then how were the previous 3 temples able to retaliate AFTER their temples were hit?

Sorry.. I really am trying to understand

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[pukunui]

I guess I'm not understanding, if there are no cultists left after a temple... then how were the previous 3 temples able to retaliate AFTER their temples were hit?

Let's have a look.

"After the characters defeat the first prophet, run 'Dire Tidings' ...". OK, so in your case, that was Aerisi. "Dire Tidings" says nothing about it being the same cult that was just defeated. It could have been any of the cults that did it.

"After the characters force a second cult to abandon its shrine, run the 'Reckless Hate' encounter ...". In your case, this is the water cult. "Reckless Hate" *does* specify that the "offended cult strikes back", so in this case, you would use water cultists to carry out this retaliation. Perhaps one of the other cult leaders is directing them, if Gar is dead or has retreated to the water node.

"After the characters force the third cult to abandon its shrine, run the 'Race to Destruction' encounter." In this case, it's the earth cult. However, "Race to Destruction" indicates that the "remaining cult" sends a force. So here is where you'd use the fire cult.

After your PCs have wiped out the fourth temple, then presumably the four prophets are all either dead or down in their respective nodes (or in the fane). The PCs have dealt enough of a blow to the cults' machinations that they are too disorganized - and their numbers too depleted - to mount any kind of retaliation now.

However, you now have the option of running the "Haayon the Punisher" and "Counsel of Despair" encounters, as well as the "Wrath of the Elements" events.

 

[MonsterEnvy]

The cult that sends the attacking force is not the cult they just defeated. It's one of the others. Added on the phase changes once they defeat the final cult. (Which I should point out they can do in any order.) Chapter 5 explains what the cultists start doing after the final shine is defeated. (Or if the characters move down into the Fane of the Eye.)

 

[MonsterEnvy]

Let's have a look.

"After the characters defeat the first prophet, run 'Dire Tidings' ...". OK, so in your case, that was Aerisi. "Dire Tidings" says nothing about it being the same cult that was just defeated. It could have been any of the cults that did it.

"After the characters force a second cult to abandon its shrine, run the 'Reckless Hate' encounter ...". In your case, this is the water cult. "Reckless Hate" *does* specify that the "offended cult strikes back", so in this case, you would use water cultists to carry out this retaliation. Perhaps one of the other cult leaders is directing them, if Gar is dead or has retreated to the water node.

"After the characters force the third cult to abandon its shrine, run the 'Race to Destruction' encounter." In this case, it's the earth cult. However, "Race to Destruction" indicates that the "remaining cult" sends a force. So here is where you'd use the fire cult.

After your PCs have wiped out the fourth temple, then presumably the four prophets are all either dead or down in their respective nodes (or in the fane). The PCs have dealt enough of a blow to the cults' machinations that they are too disorganized - and their numbers too depleted - to mount any kind of retaliation now.

However, you now have the option of running the "Haayon the Punisher" and "Counsel of Despair" encounters, as well as the "Wrath of the Elements" events.

Correct after the first prophet is defeated the Remaining Prophets go to the lower levels so in the second case Gar would be able to mount a retaliatory strike.

Anyway after the final the temple is beaten the phase changes to chapter 5 and the cult attacks there. I had a feeling the op was just getting a bit confused.

 

[Balfore]

I see... so I was assuming the 'retaliation" was the remaining members of the cult that was just hit, hence 'retaliation'.
When in fact, it's a preemptive strike by remaining cult members of the remaining cults...
That's where I'm confused.

I ran the Air Retaliation after the Air Temple. ..

 

[pukunui]

I see... so I was assuming the 'retaliation" was the remaining members of the cult that was just hit, hence 'retaliation'.<br />
When in fact, it's a preemptive strike by remaining cult members of the remaining cults...<br />
That's where I'm confused. <br />

Remember that while, on the surface, the cults are rivals, they are all really part of one thing. The Elder Elemental Eye directs another cult to retaliate for the destruction of one of its brother cults.

Also, if you reread my post above (#22), you'll see that the text for "Race to Destruction" specifically does call for the just-beaten cult to retaliate on its own behalf.

 

[Balfore]

Thank you for being patient with me... PotA is hard to follow for me

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[pukunui]

Thank you for being patient with me... PotA is hard to follow for me

No worries. Perhaps it should be abbreviated as "PitA" due to its poor organization.

 

[Balfore]

Remember that while, on the surface, the cults are rivals, they are all really part of one thing. The Elder Elemental Eye directs another cult to retaliate for the destruction of one of its brother cults.

Also, if you reread my post above (#22), you'll see that the text for "Race to Destruction" specifically does call for the just-beaten cult to retaliate on its own behalf.

If it's the just beaten cult, it will be the Earth cult... leaving the Fire cult no retaliation.
If I'm understanding correctly :because there are no cultists left?

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[pukunui]

If it's the just beaten cult, it will be the Earth cult... leaving the Fire cult no retaliation.
If I'm understanding correctly :because there are no cultists left?

Sorry. I muddled myself up. It's the "Reckless Hate" encounter that specifically calls for the just-beaten cult to retaliate. "Race to Destruction" says the "remaining cult" retaliates. So after your group beats the earth temple, they'll face the fire cult in the "Race to Destruction" ... in which case, it's the earth cult that doesn't get to retaliate in your campaign. But that's OK.


Now, all that being said, it's *your* campaign. You're allowed to change it. If you feel each cult should retaliate after its temple is destroyed, go ahead and do that! You'll have to make something up for the fourth retaliation, though, as the book does not assume there is one.