Chapter 7 - No Sudden Movement

Exiting the vault and vestry, the party enters the Temple Annex – a large hall which appears to have been used by the cultists as a schooling area. At the end of the room, a great, meaty worm lies blocking the exit, underneath an archway and an inscription “valiant even unto the deep.”

Though the great worm appears to be sleeping, the party approaches with caution, assuming not all may be as it seems. Davlyn calls upon a spirit companion, which advances toward the beast and notes a large festering wound in the worm’s side. Suddenly from the wound, dozens of bloodweb spiders burst forth to engulf the phantom. Using oil and fire, the party dispatches the spiders amid a chorus of gruesome pops and crackling.

Venturing through the archway, the party descends into the Abbey catacombs and Zantus is struck with a vision of the Temple’s past, an initiation of new Knights of the Order. The party lands in a preparation room and is confronted by the deep, rich odor of putrifaction. Tentacles lash out from a hole in the floor and drag Zantus into a pit of swill, where a diseased Otyugh lies in wait. Arranis boldly leaps in after his comrade, while Davlyn and Kilgorin use their ranged attacks to force back the giant bottom feeder. Aryanne hides in the darkness as Kilgorin is overcome by a psychic assault that leaves him dazed. Before long, the Otyugh succumbs to the party’s assault, and the adventurers continue forward into the tombs.