Chapter VI : The Abomination (Part II) - The Adventure

The scenario is here.

The company descend into the catacombs, torches held aloft.  The webs are thick here, and the tunnels and halls that have been carved out of the bedrock are infested with spiders.

The first wave of giant spiders took everyone by surprise, and both Shevata's and Cadmendin's veins were burning with venom when it was over.  The Giant Spider took advantage of the confusion to drop right onto Cadmendin, but the warrior monk fended it off.  A spray of sticky web tangled up Zarese, however, and the undead advanced on her to tear her apart.

Marotte was carving an ichor-strewn path through the tunnels, however, and managed to find the ring.  The others followed in her wake.

A trembling in the earth - what others horrors were now stirring beneath this cursed temple ? - led to the roof to cave in, catching Marotte, but the warrior nun did not suffer too great a harm.  Whatever it was, it galvanised Cadmendin into action, and a mighty blow with his mace smashed the Giant Spider to pulp !

The adventurers had been using their torches to good effect, dropped or thrown, and had by now burned off all the spiders' eggs.  When Cadmendin leapt over the intervening boulders and brought his mace crashing down on the remaining two arachnids, the fight was over.  Shevata picked the lock on the last chest, and brought out the grimoire.  The company escaped througha narrow tunnel, which although cloying with spiders' webs, finally led out into the open air and freedom.

All that now remained to be done, was to use ring and grimoire against Thugra Khotan.  As the company travelled back home, news reached them that a certain Conan, a Cimmerian, had been appointed General of the armies of Khoraja by their Princess, Yasmela.  He was said to be mustering an army that he intends to lead to the Shamla Pass, hoping that the forces of Thugra Khotan and Kutamun will break upon it.  The company turn north to join him...

Victory through and through for the heroes.

Each hero gains +1 XP, except for Cadmendin who gains +2 XP for slaying the Giant Spider.

Zarese has acquired, for one use only, the Halo of Mitra spell, whilst Shevata has a one-use Guerison of Mitra, and also picked up a Staff of Mitra.  Marotte has the Ring of Binding, whilst Shevata carries the Grimoire that contains the spell that will activate it.

The heroes made haste on their journey north, but passing through a couple of small towns on the way, were able to heal their wounds.  They also had enough antidote on them to flush the remaining spider venom out of their systems.