Idolators Under Inzet - Episode Six

## **Synopsis:**

Inzet, the capital city of Mowen's Borderlands province. The city had welcomed labor and entrepreneurship from all walks of life, and as with any large undertaking, unfavorable individuals came to cause trouble. Local authorities believed a cult of idolators of Veyis, the first Lich, had set up in the sewers, with a horde of undead reportedly gathering in the undercity.

Dushah Uloreen's attention was ever-focused towards keeping external threats at bay, such as the Dread Hounds from the east. With no help from him available, officials sought a small band of mercenaries to discreetly assess and handle the situation. The Whispering Cutlass answered this call.

This is the sixth adventure in the Idolators Under Inzet Arc.

In this adventure, the party finished their trek of the sewers, rescued a giant crab, and desecrated religious statues.

## **Mercenaries:**

* Bandin Volward Deepburrow - Deep Gnome Rogue / Wizard (Sponsor: House Stars)
* Elric Dawnflame - Kalashtar Bloodhunter
* Kiwarden - Firbolg Paladin
* Nwalmë Shadhavar - Shadar-kai Rogue (Sponsor: House Shadhavar)
* Ro'Keer - Tabaxi Ranger
* Tar'ren r'Eehp r'Eehp - Frogfolk Warlock
* Xeithne Aladur - Bugbear Monk (Sponsor: House Stefarni)

## **Adventure Summary:**

### Preparing for Death

During their short rest in the sewers, Elric fed Ro’Keer’s Boots of Devouring some strong alcohol, causing the boots to vomit two vials of ink for a spellbook, a telescope, a bedroll, and ten dead lizards.

At one point, the invisible Nwalmë went up to Xeithne and asked her about a conversation on magic she had with Tar’ren. Xeithne explained that she and Nwalmë were physical Primordials, individuals who were not mages, but were still Threadtouched with the ability to harness ambient primordial magic in and around them to enhance their skills. Nwalmë was taken aback by the revelation, having thought that he was just skilled and lucky. When he panicked at the idea that his father adopted him for the sole purpose of having a gifted child, Xeithne assured him that his talent most likely hadn’t emerged until years after the adoption, implying that Xekral had wanted Nwalmë for who he was, not for any potential power.

Nwalmë confided in Xeithne—and subsequently the rest of the party by saying it loud enough in their presence—that the Atrocity Gods Veyis and Vilithk were working together. He had a small meltdown when considering all the lives he was endangering through his antics. Xeithne told him that she was no therapist and could not help him overcome his trauma, but at the least, she could remind him that every one of his companions were with him because they had goals of their own. It was their decision, not his, so he shouldn’t hold himself responsible for their deaths. Xeithne assured him that if she died and started haunting him, it would be to ensure he kept up his tonfa training, not to bemoan his part in her death.

Nwalmë, still invisible, leaned into Xeithne’s back. “Promise you’ll haunt me?”

Xeithne chuckled. “You’d better believe it.”

“Good.” After that, the two went quiet, preparing for the challenges to come.

Just before continuing on, Nwalmë gave Bandin a spell scroll that contained the rare Antimagic Field spell. If they needed to stop powerful magic, Bandin was better equipped to handle it than anyone else.

### Through the Sewage and Swill

Keeping low to the ground and in the shadows, the party tried to sneak up on any idolators they came across. Though he joked that Kiwarden should take the lead as forward scout, Nwalmë volunteered, moving first. He noted a curve north and a path east, watching ripples in the sewer water going both directions.

Elric secretly flipped a coin. “My instincts tell me to go north.”

Bandin remembered a bit of logic from Cornelius Braxton back when they had explored a maze together: “Left is right, right is wrong.”

Nwalmë decided to rely on his perception. Keeping an eye around the corner to spot movement, he saw something to the east, grabbed a loose stick and waved it so that the others knew which way his invisible body was heading.

Xeithne utilized her knowledge of medicine, giving everyone advice about how to avoid sewage and keep from getting infected by the unsanitary sludge.

Elric opened his magical senses in a similar way to when he used the Smelling Salts of Detect Magic, keeping himself aware of undead, hoping to catch them before they caught him. Tar'ren looked at the structures of the walls and the way the water flowed, trying to determine where the idolator’s base could be set up. He noted scrape marks as if someone had dragged something across the path.

Bandin swept the ground, probing rocks and loose debris to get it out of the party’s path and aid in stealth. Some of the rocks splashed into the water. Ro’Keer meanwhile used his fleet feet to dodge any debris in his way, moving forward without issue.

Kiwarden bent over the waters, whispering to the pond scum and asking if they could direct the party to the cultists. Suddenly the algae’s bioluminescent glow began to change patterns, as if creating a pathway of glowing scum, leading them in the way they should go. Kiwarden dipped his head and offered his thanks.

Nwalmë tried to help the party get through the sewers by communicating the steps he took, but it didn’t work as well as he hoped:

“Follow me here,” he said.

Elric glared. “We can’t see you.”

“Oh right. Well come here, no I said here.”

“Still can’t see you.”

“Right, right, got it. Now move over this way.”

“What part of ‘can’t see you’ don't you understand?”

Tar’ren meanwhile tried to commune with his patron through the fouled water. He touched it, and his patron blessed him with a limited sense of danger ahead through a large ripple that rushed from his hand, though the ripple threatened to give away their position.

Bandin looked through his knowledge of sewers to understand and predict the flow of the water, hoping to avoid head ends. Kiwarden similarly tried to deduce how far the scum path would lead, though he couldn’t predict past a bend.

Seeing the difficulty Nwalmë had leading people, Xeithne attempted to subtly shift the party to keep them on a quiet path. She nudged Kiwarden to the left, kicked Elric’s foot so he landed on the path rather than a rock.

Ro'Keer lied to himself, saying that everything would be fine.

Elric drew on his religious knowledge, checking for signs of Veyis. It was a critical success as he realized that a light he saw up a ramp was not merely a sconced torch, but the flames of an ever-burning undead. He warned the party, who crept forward and ambushed the skeleton and its necromancer.

Elric shot the necromancer with his crossbow, piercing the thigh. Nwalmë aimed his dagger and shortsword at the necromancer’s mouth. As he thrust forward, he became visible—the Necromancer was quick on his feet and ducked under the dagger, but Nwalmë’s undercut with the sword caught him between the lips and sliced through the whole head, decapitating him.

Kiwarden raised his ice sword with two hands, the magic weapon now being known as Icepick. He brought it down to cut through the skeleton’s spine. Bandin meanwhile came alongside Elric and shot an arrow at the skeleton, which pierced the skull. The skeleton crackled, then violently exploded in a gush of fire.

Nwalmë and Elric jumped back in time to dodge the brunt of the flames. Kiwarden blocked with the Icepick, which drew on his divine strength to absorb some of the fire.

Elric looked at Nwalmë, appalled by the decapitation. Bandin tried to search the body, though it was badly scorched by the explosion. He did find a lump of eight ounces of silver.

After quieting themselves, the party heard a scraping sound coming from the east passages.

Nwalmë once more led with his perception, realizing that the sound came from around the corner and led north. It wasn’t on top of them, but it seemed large.

Bandin used a mirror from his thieves’ tools to peer around corners, signalling to the others that it was clear. Ro'Keer stealthed to get further up the path for a better vantage. Before moving forward, Xeithne broke out a Healer’s Kit to soothe Kiwarden’s burns.

Tar’ren investigated up the trail, noting that something large might have been dragged. Elric checked out the cinder remains from the skeleton using his alchemist supplies, hoping to learn more about the undead, but he was not able to discern much with those tools.

Kiwarden listened to the scraping sounds to predict whether they were nearing or receding. He realized that there was a chittering along with the scrapes that belonged to some sort of animal. He informed the group of the noise.

Nwalmë darted down the path and tapped on a grate, then darted away, using echoes to mask the direction from which the party came. Ro'Keer hopped across the sludge river with grace. Kiwarden gripped the wall, using brute strength to keep himself from slipping into the water.

Tar’ren focused on the moss growing along the path, looking for which patches seemed more slippery than others. Unfortunately, it was all slippery. As he stepped back, he nearly slipped and fell into the water, but Xeithne lunged forward and grabbed him by the scruff at the last second. The two froze, Xeithne holding Tar’ren in the air. They stared at each other, then gave each other a thumbs up. Xeithne released Tar’ren safely on the road.

Elric tried to sniff out the undead, but the area smelled more like sewage than necromancy. Bandin peeked around to the south, making sure nothing was coming up from behind them. The best he could discern was that someone or something was out there, but how far away was anyone’s guess.

The party moved up the northern sewers, following Xeithne’s advice to keep noses plugged and eyes covered. Ahead, they saw a large hermit crab carting coffins on its back, claws bound. It was led by two tethers held by cultists, guarded by two undead. All of them stood in the middle of a shallow cistern. Bandin snuck to get a closer look while Elric pulled from his knowledge of the undead to try understanding what their abilities might be. They were frozen husks, skeletons that had icicles protruding from them.

Nwalmë scoped out the leader of the group and noted how the cultists guided the crab with hand gestures. Xeithne ran forward and threw a dart, slicing cleanly though one of the tow lines. The crab began to panic, distracting the cultists.

Tar’ren touched Kiwarden’s shoulder, bestowing Protection from Evil and Good. Kiwarden charged to the edge of the cistern, beating on his chest. He was so intimidating that he expected to see new turds floating in the sewage.

Ro'Keer tried to direct the crab to break the other tow line, but the crab missed, stabbing into the sewer and sending up a huge splash to drench the cultists. Instead, Tar’ren sent an Acid Splash that melted the second line, then hopped back. The crab rejoiced in its newfound freedom.

Ro'Keer shot a cultist and hit, strafing to the south of the cistern and placing his mark on the foe. Bandin ignored the sewage water and sloshed to the crab. He tried to jump on it and cut off the coffins—but the crab, flailing in excitement, thwacked Bandin into the water. Bandin stood and instead cut through the chains underneath the crab. He almost got stepped on as the coffins fell, but backpedaled to safety, shouting, “You’re welcome” and hiding his sword behind his back as a way to show he meant no harm.

The crab, upset with the cultists for trying to lead it into sewers, critically slammed a cultist with its claw, pushing the cultist under the water. They did not resurface. Elric cursed, wanting to take prisoners.

Kiwarden moved to the other cultist and used Icepick, stabbing their foot. Nwalmë shot with Sagrid’s Gamble, the first arrow hitting its mark, but the second one hitting Kiwarden in the back. Still, a spectral mercenary appeared in front of the cultist and slammed a spiked club into their knee, knocking them unconscious from the pain.

One frozen husk tried to slam Bandin, but Bandin dodged both strikes. Elric stepped to the edge of the cistern and stabbed the skeleton, critically piercing it in the chest. Xeithne moved behind Elric and stabbed under his arm, another critical strike to the undead. After kicking it in the head, she retreated to stand by Ro'Keer.

The other icy skeleton scraped Bandin with its icicles. Tar’ren tried to Eldritch Blast, but the corrupted water didn’t sit right with his patron; the water blasted back into his face.

Ro'Keer prepped a fire arrow, yelling at Bandin to get out of the way. Bandin reacted quickly and ran. Ro'Keer’s arrow hit its mark, the fire seeming to do extra damage to the undead. Bandin shot an arrow himself, also striking his target.

The crab gravitated towards Ro’Keer and Xeithne since they had helped to free it. It stayed away from the skeletons, afraid of them.

Kiwarden swung at a skeleton with his glaive. Nwalmë gave Ro’Keer a nod of agreement and nocked a flaming arrow himself. Ro'Keer gave a thumbs up. Nwalmë let fly, setting the other skeleton ablaze.

However, the fire immediately extinguished as the skeleton crumbled, ice spreading out from its remains. The water froze around it, encasing Elric’s legs in ice. But then the ghostly mercenary appeared in front of Elric and slammed his spiked club into the ice, breaking Elric free. He gave a thumbs up to Elric before vanishing from the sight of most people, though both Elric and Nwalmë could see him hanging around in case he was still needed.

Elric nodded awkwardly, unused to having to thank a ghost. He charged at the other skeleton, but missed.

Xeithne refused to go into the sewage. She threw a dart, missed. “Y'all got this,” she said.

The remaining frozen husk, still ablaze, lurched to strike at Elric. It stumbled into the sewage and fell prone, but still managed to bruise his shin.

Suddenly, a spray of acid coated the fallen undead. Tar’ren Acid Splash was effective, the skeleton dissolving away.

Tar’ren cast Spare the Dying on the remaining cultist. Elric dragged the person out of the sewage while Ro'Keer fed the crab a ration. Nwalmë collected the spent ammunition, to Xeithne’s gratefulness.

Bandin removed the claw handlers from the crab while it ate from Ro'Keer's hands. The Gnome patted the crab on its cheeks and then Prestidigitated himself clean. Kiwarden told the beast that it was free to either leave the sewers or follow them. When the crab indicated that it would remain with them, Kiwarden named it Shynee.

Elric stuffed the unconscious cultist in the coffin, bound and gagged, after Shynee crushed the lid to let air in. They would collect the person to deliver to the constabulary on their way out.

Shynee led Kiwarden down a northern passage, apparently intent on finding food. After a few twists and turns, the crab stood in front of an innocuous stone, tapping on it to imply that it could be opened. Bandin pushed the copper coin into the slot on the stone, opening a secret door with a grunting shift. A spiral staircase headed downwards.

“What is the password?” someone called from below.

The crab panicked, not expecting the voice. Bandin rushed down and got a blade into the person, but not before they uttered a scream. Scuffling and shouting came from a nearby passage as the alarm rose. With skeletal archers and warriors mobilizing to the stairwell, the rest of the party charged down to fight.

### Fighting the Horde

With only a five-foot wide hall to the west leading into the stairwell, Kiwarden pushed into it to block the bottlenecked skeletons. He slashed with Icepick, cleaving through a skeleton. The next second, the Firbolg vanished from sight, suddenly invisible.

Ro'Keer marked the closest warrior and shot an arrow, but it popped against the rusted banded armor, getting stuck between bands. Nwalmë moved to the middle of the small chamber and chucked a bag of ball bearings at the skeletons, plus a smoke bomb to provide cover for his party.

Bandin scowled at Nwalmë through the smoke. “And how are we supposed to get through now?”

Nwalmë shrugged.

Outside the stairwell, an archer near a statue of Veyis shot at Nwalmë through the smokescreen, but missed. Another archer took aim, but failed to meet its mark.

Elric ran out of the smoke and threw holy water at the nearest skeleton, then ducked back. The vial cracked against armor, the bones sizzling upon contact with the blessed liquid. Tar’ren conjured a splash of acid that further dissolved the skeleton.

Bandin ran up to a skeleton and stabbed it with his shortsword, though his dagger glanced off. He then hopped back and ducked under a table. Arrows chased him and stuck into the table’s wooden legs.

Xeithne remembered how effective Nwalmë’s efforts with a crowbar were on the skeletons. She stowed her spear and relied on her body, cracking knuckles against bone before fading into the smoke.

Skeleton warriors moved forward, but rammed into the invisible Kiwarden. The paladin took the opportunity to slash into one, cleaving it in two but becoming visible once more.

Ro'Keer moved his mark to another skeleton and shot a specialized arrow containing a vial of holy water. Unfortunately, his shot clipped the skull and ricocheted to a wall, spilling its contents ineffectively.

Nwalmë climbed up the stairs to get a height advantage over the tall and stoic Kiwarden. He aimed with Sagrid’s Gamble in hand. The arrow split in two, one shot cracking a skeleton’s forehead and dropping it to the floor. The second shot, however, bounced off the tower shield strapped to Kiwarden’s back.

The skeletons continued their approach, one cutting into Kiwarden’s knee. Archers let loose a volley that bounced off Kiwarden’s body. In the thick of the action, one arrow pierced its ally, stabbing into a skeleton’s ribs.

Elric threw another vial of holy water, glancing off a skeleton but still coating it with radiant water. Tar’ren comboed once again by spraying acid on it. As Elric retreated into the smoke, a skeleton’s arrow whizzed by his ear.

Bandin dashed through the crowd of skeleton’s faster than they could react, skidding over the ball bearings and ducking behind a pillar. One warrior noted his advance and broke away from the others, chasing him down to get a glancing blow to his arm.

Kiwarden blocked most of the blows against him, but one skeleton’s rusty blade snuck into the gap between head and shoulder, slicing into his neck, a nearly fatal blow. Xeithne immediately shot forward, punching the skeleton to bits with a flurry of blows before gently tapping Kiwarden’s wound. Her ki-fueled strike healed the paladin, closing the gashed neck. Kiwarden doubled up on the healing, using his holy power to restore his bleeding knee. Ro’Keer also aided, creeping up behind the paladin and casting Cure Wounds.

At that moment, the Tabaxi’s ear twitched. He heard footsteps approaching from the far west, on the other side of the large chamber, where another set of stairs led downwards. He shouted this to the party before marking another skeleton.

Nwalmë hid in the smoke, then shot at one of the archers. Both arrows hit, destroying the undead. In one swift motion, Nwalmë then hopped off the stairs, ran to Kiwarden, asked for a lift, and jumped. Kiwarden immediately whirled, grabbed Nwalmë, and tossed him, sending him flying forty feet into the chamber where he landed with a graceful somersault.

A cultist peeked her head from behind a statue and glared at Nwalmë. She chanted towards the central depiction of Veyis, which released a death gong from her Toll the Dead spell. But Nwalmë smirked, unaffected.

The archers turned their attention to the exposed rogue. Two shot, one missing, the other piercing Nwalmë’s gut.

While Elric and Tar’ren maintained their holy water and acid tactics, another cultist tried to Toll the Dead Nwalmë, without effect. Bandin, busy with a skeleton bearing down on him, cut into it before hiding behind northern pillars.

A necromancer moved from the west end of the chamber. He opened a coffin, pulling out an ordinary corpse. As he chanted over it, the corpse briefly animated, then wrapped around him, bones crunching and popping as it became corpse armor.

A skeleton attacked Kiwarden and landed a glancing blow. Another strike was blocked by Icepick. One skeleton pursued Nwalmë, but its blade whiffed over his head.

Xeithne moved into the fray in front of Kiwarden, crushing a skeleton with double blows. She crouched, ready for the fight.

Kiwarden grinned and asked Xeithne to scoot a step to the west, thanked her for the courtesy, and then slashed at a skeleton to the north. Unfortunately the blow missed.

Ro'Keer marked the warrior attacking Nwalmë and hit it with a holy water arrow, the vial cracking and splashing radiant magic onto the undead. Nwalmë shot the warrior point-blank to drop it. The second arrow pinged off a pillar and bounced at a cultist, a glancing blow.

One cultist moved closer and hissed, “Grovel,” a Command spell. But Nwalmë clicked his tongue and said she’d have to do better than that. Distracted, however, the rogue took two arrows to his back from skeletal archers.

Elric threw another vial of holy water at a skeleton warrior while Tar’ren attempted to coat a cultist in acid, though she dodged out of the way. The cultist then stabbed Nwalmë with a ritual knife, slicing his face.

Bandin snuck behind the cultist and jabbed with his sword, then dashed away to get behind cover.

The necromancer walked to the southern section of the chamber. He touched his corpse armor, which hardened, petrifying into stone.

A skeleton attacked Xeithne, slicing into her side. The Bugbear’s eyes widened in a death glare. She punched, and when the skeleton dodged, she followed that up with a kick that sent its head spinning. Kiwarden tried to help, swinging at the skeleton, but a shard of Icepick slid into his hand, wounding him.

Ro'Keer leapt forward and went behind a southeastern pillar, shooting at the necromancer through a nearby brazier to light the arrow ablaze. He hit, though the necromancer maintained the concentration on his spells.

Nwalmë shot at a cultist point-blank, both arrows punching into the chest and buckling it. She collapsed in death throes. Nwalmë then ran north, dodging skeletons.

The other cultist chased after Nwalmë, saying, “Veyis, grant me your power.” A Spiritual Weapon formed and slashed at Nwalmë, bonking him with its force. The cultist then stabbed with her knife, but missed.

Skeleton archers rounded the pillars to attack Ro'Keer, but both missed.

Elric threw holy water at the skeleton attacking Xeithne. The vial went right into the mouth, melting the skull from the inside out. The bloodhunter then ran forward to hide behind a pillar.

Bandin attacked the cultist with his sword and dagger, but she dodged both strikes. The rogue jumped back to take cover between a pillar and brazier.

Tar’ren listened at the stairwell, fearing an ambush from behind. Thankfully, he heard nothing but squishy noises from Shynee. The Frogfolk exited the stairwell, casting an Eldritch Blast bubblebeam at a skeleton archer.

The necromancer cast Mantle of Dread, launching his shadow to attack Ro'Keer. The Tabaxi nimbly dodged, using the flickering lights from braziers to break up the shadows.

Xeithne tried to strike an archer, but missed her blows. She hid behind Elric as a meat shield. Kiwarden charged forward to take her place, crushing the skeleton with Icepick. He then stuck his hand into a nearby brazier, the blaze melting the ice splinter from his hand. He winced at the burn, but it wasn’t severe.

Ro'Keer shot the necromancer, then backed away. Nwalmë tried to point-blank shoot the last cultist, but she danced to the side and out of the way. The spiritual scythe swung, Nwalmë jumping over it at the final second. Still, the cultist’s dagger caught him in the thigh.

The last skeletal archer released an arrow, but it went wide of everyone. Elric threw holy water at it, which sizzled on contact with the undead.

Bandin moved behind the cultist and stabbed her, then dashed to a southwestern pillar, intent on sneaking up on the necromancer. Tar’ren blasted the cultist with an Eldritch Blast. The necromancer moved between braziers, using them and the pillars as cover. He sent an acid arrow streaking towards Ro'Keer, chemically burning the ranger. The necromancer then hid behind a pillar, preventing a counterattack.

Xeithne skirted the party and crushed the last skeleton, then released a flurry of healing on Elric. The Kalashtar said it was the best massage ever, leaving him feeling great.

Kiwarden considered picking up the brazier to throw at the necromancer, but didn’t. Instead, he cast Toll the Dead at the cultist, who remained unaffected.

Ro'Keer shot at the cultist through a brazier’s flames, hitting his foe and scorching her robe. Capitalizing on the distraction, Nwalmë point-blank shot the cultist in the neck, killing her. He then shouted, “I’m gonna do something stupid,” before dashing south. He performed a sliding kick, knocking over a brazier and sending coals towards the necromancer. The necromancer dodged backwards, however, narrowly avoiding embers.

Seeing that as a great trick, Elric kicked over the other brazier near the necromancer, but the necromancer was anticipating it that time and dodged without issue.

Bandin cursed Nwalmë and Elric, his path behind the necromancer blocked by fire. “Stop putting stuff in my way,” he said, stepping from behind the pillar to cast Chromatic Orb. Lightning shot out and electrocuted the necromancer. Bandin then went west, checking the stairway leading deeper underground. He saw nothing on the steps.

The necromancer’s stoneskin protection faded. Tar’ren moved to the center statue and put his bubble wand to his lips, prepared to blast the necromancer should he get a clear shot. As the necromancer looped around a pillar to hit Elric, the chance came, Tar’ren’s Eldritch Blast slamming into the necromancer.

It wasn’t enough to stop their foe, however, who lunged at Elric with a hand crackling with darkness. He touched the bloodhunter, draining some of his vitality.

Xeithne circled around the necromancer, stabbing him with her spear. As he reeled back, she pinched his neck, the nerve damage knocking him unconscious. Finally, she rapped her knuckles against herself, redirecting her ki to repair her own wounds.

### What Hides Beneath

Nwalmë felt a rumble as a light faded from the central statue. He yelled a warning to the group. Meanwhile, Xeithne lowered the necromancer to the ground. The necromancer faded in and out of consciousness, but whispered, “You fools. The corpse behemoth—I can’t control it if I’m unconscious.”

The ground continued to rumble. Bandin backed away from the stairs as a large undead creature made out of multiple species of corpses rose from the depths, hundreds of eyes rolling wildly, moans and screams exuding from its mouths. It stood as a hunched humanoid with oversized arms.

Kiwarden wasted no time. He hefted a brazier and chucked it at the behemoth. Unfortunately, the brazier hit a pillar. Ash rained around the behemoth but caused no harm.

Ro'Keer’s jaw dropped when he saw the creature, but he quickly focused on it, drawing on his knowledge of undead. He realized that it was immune to poison and to being charmed. He relayed this information to the party and marked the behemoth as his target.

Nwalmë pulled out Rhiw, Arrow of Winter, and threw it in front of the undead. The moment the arrow touched the ground, a storm of sleet billowed out to cover the behemoth. It blocked the bulk of the frost with its arms, however, but still took damage.

Nwalmë made significant eye contact with Kiwarden, then hid behind the central statue.

Elric cast his Rite of the Dawn on his crossbow, draining his own life. He shot a bolt at the behemoth, but the shot went wide.

The corpse behemoth charged at Kiwarden. Xeithne saw it reeling back for a fierce punch and shouted a warning. Just in time—The behemoth hit Kiwarden so hard that he went flying back, but the paladin was prepared, catching himself midair and landing on his feet, skidding to a stop.

Bandin strafed the corpses and slashed at it on his way, stopping beside Xeithne. Tar’ren ran north and hit the creature with an Eldritch Blast.

Xeithne twirled her spear and yelled at the party to pay attention, just in case the creature had superior reach to her own. She moved within ten feet of it, stabbed it and slammed her heel into it; but it roared in rage, turning the kick into a glancing blow as Xeithne moved back prematurely. When Xeithne retreated, however, the behemoth backhanded her with an opportunity strike. Xeithne nearly fainted, shoulder dislocated and ribs crushed. She moved alongside Bandin and said, “Yep, it’s got reach,” before spitting up blood.

Kiwarden rammed a fist to his chest, casting Toll the Dead, but the behemoth was unaffected. The paladin raised his shield and set himself into a defensive stance.

Ro'Keer took a shot at the behemoth using a holy water arrow, which pierced deep, eating a hole into the corpse monster. Nwalmë meanwhile threw a sugarsalt explosive, which missed but set the area around it burning. He stepped back and climbed onto the statue.

Elric attempted to use his crossbow, but it jammed up.

The corpse behemoth slammed Nwalmë with a strike so hard, it knocked the head off of the statue. The blow bludgeoned Nwalmë unconscious and yeeted his body nearly to the stairwell.

Bandin searched the unconscious necromancer to see if he carried anything useful. He shuffled through the corpse armor to find a spellbook, black marbles, and a standard ritual dagger. He cast Chromatic Orb, blasting the undead with fire before moving behind a pillar.

Tar’ren pummeled the behemoth with another Eldritch Blast, then ran away to hide.

Xeithne stumbled her way to Nwalmë and slapped him with a Woundbind Poultice, waking him up.

“Did we win?” he asked.

“Not even close,” she answered.

Kiwarden cracked his neck and breathed deep. He rammed into the statue with his body and pushed, straining against the stone. He heard its foundations crack, he screamed with the effort; and finally it collapsed. But the statue missed the behemoth, landing beside it, rippling it with shrapnel. Kiwarden growled in frustration and cast Compel Duel on the undead.

Ro'Keer shot the behemoth with another holy water arrow, eating into the creature. Nwalmë slid to a pillar and hid, then tried to peg the behemoth with holy arrows himself, though both missed. Elric shot a bolt from his crossbow, but it missed as well.

The corpse behemoth punched twice at Kiwarden, who blocked one of the strikes and dodged the other.

Bandin ran behind the behemoth, stabbing one of the corpses. He then fled away to whence he came.

Tar’ren blew another Eldritch Blast, though it missed. He pulled out a flask of holy water and set it down near a pillar for anyone to use. He then pressed himself against the pillar, hiding from the behemoth. Xeithne tossed a vial of holy water at the behemoth, then hid by Tar’ren.

Kiwarden raised his blade up high and struck at the behemoth with Icepick. The blade cut into the creature, then flashed with brilliant radiance in a Divine Smite. The light continued to build, enveloping the entire behemoth.

When the light faded, the corpse behemoth was charred. It crumbled to dust, the party breathing a sigh of relief at the victory achieved.

## Outcome:

After tying up the unconscious necromancer, the group investigated the room. There were not enough coffins to warrant the amount of smuggling, so they checked the lower floor. There they found hundreds of coffins, as well as a magic circle that contained the corpse behemoth. Most of the coffins were empty, though Tar’ren found a note at the bottom of the coffin saying, “Love you, Daddy, have a nice day at work.”

Xeithne found a hatch leading even deeper. Beyond it, she saw veins of onyx. She reached out and touched it, checking off “touch an underground vein of jewels” from her bucket list.

Ro'Keer found crab food and took it to give to Shynee.

Bandin searched the area for Bags of Holding. He didn’t find the bags, but he found a small ring and a scroll. He Identified the items: The scroll contained the spell Protection from Possession while the ring was a Ring of X-Ray Vision. The marbles held by the necromancer were Beads of Force. Additionally, he found 500 pieces of copper.

Ro'Keer went to the unconscious necromancer and slapped him awake. Elric pointed to the destroyed behemoth and gloated at its defeat.

The necromancer pouted. “That was supposed to conquer Inzet.”

“Well it didn’t,” Elric said. He pointed and laughed.

The necromancer once more faded out of consciousness, saying, “Glory to Veyis.”

Elric poured holy water down the necromancer’s throat, causing him to spit up black ichor and killing the liver leech in his gut.

Nwalmë realized that the cult of Veyis was a lot less organized than he originally thought. He explained to the group that maybe the cult was broken into isolated cells to keep them each secluded. For example, they never did find the silver-haired gentleman with the Bag of Holding.

With the idolators beneath Inzet dealt with, the group returned to the surface with their spoils and prisoners, heading to the constabulary to receive their reward. There, they were told that Uloreen himself would like to meet with them.

## Adventure Rewards:

30 gp per person.

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