Rat Catchers..

The RedWater Fellowship prepare to delve into the unknown areas of the former temple to the Spiny Rat God, Galixtik. Moving through the bazaar, they encounter a wandering priest whom they purchase incense and holy water for the sacred ceremony to remove the rat god's followers, cultists. Hagrahoc the dragonborn rogue (?) in the lead, to a set of double doors, barred, chained and with a large stack of boxes and more. A few thugs help dismantle the barrier to the double doors and the party enters into the unknown.

The smell is fetid and rank on the other side as the party grip their weapons. The party discover a mural and tiles on the floor tell an ongoing story of four elvish brothers on a quest or path, there is ancient script, looking to be very old elvish. The flagstones are worn in many places. The party continues to delve further until they find a set of 3 doors. Graxusas uses his detect magic and Doc Holliday uses a detect life/blood capability of his sword.
One door leads to a stairwell where the party meets a horde of spiders. Defeating the masses and 1 large spider, the party descends a very long stair down to a sandy tunnel. Realizing they may have found a way out of the complex, they return up.

Another door they hear talking and shouting behind and then laughter. Carefully and silently Kantiff opens the door, they find a strange sight. four skeletons sitting at a table and looking to be playing a card game of some sort. It seems that Argus, Cheeber and Orlok continue to give another skeleton - Shagbat, a hard time about playing the card game.
Kantiff invokes a minor illusion of himself sitting in the room and the four skeletons are surprised by this but does not seem to aggravate them after they determine it is an illusion. Not seeing any reason to attack, the party leaves the bickering skeletons. Doctor Holliday seems torn between attacking and leaving, unsure what his patron deity would want - the Raven Queen. While leaving, Graxusas uses his thaumaturgy spell to slam the door and spook the four skeletons again!

The party explores further into what they think is the area of the complex that is held by the Spiny Rat God, Galixtik. Further one they find a
cavern where a large sloop - yes a ship - sits grounded in a stream of greenish water. The ship looks quite old with ragged sails. In the area, they see strange creatures - look to be rat like humanoids. Hargahoc advises these are called Skaven.
There is what appears to be rows of benches and a bar looking out into the large cavern. where some of the humanoid rats mill around on the old ship.



A battle ensues with the creatures, one of the enemies - a spellcaster - launches a fireball at the party. Gothi uses her jump spell and spider-climbing boots to leap across to a large pillar of stone. Using her ranger and bow to great effect. Kantiff continues to deal great damage with his sneak attack, cutting down opponents. Doctor Holliday fires his musket with loud thundering shots, sometimes killing with single shots. Cedric a powerful defender cuts down a skaven, using his protection ability to shield the heroes. Graxusas using his sorcerer spells, blasts into the skaven.
The majority are defeated, but the male leader with the scythe and a spellcaster female skaven are both able to escape into the rear of the ship and down a hole into a cavern below it seems. The heroes, take a breath and gather loot..

Until next time.