Temple of the Galixtik the Spiny Rat God

Our Heroes barter with the strange gnome tinker whom paddles with sewers under Wayberry. The party trade for a number of interesting items. Eli, seems to have minimal to no interest in gold.. mumbling in his high-pitch voice "Got lot's of that!"
He is quite interested in a number of the monstrous body parts and fluids the party has acquired, as well as magic items they have. Mumbling and exclaiming as Gothi pulls out giant spider eyes and then Doc Holliday shows the gnome: remorhaz blood and fins.
He shows the party how to use a few of the seemingly technology and magic fused devices, they decide to trade for.

Doctor Holliday, offers the gnome artificer a welcome at his family tribe stronghold, hoping the small gnome - he is just over 2' tall - a job and describes the wondrous flying tower. Eli's eyes light up at this and the RedWater Fellowship think they may have another joining the ranks of the ragtag crew..

Taking their leave, the party moves off into the gloom and starts exploring more towards the thrumming and murmuring sounds of the rat god cult to Galixtik. The sewers continue, the putrid smell no better here than before. Tracking the skaven, they are able to determine the creature has taken a tunnel where the flow waterfalls down into the gloom. Successfully traversing the slippery and dangerous space, the party moves on. Passing a large flow whirlpooling down a drain, the murmuring and thrumming is getting louder as they reach another waterfall of

sewage coming down into the passage.. Doc Holliday and Gothi climb up - trying to stay dry but are soon covered in filth - to a large grate where the flow of sewage pours down.
A massive room comes into view as the murmuring as now chanting in a strange squeaking tongue that ends in this heavy thrum.
A shiver runs up heroes' spines as they gaze into a large chamber. A strange glow that lights up a vast room does not seem to emanate from any one point. There are 6 massive pillars, 3 on each side. Dominating the room is a shimmering yellow 1/2 translucent (one can see through it) giant statue on a steep set of stairs at the far end - now you know it is an idol to the Spiny Rat God, Galixtik. Standing over 70  feet high, the lifelike statue hunches over a group of worshippers.
A swirling amber and green putrid fluid pours out from the

chest, oozing down the steps over 4 bound humanoid captives, tied down to shadowy black low tables struggling in their bonds. The ooze flows over them and then into many holes in the steps. This seems to then flow into the sewer.  A putrid and slow moving flow of sewage water flows from under the stairs and the idol, in a channel on each side of the room through each of the 6 pillars. It ends in a whirlpool in a central pool that the party assume further down to whence they came.
There are a probably 20 to 30 of the Rat like humanoids - skaven - in the room. Most seem to be kneeling or crouched in worship, swaying to the music and a strangely soothing voice..
The party note at the massive clawed feet of the idol, the female quarry! One of 2 skaven they have been hunting. She slowly dances facing out to the group as if in a trance, singing in a very soothing voice that seems to affect the rats..

The party prepares, and unleashes a mass of attacks on the skaven. Shots ring out, arrows fly, a Silence spell nullifies the female skaven. Her singing stopping seems to lessen the powers of the rats. Then a web spell holds her in place from Graxusas. The shot and blows of Doc Holliday pierce and cut down many, as he jumps forward into the thick of the rats prostrated on the floor with masses of rats at their feet. Cedric attacks a massive hulking rat that had been drinking from the sewer as well as skaven that are in full platemail, shield and sword. Kantif uses his sneak attack to deadly affect, Gothi, walking up the side of the nearest large pillar, shoots her bow hitting many of the rodent humanoids.
With surprise over, the battle is engaged. The massive hulking skaven attack and smite down on to paladin Cedric. Doc Holliday now fully surrounded is swarmed by masses of rats and skaven trying to bear the determined 1/2 orc to the ground.
Hargrahoc, is able to sneak attack as well, using his eldritch knight skills to good effect, as does Gothi's warlock henchman, Asagron, eldritch blasts hitting many skaven while the rangers mount, JawBone, tears into masses of the swarming rats.
The battle continues until the ancient priest appears and it looks bad for the RedWater Fellowship.
Then tragedy.. Doc Holliday falls to the ground a deathly pallor to his already greyish skin. Having already used his orcish endurance to battle back, the paladin lies dead.
The party is able to get a revivification potion to bring back Doc Holliday and the tide turns.. just in time. Seeing the battle turning, the high priest steps through the gate to the Shadowfell where the putrid essence is pouring forth from.
Standing over the masses of dead rats and skaven, the party takes a breath and binds wounds and

wipes brows covered in sweat and blood.
Realizing this is the location to do the ceremony to stop the rat gods coming, the 2 paladins work together to allowing Doc Holliday to pray and reach out to the Raven Queen to power the ceremony.

 For a moment, Doc Holliday sees a shadowy castle and a figure at a
window, as the figure walks by it briefly looks out at the paladin, then turns and walks out of view.
Cedric, feels as if a wave of fate washed over him, seeing his goddess Istus. As she fades from view,  Cedric sees a battlefield. It looks to have been a pyrrhic victory between a host of dwarves - dark skin even black - and a smaller contingent of humans and elves. Cedric feels as if he is floating above and sees a young soldier with heraldry of 2 tall trees wrapping around a large sword dripping with green blood.
The young soldier, multiple arrows in his back oozing blood looks up and Cedric is shocked to see the dying soldier seems to see the paladin.
One blood covered hand raises as the soldier says.. "Santislar".. then the soldier's hand drops the eyes glaze over and life fades.. and Cedric is once again standing in the temple to the former Rat god..



The Skaven and masses of rats are dead or scattered, except 1 skaven which slept through the whole battle courtesy of a sleep bolt from Kantif.  Of the four captives, two are dead from a last blast of a spell from the old priest skaven, but the party rescued two, still unconscious, but alive.