Adventure Two, Session Twelve Recap

"A Somewhat Short Excursion..."

As Xanalanthi Xanaloth threatened to bust into the inner sanctum where the party was holed up, the Glabrezu, Slarthinaster, bum rushed him. The two crashed to the ground outside the altar room, but then Xanaloth cast a spell which tossed Slarthinaster like a rag doll, THROUGH the wooden door to the inner sanctum, and landing him HARD upon Marquand and the actual altar. The impact shattered the floor beneath the altar, crashing the altar, Marquand, and the Glabrezu into the chasm below.
In the wake of the crash, a ten foot diameter hole was all that remained of the grand altar. Through the hole, the party could see a small system of cavern tunnels below... and the unconscious body of Slarthinaster. But the high priest was gone. They quickly decided to pursue.
With Guy and his lantern leading the way, the group followed the sound of running feet down the tunnel to their left. This shortly led them to a point where a small river, spill-off from Angle Bay, cut through the chamber. The sound of the water over powered any foot falls made by Marquand.
The party pushed forth, coming to a small chamber where they discovered some blood on the rocks, presumably the high priest's. The chamber had two exits, a left and a right tunnel. But which to choose? Before they could move on, however, the walls of the room seemed to begin moving. A moment later, several fungus-like humanoids (Myconids) broke free from the walls, approaching the party.
Mangy attempted to communicate with one, yet it's only response was to open its mouth, emitting a strange cloud of green gas. Mangy outran the gas and retreated, but Temerity approached, figuring out that the gas was the Myconid's manner of communication. She allowed the gas to envelop her, instantly causing her to hallucinate. The lights and colors of the room became more vibrant. Suddenly she saw, in what was apparently a flashback, the glowing, translucent form of Marquand. The phantom high priest crashed into the rocks where he spilled his blood. He then ran on and took the right tunnel. Temerity quickly pursued.
The rest of the party followed her. The tunnel led to another chamber, where the walls were lined with small prison cells, each containing what appeared to be a homeless person from the streets of Angleport. However, one cell was open and empty. The party questioned the prisoners, who revealed that Marquand (who they referred to as the "dark walker") forcibly took the missing prisoner and continued down the tunnel at the opposite side of the room.
After freeing the remaining prisoners, the party gave chase, heading down the same tunnel Marquand used. This finally led to yet another, larger chamber, at the far end of which stood a great stalagmite, upon which was lashed the missing prisoner. Guy ran to free the prisoner, only to have his hand cut by the (previously) hiding Marquand (who had been behind the rock).
The rest of the party was beset by Marquand's "pet", a large, snake-like creature guarding the entrance to the cave. The homeless man lashed to the rock yelled out to the party. "Don't look it in the eyes!" Indeed, the creature was a basilisk, a beast whose very gaze can turn a man to stone.
A fight ensued, with the party eventually overcoming the basilisk (with none of them turning to stone), and nearly felling the high priest, who despite the commotion, attempted to complete his ritual. Before they could do anything about it, Marquand sacrificed the transient man. The party realized they didn't know all portions of the ritual to fuse the Rod of Ryktuss, so they stood back in defensive positions, waiting for the high priest to finish the ceremony. What Marquand didn't know was that Guy wore the Arcane Attractor, through which he could "grab" arcane items from a distance.
And surely, the moment Marquand completed the ceremony, Guy struck out, using the Arcane Attractor to nab the rod right out from under the high priest. He then tossed it to the person most likely to know how to use it... Temerity. The tiefling quickly ran to a hidden corner to study the device while the party fought Marquand.
At this time, a bunch of the Myconids began rushing towards the room, running from something. Guy checked the tunnel, only to see Xanalanthi Xanaloth headed their way, floating above the tunnel floor. Guy quickly threw one of his few remaining beans at Xanaloth's feet, causing a mighty Treant to sprout from the very ground. Unfortunately, Xanaloth responded by casting a fireball directly at the tree person, sending it ablaze.
As Xanaloth ripped the burning tree asunder, pushing through the remains, Temerity began to feel the overpowering "call" of the Rod of Ryktuss. It began to control her destiny. It wanted souls, and souls it would have. Temerity, against her better judgement, yet feeling the power coursing through her, turned to Marquand and activated the rod. It instantly began sucking the soul right out of the high priest, withering his mortal form.
We left the party as the dried up husk that once was High Septon Marquand crumbled to the ground, little more than a desiccated skeleton.