Session 7

The next chapter of our heroes' tale begins as they say their fond farewells to their companions, Kalydin and Seraph. Having chosen to stay with Obi and Arthur and learn the power that the godless can wield. Their journey was arduous, the horses still apprehensive to travel any deeper into the dark caverns below.
Hours passed below the mountains, as our heroes cam upon another fork in the road, but this time their decision would be made easier. One of the paths had caved in, while the other turned from natural formation to clean cut stone. Oryim briefly inspected the cave in and recognised signs of an old mine-shaft that has long since been abandoned and collapsed. Apprehensive to move ahead, Sam Calas lead the march into the odd stone structure beneath the mountain.
As their torch light burned brightly enough to reveal the room's shape and features. Runic text was carved into the walls, unfamiliar to all our heroes except for Sam. Sam had not seen all of these markings before, but some he did recognise, though he was still unable to translate it. After a short discussion between themselves and an investigation of the doors in this room, Sam gave them words of caution before proceeding, informing them that this text had dire connotations. He agreed to share everything he knew, but only once they leaved the cave, and only over many stiff drinks.
Swallowing their fear, our adventurers moved deeper into the structure, pushing open a pair of double-doors on the far wall. The room beyond was a corridor, that reached around the sides of the room they came from and lead to a large square-spiral staircase. They used their torches to get a glimpse of what lay below, eventually deciding that they had no other real choice.
Descending the staircase, the party reached the floor below. taking a moment to look around they noticed that there was a large cavity in the ceiling where a colossal spider appeared to be resting. Liaden O'Legal identified this as a Goliath Spider, and noted that they are known for being matriarchs of spider broods. There was however, another curious detail. On the opposite side of the room, strangely untouched by spider webs was a large circular door with the same runic language carved into its circumference with three images depicted in its face:

1. A tall building
2. A lion-headed monster with two human faces
3. A humanoid figure cradling a dark, twisted child

In front of this door was a woman wearing a pale shawl who seemed to not notice our heroes at first and was enthralled by the strange markings. Eventually she turned and noticed our heroes gently waving before casting a spell and making her way over to greet them. As she approached however, Liaden began to feel a strange discomfort in her abdomen. The woman introduced herself as Melina, stating she lived just outside of Silvantaar. Probing further, Liaden mentioned that she, too, was from that area which immediately sparked recognition from the woman. Melina squeezed Liaden's cheek as she remembered how she was when she was little, stating that she missed Liaden's mother greatly.
Melina gave the party directions through the structure, telling them to avoid the community of spider worshipers below. But before they could ask her if she could get them out via magical means, she vanished in a puff of pale-blue light. Resolved to continue deeper, the party hashed out a plan, unsure if they could trust this Melina character.
After descending the underground tower to its base, our heroes took note of their surroundings, sending Sam ahead to scout through the rubbled pathways for a safer route. Sam witnessed a community of people who lived in harmony with the spiders while also magically producing light, leading him to deduce that they were not afraid of the light itself, but the heat and flame of their torches. With a pathways mapped, and our heroes staying close to the walls, they began to creep forward, deeper and deeper into the caverns.
After some time, our heroes found themselves caught between a collection of spiders descending a the wall behind them, and a patrol heading towards them from the front. With some quick thinking, Sam hurled his torch towards a row of shrieker mushrooms while Liaden threw her torch towards the spiders. In the ensuing chaos of noise and running, the party mounted their horses and made for the exit as fast as they could. Oryim however, noticed an alcove and couldn't help but swing past to nab anything that wasn't nailed down.
The party attempted to flee their pursuers, running straight from the frying pan and into the fire. They soon found themselves in the nest of a must larger, Ogre spider who was not pleased with the intrusion. Seeing that the room was filled with web, Liaden thought fast. She hurled her newly brandished torch into the web to ignite it, encouraging her companions to follow her lead. Soon the room was engulfed in flame as a bitter battle raged between the spiders in their burning lair, and our valiant heroes trying desperately to keep the horses and themselves alive while poinson coursed thrugh their veins.
As the fire spread, and the webs were immolated, our heroes saw a way out, grabbing the reins of their hourses and running as fast as they could through the narrow escape path that lay before them. Exhausted, lost and surrounded by darkness, the fatigue caught up to them as they collapsed against the wall for a direly needed rest.