Team Anzu ventures deeper into the Strider's Undercroft, crossing a perilous piston chamber and sneaking past spider-creatures in a silk-filled shaft. They discover an ancient religious site with statues of Aurelia the First's original party, then fight a grueling battle against massive sword-armed spiders and a notorious apothecary bug that steals potions and injects deadly poisons.
- The party navigates a web-lined hallway in the Undercroft of the Strider, hearing skittering sounds through the walls and approaching heavy machinery.
- Benny steps through a gap in the floor at the threshold of a piston room; he catches himself (earning a hero point) and the party surveys a massive cylindrical chamber with eight actively pumping pistons arranged in a V pattern.
- Anzu and Argyle critically succeed on an occultism/religion check, confirming that a Heart's Fane can be co-opted by a stronger creature — meaning the Strider-themed Fane may be corrupted by 'Big Bug.'
- The party flies and levitates across the 100-foot piston room (Anzu casts Fly on Argyle, Levitate on Benny; Johnny Dimension Doors), arriving safely on the far ledge.
- Johnny creates an illusory undead distraction high above in a silk-curtain shaft room; the party sneaks past blue-black spider creatures suspended among thousands of silk strands.
- Argyle identifies six ancient statues (~700 years old, pre-Aurelia II) depicting the original party of Aurelia the First, each sworn to one of the six outer gods — Scale, Church of the Compelled, two Belvedere academics, a vine-wrapped figure, and Aurelia I of the Iridescent Church.
- Combat erupts against massive sword-armed spiders and a dreaded apothecary bug that drinks Johnny's healing potion and injects multiple poisons (Sloughing Toxin, Clown Monarch, Spider Venom).
- The party defeats all spiders and apothecary bugs after a grueling fight, with Benny landing killing blows on the big spiders and Johnny finally stabbing the apothecary bug to death.
- The session ends with the party battered and low on spell slots at the foot of the statue stairs, debating whether to rest and wondering what awaits further up.
CharactersBenny (fighter/exemplar)Argyle (cleric/healer)Johnny (occult spellcaster)Anzu (occultist/psychic)
LocationsThe Undercroft of the Strider (below Hildebrandt's slice, roughly floors 12-15)Web-lined twisting hallwayPiston room (large cylindrical chamber with eight pumping pistons)Silk curtain shaft (converted elevator shaft with curtains of spider silk)Religious statue room (ancient worship site with six statues of Aurelia I's party)
FactionsThe Sinister Six (Herald/Scorpion symbol found earlier)The original party of Aurelia the First (depicted in statues — Scale, Church of the Compelled, Belvedere, Iridescent Church, and others)BelvedereIridescent ChurchChurch of the CompelledNecroLog (Johnny's organization, referenced)
ItemsObsidian Goggles (darkvision item, passed to Benny)Mongrel folk tincture (grants Dex bonus / extra fingers for climbing)Skeleton keyInk ribbonPamphlets — Perfection's First StepHorn symbol of the Herald (found on a mongrel folk last session)Holy waterPotion of Emergency EscapeAddiction Suppressant (Greater)
Cliffhanger The party stands at the foot of the statue-lined stairs, surrounded by spider corpses, low on spell slots and resources, wondering whether a Heart lies in this room or further up the stairs — and whether something even bigger guards it.
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