Aramil immediately leveled his crossbow aim at the monstrosity and squeezed the trigger. The bolt shot out and struck the arachnid square in the body causing the thing to brakeskid on the concrete kicking up stones with its nailed feet.

" I will not step one foot in that blasphemous hovel hairfoot!!" swore the priest as he stepped ahead of the team readying his warhammer " We must deal with fell enemies first!"

Loten joined the cleric in a frontal defense while Aramil reloaded and unleashed another bolt that ricocheted off the animal's thick sideplate. Suddenly, the tail arched high {8 feet} and the scorpion tramped forward a little more cautious; its quivering claws snapping quickly out ahead of it.
Gailwind joined the rogue with thrusting inward the double doors allowing an escape route into the sanctity of the evil abbey. " We'll have a better defensive position from inside the church!" Ninnipin yelled." Hurry!"

Loten moved toward the threat with sword and shield ready. " I�ll hold it back. Let�s see if it likes the bite of my new sword!" The paladin swung at the scorpion with a fierce downward swipe cracking its tiny head open. Before the tail could zip and lance the mighty warrior, an electrical shock coursed through the beast pausing it momentarily.
Smoke then poured out through vents across the scorpion's scaled amber length and, in reaction, a claw shot out grabbing the dwarf around his neck. Erelis, flanking the arachnid's left side, struck his scythe blade through the animal's back ending its predatory life.

Oktavianus wrestled free the choking claw and cursed the likes of all valiant dwarves east of the Islemic Mountains. Before the fellowship could appraise the carcass and their quick victory, rocks toppled in the southeastern sector of the courtyard.

" More scorpions!" screamed Gailwind. He stood in the entrance waving with urgency " Forget your egos and get inside!"

Oktavianus, taking one look at the duo of charging arachnids 100 feet away, answered in renewed judgement " Cuthbert who?! I'll be damned if I am molested by those things again! " The dwarf led the run into the chantry and the doors banged shut sealing them away from the fearless monsters outside.
Complete darkness veiled the fellowship and a horrid stench assaulted the senses unchecked.

Loten then spoke a single word: "Grastenfrae." and the room lit up with brilliance! The sword, held aloft, shown a yellow din that chased the darkness to the far stretches of the room. The others looked at the magical sword in simple awe, but said nothing. The walls of the 50x50' room were revealed and covered in ancient runes and smeared feces. Up ahead, a small altar stood among piles of trashed wood and broken furniture. A statue adorned the center of the shiny table.

The paladin moved a step toward the altar. " Oktavianus, like you, I would not usually seek refuge in a place holy to St. Cuthbert. However, I do not think that this is the source of the evil aura." The others watched Loten cautiously approach the altar; his hands gripping the glowing longsword tightly. A tattered, grey curtain hung across the back of the room along a steel rod and it seemed to waver slightly.

" Something is in here." confirmed the lorist nervously " And this is where we complete our task if we are to do it at all."