Chapter Three: The Last Dream of Mirza Horgul

Do we know why Zora is headed for Hazard?

Not sure if you guys have any conjecture as to why, but you don't have solid info on why she's headed there, no.

So do we tell His Royal Loincloth about the Sphere?

He definitely seems sincere in his interest in learning more about Zora.

Mordred gets the sense that he knows more than he's letting on...but he does have a point about having no real reason to trust you.

Everil raises an eyebrow. "Given you little? Come along, then. I am sorry that we cannot walk faster, but the guide that I promised you still awaits. But you have not told me why she desires so urgently to reach Hazard." He starts walking again. Once the curve in the tunnel straightens out, you're headed west again. "I have told you all I know of the construct. As for Zora Kells...indeed, I have good cause to believe that she is here in the Ways. And I question why anyone should believe she would be safer out of here, least of all in that iniquitous city. Even to get there from here, she would have to leave the boundaries of my kingdom and travel through a far less orderly and savory region of the underground."

After about 40', the tunnel starts to change. No longer a smooth, packed-earth bore, the ground becomes rocky, the walls and ceiling rough and uneven. You can see a thick wooden support beam ahead, evidence of a cave-in repaired. As well, it no longer follows a perfectly straight path, but begins to meander.

"I think you should agree with me that the wisest course of action for our Zora Kells is not to continue on to the wicked city of Hazard, but to remain here, where the cult cannot reach her, even as it sends a mechano-magical being specifically made for such purpose to retrieve her! I would hope that, if you were to speak with her, you would impress upon her the importance of remaining here, where she can be kept safe. Your efforts would be better spent thwarting the cult on the Werld's surface, rather than leading her out into greater danger, would you not agree?"

Mordred's gesture towards his rapier does not go unnoticed by Everil. "I understand you," he says with a sidelong glance. "I understand you very clearly."

The walk continues as a somewhat awkward silence descends. After following the rough stretch of tunnel about 80', it starts a long curve toward the south. At one point in the curve, you reach a double set of support beams, and Everil stops. He presses his finger into a knothole in the wood, and the pair of beams slide out of the tunnel wall. Everil slips into the newly-revealed entrance and gestures for the party to follow.

Other than its overall terrain difference from the previous tunnels, nothing jumps out to Felor's eyes.

Should I assume everybody is OK with following Everil into the secret passage?

Nothing comes of that Perception roll...

The tunnel beyond the secret door is rough like the one it connects to, but narrower.

And it goes on for a long, long time. In the absences of conversation, Everil starts quietly singing to himself again. You follow the tunnel on a meandering westward path for more than half a mile, and still it stretches on...

Any other questions for Everil while you're walking?

"So far it has only struck against my Royal Guard in the tunnels, one-on-one. My sanctum is fortified. Lacking an organic mind, the construct will never be able figure out the secret ways to reach it. And I am confident that once I am able to learn the patterns of its behavior and lure it into a trap, I will be able to destroy it."

As you walk, you hear that sound again: the distant bells, considerably louder and clearer now, though still muffled. Everil lifts his head at the sound and clucks his tongue. "Yes, yes, I know, I know," he mutters.

Last chance for questions before you arrive at your next destination...