Chapter 1: Beneath the Streets

Watching Tilma approach after she had asked the others to wait seems to rub her the wrong way, the evident smirk of displeasure sweeping across a flustered expression, "Are you carrying a sack of metal pots?" she grumbled disapprovingly. "There's a point and purpose to having someone scout ahead, then return and inform the others of their findings". She allows the escape of a long, heavy, frustrated sigh, then stands and waits- certain that Berry too will soon amble up the path, making more noise than a collapsing siege tower.

"If we ever work together again... we'll need to work on our communication and planning skills..." she suggests optimistically, once the trio are reunited.

At the arrival of the ostentatious Norran, Jasera yielded all hope for stealth and silence, rolling her eyes in a show of surrender. He should have stayed asleep... she thought to herself, having preferred being one person short but quieter, than one short person more who's louder.

When the sausage is tossed and the chick approaches, Jasera begins to develop a posture of concern and preparedness, and as Berry shares his revelation by saying exactly what Jasera was thinking, it becomes apparent that their foe is something far greater than an alpha rat. "We're going to need to plan our approach here- unless you want to join your kin as a decorative piece...?" she queries Norran rhetorically.

"There's more at work here than this fledgling or its parent- these spheres... these lights... this is deliberate. This was built this way, put here on purpose, by someone" she observes aloud, the depths of her curiosity revealed as she verbalizes her thoughts.

Tilma gives the last few pieces of food to the little birdies. "Do you have any more food guys? Perhaps we could take them and make a run for it? If the mother follows us outside, guards there could be of some help against her. And if we have the chicks we can tame them! Imagine having cockatrices in our team!"

Jasera stares at Tilma blankly, at a complete loss for words.

After a moment of recovery, the ranger chimes in on the plan.

"We're going to need something better than Let's steal her kids... because if you think a cockatrice is dangerous, imagine one raging with anger because you've taken her children. That's also not knowing if both parents are there- are you prepared to face off against two adult statue-making birds?" she inquires dubiously. "I'm sure not. I have too much to do to spend a hundred elven lifetimes as a garden ornament. We need to get more information. One of us should keep the chick..." she pauses, realizing there's two now, "...chicks rather, distracted while one or two of us delve further into the tunnel and get a better understanding of what we're up against. I have no concern with a possible fight, but I'd like to know what I'm fighting so I know if it's a fight worth having" she clarifies.

"Ok. That sound like a solid plan. Being chased by two angry parents probably aren't the best idea. I'll stay with the chicks. You're the stealthiest one I guess so you should go investigate. Will you take Berry or Norran with you?" Tilma says as she carefully tries to pet the first chick. "Though I really would love some extra food to give them. They look like pretty big eaters"

All adventurers know that being pecked by a cockatrice's beak turns you to stone for a period of one day, although particularly hearty or strong-willed individuals have been know to be able to shrug off the effects. If the petrified creature is shattered before then, the creature will remain stone forever. Some of the statues in the cavern ahead appear to be in perfect condition and you might still be able to save them.

Jasera recalls that cockatrices can lay dozens of eggs which hatch in waves of around 6. Usually only the female stays with the eggs, as the male is petrified during the mating process and then smashed to pieces. He also recalls that Cockatrices are extremely territorial and possess no fear.

As Tilma is running out of food, the two fledglings are starting to make a fuss. Tilma knows that raising a cockatrice could be dangerous and possibly cost a lot in time and money. But, where there's a will there's a way.

Nodding in silent agreement, Jasera turns to Berry and the slush. He pauses on Norran then begins to say something and suddenly stops, reconsidering her words. She shakes her head in obvious disapproval and instead focuses on the gnome, "Are you up for this?" she asks.

If he seems in agreement, she will again take point, slinking into the shadows of the ominous tunnel, eager to see what brood of hatchlings... or what brooding mother... awaits them.

Berry, crouched on his haunches, picking his nails with a blade as he studies the young cockatrices, considering how he might bag one and how much it might sell for.

He looks up at Jasera, and nods, slipping away his dagger and foisting his crossbow once more, silently following.

After advancing further down the tunnel (successfully or not has yet to be determined), the lithe elven girl glances back to gauge Berry's place in their stalking duo, only to find the sly and feather-stepping gnome has already caught up to her. "Gods, man... you make all the noise of a falling leaf" comments the girl admirably and, of course, at whisper tones. She makes no effort to hide how dazzled she is by his uncanny skill at stealth.

Jasera and Berry move west and silently enter the chamber with the glowing crystals. They encounter the following:

* The sealed gateway and podium, as described earlier, bathed in green and violet light. Now that you are closer, you can see a markings on the gateway - a five pointed star with markings around it that look to be written in Infernal.
* You can now see a cylindrical vertical shaft above the podium in the roof of the cavern. The roughly hewn shaft heads up 40 feet, which you estimate is close to street level. There is a round wooden trapdoor covering the top.
* In the southeast corner of this cavern you see a clutch of eggs, 5 in total. You might have mistaken it for stone rubble if you hadn't been on the lookout for signs of a cockatrice.
* Ten stone statues, most of which have been damaged but a few of which look perfectly intact.
* You discover new, unexplored passages lead out from this cavern to the northwest, southwest, and south.

Map (click to enlarge):

Back by the armless statue of the dwarf, Tilma and Norran have run out of sausages and the fledglings are starting squawk louder. You expect that if you don't take some action soon, they will either become aggressive or loud enough to be heard down other passages.