Chapter 1: Beneath the Streets

Tilma has taken you deep below the streets of Iskandar. It is a whole different world down here, a kind of wilderness of feral and foul beasts. It is the refuge of the desperate and the deplorable, and decidedly not safe. The Nightwatch does not usually patrol down here - you're on your own for better or worse.

Tilma has adopted this place as her problem and source of income. In the wake of a recent plague, the Grand Council has placed a bounty on vermin and other dangerous creatures that lurk beneath the streets. Tilma is contracted with the Rat Catcher's Guild and has free reign to use maintenance access points to enter the undercity.

Recently, Tilma came across something strange - a region of tunnels devoid of life. This can only mean one thing - something bigger and meaner than even the Iskandar giant rats has made its nest here. Tilma has returned with backup, three other newcomers to the city. Armed with blade, bow, and spell, each has entered for their own reasons.

The party enters a final tunnel before entering the dead zone. This tunnel runs into a circular drop shaft wider than the tunnel you are in. A pair of chains hangs from above and dangle into the darkness below.

"By the stones, the smell here is worse than the last five channels,"Berry adjusts his knife belt before flipping an errant flop of red hair out of his face. He has been quiet for much of the journey so far but he seems annoyed by the smell.

Berry appears very comfortable underground, his steps careful and delicate. A rapier hangs from his belt, a crossbow strapped to his back. He is dressed head to toe in leather armour stained a deep red, matching his shock of unkempt red hair.

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In sharp contrast to the gleeful gnome, Jasera, on the other hand, found this winding maze of tunnels and shafts and pipes to be the most uncomfortable and inhospitable environment she had ever had the misfortune of wandering into. Each step fell on uneven, slippery ground that provided absolutely no traction and similarly absolutely no confidence in her prowess should the group find themselves in a skirmish. "This lead better be legitimate..." she muttered under her breath. It was spoken in a soft tone, however, more as if she was grumbling at fate than threatening one of the others.

Under normal circumstances, Jasera would not have been caught alive in such a place... dead, perhaps- but then again, when in that state, you have little choice. However, she had been approached by Tilma, a quirky and outspoken elven girl who seemed overwhelmed with desperation after being awarded a contract to purge one of the sewers of whatever vile presence occupied it. The concept of purging the sewers of some unknown malice seemed counter-productive to Jasera; like wringing out a tunic in the middle of a rainstorm.

Nevertheless, a case of big-eyes and a small-mouth lead Tilma to accept something that was a bit beyond her scope, and so she wandered around the tavern, looking to see who may be interested in joining her. Her first offer and interaction with Jasera was an absolute failure. The tracker had no interest in dredging through a filthy sewer system and no amount of pay she was offered would sway her. Even after Tilma pushed against the limits of her budget Jasera still would not budge. Fortunately, curiosity got the best of the eager rat-catcher, who asked the sly elven ranger what would entice her into joining the cleansing mission. Learning of the 'bigger picture' and Jasera's desperate situation, Tilma pulled a few ears and called in a few favors to make the forest warden an offer that she couldn't so easily dismiss; information.

The Rat Catcher's Guild, while lowly in some circles, was in good standing within other circles- the more nefarious ones, the ones which skulk in the shadows, which peddle information as a commodity. One of the members of the guild, Jabbo, had heard about a group of slavers who had brought in an elf rumored to be of royal descent. Whether the rumors were accurate, or even true, wasn't clear- a risk that Jasera would have to take. It was a lead, and even a weak lead is better than no lead. She agreed; her services in exchange for information.

Fast-forward to this moment and the lithe elven girl knee-deep in the gray-green muck. The entire arrangement was starting to look like a bad deal. It was just then that she decided that her negotiation skills were going to need a lot of work.

Tilma advanced in the sewers.
"Smelled worse. There was once this… I don't even know what it was. Some kind of mix between an octopus an ooze and a plant. That I encountered back in the sewers of my city. Now THAT smelled terrible! I lost consciousness first time I approached it. Luckily it couldn't move so I was safe. Took a week and a lot of preparations to take it down."
As she looked at her companions she realized how much more at ease she was in this place compared to the other elf. I guess spending years working in the damp, dark underground has its advantages. If they can be called such.
It's not like she loved to be down there. It was simply the job she had to do to earn her living. She was happy each evening when she finally emerged from the stinking sewers. Lately she was getting sick of this life and was wondering if she should just quit the job and do something else. It's not like she'll be able to find a good mate down in this dump.
She looked at Berry. The gnome had been a great company, ally, friend, since the day she arrived in the city. The guy even saved her life. But gnomes were not her type. Perhaps she should give him a nickname? "What berry would suit him the best?"
While thinking that her gaze drifted towards the elven girl she had somehow succeeded in recruiting to help them. She didn't know how the hell, but she did it and felt proud about it.
"So, Jasera? Wanna hear a joke?" She kind of knew that her attempt to make their companion more at ease would fail, but she just had to try.

While talking they had reached the drop shaft. Tilma carefully looked down while holding her hand on her crossbow. When entering the quiet zone she had opened one of the bolt cases attached to her waist just in case.

Jasera's response was silent. A cold shifting of the eyes said all that needed to be said. It was a brave effort to break the ice, but as expected, it fell far short.

Looking over the edge, watching the sewage cascade over the rocky lip like some foul-smelling waterfall, she began to imagine that if the level floor was this slippery, the vertical floor would be far, far worse... especially with a rushing, cascading torrent of muck and grime. She leaned forward cautiously, glanced down briefly, then leaned back slowly and carefully.

Glancing at Tilma suspiciously, Jasera prodded "How in the Nine Hells are we supposed to go down this?" she inquired amusedly. "So you know... there is no way I'm jumping..." she declared firmly, crossing her thin, muscular arms in a most stubborn manner.

Tilma and Jasera both see the bottom of the dropshaft about 30 feet below, their darkvision registering the ripples of water at the bottom. You can discern the water down there is probably at least waist-deep for an elf from observing the way the waterfall disappears into it. The thick, iron-wrought chains are rusty, but if anyone tests their strength, you get the distinct impression they are still intact and they will support your weight.

"I have rope. Jasera, can you hold it and lower me down?" Berry begins tying his hempen rope around his waist.

While seemingly on-board with Berry's plan, Jasera did appear to have some reservations. "That water level... are you going to be alright?" she asked showing actual, sincere concern.

"I can use the opportunity to scout ahead, see if there’s solid ground. It’s either that or I ride on your shoulders," the Gnome grins, "your choice."

Tilma giggled, imagining the scene, when Jasera suggested that the water would be too deep for Berry. But when he proposed to ride her shoulders she couldn't hold down a small laugh that echoed in the tunnel.
"I vote for Berry to investigate. Then we can get down using my climbing kit." She patted her backpack. "Just need to attach it. Somewhere..." she looked around trying to find where and how to use the kit. "Or we can just jump on those chains and climb down that way. Your call, Jassy." She shrugged.

Berry is first down the hole via the rope. He does a quick scout around the dark area and finds out the following:

* The pool at the bottom that you drop into is inside a 20ft radius circular basin made of polished stone. It is 5 feet deep and contains clear water.
* The edges of the basin are adorned with six bronze statues of woodland creatures, indicating this may have been a fountain long ago.
* Tunnels branch away from the basin. They appear to be from a different era of the city's past.

While the others get their climbing gear set, a dripping-wet Berry makes a quick scouting tour down the non-collapsed tunnels. He confirms there is not even so much as a cobweb or beetle down here. The tunnels seem to end in cave-ins, but one tunnel is special. which has something that looks like a cave mouth gaping in its side. Loose rubble is strewn about the floor in front of the cave as if it were vomited out.

Meanwhile, Tilma is able to hang her climbing kit's grapple off the ring holding the chain. She then descends with the safety of a harness, which turns out was a wise investment. She slips on the wet chain, but the harness catches her before she falls too far. The brawnier Jasera fairs better on the difficult climbing task.

The three meet up at the entrance to the tunnel that leads to the cave.

Tilma looked at the statues trying to recognize the creatures they represent.
The place wass really weird. Never before had she seen part of sewers that felt so out of place. Shivers ran down her spine as she advanced towards the tunnel where Berry was waiting. She was right to bring reinforcements this time.
The water was dripping from her soaked pants as she looked in the tunnel. "Found anything interesting in this weird place, Cranberry?" she was leaning slightly against the wall as she spoke trying to seem natural. It was her first attempt of nicknaming the gnome.

"Look at the ground. I've heard of things that tunnel and throw their rubble behind them, but the size of this?"

Berry sneers at the nickname, "Cranberry? Am I so sour?"

The woodland animals are common and instantly recognizable as a hare, a fox, a fawn, a raven, a toad, and an owlbear cub.

Impressed and relieved that the gnome was able to manage without using her as a step ladder, Jasera moves towards the remaining, accessible tunnel while the others explore the statues.

Cautiously approaching the cave, Jasera kneels by the opening and examines the dirt and rubble. How moist is it? If it's very damp, this happened a while ago and the humidity from the area has already soaked into it. If it's very dry, the 'work' is recent.

After determining this, she searches the area for any signs of tracks or movement, what may have made them (if she finds any) and/or how long ago they were made.

"No you aren't." She said with a smile while watching Jasera examine the tunnel. She seemed like a real hunter. "A strawberry is too feminine. Blueberry... Well you aren't blue. Raspberry perhaps?" she continued to talk in a carless manner while in reality keeping her senses sharp Justin case. "Found out anything?" she added changing her intonation to a more serious one. The question was clearly directed towards Jasera.

"Well, my name is Seabury. If you insist on making the long form, you can always use that. Or if you want my full name, Seabury Valmop Rasdon Rasmin Tanser Timbers III. Brevity is always better in my trade so, Berry."

Berry wanders past Jasera studying the ground and peers into the tunnel, absently removing the crossbow from his back and loading up.