The Dragon Hatchery

the sound of cracking clearly pierces the cave's still air. The guard definitely hears it, his reaction leaves no doubt about that. But does he leave his post?

"hail Tiamat!!" shouts the guard "HAIL TIAMAT!!!! They're hatching!!"

he turns and runs into the cave as fast as he can.

Great Job he whispers Now well know where the eggs are.

"Follow him!" Elceran urges in a whisper and starts after the guard.

Clarice nods as Elceran walks by and falls in line right behind him.

Linston follows along keeping an eye to the rear every now and then.

Clarice and Elceran move so quietly, they almost cancel out all the natural noises around them. A clank from Linston tripping over a rock echoes behind them, but there's no one around to notice.

The group moves quickly through the large cavern, the place looks like it was cleaned and swept recently. The guard rushes past the second and third stone column disappears around a corner. When you manage to catch up, you are in a darkened dead end.

Beyond the third column was a staircase leading down a few steps, but the guard definitely went this way.......

"A hidden door of some type?" Clarice ponders quietly to the others. Without waiting for a response she starts to investigate the wall near the dead end to see what she can find.

Maybe? Is there anything that looks like it could be a switswitch? he asks tring not to make much noise

"What's a 'switswitch'?" Clarice asks, genuinely curious.

Linston whispers from the rear.

Why have we stopped?

"Dead end, but that guy definitely came this way..."

Has anyone searched for the trigger to open the door? Check the floor too.

Searching the alcove, it doesn't take long to find the passage. A strange quirk of nature has created a "fold" in the stone here, making the pass almost invisible. Looking around the corner, the passage travels about 15' before forking north and south.

The way is clear, but you've lost a bit of time, and the guard is nowhere to be seen, or heard.

Does either passageway look more traveled?

there are deep footprints and drag marks coming from the northern path towards you. more 'regular' footprints in both directions in the southern one.

"Which way, ya think?"

Let's go see what they were dragging?