Chapter 4: The Nasty Pits

Having granted a slight degree of protection to Maude, Laurent attempted to move away from the double-headed abomination. Once at a safe distance, he intoned the words of power required to tear the slightest gap in the veil between this world and the plane of frigid elemental energy. A pinprick would suffice, but any miscalculation by the spell-weaver, any broader breach, would cause the incantation to collapse. With practice Laurent had mastered this elementary evocation, and yet it always marvelled the young man that such powers could be meddled with at all. As the final gestures were completed he focused his mind at directing the ray towards the threatening creature.

The moment the two headed reptilian emerges Gilman instantly back steps to gain distance and releases the bolt in the beast's open mouth. After which she whistles to Maude to get her to follow her, hoping that the fish understands her intent.

Tilma winces as the scratches may be just scratches, they still hurt a little. When she notices the absence of the canaries she frowns and then shrugs. "Luckily I bought multiple. Maude, you should get in water a little before we go. " she points Maude to the water.
Once the fish has refreshed itself she says to everyone "On we go?"

Berry nods, "Good shooting T."

"Yes, well done," the young man said, catching his breath after the short, but vicious, encounter. He looked about, seeking clearer water somewhere in this area. "Do you need healing, Tilma?" he asked, noticing her scratches and the absent bird cage.

All of the water down here is filthy, but you clean yourselves up as best as you can. Moving on, you hear or glimpse critters in the water but none decide to trouble you.

When you arrive at last at the mouth of the vertical shaft, you immediately notice several things.

Part of the wall of the shaft has collapsed—the part where there's supposed to be metal rungs.

Three ropes, no doubt used by the Bartoz work crew, descend into the darkness.

The canaries are starting to show signs of distress.

What do you do?

"Ummm, guys? Did we bring something to protect us from the gas?" she looks down worried. She worries for Maude, wondering if she will have water down there. But also for herself and her friends. "Will there be water for Maude there? And how about the danger of Bartoz's men and perhaps other creatures? We could drop a torch down and hope it explodes their asses. But in case it doesn't explode it might attract their attention. Or if it explodes it might cause a cave in?"

"I have the bandana I use for night burglaries, but don't know if it will help," Berry wraps a piece of black material over his mouth and nose, tying it al the back.

Based on Squiddly's description, there should be more of this filthy water down there. Unless something drastic has changed because of the quakes.

With her experience in the city's sewers, Tilma knows an explosion can cause tunnel collapse. Especially if already weakend by these quakes. But it sure would be an effective way to clear the way of threats. Those work crews aren't all thugs though; at least some of them are just regular guys who needed a job.

How are you going down the shaft?

Berry unrolls the new rope he bought in the market, looking for something solid to tie it to.

There's no shortage of hang points to secure your new rope. One of the three ropes left behind by Bartoz's work crew are lashed to a nearby iron grate; the other two are affixed to pitons hammered into the rock.

"We should lower one of us down there, preferably someone who can see in the dark," the young man stated, his voice somewhat strained. "If the noxious fumes are intolerable, we can hoist our volunteer back. If he or she sees no major risk, the rest of us can climb down; and at the slightest sign of trouble, we can pull the person back, hopefully without alerting anyone, or anything below… ". He basically, spoke towards Timbers: the young scholar feared that the impetuous gnome would take an irreversible risk.

"As the lightest of us, no offense Tilma, I'm happy to do that. This new vision might be useful too."

You secure the silk cord and Tilma belays Berry down into the shaft. Laurent uses his magic to maintain communication.

Down, down, down... twenty-five feet down... thirty-five... forty-five... past the dangling ends of the work crew's ropes.

Berry, you see the bottom of the shaft is filled with rubble from the collapse. There seems to be an opening down there but you need to get lower to see.

That's when you smell it. Your eyes water and you begin to gag. The canary has gone unconscious in its cage at your hip.

What do you do?

Berry tugs the rope to indicate they should pull him back up.

"Up! Up!"

Breaking out of his semi-trance state — induced by the repeated castings of the messaging enchantment, Laurent rushed behind Tilma and grabbed the silken rope with both hands and began pulling, while exclaiming "Pull! Pull! Something's happening down there!".