Chapter 4: The Nasty Pits

Berry takes some deep breaths once back to the relatively fresh air.

"Given the other ropes, presumably our competitors have made it down already, so it could be safer in the tunnels. Now I know where the air turns foul, I could hold my breath to see if it helps. Not sure the canary is much use."

"You're right, we have a clearer idea of the threat," Laurent stated, feeling better now that his gnomish companion seemed to breath more naturally.

"Regarding Bartoz' men, I'm not sure. Either the way is safer down the tunnel, or they're dead a few yards down the passage. We don't know, and can't really know... The Keeper of Whispers can strengthen our bodies against the gas, for a while, at least. But it's something I'd rather do for all of us at the same time. If you're going scouting on your own, I have little to offer. What do you think?"

"I think let me take another turn down there, see if I can make it to the tunnel. If it's safe, we can all go down."

Berry recovers, and so dies the canary. The gnome bravely descends again, only this time he holds his breath just before he reaches the gas...

As the gnome prepared to descend, Laurent intoned the odd, atonal prayer that guided a clearer mind to those engaging in intricate exercises.

Berry expertly slides down the rope and drops lightly on the mound of rubble.

A broken pickaxe amid shifted rubble is evidence the work crew tried to dig through the debris to access the sewer tunnels to the east, but then for some reason decided to abandon that in favor of the natural tunnel to the south exposed by the collapse. In a bit of a hurry too, if the abandoned shoe Berry spots a few feet into the earthen passage is any indication.

What do you do?

The canary seems to be okay on this second descent.

The canary seems okay as you move into the tunnel. Your vision begins to shift. It feels like the dragonfly tea's effect is fading. Fortunately your eyes are naturally made for the dark. The lightless tunnel curves gently southwest. It smells of mold and rotting wood.

Does Berry keep scouting? Or do Tilma & Laurent descend now?

Once he's established the canary is ok, Berry stops holding his breath to see how the air is, "At the bottom. Canary seems ok, stand by"

"I'll keep pestering you with questions, so you can reply back. If you don't get a question for more than ten heartbeats, it's because you've moved too far," Laurent responded, pointing downwards with his index finger sporting a rolled coil of copper wire and pointing in the general direction his saw his companion go.

Turning to Tilma, he added "Sounds like he made it through, friend. We should prepare to follow, but we must have a way to raise someone up this shaft, by pulling a rope from below... a pulley system or some such. I fear that if we have to flee from below, and it comes to climbing up that rope, some of us might not have the stamina to climb and hold their breath." He was obviously thinking of himself and his weak arms, though expressing himself in generic terms. "Do you think we can do it, with the three dangling ropes?"

Berry checks the air. It's safe (for now). With access to the nasty pits blocked off by the rubble, it only smells of the clean earth exposed by the collapse.

What do you do?

Assuming the communication is still open, Berry gives the all clear to the others, warning the where to start holding their breath.

With Berry's guidance Laurent and Tilma make their descent.

Tilma descends alongside Laurent at first and keeps her breath when the mage indicates it. The last few meters she decides to hasten the descent. Although usually agile she messes up due to holding her breath because if the gas.

She slams down at the bottom, bruising her arm and probably also her but. Her tailbone is aching and her pride is hurt a little as well. Still she gets up and takes a look around. Not finding anything that piques her interest she steps towards Berry. "You ok Berry? Did you see anything interesting around? Is that the way?" she points down the tunnel.