Chapter 2: Voices in the Dark

Oshgal is the first to pick up a trail and enters the structure without hesitation, following to what would seem to be a blank wall. It is Trig who spots the outline of a secret door! A few seconds later, everyone is staring down a darkened stairway that leads underground. A strong smell emanates from the depths and it is apparent that this leads to the city's sewer system.

As the group descends the stairs, they find themselves in a wide passage (about 10 feet across) filled knee-deep with slimy brown muck that it is best not to consider where it might come from. The passage goes right and left. To the left, it turns left again after about 15 feet, while the passage to the right continues as far as your light will allow you to see, though it looks like a spur joins from the left about 30 feet down the passage. The smell here is horrible and you suppress a gag that threatens to bring up your last meal. Rats scatter at your approach, squealing their high-pitched cries. Fortunately, all seem to be normal-sized rodents.

The rats appear to be running from your group and scatter in both directions. Oshgal sniffs the air and makes a disgusted face, then sniffs again. It seems she has caught a scent, as she moves slowly to the left.