Chapter 2: Voices in the Dark

"So...are those votes for exploring these secret tunnels more, or for exploring the building more? Remember, we went through the sewers - obviously still in Waterdeep - and then came up in a building. We don't know anything about that building, except that the basement has a secret door in it." She looks momentarily proud again, remembering her surprise at finding a secret door. "These passages that we've been exploring are all behind that secret door." She looks at her feet shyly. "I want to know where these passages go, I do, but...I am a little nervous about going so far when the only exit we know is so far behind us."

"We have to find proof of a significant threat, something written, or a prisoner. We could always take that wretch I stuffed in the barrel back. But I know the Justices will find that circumstantial." Crow went full big brother mode again. "We could always go wake up the sleeper and interrogate them. Maybe they could tell us the layout of this complex."

Trig taps her foot. "If you guys don't want to answer my question, you could just say so." At their looks, she explains. "We all know what we're looking for: something that indicates why Aristina and the Xanathar wanted to take Anwyn and kill her family." She pauses, thinking about what she's saying. "...that probably means capturing Aristina herself; it's unlikely they'd write anything down..." She shakes herself and resumes on her original topic. "The question is where we're more likely to find that something." Hurt, she mutters "...sure, just ignore the itty-bitty gnome..." and storms out of the room they're been eating in. Once she's back in the hallway, she wipes at her eyes angrily, takes a deep breath, and murmurs "I guess we'll keep going in these tunnels after all..." Now, more calmly/cautious, Trig continues west toward the door at the end of the hall.

Is there anything noteworthy about that door? Can she hear anything through the door?

"Deeper it is." Crow says and motions for Trig to stand back. Theb for Tarna to ready herself for the breach, to advance on anyone beyond the door. To Killi and Tom he motions to take the left side of the room whe he opens the door. Then shouldering to the door he makes to lift and push it, as to make as little sound as possible when opening it. When everyone signs ready, he opens the door.

"This would make a great fort!" Trig enthuses. "You could play down here for weeks!" She turns sober again, considering. "Everything we've seen suggests that this place has been prepared for a LOT of people. Do you think that they've just got it ready and they haven't got all their friends together yet, or do you think there's a lot of people living here already and they're just off someplace else for the moment?"

Trig shrugs; she's used to being overlooked and people not responding to her conversation. She flounces over and looks at the well.

"I think the evidence suggests 20 to 30 total. We should be doubly careful eh?"

Crow follows Trig to the well and checks for a bucket. "That's where I'd hide my treasures." He says, by way of asking Trig's opinion.

Trig looks into the well. "Hmm...there could be a secret exit hidden below the surface, but to find it, one of us would have to climb down into the water and look..." Trig thinks she's being subtle, but she gets a sly smile on her face at the image of Crow shirtless (in her mind, she doesn't for a moment imagine that she, too, would have to get in the water if there was a secret door). "...no? Yeah, I don't want to get in that, either." She sighs, the exhalation blowing a greasy curl out of her eyes. Koko may or may not look mournfully at the water that it won't get to enter; who can tell what a crab is feeling? "Well, there's at least one other door we haven't tried." Trig softly leads the way back out of this well room, back east down the corridor, and to the first door, which opens onto the passage that turns a corner east and ends at a door. "You wanta try this one...?" she whispers to the others.

Trig looks expectantly at the others, and makes a gesture of "After you..."

Crow scouts ahead. Listening at the door.

Crow checks the door for traps and if it is locked.

Crow as before takes his time picking the lock.