Episode 1: A Helping Hand

The group finds themselves at a juncture in the cavern system, with widened passages leading in two different directions. The ceiling here is just as tall as the previous chamber, lending an emptiness to the area beyond the limits of your light.

There is no sound nor movement in either direction. The air is still heavy with musk and stale odor, but perhaps you are used to the smell by now.Map

The tunnel westward enters into a small chamber before hooking sharply northward.

The circular chamber is approximately 40 feet in diameter, and unlike the natural formation of the tunnels, appears to have been crudely chiseled into existence. A large fire pit is in the center, and the floor is even with several patches of reeds and furs scattered around. The air is dank with musk.

There is no fire burning, but a casual glance reveals remnants of timber settled within the pit. The top surface is cold, but some warmth can be found beneath the ashes. Whatever flames were here have either died or been extinguished for a few hours, at least.

There are a variety of primitive tools like stone adzes and hammers, plus short coils of twine and bits of bone shards. Parallel finds an axe with a steel blade and shaped wood handle, strikingly advanced compared to the rest.

There isn't anything underneath any of the mats.

Heading north, the party finds themselves at a crossroads of tunnels. There is a large chamber to the west, which extends northward. A narrower tunnel is before them, also heading northward. The cavern to the east seems to venture off into darkness, but does rejoin the other passage the party saw previously.

Rhodrick can hear the scrape of feet against stone, the brush of cloth against body, and a faint low murmur barely perceptible to his ears. It sounds from up ahead at the very edges of the chamber, as well as behind the party to the east.

Several things are moving, and they are all around.

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