Chapter 3

“As you slip into the tunnel after your companions, you splash into water.  A lot of water. Standing up the water level reaches mid thigh and you find that movement is a bit difficult while wading through it all.  The column of light gives a small amount of visibility, the shaft of bright light occupying a five foot square under the trap door. Around it, dim light illuminates the tunnel itself on all sides by 20 feet. Old rough hewn stone walls, which showed a slightly higher water line at head height and signs of mold and algae sunk deep in the cracks, visible with this sparse light.  Following the curved wall back up to the ceiling reveals at least 20 feet of head room. Behind you is a collapsed rock wall, seemingly caved from erosion. The tunnel itself is 15 feet wide and can accommodate…”

Mina had her eyes watching Robert through the introduction to their new region.  Teeth clicked though he fortunately wasn’t looking at her so much as Meirita and Tahrena who had giggled at every size measurement he gave.  She barely managed to keep her wits on her. The story wasn’t silly but the measurements were a clear indicator and reminder of the small scale of humans.  The equivalent measurement of distance was so puny it was making the pair giggle as there was no Haze to make them believe those details. Though at least the Falashai had the wherewithal before it started to change a setting in her Yutri to not translate the sizes and weights spoken by the human to be revalued for her size scale.  It had helped make it seem much more believable. A sideways glance at Neinja showed the Tordenchi examining their yutri, whether studying more of the game or to do something similar she had no clear idea of which.

It looked like Robert had stared the pair down long enough that they stopped their snickering, though their faces showed they were struggling not to burst into true laughter as no doubt the human’s face wasn’t helping his point.  Eventually he either came to the same conclusion or just gave up, before falling back into describing the setting.

She would be lying to herself if the original reason for playing tonight was to actually try the game.  Not her first reason anyways. Her original reason was a promise she made with Meirita to keep an eye on the others, but most importantly Bo.  The Jahkatian had been the hardest to coax into their first VRPG sessions years ago, but now he was by far the most vocal. Her ears twitched, it was easy to recall his complaints and paw shuffling when the idea of dragging him away from his ‘precious sessions.’  It made her unintentionally frustrated as her tail swished. To the uninitiated eye, it seemed like an excited wag though the movements were more punctual than ceaseless back and forth. She had to distract herself from Bo, so she instead focused on the next reason why she had shown up at all.  The second reason more than paid her back, in her mind, for dealing with the first reason. She wanted to meet Robert.

While Tahrena was certainly Meirita’s closest friend in terms of day to day interactions; Mina wished to believe she was the closest second possible.  Back when the news of Humanity first began to Integrate into the UTO, they had mused over the idea of guarding such tiny people while they came to grips with their new lots in life.  They both took classes to prepare for how to handle an actual human, by using those crummy over sensitive robots. While they had taken the course at the same time, Meirita had soared ahead and passed far sooner than she was able.  Her tail paused mid wag in thought. She had a few false starts and fails but fortunately never on the tests that would determine if she would never be able to try again. Meirita may have passed first try, but now Mina was certified too!  Now her tail started to wag for real. In the time since her passing, Merita had gone from graduate to Guardian, having a little charge of her own. A cute, tiny, shy human. It took all her effort not to sigh at the thought.

“Mina?”  Robert’s voice broke her out of her thoughts, tail pausing mid wag and ears perking upright.

“Y-Yes Robert?”  She gave a smile without showing any teeth.

“The tunnel gradually becomes darker as it appears the trap door above is beginning to close on its own.  The area around this single shaft of light crows darker before being plunged into complete darkness. What do you do?”

“Oh shoot!  I didn’t think about this.”  Across the table Merita spoke up while checking her yutri for her character sheet.  “I can’t see in darkness, anyone else?”

“No Darkness Sight here.”  Neinka voiced as she scanned her character sheet.

“For clarification the term to search for on the sheet is called, Darkvision.”  Robert spoke up.

Boetian gave his Yutri a quick glance at best.  “Nope. No Dark-sight here.”

Mina’s ears folded at his casual attitude, though watching Robert nod as he held his smaller Yutri at least showed someone was double-checking his claim.  The human was considerably more patient with Bo, more than Tahrena had been when they had to drag him into their VRPG sessions, it was impressive. Just when she started to drift in thoughts he was looking right at her and her ears shot right up.  “Oh right uhm…” Scouring the sheet, and turning up nothing. “No Darkvision here as well.”

“I have it!”  Tahrena held her Yutri up in triumph, ears up and tail wagging to show her joy.  “Oh wait uhm…” She paused to looked at the table again. “This one can see with Darkvision.”  She still smirked as she resumed her character’s speech reactions.

“Right.”  Robert paused to write a few notes down.  “Well Jade, as everything goes dark, you begin to see things as your eyes adjust.  Your world becoming shades of grays and blacks as the world falls into this dark version with absence of color.  You can just barely make out a wall and door at the opposite end of the hall. For everyone else it’s pitch black.  What do you do?”

“This one sees a door.”

“Lets see, I have torches in my backpack but I can’t see them or my tinderbox.  Anyone have any Ideas?” Meirita looked hopefully over to Neinja, and saw the Tordenchi had her nose in her Yutri display screen, so she looked to Mina.

Mina looked from the Vitili to here sheet, flipping past some information.  “Oh, oh I got this.” She wagged her tail and double checked her sheet. “I cast Produce Flame!” She scanned the information a bit more and almost beamed as Robert seemed to give a faint nod and smile to her finding something without prompting her sheet directly.

“Right.  As you hold out your hand a pale blue ball of flame appears.  Floating just above your palm and producing a small radius of bright and dim light to allow your friends to see clearer.”

“Oh wait, but my flame duration is only 10 in game minutes, can I cast this again when that time happens?”

He nodded. “Produce Flame is a cantrip and can be cast at-will.  Uhm, as much as you want. I can also be nice and assume you recast the spell when it fades.”

“Oh! Oh!  River takes out a torch and she holds it to the flame.  Does the torch ignite?”

“Yes, although the blue magical fire is expended from this use and winks out.  And the torch only sheds the normal yellow colored flames.”

“Oop sorry Mina… I mean…  How do you pronounce your character’s name again?.”  The rabbit’s ears drooped slightly after the revelation.

“It’s fine, and it’s Tsukiko.”  Mina used her hands in a calming motion.  “I can cast it again remember? Cantrip spell.”

Neinja blinked as she looked back up into the current conversation.  “I cast light on my shield. My light’s color is also blue.”

“Oh wow!”  Meirita looked over to the tordenchi.  “So we went from no light to almost all light.”

Mina smiled.  Looking around the table it was rather exciting to discover how different classes and races worked.  Rather than just knowing all the options or reading them in overview the little discoveries seemed pretty cool.  And just playing pretend was turning out to be as fun as hazing one’s self to think an environment is real.

“Different illuminations in hand, you approach the only visible door.  On closer examination it appears to be tightly shut, and swollen from the large amount of water.  The wood bulging in places due to how water laden it has become with time.”

Tahrena lifted her yutri to look at her character information.  Tail pausing as her ears shifted a bit before stopping with a nod.  “This one wants to try the door.” She looked over to Robert and stopped speaking in character.  “What exactly would I do now?”

“Well, as you attempt to open the door, you find that it is unlocked but the soaked wood has the door swollen to press into the surrounding frame leaving unable to budge.  You can try an Athletics check to shove it open.”

She nodded and grabbed up once of her dice, one she was favoring a lot which was marbled green and blue, with golden numbers set on it.  Holding the die in one hand she was mindful to rotate it to a number she liked in her hand before giving it two shakes and rolling it in her little area.  Looking at the result and then her sheet before looking back to the Human. “I got a ‘15’, does that work?”

Mina watched the exchange as her eyes flicked back to Robert.  The human was looking over his sheets of information and checking his yutri screen to no doubt fact check Tahrena’s ability modifiers.  “Unfortunately, the water makes movement poor and the door is held fast. You don’t have the strength to open it.”

“Shoot!  Anyone else want to try?”

Mina looked to her character sheet and perked up.  Strength was by no means her best skill but perhaps giving it a go could turn up a good result.  After all she and Jade were the two non exhausted party members so it would be best to try. Though when she looked at her total number and the modifier number listed she frowned.  If a total of ‘15’ wasn’t going to cut it she’d have to roll higher than a ‘16’ to see if her efforts worked out. Looking across the table her eyes settled on Boetian, who was still looking at his Yutri.  “Bo?”

The Jahkatian looked up and set his Yutri aside.  “What? Combat?” He started to grin.

She shook her head.  “No, there’s a stuck door and we need someone strong to open it.”

“Oh.”  The smile fell as he grabbed for one of his dice, a gunmetal gray die with blue numbers.

“You have exhaustion Bo, you will have to roll with Disadvantage.”  Robert spoke up.

There was a groan as the gryphon took up his second die, one that was silver and black with red numbers.  He gave them a single roll and threw them onto the table. Not trying to keep them in his area.

Mina immediately tensed and the looks across the table showed everyone similarly on edge.  Thankfully the pair bounced into each other and split off course before rolling to Robert’s side of the table but all eyes fixated on both dice until the results fell flat, plain as day.

“You got a ‘19’ on this one.”  Meirita held up the Gray die.

Mina leaned over and winced seeing the other.  “ You got a ‘1’ “ She glanced to her boyfriend as his growing smirk quickly changed at the second number.

“Damnit!”   He slammed his fists on the table causing all the dice to jump and roll.  Even the ones in front of Robert scattered as Robett’s station leapt off the table top for a moment.  Almost knocking Robert from his chair as he yelled in fright.

In the next Instant Meirita and Mina both had a hand down and cupped around the boy to make sure he was stable and safe.

Mina’s ears pressed flat to her skull as her hackles raised.  About to turn to shout at Bo when Tahrena’s growl cut off her ire.

“Boetian!  Temper!” The Lupari snarled at the wilting man.  Her appearance one that Robert thankfully couldn’t see at the moment.

Neinja cleared her throat.  “May I interject?” Her amber eyes didn’t leave her Yutri though her body language was just as tense as everyone else’s.  “This program speaks about an action called ‘Aid’ which lets someone give advantage to another’s rolls. Would that not work if someone has disadvantage?”

Mina perked her ears a bit as all eyes fell to the seated mouse.  Who drew all focussed attentions and emotions to herself, no doubt trying to divert the rising attitudes before something worse happened and the Falashai wagged her tail a bit in thanks.  She looked over and caught Meirita’s glance down before nodding. Reading the motions she shifted her attention to Robert and as the rabbit rose to stand and took her hand away, the vulpine cupped her other hand around the human to keep him close and safe.  Meirita standing up to talk in regards to if that could work. Mina stopped focusing on everyone else. Instead she slowly parted her hands to spy the human out of his chair and curled up. His quivering indicating he was having one of his episodes Meirita told her about at the start of the night.  Taking everything into account she leaned down low, resting her chin on the table and making Robert’s only visible area her cupped hands and now her face and muzzle. She offered another kind smile lacking any of her pointed teeth. “Hey there…” She kept her voice at a whisper and perked up her ears a bit to look as friendly as possible.  “You okay?”

Her ears lowered as Robert remained unresponsive.  She slowly moved a finger to gently pet and reassure him as best she could.  Recalling some of the methods her class talked about to try and reassure a human charge.  “Robert?” He seemed responsive to the petting. She moved her muzzle up slowly until her nose was super close  using the finger to guide him and use just the finger to lightly hug him with the front of her snout. “Hey, hey.  You’re safe now. Everything is safe and fine, nothing is here but you and me.” She held her breath after the last words.  Watching how he responded. Ears lifting up as he finally took a step back from her gentle petting. He looked up to one of her golden eyes then stepped up to hug her muzzle gripping the fur as best he could, tickling her nose so it made it hard to try and not sneeze from the tickling sensations.  Letting him do as he wished until he backed off again, wide eyed as if seeing her for the first time. Realizing she wasn’t his normal guardian at all. It took all her effort not to giggle at the cute reactions. “Better?”

He nodded slowly and offered a smile in return.  “Very much, thank you.”

Her tail wagged in full force, watching him go back to his seat and check all his papers.  Though something stuck her as a bit odd as his actions seemed more slow, like he had some level of exhaustion himself.  Though when he waved back to her she offered a smile and carefully rose up to normal seating then drew her hands away to let him see the table again.  She let out a sigh as she fell back into her chair. For a short time she dreaded that he wouldn’t cheer back up. She caught sight of Meirita looking her way, the vitili’s gaze and nod made her feel even better about the situation for how she handled it.  With those matters at hand she shifted her gaze over to Boetian.

The Jahkatian was sitting low in his seat.  Head hung down and looking almost wilted, which made her curious to know who spoke to him and what they said. Even his wings were partially unfolded, a clear sign he had some level of discomfort though she couldn’t tell if it was physical or emotional at this point.  He worked his jaw before speaking. “I uh. I would like to request Jade to Aid me in opening the door at this time.” He sounded significantly defeated though once again he seemed to stubborn to apologize on his own volition. There was the telltale and audible bump as he jerked in his seat.  “I uh,I’m sorry for losing my temper.” He didn’t look in Robert’s direction at all.

“Please roll your single die.”  The voice that replied was stiff.  Mina glanced back over to see Robert looking at something though he didn’t seem entirely fixated on it as she felt anxious.  He had waved her off but clearly something was eating at him. She didn’t like to think she failed somehow.

Bo compiled as even he winced at the voice he heard back.  “Uhm, I rolled a ‘20’ after adding my uh, strength modifier?”  He glanced toward the mouse off to his left. The Tordenchi nodding right back.

“Success, the door is forced open.”  The human flipped a page over. His flowery descriptions used to hide page transitions were gone as he seemed to just seemed to be reading or elaborating results.  He sounded tired, a fact which had Meirita uncertain but terrified. Her eyes half folded down. “The room beyond is equally flooded. Roughly 35 feet by 50 feet in size with a door on the opposite wall.  To your left and right are 10 foot wide tunnels branching off. Eroded pillars stand in the center of the room and four Braziers rest with one beside each pillar, barely above the water. At the edges of your light appear submerged skeletons.  What do you do?”

“So there is no light source in this room other than what we have?”  Meirita looked over to her charge.

“Correct.”

Mina watched the Vitili’s ears droop all the way down.  “I use my Produce Flame spell to ignite the braziers not submerged.”

“You are able to do so.”

Neinja looked up.  “My stranger goes to examine the right tunnel after the light is in full illumination.”

“In front of you is a tunnel 10 feet wide and 60 feet down, illuminated in dim light to the end of its length.  Two stone doors are on the left wall of the tunnel and one door on the right.”

“I tell the group what I found and check a door on the left side.”

“The door is locked.

“Oh I got this!  River will wade over to examine the door.  Uhm… Jade could you help me?”

“Huh?  Oh right, Exhaustion.  I go to Aid the Bird Ranger.”

“Thanks.  I investigate the door.”  Meirita picked up her green and brown die with silver numbers and gave it a roll.  “‘13’ High enough?”

“You discover a spring needle trap in the locking mechanism.”

“Huh.  I’ll use Sleight of Hand to disable the trap.  Jade please help again?”

“I’ll help if I am allowed to.”

There was a roll of a die.  “Alright, that’s a ‘17?’”

Robert gave a nod.  “There is a audible click as you disarm the trap.”

The Rabbit smiled.  “In that case I open the door now.”

“The trap may be disable but the door is still locked.”

“Oh right, shoot. Uhm I would like to unlock the door with the help of Jade again, because she is so helpful.”  She smiled over to the Lupari. “Best ever assistant.”

“I see no reason not to help.”  Tahrena smiled.

The die rolled again and this time in was within Mina’s view the exposed face showing a ‘3’”  Meirita frowned and looked at her Yutri. “So that’s a total of ‘10’ does that work?”

“The door unlocks.  Pushing it open, the water floods into the now open and previously dry space.  Now the height of the water decreases bmy a negligible amount. You reveal a small 15 by 20 foot room.  Boxes and canvas bags litter the dusty floor, quickly soaked and submerged in water.

Tahrena nodded.  “I would like to slip inside and look around.”

“You find common supplies, clothes and food, which doesn’t seem to have aged well and anything preserved is now spoiling as the water soaks it all.”

“Ah shoot.  What can I roll to salvage what I can?”

“Survival is used for collecting supplies and harvesting materials.”

She checked her Yutri then rolled her dice.  “Darn, I got a total of ‘5.’ I don’t think I get much do I?”

“Just a spare bedroll.”

“Darn again, well nothing else here, how about another room?”

Mina looked from the Lupari over to the Vitili as Meirita seemed lost in thought.  Her ears raising and flopping over irregularly as she considered… something. “I think I will go to the last door on the left side first.  Uhm Tsu… Sue? Tsukiko?”

Mina nodded.  “Tsukiko will assist while Jade is leaving her room.”

This was immediately followed by a self congratulatory clap as the name of the kitsune was guessed correctly.  “Alright so I rolled a ‘16’ on Investigation.”

“The door is both locked and trapped.”

“Shoot.  Uhm, I’ll disable the trap first…”  The clatter of dice was followed but silence.  “Nooo, That’s an ‘8’”

“The trap is sprung.  A need emerges from the keyhole and pricks your skin, roll a Constitution Saving Throw..  Saving throws are located above Skills.”

Meirita picked up her dice and paused.  “Does my Exhaustion make this disadvantage too?”

“No, Your level of exhaustion does not make your Saving Throws roll at Disadvantage.”

“Oh good.  Then this should be easy.”  Next came the sound of more rolling dice and the a groan.

Mina watched Meirita cover her face with her hands and took it on herself to lean over and see what the poor Vitili had done now.  Spying the die she winced herself seeing the ‘1’ resting plain as day on the table. She looked up and could only offer a shrug. “I guess you jinxed yourself.”

Robert rolled some of his own tiny dice.  “You take 6 poison damage and you now have the poisoned condition.”

Meirita whined.  “Now what happens to me?!”

“You have disadvantage on all attack rolls and skill checks.”

“Nooo, that’s even worse.”  Her forehead coming down to rest on the table as her ears flopped to cover the center of the table just in front of Robert’s station.  “Stupid poison.”

“Do you want to try the lock?”

“Does exhaustion and poison give me some double disadvantage so Aid is pointless now?”  She spoke into the table.

“Actually, no.”  Neinja spoke up. “The notes in this program mention multiple disadvantage and advantage sources don’t stack.”

“Yay…”  She kept her head down as she fumbled for her dice and rolled it.  “Mina… what does it say…”

The vulpine glanced over the table again.  “Looks like you got a uhm… ‘17’ on the die face-”  She had to jerk herself back as the rabbit immediately cheered up and other than an ear smacking across her muzzle she avoided an unintentional headbutt.

“Yay, that means I got a ‘24.’”  Meirita looked to robert. “It unlocks?”

“Yes.  As the door unlocks it starts to open and water floods in.”

“Ack!  Wait!” Tahrena almost stood out of her sheet pointing at Robert.  “Jade will try to reach and grab the door to hold it shut.”

“Roll an Athletics to try.”

“Oh man…”  She grabbed a die started to roll the die in her hand.

“Uhm, Zeed will assist.”  Boetian spoke up. Almost every eye at the table turned to look at the man who was starting to pick up his own dice.  He didn’t have his Yutri in his hand on some site but rather laying at the table displaying his character sheet. After rolling his hand a few times he paused to look around the table.  “I mean I could roll instead unless you want to?”

“No...no.”  Zeed is so much stronger, you try and I will assist instead.”  The Lupari smiled and sat down again.

The Jahkatian nodded and tentatively held out his other hand to block the portion of open table he had, rolling the die into the hand rather than sending it across the table.  As both Tahrena and Neinja were looking over to his side to see the result. Boetian looked up again. “Uhm, would a ‘20’ on the die be good enough or should I add athletics?”

Mina was surprised at how much his attitude shifted.  Usually he was impulsive and stubborn with his own ideas but after the last few outbursts he had actually been paying attention to the game and not putting it out of mind.  She felt guilty now for her look earlier, not noticing the change before he said anything. Feeling happy as he had some measure of pride in his voice reading the numbers off.  She looked back to Robert and saw his gloomy posture was gone and he seemed to almost be excited. And all the pent up tension Mina had just slid away in that moment as she smiled herself and listened as the human resumed his more descriptive story telling.

-|-

Zeed braced the door against the water flow.  “Whatever you plan to do make it fast. Feels like I’m fighting a river.”

Jade gave one of his shoulders a pat as she passed by.  “Let this one slip in, now.” The tabaxi darted inside and yanked her tail to keep it out of the door frame as it was pulled shut by the birdman.  Looking around she saw the water was barely a half a foot deep. “This one laments so much water but shall search as best this one can.”

The room looked like some sort of study with bookshelves lining the walls  On the far side of the wall was a writing table with some journals resting on the top and stacks of paper and books on the ground now soaked in water.  The lower bookshelves were similarly flooded. Jade decided to collect the books, also finding a few scrolls tucked away. Putting everything in her backpack for later.  Moving back to the door she knocked twice. “This one is ready.”

Zeed let the door open as water flooded in and Jade waded out.  Managing a wave to the Kitsune and Kenku by the door on the opposite wall door.

Tsukiko was holding certain tools the Kenku had handed to her as she worked.  River tried to be careful, not looking too well as hands shook from exhaustion and body shivering from the poison’s effects on her.  Soon there was an audible click and a squawk of success as the door was shoved open by water once more. Despite the efforts of Jade and Zeed this time there wasn’t anything anyone could do to brace the door before the room became flooded.  Viewing inside revealed a massive nest of spider webs and little else could be made out. No one dared enter.

“This one thinks the room is a bust.  Let us see what the other hall holds in secrets.”  Jade took the lead. While the lights from the previous room and the group more than made up for the darkness, the tabaxi wished to try and see if there was anything the light may have obscured.  Returning once more, she paused to stare at the unopened door. “Perhaps that way instead?”

Tsukiko paused to look at the closed door.  Moving to hug one of her three tails and stroke the fur in thought.  “Perhaps the door is the answer we are looking for.” She spotted River creeping over and deviated with her as the others stayed back.

Jade was the only one to continue forward as the pair examined the doors.  From her own cursory glance she didn’t see any handle or keyhole and had shrugged it off.  “This one thinks we should move.”

Tsukiko checked the door again, not able to perceive any handle or noticeable lock or track just a number of runes carved in the stone door itself.  “Are you certain these runes hold no interest to you Jade? You had handled them so well in the lake bed.”

The Tabaxi paused and recalled the lake.  She hadn’t even known what language the runes were but the information sprang into her head with minimal effort and that concept was terrifying to consider.  The thoughts didn’t even feel like they had been her inner voice. Although as the party asked, she couldn’t just announce why without causing suspicion. Eventually giving up she made her way over to watch them.  ‘Allow me Servant.’ The voice returned, distinctly feminine this time and clearly not her own. Without her consent the information bubble forth and she knew what she was looking at once more. “These are Aquan runes, from the primordial language of water elementals.  They represent keys, and when all five are activated the way will open.”

With that answer everyone looked toward the other hall.  No one else had heard the voice, they didn’t know how Jade knew they just assumed she was well learned.  And while she had pressed ahead of everyone before, now she lingered behind in thought. Trailing until she realized the group stopped at an intersection.  On the right was a hall that ended at a solid wall with 5 runes carved on it. To the left was a long stretching hall. Jade opted for right, continuing forward to examine the runes, discovering them to be identical to the ones of the door.  “Perhaps a reminder?” She mused and rejoined the group.

The opposite way also ended up in an intersection of tunnels but it was also cold and strange.  A chill settling on everyone that hadn’t been there before. There were too many options to go off and it was hard to see how long any way went.  Khafra sighed. “We should go forward and find the end then double back, if we are wandering best to do it in ways we know than getting lost far longer than intended.”

The group followed Khafra’s lead, the stranger and their glowing shield illuminating the tunnel as they reached another intersection nearly forty feet past the first one, and then another forty feet after that.  Ignoring every option they opted to walk in silence, focus on trying to spy anything that could leap out at any moment. Though as an hour of silence ticked by, things seemed the same and the expanse of this complex seemed far too vast.

“This tunnel goes on forever.”  Zeed groaned, shifting his great axe from one shoulder the other.

“I fear our flighted friend may be on to something.”  Khafra looked around at the next intersection. “We should double back before we become lost for good.”  Looking back most considered the long way and the long wait. However after eighty feet and two intersections later they found themselves back at the initial juncture once more.

“What?”  Zeed gave a start.

“This one is confused.”

“But how?”  Tsukiko looked back to where they had just come from.

“Now this is something I had not considered.”  Khafra examined the area.

“WHAT?”  Echoed River.

Despite an hour of exploration, it took less than ten minutes to double back.

“This one suspects Sorcery…”  Jade ran a clawed hand over one of the walls.

The stranger drew their sword.  “I have an idea. Wait here.” Khafra edged in the dark, recasting light on their shield before continuing on.  Scratching the wall with their sword when they reaching the intersection and continuing forward further. Eventually their light drifting on until they could no longer be seen.  Suddenly they stood back at the first intersection. Looking back toward the party and heading their way. “The tunnel has four intersections then it seems the magic trick repeats it.  Wait here I wish to investigate something else.” Khafra returned and wandered into the distance until they could no longer be seen.

“This one thinks this was a mistake.” Jade began to pace in the water.  The constant swishing sound drawing most eyes to watch her as they lost sense with anything else.

“Peace cat.  Only patience will pay us well today.”  Tsukiko held up a hand toward the pacing tabaxi.

After the kitsune’s urging, Jade stopped with a hesitant nod and tried to lean against a wall and get some level of comfort.  Not there was much to be had.

Time drifted on.  Several hours in fact, where almost all forms of magical light had to be refreshed, save for the normal torch held by River.  Zeed took to sharpening his great axe to pass time but with the darkness and the water, and the sound of dripping it was hard to really focus and not let it all sink in how cold this place still felt.

Eventually footsteps waded in their direction.  Khafra emerged once more. “I apologize for the delay.  It took a lot of time to examine all the doors and mark all the hallways.  While it is only four rows deep it is three rows tall. With four doors in every hallway each with a magical symbol on the door.  I suspect this chamber is meant to confuse trespassers and hide away the magical key runes.”

Jade nodded with interest.  “This one thinks so too after what you described.  But dreads opening every door to find the correct ones.”

“Not true.”  Khafra spoke up and patted Jade on a shoulder.  “Each door seemed to have a unique symbol, many runes seemed similar but the marks varry just enough to not be the same.  If we know the five runes necessary, then perhaps we can seek out the doors more accurately.”

“Oh! This one has an idea, wait here…”  Jade split from the group and walked toward the dead end in utter darkness.  Other than the splashing of her steps there wasn’t much to do at this point.

Zeed harrumphed and rested on his greataxe after sharpening it too much.  “Too much maze, prefer fighting.”

Not too long later Jade returned holding five sheets of parchment.  “This one has the rubbings of the runes from the wall. These are the five we will need to unlock the way forward.”

Khafra held out a hand and shuffled through all five symbols.  “Let me see..”

-|-

Robert cleared his throat.  “Neinja, this is something no one can assist with, it will be a disadvantage History check to recall all the possible door locations.  If you don’t pass the DC then you will have to wander around all-”

The Tordenchi rolled her dice and then looked across at the human.  “I rolled ‘22’”

Mina leaned over to look.  “Oh wow she got the same number on both dice….a ‘19’”

The human blinked.  “Uhm, as I was saying…”

-|-

Khafra nodded and handed the paper back to Jade.  “I know exactly where to look, follow.”

Following after took some navigation but no one got lost at the very least.  Traveling along each row to find the correct door. None of the doors had been locked and only by touch the doors opened and then were pushed by the water itself revealing carved runic circles along the wall.  It was Jade who put their hand in each one to activate the runes. It took another hour to find and activate every rune and on the last touch there was a shift. The distant grind of stone and suddenly a strong current as all the water rushed away.  No one was washed up in the sudden current chang; Though Jade and River had been close to falling into the shifting waters themselves. Soon the rooms dripped and only had remnant puddles. This came as a great relief to Jad, Tsukiko, Zeed, and River who all had some matter of fur or feathers constantly soaking in the cold water.  It also became increasingly easy to move in the much more dry tunnels rather than fighting through the deep waters.

On arrival back at the entrance to this magical maze, there was a rather noticeable change.  The wall that signified the dead end was missing. Instead there was a vast set of stairs that lead deeper into the ruins.  Wide enough for three to walk abreast comfortably.

“Wonder what’s down there?”  Tsukiko murmured.

Behind her River gathered herself up and squacked a loud ‘WHAT’ that sounded a lot like Zeed.  Listening as the call echoed far into the darkness.

“Deep.”  Zeed nodded.  “Do you think there is something to fight down there?”

“This one thinks so.”

Zeed sighed.  “Then I shall lead the way.”

River and Tsukiko shrugged and followed after as the birdman pressed forward.  Khafra and Jade following in the rear. Their steps echoed off the stone steps and occasionally some steps had to be given with more caution or risk slipping on patches algae.  The path at the bottom opened up into a wider tunnel, while there was water it wasn’t as swamped, barely up to their shins.

“I take it back.  THIS is strange.” Khafra looked around in the lower reaches.

The way ahead was open, and after leaving the stairs it wasn’t long to find an open door and sconces lining the wall with flickering blue flames illuminating the entire way.  The dust and webs indicating this way had not been seen in some time. The walls lacked algae, mold, and the other drips of water indicating perpetual water damage.

“Odd.”  Tsukiko agreed.  Leaning over to observe some of the webs before using her flame to burn them away.  Recasting the flame after using it in such a way. “Lost to time perhaps?”

“Or locked away for a reason.”  Khafra check the broken and splintered door frame, that was missing a door but the splinters that scattered into the room beyond and bound by webs hinted where that had gone.  “Be wary we may have unlocked buried horrors.”

Zeed growled and smirked affirmation of his own hope for the potential fighting.  Striding to the first door. “Then I will meet them head on!” Even as he entered Khafra was fast to follow after him and provide light.

“I still say you are too eager friend.  This could be a trap.” The cloaked stranger gazed ahead and spotted a door.  “Let’s wait for the others to-”

“No!”  Zeed used a swing of the great ase to break and splinter the door.  Using force rather than tools to take the door off its hinges and breaking through its splintered remains.  Ignoring the ruined mess to scan the newest room. Rusted armoron stands, degraded weapons on racks and vials of powder on tables were all that was visible beyond layers of dust and cobwebs.  Seeing no threat Zeed growled in frustration and stomped back to the main tunnel.

Khafra could only offer a sigh before sweeping the powder vials into their backpack for future examination.  “Impatient fool.”

Back in the main tunnel Zeed had stomped ahead.  Not waiting for the others he ignored all other side doors and stomped to the end of the hall and revealed in the open doorway.  “Perhaps there is a challenge in here!” Ducking inside he used a wing to shield his eyes from the sudden glaring blue glow that burst forth on his entry.  Magic runes on the floor humming to life with a flash.

-|-

“I think it is time to take a small break for food and drinks before we resume, and catch our breath.”  Robert sighed. Looking at his sheets he observed the information at hand. This would be it, after this whether they wanted to continue or not was yet to be seen.