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<blockquote data-quote="ThirdWizard" data-source="post: 6617881" data-attributes="member: 12037"><p>The storm drains were full up to their knees. It had been raining for almost two days, so that was to be expected. Even so, just because you’re expecting to be cold and wet doesn't make being cold and wet any more comfortable. They trudged on through the maze of passages. Tesa told them that they were in the Lower Ward headed toward the Lady’s Ward, but to them, it just looked like any other underground tunnel, not that the urban dwellers had much experience with underground tunnels. Nor soaking wet boots, to be honest. How she had learned her way around here they were content to let remain a mystery. It was slow going slogging through the water, and what would have been a half an hour walk on the surface was easily taking them over an hour to slog out foot by foot.</p><p></p><p>Mehen had taken the lead, holding a torch up and taking direction as Tesa led from right behind him. The others fell into formation with Jer in the rear, all watching their backs. The storm tunnels of Sigil had many stories surrounding them, from tales of the occult to those of animals or other beasts making underground lairs ready to ambush would-be spelunkers. They were taking no chances by being caught off guard, and even as they shivered, their senses were as alert as always, their bodies ready to fire adrenaline at a moment’s notice.</p><p></p><p>“You know, this isn't exactly the life I expected when I threw my lot in with you guys,” said Jer, maybe half jokingly. He was up to his waist in sooty water.</p><p></p><p>“Just be glad we didn't have to take the sewers,” Aurian pointed out. “This is clean by comparison.”</p><p></p><p>“Try not to jinx us.”</p><p></p><p>“Easy for you to say, wizard. With a flick of your wrist you’ll be clean again,” said Mehen from the front as he pushed open another storm gate that was supposed to be welded shut. You could always count on the city to ignore upkeep on the Lower Ward.</p><p></p><p>“And you as well when we get out,” Aurian pointed back.</p><p></p><p>Mehen paused, looking back. “Just remember why we keep you around,” he joked.</p><p></p><p>They ducked through the small portal, going into a tight tunnel with a tall ceiling. The water was flowing faster through the cramped tunnel, but they pushed ahead nonetheless, Mehen holding the torch aloft as they walked making sure to keep it out of any of the pouring water coming from the street above. Ahead, just on the edge of the light, he saw a cloud gathering. He was trying to figure out what he was looking at when he saw that it was moving toward them. Fast.</p><p></p><p>“Bats! Duck!”</p><p></p><p>As they dropped into the water, a swarm of bats flew past them, hundreds of the creatures.</p><p></p><p>“I think they're gone.” Mehen rose from the water, now his entire body soaked through. The others followed suit, righting themselves carefully.</p><p></p><p>“Think there will be more?” asked Aurian.</p><p></p><p>“If we’re lucky, there will only be bats,” remarked Mozzy.</p><p></p><p>They continued again in silence, listening more intently now for any signs of subterranean inhabitants. The din of the water falling around them from the streets above concealed all but the loudest noises, but they weren’t taking any chances. Several minutes passed before Mehen saw another cloud ahead. This one was smaller. He started to crouch, but something was off. Different. They weren't rushing forward. They were hovering just outside the torchlight like they were waiting, hunting.</p><p></p><p>“Watch yourself. Those are blood drinkers called stirges,” Mozzy called out from near the rear. “I've heard about them. Never seen one up close, though.”</p><p></p><p>The stirges began to move toward the group. They readied to fight off the tiny creatures, perhaps half a dozen to a dozen of them buzzing and flitting around in front of them. As the creatures approached, Jer hummed a melody, and as he did, they could see the small creatures wobbling. Slowly at first, then more and more while his humming grew louder. Suddenly, he stopped the song and the creatures all fell into the water below, sinking to the bottom.</p><p></p><p>“I put them to sleep. They should drown, and they won’t bother anyone anymore,” said Jer, smiling. He motioned for the group to start moving once again with an exaggerated flourish.</p><p></p><p>“Remind me of that next time I have insomnia,” said Aurian as they continued through the waterlogged tunnel.</p><p></p><p>Another half an hour passed of wading and walking, and they found an area of tunnel that had a raised platform to one side, allowing them to step out of the water. Climbing up, it was a relief to finally have hard ground under them. Their pace increased, and in another ten minutes they had covered a much larger area.</p><p></p><p>It was as they turned the next corner that they noticed a figure ahead with a light source of his own. There was a dim green light emanating from something he was holding illuminating a wrinkled and scraggly looking face. Two others were standing beside him, unmoving. Unnaturally so. As the group approached it became apparent that they were dead and rotting, and that the man was looking intently at some kind of runed dagger that was glowing with that dull green light. Beside him they could see some kind of fissure, a break in the wall.</p><p></p><p>Without looking up from the object of his interest he asked, “What are you doing here?”</p><p></p><p>They weren't sure how to respond. This wasn't exactly what they expected to run across while traversing the storm tunnels. Jer eyed the dagger with interest, but Mozzy gave him a harsh look. They didn't want any misunderstandings down here.</p><p></p><p>As the group came to a halt, Aurian gave Mehen a push, and the dragonborn stepped forward, just a step, while rolling his eyes at the mage. The man was blocking their way, and they would have to either get very close to pass him or else wade back into the water. Neither option seemed that wonderful right now.</p><p></p><p>“Just passing by.” Mehen was close enough now to see that the break in the wall led to some other passage, carved out of Sigil's natural rock if anything about Sigil could be considered natural, and into some kind of passageway or tunnel. It looked like this wasn't originally supposed to be an entrance to wherever this was.</p><p></p><p>The man languidly looked up at the group before him. There was no look of surprise, or interest, or really any emotion at all. His eyes lazily moved between Mehen, Tesa, to Mozzy and Aurian, falling on Jer then back again to the dagger in his hand. “Be on your way then.” His voice was flat. He didn't move to make any room for them.</p><p></p><p>Sighing, Mehen dropped to the water below with a loud splash. The others followed one by one. They tried not to think about what the man was doing down here with that glowing weapon near a hole in the wall that led to some unknown Sigil passages as they continued, the man still paying them no mind as they rounded a turn and he disappeared from view. Finally alone again they climbed back onto dry land.</p><p></p><p>“We'll have to leave the storm drains just outside the Lady’s Ward,” said Tesa.</p><p></p><p>“Why’s that?” asked Aurian. “Can't we go a bit into the Lady’s Ward.”</p><p></p><p>“You want to pop out under a Harmonium patrol and have to spend the night in lockup?” asked Mehen.</p><p></p><p>“Guess not.”</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="ThirdWizard, post: 6617881, member: 12037"] The storm drains were full up to their knees. It had been raining for almost two days, so that was to be expected. Even so, just because you’re expecting to be cold and wet doesn't make being cold and wet any more comfortable. They trudged on through the maze of passages. Tesa told them that they were in the Lower Ward headed toward the Lady’s Ward, but to them, it just looked like any other underground tunnel, not that the urban dwellers had much experience with underground tunnels. Nor soaking wet boots, to be honest. How she had learned her way around here they were content to let remain a mystery. It was slow going slogging through the water, and what would have been a half an hour walk on the surface was easily taking them over an hour to slog out foot by foot. Mehen had taken the lead, holding a torch up and taking direction as Tesa led from right behind him. The others fell into formation with Jer in the rear, all watching their backs. The storm tunnels of Sigil had many stories surrounding them, from tales of the occult to those of animals or other beasts making underground lairs ready to ambush would-be spelunkers. They were taking no chances by being caught off guard, and even as they shivered, their senses were as alert as always, their bodies ready to fire adrenaline at a moment’s notice. “You know, this isn't exactly the life I expected when I threw my lot in with you guys,” said Jer, maybe half jokingly. He was up to his waist in sooty water. “Just be glad we didn't have to take the sewers,” Aurian pointed out. “This is clean by comparison.” “Try not to jinx us.” “Easy for you to say, wizard. With a flick of your wrist you’ll be clean again,” said Mehen from the front as he pushed open another storm gate that was supposed to be welded shut. You could always count on the city to ignore upkeep on the Lower Ward. “And you as well when we get out,” Aurian pointed back. Mehen paused, looking back. “Just remember why we keep you around,” he joked. They ducked through the small portal, going into a tight tunnel with a tall ceiling. The water was flowing faster through the cramped tunnel, but they pushed ahead nonetheless, Mehen holding the torch aloft as they walked making sure to keep it out of any of the pouring water coming from the street above. Ahead, just on the edge of the light, he saw a cloud gathering. He was trying to figure out what he was looking at when he saw that it was moving toward them. Fast. “Bats! Duck!” As they dropped into the water, a swarm of bats flew past them, hundreds of the creatures. “I think they're gone.” Mehen rose from the water, now his entire body soaked through. The others followed suit, righting themselves carefully. “Think there will be more?” asked Aurian. “If we’re lucky, there will only be bats,” remarked Mozzy. They continued again in silence, listening more intently now for any signs of subterranean inhabitants. The din of the water falling around them from the streets above concealed all but the loudest noises, but they weren’t taking any chances. Several minutes passed before Mehen saw another cloud ahead. This one was smaller. He started to crouch, but something was off. Different. They weren't rushing forward. They were hovering just outside the torchlight like they were waiting, hunting. “Watch yourself. Those are blood drinkers called stirges,” Mozzy called out from near the rear. “I've heard about them. Never seen one up close, though.” The stirges began to move toward the group. They readied to fight off the tiny creatures, perhaps half a dozen to a dozen of them buzzing and flitting around in front of them. As the creatures approached, Jer hummed a melody, and as he did, they could see the small creatures wobbling. Slowly at first, then more and more while his humming grew louder. Suddenly, he stopped the song and the creatures all fell into the water below, sinking to the bottom. “I put them to sleep. They should drown, and they won’t bother anyone anymore,” said Jer, smiling. He motioned for the group to start moving once again with an exaggerated flourish. “Remind me of that next time I have insomnia,” said Aurian as they continued through the waterlogged tunnel. Another half an hour passed of wading and walking, and they found an area of tunnel that had a raised platform to one side, allowing them to step out of the water. Climbing up, it was a relief to finally have hard ground under them. Their pace increased, and in another ten minutes they had covered a much larger area. It was as they turned the next corner that they noticed a figure ahead with a light source of his own. There was a dim green light emanating from something he was holding illuminating a wrinkled and scraggly looking face. Two others were standing beside him, unmoving. Unnaturally so. As the group approached it became apparent that they were dead and rotting, and that the man was looking intently at some kind of runed dagger that was glowing with that dull green light. Beside him they could see some kind of fissure, a break in the wall. Without looking up from the object of his interest he asked, “What are you doing here?” They weren't sure how to respond. This wasn't exactly what they expected to run across while traversing the storm tunnels. Jer eyed the dagger with interest, but Mozzy gave him a harsh look. They didn't want any misunderstandings down here. As the group came to a halt, Aurian gave Mehen a push, and the dragonborn stepped forward, just a step, while rolling his eyes at the mage. The man was blocking their way, and they would have to either get very close to pass him or else wade back into the water. Neither option seemed that wonderful right now. “Just passing by.” Mehen was close enough now to see that the break in the wall led to some other passage, carved out of Sigil's natural rock if anything about Sigil could be considered natural, and into some kind of passageway or tunnel. It looked like this wasn't originally supposed to be an entrance to wherever this was. The man languidly looked up at the group before him. There was no look of surprise, or interest, or really any emotion at all. His eyes lazily moved between Mehen, Tesa, to Mozzy and Aurian, falling on Jer then back again to the dagger in his hand. “Be on your way then.” His voice was flat. He didn't move to make any room for them. Sighing, Mehen dropped to the water below with a loud splash. The others followed one by one. They tried not to think about what the man was doing down here with that glowing weapon near a hole in the wall that led to some unknown Sigil passages as they continued, the man still paying them no mind as they rounded a turn and he disappeared from view. Finally alone again they climbed back onto dry land. “We'll have to leave the storm drains just outside the Lady’s Ward,” said Tesa. “Why’s that?” asked Aurian. “Can't we go a bit into the Lady’s Ward.” “You want to pop out under a Harmonium patrol and have to spend the night in lockup?” asked Mehen. “Guess not.” [/QUOTE]
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