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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Alcareru" data-source="post: 1311100" data-attributes="member: 14718">III. Darkness and Moonlight  Yalla studied the stone trapdoor that stood open like the yawning jaw of some beast. "These Corinthians devise clever ways to dispose of prisoners do they not? Drop and drown, or perhaps something lurks in the water. I wonder why they did not employ this on us?" Grimir shrugged. Verrus gazed into the black pit, his wide dusky face turning pale.  Emily shouted to those above,"I believe theres a water passage leading out!" The flame haired giant looked at the flickering torch dying in Yalla's hand."If something is down there it did eat the woman. We move." Without a further word, he scooped up the prison key, placed the key ring around his wrist and jumped into the darkness. After a splash, Yalla put down the the torch. With a wry look to the leather corslet on the floor, he too plunged onto the water. Verrus stood in the chamber alone. "Xarra's teet! To Zamora I'll go and never leave!" Placing the dagger blade between his gritted teeth he jumped, feet first. The four figure swam slowly, groping along the wall, until they found the tunnel opening. Grimir led, feeling along in the darkness. The passage was wide enough for two to swim side by side and the ceiling seemed to be high enough that one could not touch it with an extended hand. But despite the apparent room the tunnel gave, the pitch darkness made it feel oppresive and enclosed. In silence they swam on. An indeterminate amount of time passed. The four could discern no real direction the course took. The sides of the tunnel were straight and rough, with no place to raise oneself out of the water. The water in the tunnel was deep as well. Grimir made a half hearted attempt to plumb its depth, but unsuccessful, abandoned the task. From time to time the group stopped grabbing at the wall to rest. "Lets not linger" said Verrus in a shaken voice the third time they stopped," Theres no current here- Ill wager this is no natural stream. Its too dark.." his voice echoed in the darkness "I do not like it." They continued blindly onward until finally they could feel stone beneath their feet. The group bounced along until the water level began to lower-first at chin level, the neck, then finally waist deep. As the party waded they felt along the walls looking for an opening, conscious of the risks they took, lumbering in the dark. It was quiet save for the sound of splashing water and labored breathing. Then ahead, Grimir spotted a sliver of pale blue light amidst the inky shroud. It fell upon a wall through an arched opening at the top of a narrow landing. The light shone down into the doorway splashing enough to reveal the landing and stone steps leading down from the doorway into the water. "We are saved!" Verus exclaimed, nearly dropping his dagger. "Moonlight shines from above-it is an opening out of this dark hell! Hurry!" The squat thief splashed ahead, falling once but driving forward.The others saw his dark outline obscure the beam of moonlight and motion back to them. "Hurry!" From the darkness, something rose out of the water. Grimir sensed it and heard the low growl, a rumble of sorts, reptillan. The clomp of teeth upon jaw followed.  "Something is in the water! Out of the tunnel!" the Vanir barked, as his shining eyes tried to locate the source of the noise. Yalla and Emily ran toward the pillar of moonlight at the command. Verrus placed a foot upon one of the steps as something breached the water with a rushing noise and headed for the Nemedian.</blockquote>

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