Who Wants to be a Wayfinder? The Alumni

[SelcSilverhand]

The chute set into the side of the tunnel ends a few feet above the surface of the water, forcing you to drop the last distance. You land with a splash in fetid water a foot and a half deep. The bottom is disturbingly squishy; like deep mud at the edge of a still lake. The smell from the muck you stir up hits you like a wave again, just when you were getting used to the ambient odor. There is only a little light still filtering down from above you, but farther down the tunnel you can make out shafts of light from similar grates. The light from these grates will soon be cut off when the sun sets. Along one side of the tunnel you can see a narrow ledge, just barely wide enough to walk on. Directly across from you is the ledge, and from here you can see a large wet spot where something climbed out of the water and then headed east. It is the same direction that the sluggish current is flowing.

Your group sloshes across the stream to the ledge and scrambles out of the disgusting water as quickly as you can. Examining the wet spot, you can see little humanoid footprints, possibly belonging to a member of one of the small races. Mixed among them are several wet body prints made by rats

Map
[SBLOCK]

^
|
N
________________
################


________   ______
        |_|


# = Narrow Ledge
The dimple on the wall is where you dropped in. The ledge is wide enough to
walk on 1 at a time, but will require skillful maneuvering if you want to run
or charge on it. (Ie balance check)
Most of the tunnel is uniform and looks similar to the map above. Any turns
in the tunnel are wide curves, though intersections are usually straight. 

In less than an hour you're going to need a light for when the sun sets

[/SBLOCK]

 

[Primus]

Kala pushed on ahead, taking the lead in the sewer chase. As she moved, drawing her scimitar cautiously, the fur on her body and the red gleam in her eyes melted away, returning her to a mostly human-looking form. Kala let out a loud somewhat exhausted sigh, she could no longer hold onto the beast... it had slipped off, leaving her feeling frail and weak. The shifter shook her head to clear it and charged on ahead, pushing her uncertainties away.

"No time to waste, we've already lost enough dilly-dallying around up top," she called back behind, hoping the light would hold out until their work was done.

 

[Krug]

Plonk follows behind, loading his crossbow, a bit jittery as he sees a rat pass right in front of him. "I guess we don't really have to go far to find adventure..." says the Artificer.

 

[Prof Yeti]

Jaron Dain - Paragon

Following behind his companions Jaron readies his bow as he makes his way watching for movement ahead. The air of excitement that surrounds him is almost palpable, and with his ever present smile firmly in place he cannot help but chuckle at Plonk' words. "No not far, but maybe something a little further away may smell a little better."

 

[SelcSilverhand]

The sewer tunnels twist and turn in a confusing manner as you try to keep up with your quarry. It is harder to track prints on the rough stone walkway, but you soon learn to look for other traces. A torn spider web, algae rubbed off the wall, or scattered pebbles. Twice you think you hear the sound of swiftly retreating footsteps but with the way sound echos in the tunnels it could have been your own steps. The slow moving water is your constant companion. Now and then you see dark masses floating in the water that seem almost alive until you get close enough to see that they are just floating garbage with algae colonies. However once, at the far edge of your vision, you could swear you saw a large mass submerge before you got close.

After nearly 15 minutes of tracking you come to another intersection, probably the 5th one you've passed. Judging by the distance you traveled, you are now somewhere near the eastern gate of the city. The water is moving faster here, almost as fast as you can walk. Up ahead you can hear the sound of falling water, the hiss of escaping steam, and the rumble of heavy machinery. You grip your weapon tighter, crouch lower, and stalk cautiously forward.

The tunnel widens up ahead to accomodate the increase in water flow from the large intersection you just passed. A heavy metal grate once divided the waterway to catch debris, but a large hole has been ripped in it rendering it useless. The water flows through a deep pool before flowing over a lip and down a shaft at the far eastern edge. The sound of rumbling machinery comes from somewhere down below where the water is falling. The north side of the tunnel expands to accomodate a ledge that may have been used by workers when cleaning the grate. It is now cluttered with debris arranged into small mounds or shelters. Amid the squalor you see crouched shapes moving about. Beggers, lepers, dregs, wretched and filthy people too sick or weak to make a living in the city. A small colony of them has formed in this area where cracked steam pipes give the area a little more warmth. The gaunt, malnourished forms cringe backward when they see you approach. Some try to bury themselves under debris while others pull their rags tight about them and stare at you in fear. You spy at least seven of them trying to stay low and avoid attracting your attention.

Map
[SBLOCK]

........ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
.
.         ________________H_
1         |.XX.............|
2         |.........X......|
3         |....X.....X.....|
4_________|...XX..XX....X..|
5#PJK#######......XX....X..|
6         #################|_____
7         !               ######[]
8_________!_____________________[]

J = Jaron
P = Plonk
K = Kala

# = Walkway
. = Ledge
X = Debris piles
H = Blocked Door
! = Broken Sewer Grate
[] = Drop off / Waterfall

The open space at the bottom is the water. Past the grate is the deeper pool.
[/SBLOCK]

 

[Krug]

Plonk waves to the folk. "We won't hurt you, I mean look at me... how could I?" He puts away his crossbow. "Why are you here?" he asks.

 

[Prof Yeti]

Jaron Dain - Paragon

Relaxing his grip on the bow and lowering it, Jaron scans the dwellers. "Yes...yes, we mean you no trouble. We are merely looking for someone who stole something from above."

 

[SelcSilverhand]

The nearest begger hesitates then shuffles forward a step or two. He coughs and wipes a disgusting line of phlegm from his mouth before speaking. "We.. we are unwanted... this is where we stay."

When Jaron speaks of a theft, the man cringes and backs away. His voice becomes high pitched and paniced. "Nothing! We see nothing! We are nothing! Leave us be!"

 

[Prof Yeti]

Jaron Dain - Paragon

Putting his empty hand up in a placating gesture, Jaron moves a bit closer to the spokesman. "We mean you no harm, I promise. We merely seek to return the object to it's owner." Pausing just a moment trying to will the leader to understand. "If you can tell us where the one carrying a large box went, we will leave you as you wish."


OOC - Jaron not Johan...

 

[SelcSilverhand]

The man looks around the room as if looking for someone before turning back to you. Shaking with fear, he points one emaciated arm towards the end of the tunnel where the water flows over the edge of the pool.

As you move towards the waterfall, the man catches Jaron's arm and pulls him closer. He whispers, "Don't tell them! Not us! We didn't tell you anything!" The man releases Jaron and moves back to his pile of garbage. He crouches on the ground and rocks back and forth, mumbling Not us, not us...

Over near the edge of the pool, you can see a rusty metal hatch set in the floor of walkway. It opens with a low grinding sound revealing a narrow metal ladder is set in the wall leading down to the next level. You can hear the water falling away into a pool somewhere below you. It is almost completely dark below save for the flicker of light from a torch or other open flame.