Chapter 3 / Episode 75 – Sewers II
Coldeven 23, 576 CY – Underground beneath the Abbey
Weather:
Subterranean. Air cool and heavy with moisture; faint drafts from the south carry the scent of mold and decay.
Players:
Dog the Ranger of the Gnarley
Irving the Reluctant, Paladin of St. Cuthbert
TerryOr, Cleric of St. Cuthbert
Slash the Bard
Tiger Wong, Monk of the Eastern Lands
Through the Black Sewers
The adventurers descended into darkness, the air thick with the stench of stagnant water and sewage. From ahead came the faint, eerie drip of unseen leaks echoing down the passage. Behind him, Irving and Tiger Wong discussed their marching order—Dog first, then Irving, TerryOr, Slash and Tiger. The ledge was was narrow and treacherous.
Dog misjudged a slick patch and plunged with a splash into the black current. The frigid water swallowed him, but Terry and Tiger Wong hauled him out by his cloak. Slash’s lantern sputtered, casting gold arcs across the damp stone as the group pressed forward. The water flowed south, a silent current pulling.
Footprints and Shadows
Their cautious advance brought them to a wooden bridge spanning the sewer channel. Dog knelt, tracing the faint pattern of wet footprints—fresh. “footprints,” he whispered to Terry. The ranger’s voice carried the weight of certainty. The water beneath was deep—five, maybe ten feet—its surface swirling with faint debris. A ledge rose ahead, an outcropping that offered the only path forward.
The Echoing Chamber
The corridor opened into a vast underground chamber where water dripped steadily from the ceiling into a dark pool. An old tun lay overturned upon a ledge, and a collapsed tunnel hinted at deeper reaches long abandoned. The sound of the dripping water amplified, becoming almost musical to Slash's ears. TerryOr examined the stonework while the others debated whether to investigate a suspicious seam along the far wall—a possible secret door. With their magic waning, TerryOr decided to conserve his remaining spells. “We’ll live longer with the Light we have,” he said grimly.
Orc Patrol
Moments later, flickering torchlight glimmered down the passage. The group ducked low into the shadows as five orcs trudged through the muck—two in front carrying torches, three behind with curved blades and rough armor. Their guttural speech was unintelligible, but their discipline was clear. Dog motioned silently for patience while Bard cast a spell to draw thier attention at the intersection. They watched the orcs investigate, Tiger Wongs eyes tracking them toward a large barrel set near a wall.
Tiger Wong’s Silent Strike
From the darkness, Tiger Wong moved like smoke. The monk leapt forward, a swift kick cracking the skull of the trailing orc before dragging the limp body into the shadows. Irving caught the falling torch and snuffed it in the water. The others froze, listening—no alarm raised. “Clean as a prayer,” Slash whispered with a grin.
Chaos and the Waterfall
As they prepared to dispose of the slain orc, fate turned. Irving slipped, crashing into the cold flow. Tiger Wong’s attempt to aid him became a flying kick that sent both him and another startled orc tumbling. Water surged, weapons flashed, and the fight erupted.
TerryOr hauled Irving out while Dog and Slash advanced down the ledge toward the commotion. The remaining orcs turned, snarling at the sight of Tiger Wong struggling to his feet in the shadows. Steel met flesh in the flickering torchlight.
Battle and Spoils
The combat was swift but fierce. TerryOr mace high, crushed one orc’s helm. Dog’s arrows found their mark in another’s throat. Slash’s blade sang, finishing the last who fled for the bridge. When silence fell, the chamber reeked of death.
Each corpse bore 25 silver pieces, but one orc’s tunic was stitched with the brown sigil of the Earth Temple. “They’re not just slavers,” Slash said darkly. “They’re servants of the cult.”
Meanwhile, Irving and his familiar Harvey backtracked, discovering faint signs that the orcs had come from the southern tunnels.
The Hidden Passage
Returning to the site of the overturned tun, Dog tapped the wall behind it—hollow. With TerryOr’s strength and Tiger Wong’s leverage, a stone section gave way, revealing a concealed crawlspace leading deeper into darkness. The air beyond smelled of clay and cold earth.
Irving tightened his grip on his mace, he said quietly. “We’ve found it.”
Outcome:
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Orc patrol defeated (5 total)
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Treasure: 25 sp each (125 sp total); one orc bearing Earth Temple insignia
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Secret tunnel discovered leading to deeper temple corridors
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XP Awarded: 100 each
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