-----"It's probably in the direction where the wind is blowing." Kazel peers down in the direction indicated. "Then again, with so many dead bodies outside who knows if it smells better the deeper we go. By the way where is this third passage you are talking about Gimplefwick?"
-----The Dread Pirate replies, "I was referrin' to traipsing through the sewage. But I'd just as soon avoid that route."
-----Upon the Dread Pirate's suggestion, everyone heads down the tunnel taking the path made by the small ledge above the surface of the murky water. Many in the party cling to their left where the wall is farthest from the middle of the sewer. The two torches carried by Abbar and Brandel cast waxing and waning shades to the darkened cracks and outlines in the stones that make up the tunnel.
-----Even those who can see in the darkness ahead see only that the tunnel seems to lead forward to some undetermined distance. Occasionally someone in the procession walks across a stone that is somewhat loosened. There, at that point, the stone rocks in its place making an annoying loud noise that makes some jump in their progress. The sound dies away, making the chill air that seems to ride this tunnel all the more uncomfortable.
-----Suddenly at one point, everyone halts as way down the tunnel behind them, comes a strange echo. Everyone turns but the sound itself is undeterminable due to the shape of the structure they transverse. "Perhaps a stone settling . . ." Abbar utters as he faces forward urging everyone on their way. As they move along once again, everything falls silent.
-----After a bit of slow and somewhat laborious walking, the torches begin to reveal little movements and eddies in the mucky water beside them. Showing no particular pattern, the disturbances surface in random spots in the brownish water.
-----Suddenly, Abbar shouts out in surprise as a stone under his foot gives way. The embankment underneath him gives and the raggedy merchant claws the air as he begins to fall toward the flooded part of the sewer. With a splash, Abbar lands feet first in the brownish smelly water but has enough wits about him to grab onto the ledge. His torch lands in the water and is immediately extinguished.
-----In the next few moments, he quickly pulls himself up onto the ledge cursing, bringing with him wet feet and a smell that threatens to turn stomachs. For a moment, he lies along the wall in the light of Brandel's torch catching his breath.
-----Seth carefully edges away from Abbar so as not to get any muck on his boots from the still prone Abbar. He comments on the unfortunate's situation. "My dear Abbar, I hope your alchemist friend can make perfumes. Your odour is not the best at the moment and I fear the only water available for bathing would only increase your rancid emanations."
-----The Dread Pirate watches horrorstruck as the ground beneath Abbar collapses and plummets the merchant into the murky liquid. As Gimplefwick watches the merchant struggle, he begins to hyperventilate and hugs the wall as though intent on pressing his body into it. Hands outstretched against the wall for stability, the Dread Pirate refuses to move from his current location.
-----After a few moments, Abbar stands, though his first few motions are accompanied by squishing sounds from his feet. The caravan merchant also makes a sickly face at the experience.
-----Runik, seeing the posture of the Dread Pirate, moves closer to him and says, "Ey Cap'n, ye be doin' all right?"
-----The Dread Pirate, in response to Runik's query, bares his teeth and lets out a low groan of fear. His eyes roll madly in his head as he looks at the gently flowing sewage and he clutches desperately at the wall behind him, steadfastly refusing to budge from his current position.
-----The dwarf's eyes widen and then squint. Runik hastens back to Brandel and Krord where they speak lowly as the murmuring is carried through the tunnel.
-----Runik then makes his way past Abbar again this time followed by the large lumbering Krord. "Ey Cap'n," he says to the Dread Pirate, "I be noticin' ye be havin' trouble seein' down the tunnel. How 'bout ye ride up on Krord's shoulder-like, so ye gits a better look'it wheres we be a'headin'?"
-----Krord gets down on one knee and holds his arm out to give the Dread Pirate a boost up.
-----Seth reaches out a hand in the dark, hoping no one can see him and squeezes the Dread Pirate's shoulder in a friendly gesture. While it is comforting to Seth that he is not the only one scared, he is also somewhat discomforted that The Dread Pirate is prone to the same failings as Seth is. Who will protect Seth now? He casually mentally rehearses his most important spell in his repertoire. One he has not had to use yet....