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Albricht found the exploration aspect of the delve to be both a bit troubling as well as fascinating. His weathered whiskered seemed to twitch oddly, and he frequently spoke to himself in broken bits of Old Dwarfspeak punctuated by a significant smattering of Hrrrumphs and Bahs...

Just when it seemed his oddities might well consume him... he stopped, and peered upon the largest accumulation of water he might well have ever seen. Eons ago, as a young rock-chewer, he thought perhaps he could remember above ground streams and what he'd come to think of as lakes though in reality they were nothing more than large ponds. Nevertheless, that was before the great fires, a time lost to history.

A few tears leaked from the wrinkled corners of his eyes.

"It's beautiful lads. I told ya, just as I was told. Water's down, ever and always down. This proves I was right, and the ancient histories, right as well!"

It was all he could do to constrain himself.

Where's there's water there's bound to be wine," says Silverglade. "Let's rest up and spend some of our money now that we've found something approaching civilisation."

While he says this, he keeps an eye on the ominous glow across the water, trying to make out what it is.

Voran claps happily at the sight of the water. "Where there's water, there's life! Ah, very, very good."

Roak takes all this in impassively. "Where there's buildings, there's gotta be a tavern. Let's go to the buildings, folks, and see if we can find an inn."

Elboc takes in their surroundings.  “Unless the water is poisonous, which is always a possibility.  Let’s not go making any assumptions we might regret.”
This message was last edited by the player at 04:53, Thu 10 May 2018.

"I've got a sand ritual that'll purify most water," Albricht stated confidently. "But the fact that there's a city here probably means it's good."

The old water-finder began shuffling to the south, in the direction of the buildings, his gaze continued to wander over to the lake.

There was a look of childlike fascination on Vsaati's face as they emerged into the giant cavern and spied the city lying on the shores of the fabled underground lake.  Water is always down Albricht was fond of saying, and so it was.  The angry red glow across the waters gave her pause, and the burglar quickly assumed that danger lay in that direction, whether natural or otherwise.  So her attention shifted to the city and all the sights and smells it would contain, and familiarity.  Even with no sun overhead, a city was a city.  A grin stole across her face as she thought of traipsing down back alleys or leaping lightly from roof to roof.  It would be good to back amongst civilization and all its lures.

"I'm with Roak," she said at last, turning back to face her companions with a fierce grin. "Let's go find a tavern!"

As the party passes southwest, toward the columned street, they notice that the building directly to the south of the entrance to this cavern appears to be a fortified stronghold.  Further examination shows the face of a stern, bearded human male in relief on the double doors, covered in gold.  Lightning bolts adorn the twin towers inside the outer wall, and a couple of men in blue tabards and wearing gold masks that depict the same stern-faced human male patrol on top of the walls.  This seems to be where the Brotherhood of Gorm spends their time when not in the city above.

Across the street, which is about 40 feet across, between the columns, lies a low building that has a few, low, flickering lights showing out from windows in side.  Beyond that building is another, also on the west side of the street, and if it has any windows, no lights shine from them.  More buildings can be dimly seen in the relative darkness of the cavern, with lit lamps only occasionally visible on the columns lining the street.  Even the sharp eyes of the elves in the party can only get a bit more detail.

The glow in the distance, even to Silverglade, is still just a dimly-seen red shape.

The party presses on, looking for anything resembling an inn or tavern.

Sherborne follows along with no particular agenda at this point except perhaps making sure the water is good.  He looks around and tries to see if anyone is around and taking notice of them.

In another couple of hundred feet, the party finds themselves at a cross street, which is also columned.  One of the buildings off to the right (west) appears to have people talking, laughing, and having a good time in it.  It also seems to have more lights than the others.  Directly ahead and to the left sits a building with a statue of a laughing child holding a wand and a handful of coins atop it.

Directly ahead and to the right squats a heavy building, apparently slightly more recently built than the rest, in a different style, and more crudely made.  Three people wearing masks of people whose faces are twisted in pain and horror stand out front, maces at their belts.  They seem to be watching everyone, and the party in particular.

Silverglade suggests heading to the happier building.

Roak looks at the twisted-faced folks and then nods. "Right. Everyone just be serious while we pass the unhappy crew."

Voran eyes the new building. "This is the new cult we were warned about. Yes, let's head for the happier building, but be wary."

As they pass by, Elboc winks at one of the unhappy mask wearers.

A sudden and disturbing thought occurred to Albricht as they proceeded into the city...

A tavernful of those mud-brained, stoneless, dream-sniffers... could it be so?

At least, perhaps, he might be able to finish the game he'd started in the gambling den up in the pyramid above...

The thought cause a rare smile to spread the sun-bleached whiskers.

Sherborne continues with the group still keeping a wary eye.

Vsaati fell in line with the rest, also agreeing with the goal of the happy gathering rather than the building fronted by the brooding mask wearers.

The party approaches the more well-lit building, the sounds of laughter and conversation from inside becoming steadily louder.  Upon entering, the size of the building is striking, especially by comparison the the size of the rooms in the pyramid above.  The ground floor of the building seems to be one large, open space.  What is likely a couple of hundred Cynidiceans stand around talking, lay on chairs or cushions, speak animatedly, consume liquids, smoke a variety of substances, dance alone, dance in groups, and generally seem to be having a great time.  Further examination, however, shows that a significant number of the masked people present are doing thing which seem to have little to do with where they actually are at the moment, and a good number of them are having conversations with empty air.

There are several bartenders scattered throughout the place, and they seem to be at least marginally more lucid than most of the rest.

One woman near the doors turns as the group enters and fastens her gaze on Silverglade.  "Aram!  There you are!  You simply must come and meet my friends!"  With that she moves toward the elf and attempts to take him by he hand and pull him back to a small group that she was standing near.

Silverglade is too arrogant to consider that the woman couldn't know him, and instead assumes that she intends to introduce him to the great and good of Cynidicean society, as befits his station. He allows her to pull him away.

Roak is a far more suspicious being. He discreetly follows Silverglade through the crowd, keeping an eye on the elf.

”They must be either ghosts, or lunatics,” Elboc wonders aloud under his breath.  “I hope we don’t have to fight our way out of this... there are far too many of them.”

He smiles and tries to look friendly, which for him is no simple task.

The first member of the group that Silverglade is pulled toward cocks its head from side to side like a bird, but is wearing a frog mask.

The second graciously greets Silverglade, holding out a hairy-backed hand daintily.  "Oh, Aram!  It's so good to finally meet you!" comes an obviously male voice in a high falsetto.

A third states, somewhat sulkily, "I thought there was going to be more cake."

The others seem to take no notice of Silverglade.