SOLO III
Demon World
Part 018
Ten minutes of walking and the group makes it to an
underground river. It's brakish, has no current, and burnt peices
of wood are floating on it. There is a wide stone ledge on each
side and the party turns to the left following along the waters
edge. Gail and Hildi blow out their candles.
There is a moment of darkness but it passes.
The curved roof of the river is coverd with green phosphoresent
stuff. In a few moments you can see everything. The group
proceeds.
After an hour of walking by the stale water you
decide this river must run under the entire ring of the crator.
Ya'll are walking on the inside of the curve and the river is always
bending to left up ahead. Finally the group comes to a stop.
Ada says "This is about right."
While Rebecca unrolls the carpet she carried and the
youger girls get in position on it Gail speaks to you in a barely
audible whisper. "You told me once that long ago dwarves used
this river to move ore out of their mines. Though I never figured
out how. It's one big ring around the rim of the whole crator,
and doesn't come out to the surface anywhere."
"We are ready." Say the three girls as one.
"I will teleport you to the surface." Says
Jenifer as she points at you.
"I will teleport you up." Says Laura and
points at Rebecca.
"If all goes well the two of you should beat us back
to the eating hall." Says Hildi.
The three girls line up on the carpet holding
hands. They bow their heads. The next thing you know...
You and Rebecca are actually standing on the
crator's rim. Smoky black clouds hanging over head. So
close you can almost touch them. You are on top of the rim
looking down the slope to the lake of fire. Unlike your last
visit here, you can actually hear the lake this time. It hisses
and steams, arguing with the air, poping and bubling big splashes of
molten sulfer.
The air is acrid but breathable. To your right
is the city of bunk beds and metal forges, where you saw the masses of
humanity waiting in line to get a meer cup of water from the only
fountain. Down the slope from you is the large boulder that the
run away has made his little home in.
You and Rebecca walk down the slope
cautiously. Over a bed of green skulls that roll and slide under
your feet. You come up to the kid. He is spraled out
sleeping, with a husk of corn still in his right hand.
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