The quest 4

LEVEL 1: INTO THE SEWERS

The next morning, the three of them gathered at The Rabid Goblin for a last minute equipment check and a final draught of beer before they set off on their very first quest. Merryn had spent much of the previous evening arguing with Harnod about her list of expenses. It seemed reasonable to her that Harnod should provide them with the means to stock up on Health and Mana potions, not to mention extra arrows and if possible, a map. Harnod had blanched a little at her requests but had acceded eventually, allowing them to open an account with the merchant who was sitting, yet again, at the corner table.

After Merryn had finished arguing with Harnod, the merchant had also tried his hand at bargaining with her. Like Harnod, he found her to be the driver of a very hard bargain. Ulric could well understand why dwarves had a reputation for being miserly, this was also why Merryn was usually in charge of the finances. That and she wouldn't let anyone else touch it. The merchant had offered them potions at 10 gold coins apiece, Merryn walked back to her friends with a dozen varied potions, a large quiver of arrows, a ring of good fortune and a discount of thirty per cent.

With all their provisions stashed safely away, the map studied and Garrial's shoes finally clean, they decided they were as ready as they would ever be and they should make a start. Garrial claimed a good luck kiss from the barwench Ellysia and they descended into the cellar.

At some point in the intervening hours, someone had come down to the cellar and removed all the rat corpses. Aside from a few splashes of blood and the faint but lingering scent of Garrial's shame, the cellar was clean. Ulric touched the key which now hung from a fine silver chain around his neck. He was nervous, but exhilarated. Finally, all the years of training and theory, finally his career was starting. He unlocked the fake door at the end of the cellar and they stepped into the first chamber of the sewers.  The heavy door slid closed behind them.

The room beyond the cellar was pitch black. Ulric stood for a moment in the darkness, willing his eyes to adjust, but knew it was hopeless, there was no light source at all. "Did anyone bring a torch?"

Merryn snorted. "Of course we did, what sort of idiot goes into the sewers without some sort of light?"

"Well, light it then," Ulric urged, he was getting rather nervous, who knew what was lurking in the dark? There could be two dozen orcs in there and he wouldn't know.

"Garrial's got it," Merryn said.

"I fear I have not," Garrial's voice came from behind him. "I was not given any torch."

"I gave it to you!"

"I believe you are mistaken."

"At the table, before you started eating the  face off that elven wench,"

"I was not given anything, if you left them on the table, it may have been advisable for you to alert me to that fact."

"So go back up for the damn things," Merryn demanded. "Never mind, I'll go up, make sure we actually get them. Um... where's the door?"

"Behind you," Ulric said.

"I can't see it."

There was a shuffling, a low-voiced bout of profanities and then a slightly longer and louder torrent of dwarven obscenities.  And then Ulric remembered he was a sorcerer. He flicked his middle finger against his thumb and invoked the Endless Flame spell. At last, they could actually see.

They were standing in a small chamber, probably ten by ten strides. A large rusted gate hung askew on the far wall, and several crates were piled up against the wall on their left. There was nothing waiting to attack them.

"I'll warn you now," Ulric said, "I can't keep this flame going and cast other invocations."

Merryn, having located the door, stomped off back through it. Ulric heard her swearing die away as she presumably went back up for the torches.

They waited for Merryn to return, Ulric with his hand held aloft, the six inch flame flickering gently, Garrial leaning against the nearest wall. Merryn seemed to be taking ages.

"This gentlemen's club," Garrial asked, "you do not think it actually exists?"

Ulric shrugged. "I don't know, some lads in the year above us at the academy reckoned they'd been, but then again, one of them used to tell everyone that he'd single-handedly killed three balrogs and a beholder when i know for a fact it was one balrog that was already half dead, and a tiny beholder the size of his fist." Ulric would not have been at all surprised to find out this club was nothing more than a low class brothel. Though an underground brothel was new to him. Maybe it was run by goblins. He shuddered.

"If we rescue her mother, do you think I could ask for the hand of Ellysia?" Garrial asked.

Ulric laughed, "what happened to the last one? The barbarian girl you were seeing?"

Garrial sighed, "alas, I found her to be somewhat... demanding."

"What he means is," Merryn said, finally rejoining them, "he couldn't keep up with her sexual appetites."

Garrial blushed. "I would like to marry an elven girl, they are so much more gentle, more refined."

"See?" Merryn nudged the elf, "he couldn't satisfy her. Now, are we getting started?"

The three of them stepped through the rusty gate.

"Left or right?" Ulric asked.

"Left," Merryn announced as Garrial said to go right.

Ulric sighed and opened the map. It was going to be a long quest.