Going Underground
We are likely to away for several days so Elder Saelin suggests we see Brannick the Quartermaster and Garran the Blacksmith to see if they have supplies that can help us.
We decide to head out in the early morning light. As we see the woods in the distance, Bran is at the gates recording who is outside of the settlement. Folk have been told to stay nearby. Bran adds our names to list of those who have ventured outside.
We head north to the trees following a now familiar path. We recognise the stones and the shallow valleys, but roots now break through where there used to be only snow. Some have split the ground and run for a while, other appear above ground and vanish again quickly.
Aethlwynn studies the new roots and determines this is new growth is likely a maximum of seven days old. The roots don't seem to have one source so she thinks that whatever links them must lie well beneath the surface. This time the roots leave us alone. We can hear birds and animals but not as many as normal.
As we enter the woods the wind drops and our footsteps seem loud even though the canopy is not silent . Further into the trees something small moves through the undergrowth, and birds sing quietly. Aethswold finds the route to the collapse in the ground after a little disagreement with Sebastien. When we reach the hole in the ground we find the opening is now much larger and that the hillside has been pulled apart by huge roots. Several have grown large enough to split revealing fibres within. The roots growth has revealed stonework, cut and placed not natural rock and a passage into the hillside. Aethlwynn examines the roots and confirms they have opened the earth and exploited cracks to reveal the passage. She quietly confesses to Aethswold that she's scared. He comforts his sister saying that he will look after her and that they've been through worse.
Salus casts Light and can see that the passage is mostly clear. It's dusty and stone fragment cover the floor. We can't see any movement inside. Sebastien and Guru check the archway leading into the passage looking for inscriptions. They see that ihas been made from worked stone, but can't see much else.
As we head into the passage way a root shifts causing a thin stream of dust and rock falls injuring Guru. The collapse hasn't sealed the door way, but we need to be careful. While Salus tends to the wounded Aethlwynn checks to see if there items that can prop up the doorway and finds a number of rocks and branches. Our stronger comrades spend some time to brace the entrance way and we head into the tunnel. The passage opens into a bare chamber with no writing or decoration. Nothing to suggests a tomb, but it is silent. Although we can see roots at the entrance we can see none ahead. We see no hazards in the chamber so Sebastien checks the door to the south and finds it's not locked or trapped. Guru opens the door and sees a long stone passage leading to a T-junction. Sebastien sees the stone work continues. Aethlwynn notices that most of the passage was excavated through the bed rock and then faced in places with stone additions. We notice that the stone work is similar to the collapsed tunnel on the eastern coast and that the the construction is very old and built to last.
Seb checks the door to the east there along shallow chamber with receses in the walls. Faint black marks show where lamps once burned. There's nothing special about the room. No signs of the roots
A thinks people spent a lot of time in here and it may have been agurd room, but she can't really tell. There's another door tto the south while seb examines and opens.There's anoter door to the left. Nothing obviuos to the right. Seb checks the next door. iT's cclear. The chamber beyond has metal tool against the wall that has collapsed. There's things here to make the lplace run. but its all ruined
Guru gets the feeling its older than moonrest itself. on the western wall we notice a fitted ston einspection panel. Guru tries to remove it but can't, Seb removes the panel an reveals a narrow service passge. it runs for about 10 feet beforea roof collapse has sealed it off.
the corridor to the right was been broken into be the roots. Several of the roots are cracked and dry, some are fresh. They haven't grown down the corridor, they've broken through it. Gur moves up and casts ignition at one of the roots. Several shudder and retreat. A cant see anything about th tunnel that could have killed them. Guru examines the roots and finds the roots are newer than the masonry having broken through from the outside. He sees that the damage is newer than the original stonework. Seb sees that one thinner root is making small movement whenever someone steps heavily nearby. We kill off the root, thne we see that the south bound passage way is blocked with rubble, the north looks clear. Seb finds another door into a broad chamber. Which looks to have been used extensivley. We see a lrage chamber in the center. there are are 3 dry channels with dried residue in the chanells. Roots have broken through, but don't seem threatening. It looks lkie wayer once flowed through here. A tries to work out what the esidue is but can't . Seb also has a look and sees the mineral staining is different between the 3 channels and def carried water at some point. Guru looks in th central cylinder tnad thinks its a distributor. Stuff comen in thru one channel and out throug another. He thinks it still workable but a lever is missing and the mechanism seems siezed with mineral deposit. We did find a corroded bronze lever head in a previous room, seb hands it to Guru who gives i a go. He can make the ancient collar move. Nothing happens
To be continued.......