Cavern 3B

Cecilia opened her packet and took out a flimsy sheet of paper that bore a simple map-like diagram with a symbol indicating their destination in a chamber marked 3B. The others gathered around her and studied the sheet, and after a while, Nadja asked if she could examine the map.

"I believe this is where we should be going," Nadja stated, pointing to a location on the folded map in her hand.

"Please lead the way," Cecilia said, slinging a heavy bag over one shoulder.

Nadja lead the party through one of the portals in the walls of the pit that lead into the dungeon depths. The gilded architrave was decorated with intricate patterns, and the face of a leering djinn peered down at them from the apex of the archivolt.

Cecilia's steps echoed from the walls as they walked down the cavernous passageway. She noticed that lack of sound from the footfall of her companions. Nadja wore supple looking boots. Cecilia was not sure what the soles were like. Petra and Macy—Em, on the other hand, wore their high-heels. Yet another advantage. She would make sure that they were installed the next time she went in for a fitting.

The tunnel opened up into a large chamber. Large signposts flanking the opening instructed visitors to refrain from harvesting the bioluminescent flora or damaging glowing crystal formations to collect souvenirs in several languages.

Cecilia could see small clusters of tents spread throughout the cavern as they trailed after Nadja. Informational signposts pointed in various directions to famous scenic viewpoints.

"We'll pass near the Tears of the Moon, so we can take a look if you like," Nadja mentioned casually.

Cecilia considered the option. Certainly it seemed like they were on a mere nature walk through a wilderness park, but the Erziehungsoffizier did warn them against complacency. Still, who knew when they would have another opportunity to visit Gardanmah.

"Let's go see the falls," Cecilia stated.

The party follows the signs to the underground falls. They moved along the path encountering small groups of other travellers, some dressed like armored adventurers, while others wore typical outdoor wear suitable for exploration.

Cecilia noticed several locations where sections of runes that were carved into the walls had been chiseled away from the stone, leaving empty rectangular holes in the wall.

They heard the echoes of cascading waters long before they reached the Tears of the Moon. The tunnel opened to a railed causeway that spanned a chasm. The fissure ended high above them, and water poured out from a tunnel near the top. Colored spotlights shining on the waterfall created an ethereal atmosphere as jewel colored droplets filled the air. People were gathered along the railing watching the falling water as vendors hurried among them offering rentals of raincoats and umbrellas.

Across the causeway, Cecilia could see visitors posing for portraits in front of the waterfall. A few other groups were lining up in front of a small booth for their turn with the portrait artist. Cecilia turned to her party and gave them a hopeful look.

"Let's take a photograph," declared Petra, placing both hands against Cecilia's back and pushing her forward.

* * *

Reaching the second sub-level, Cecilia noticed a marked decrease in the number of casual visitors. The air was colder and it was much darker. The patches of luminescent moss and clusters of glowing crystals were fewer, and more spaced apart. Her footsteps seemed unnaturally loud in her own ears. Nadja switched on a gilded lantern that he hung on the end of a short pole and rested it over her shoulder.

"We'll take a shortcut here," declared Nadja, who eyed Cecilia appraisingly. "Yes, I think it should work."

They arrived at a fissure in the ground.

"I'll take the lead," stated Nadja, uncoiling a thin rope attached to her belt and looping it around a stony outcropping. "When I call you, I want Em to follow, then Cecilia, and finally Petra. Be sure to detach the rope and hook it to your belt." The final statement was directed at Petra.

The party members nodded, acknowledging Nadja's instructions.

Cecilia passed through the crevice, barely able to squeeze past some of the more narrow portions. She transported her own bag as well as Em's, since the wizard did not have the arm strength to move her pack through the passage. It was slow going, and Cecilia emerged at the other end sweating. She wondered if it would have been better to doff her armor before passing through.

The group was in a downward sloping tunnel that would take them directly to the third sub-level, not far from their first anchor site.

"How much time did we save by taking that shortcut?" Cecilia asked.

"Maybe an hour," replied Nadja.

Cecilia ran the numbers through her head. While Nadja was experienced, it would not do to leave all the decision making in her hands. Cecilia wanted to go over the maps and make sure she understood where they were going and what the options were.

"Let's stop and rest a while," declared Cecilia. Nadja paused and turned back to look at her.

"We're not that far from our destination," she said.

"I understand, but I have been lax in my duty," said Cecilia. "I want to review the map and learn how you decided on this route."

Nadja shrugged and dropped her pack. She leaned her pole against the wall of the tunnel. Em slumped against the wall and unhooked the canteen of water from the side of her pack. Petra walked over to Cecilia and Nadja who crouched on the ground spreading the map on the ground.

Cecilia nodded as Nadja explained her thought process, and asked pointed questions regarding how Nadja could trust the map so unquestioningly. Nadja agreed that the maps could become outdated, but found it unlikely for their situation.

As they prepared to continue on to the anchor site, Cecilia was frozen by a question from Em.

"Lady Cecilia, where's your helmet?"

"Um," Cecilia stammered nervously. "It—it's in my pack..."

"You should put it on," stated Em emphatically.

"Yes," agreed Petra with sudden enthusiasm as Nadja looked at them curiously.

"Ah—okay," agreed Cecilia in dejection. She didn't want to feel like a spectacle, but she felt compelled by the pressure from her companions.

Removing the winged helm from her bag, she placed it on her head. The wings snapped out resplendently, and the entire tunnel seemed to grow brighter.

* * *

A small dungeon beetle, no larger than a teacup, waddled out from a crack in the wall. It looked at its reflection in one of Cecilia's golden boots, let out a tiny chirp, and lazily rolled onto its back.

"A fire beetle," stated Nadja. "I don't think we're allowed to collect any though."

Cecilia stooped down to right the beetle and shoo it back into the crack.

The group finally entered cavern 3B. Sitting on campstools around a large gilded lantern were the members of Wiltern's vanguard.

Wiltern stood up, his eyes widening as he saw Cecilia in her golden armor and winged helm.

"Gullfot, I see you finally appreciate the true nature of our station!"

Maya sat motionless holding a half-raised teacup in one hand as she scanned Cecilia's party with a cold expressionless face. Her eyes moved right past Petra without lingering.

"The anchor site is right there," explained Wiltern, gesturing toward a wall.

The wall was festooned with metal spikes driven into the stone to different depths. There were plain iron spikes, and custom spikes in different colored metals. On some portions of the wall it seemed as if patterns were emerging. In others, the anchors were inserted in a haphazard manner.

Cecilia approached the wall and set down her bag to search for her box of anchors. She removed one of the iron spikes and regarded the wall. The Erziehungsoffizier had driven the spike into the ground one-handed in his demonstration, but Cecilia was unsure how much force to use to embed the anchor into the cavern wall.

Looking for a location where she could continue a pattern, Cecilia raised the anchor in one hand and channeled her divinity through her body. Bringing the spike down with full force, she drove it into the cavern wall with a resounding ring of metal.

Cecilia stood back and looked at her handiwork, pleased at the positioning she had accomplished. She turned and smiled at her companions who looked back at her in shock or amusement.

"You could have just simply used that," commented Wiltern weakly, as he indicated Nadja who held a mallet limply in one hand.