The fallen saint’s pedestal grinds aside, exposing a rusted grating beneath the shrine floor. Cold water breathes from the crawlway, carrying the smell of old mortar.
The surrendered guard points beneath the northern wall, still clutching his shield with one hand. The slave princess watches him closely, her composure sharpened by distant knocks from somewhere beyond the shrine.
Northern Hall Guard 1
There. The crawlway enters behind the throne. We must descend before whoever searches above finds the grating.
Each knock travels through the stones, nearer than the last. Ravellorn’s bruised ribs protest as the opened grating reveals black water below, narrow ledges, and no room to turn easily.
The Slave Princess
You point quickly now. Is that haste meant to save us, or to lead us into a trap beneath the hall?
Northern Hall Guard 1
A trap would have a door. This is an old drain, and the hall’s servants avoid it. I swear I know no safer way.
Another stone knock answers from the shrine entrance. Dust sifts from the saints’ broken faces, while the guard keeps his finger aimed at the dark passage and waits for Ravellorn’s choice.
Director's note
Gesture toward the drain
Director's note
whisper to the princess
“"After you, guard" I'll keep my eye on him and what's ahead, try to muster some awareness for what may come behind.”
FAILURE (Fair Perception, rolled +1)
Ravellorn
After you, guard.
Ravellorn gestures toward the drain and keeps his attention on the guard’s descent. He follows with one hand near his sword, twisting carefully against the ache in his ribs to watch the passage ahead and the shrine behind.
Northern Hall Guard 1
Keep your boots on the ledge. The water drops away there.
Black water laps below the narrow shelf. Ravellorn’s split attention misses the guard’s warning gesture ahead, and his boot skids toward the brink before he catches himself against the wall.
The scrape echoes through the drain. Behind him, the grating’s underside reveals a cramped side culvert, half hidden by fallen mortar, leading away from the main crawlway.
The Slave Princess
The side culvert may conceal our passage better than the throne’s approach. But it will not forgive hesitation.
The guard waits farther along the ledge, shield pressed flat to his back. Ahead lies the promised route; behind, the newly exposed culvert offers a usable choice, though the water hides its depth.
Director's note
Continue down the side culvert with the guard in the lead and the princess in the rear
Director's note
Whisper to the princess
“"Stay close and keep your wits about you."”
SUCCESS (Fair Perception, rolled +1)
Ravellorn stays close behind the surrendered guard, keeping one hand near his sword and his eyes moving between the black water, the ledge, and the culvert’s low roof.
Northern Hall Guard 1
This way. Keep to the left stones. The right side drops deeper than it sounds.
The guard leads into the side culvert, shield scraping mortar. The slave princess follows at the rear, her silhouette shrinking the passage behind him.
Ravellorn’s vigilance catches a thread of pale ash caught in a crack above the waterline, pointing inward against the draft. He cannot tell whether it marks passage or warning.
The Slave Princess
You found something. Do not touch it until we know who wished us to find it.
The guard continues deeper while Ravellorn keeps the ash in sight and the slave princess close behind. Time slips away in the cramped dark, and its meaning remains uncertain.
Director's note
We continue on our way keeping eye out for similar ash sign