Hall of Infinite Doors
Despite having no real qualms against and perhaps a natural talent for lifting a few odds and ends when necessary, you've never really considered yourself much of a thief, and so you shrug off any passing thoughts about robbing the merchants and continue on.
Upon reaching the far end of the Bridge, you stop a moment to lean against one of the massive posts, considering your next move. This side of the Bridge is mostly unfamiliar to you, but you know the wide tunnel ahead, lined with the entrances to wealthier homes and shops than the ones you are used to, should lead basically
straight to the castle, with the fortress that houses the Overguard
and your master's nephew Valincent right outside it.
Eyeing an official-looking wagon that looks like it's just come in from one of the mining operations in the Crystal Gash, you idly consider the feasibility of slipping past the guards and letting the rock troll chained to the cart do the walking while you stow away under the cozy rat-skin covering and catch a nap. Before heading out in such a hurry you'd just spent several hours foraging up in the swamps, after all, and despite the urgency of your mission you're getting rather tired.
You've hardly taken your first oh-so-casual step in the direction of the wagon when there is a low rumbling from somewhere in the cavern. A few pebbles plink down at your feet from somewhere high above and lie there trembling, and you step back uneasily, peering all around to try and locate the source of the disturbance.
It seems like most of the travelers and merchants near you have not yet noticed anything amiss, but that all changes when there is a sudden cracking sound, followed by screams as a boulder, nearly the size of the cart you were just looking at, comes spinning out of the darkness above to crash into the side of the Bridge, taking out a large chunk of railing and anyone unfortunate enough to be standing nearby.
Everything is pushing and shoving and panic then, the shouts of the guards trying to maintain order drowned out by the cries of the terrified crowd. You are sent sprawling by a glancing blow, and dimly realize the low rumbling you heard a moment ago is not just coming from above, but from the very ground beneath you, the rocks trembling under your hands as you scramble to your feet and stumble blindly down a narrow side tunnel, where you cower in a doorway, knowing a creature of your size is probably in more danger from the trampling mob than from the falling rocks that spurned it on.
Above all the uproar there is suddenly a deafening CRACK, so loud you can feel it in your teeth and bones. The screams intensify, and then for a moment almost cease as an eerie silence falls over those in the main cavern. Holding your breath, you can only wait, your heart pounding, until a muffled crashing sound echoes from somewhere in the Chasm below. There is a sick feeling in your stomach as you think you know what caused it.
Somewhere in the main tunnel, a woman begins to wail for her husband, while one man just keeps saying, "The Bridge...the Bridge..." over and over again in a disbelieving tone, and then the confused uproar resumes, though with noticeably fewer voices.
After some time you crawl away from the sheltered doorway, still almost too stunned to think. You have a brief moment of panic when you suddenly realize your pouch is gaping wide open with a broken strap, but a quick check assures you that Beonard's scroll is still nestled safely inside. Seeing it reminds you of your mission...and while its importance has undoubtedly faded with the recent horrific events, you're slowly coming to the unpleasant realization that with the Great Bridge gone you can no longer return to Beonard even if you wanted to.
Taking a deep breath, you close and secure the pouch, mumbling to yourself, "Well, if going home's not an option anyway I might as well try and carry out Master's wishes...this Valincent fellow won't care about whatever the message is with all that's happened, but he may be the only one besides me that cares about poor old Beonard, and if he's in the Overguard maybe he knows a way to get back across the Chasm."
Upon reaching the far end of the Bridge, you stop a moment to lean against one of the massive posts, considering your next move. This side of the Bridge is mostly unfamiliar to you, but you know the wide tunnel ahead, lined with the entrances to wealthier homes and shops than the ones you are used to, should lead basically
straight to the castle, with the fortress that houses the Overguard
and your master's nephew Valincent right outside it.
Eyeing an official-looking wagon that looks like it's just come in from one of the mining operations in the Crystal Gash, you idly consider the feasibility of slipping past the guards and letting the rock troll chained to the cart do the walking while you stow away under the cozy rat-skin covering and catch a nap. Before heading out in such a hurry you'd just spent several hours foraging up in the swamps, after all, and despite the urgency of your mission you're getting rather tired.
You've hardly taken your first oh-so-casual step in the direction of the wagon when there is a low rumbling from somewhere in the cavern. A few pebbles plink down at your feet from somewhere high above and lie there trembling, and you step back uneasily, peering all around to try and locate the source of the disturbance.
It seems like most of the travelers and merchants near you have not yet noticed anything amiss, but that all changes when there is a sudden cracking sound, followed by screams as a boulder, nearly the size of the cart you were just looking at, comes spinning out of the darkness above to crash into the side of the Bridge, taking out a large chunk of railing and anyone unfortunate enough to be standing nearby.
Everything is pushing and shoving and panic then, the shouts of the guards trying to maintain order drowned out by the cries of the terrified crowd. You are sent sprawling by a glancing blow, and dimly realize the low rumbling you heard a moment ago is not just coming from above, but from the very ground beneath you, the rocks trembling under your hands as you scramble to your feet and stumble blindly down a narrow side tunnel, where you cower in a doorway, knowing a creature of your size is probably in more danger from the trampling mob than from the falling rocks that spurned it on.
Above all the uproar there is suddenly a deafening CRACK, so loud you can feel it in your teeth and bones. The screams intensify, and then for a moment almost cease as an eerie silence falls over those in the main cavern. Holding your breath, you can only wait, your heart pounding, until a muffled crashing sound echoes from somewhere in the Chasm below. There is a sick feeling in your stomach as you think you know what caused it.
Somewhere in the main tunnel, a woman begins to wail for her husband, while one man just keeps saying, "The Bridge...the Bridge..." over and over again in a disbelieving tone, and then the confused uproar resumes, though with noticeably fewer voices.
After some time you crawl away from the sheltered doorway, still almost too stunned to think. You have a brief moment of panic when you suddenly realize your pouch is gaping wide open with a broken strap, but a quick check assures you that Beonard's scroll is still nestled safely inside. Seeing it reminds you of your mission...and while its importance has undoubtedly faded with the recent horrific events, you're slowly coming to the unpleasant realization that with the Great Bridge gone you can no longer return to Beonard even if you wanted to.
Taking a deep breath, you close and secure the pouch, mumbling to yourself, "Well, if going home's not an option anyway I might as well try and carry out Master's wishes...this Valincent fellow won't care about whatever the message is with all that's happened, but he may be the only one besides me that cares about poor old Beonard, and if he's in the Overguard maybe he knows a way to get back across the Chasm."