Nebin turned back to the dwarf and said, "And you're sure there is no other entry into the revived temple except through the catacombs?"
"Of course there is! But, we're sneaking in. We have a map of the ancient entrance. Presumably, the red masks enter and leave using some entrance closer to the surface. Our way is longer, more dangerous, but should ultimately give us the element of surprise."
Nebin nodded, apparently satisfied.
Ember finished her drink, wondering about the red lever Nebin had pulled. It could wait, but she would like to hear that story someday.
She said, "Wonderful. Tonight we relax. In the morning we prepare for our expedition against the cult of the death god."
At dawn, after an early breakfast, the four companions headed to the market quarter.
Shops could be found pretty much anywhere in the city, but they were concentrated in the market quarter. More importantly, the market quarter was home of the Wizard's Hoard. It dealt strictly in magic and had a first-rate reputation.
Like the Floating Tower, the Hoard was run by the College of Wizardry, though it didn't float. It was a rambling building of luminescent stone resembling blocks of pearl. The main structure was covered by a dome that glittered even in moonlight. Inside, thousands of arcane items could be bought and sold for a fair price.
The group entered through a wide portico and found themselves in a broad, covered bazaar. The ceiling, the interior of the vast dome, sparkled with stars as convincing as the night sky. Below, tents and carts crowded together at the center of the open area. These belonged to the hedge wizards and witches who rented space, selling minor charms and ointments from their wagons. The "good stuff" was to be found along the broad, curving walls, where permanent shop fronts were situated and run directly by the College of Wizardry. No-nonsense advertising hung above many of the shops, scribed in Draconic and other magical languages: Potions, Wands, Staves, Impenetrable Armors, Enchanted Blades, and more.
They stood gazing in wonder. None had ever been to the Wizard's Hoard before. It was a little overwhelming.
First, the group sold the trinkets, documents, and minor items retrieved when they rescued Kairoth. No buyer asked intrusive questions. Everyone purchased a few vials of magical curative. They knew it would be foolhardy to rely solely on Brek Gorunn to save them all from injuries.
Nebin bought some spare, spell-grade parchment.
Ember found a shop called Ellen's Elixirs and Charms. The shop proprietor was a withered, human woman who wore dozens of charms on strands around her neck. Though she hawked many potential wonders, in the end, Ember bought a potion advertised to "make a hero" of the imbiber.
After purchasing a single curative, the dwarf made a beeline for the shop along the round called Smite Plus. Inside, a cornucopia of oils, charms, and scribed spells were available, each offering a temporary enhancement to a weapon. Brek used nearly his last gold imperial to purchase a magical oil that would briefly empower his warhammer. He grinned as he walked out. It was good to serve Moradin!
Hennet bought nothing besides curative vials. He had the Golden Wand, after all. Its powers would be a great help. A few people in the dome even recognized him from the Duel Arcane and congratulated him on his victory.
They met again near the entrance. It was time to move on. After leaving the Hoard they visited a few other shops-Hennet needed crossbow bolts, Ember desired a new pair of gloves, Brek wanted rope, and Nebin pointed out that they could be in the catacombs for quite some time-they had better purchase provisions enough to last for two or three days.
Finally all the supplies were bought, inventoried, and stowed. Each wore a small pack, a pouch, and a satchel. It was time to descend into the lightless halls beneath the city. That was adventure enough on its own, but they knew that getting through the catacombs was only half the challenge. Finding and dealing with the revived temple of Nerull in the heart of the catacombs was their true task.
"There it is," said Ember, pointing at the rune-inscribed double door.
The sewers were behind them, the catacombs lay ahead. One of the stone doors remained open, as they'd left it. Inside, the chamber appeared unchanged. The pit trap gaped wide, opening onto a fall Ember remembered well.
Brek pushed into the room. Ember kept her eye on the far opening while Brek checked the pit.
"Seems clear," shrugged the dwarf. "Let's go."
With the dwarf ahead and Ember right behind, they entered the narrow, urn-lined corridor. As before, Hennet and Nebin brought up the rear. They avoided disturbing the urns, for fear they still held the remains of people long dead. Brek's lantern provided flickering and uncertain light, sending shadows chasing up and down the cemetery hallway.
The next chamber was also quiet. This is the room where we rescued Kairoth, reflected Ember. The room was circular, domed, and connected to six hallways. Each opening was shadowed with threat. During their last visit, greenish ghoul-light had lit the scene. Ember silently thanked providence that that foul radiance was gone, not to mention the animate, spellcasting corpse. Brek walked forward with his light and examined the floor around the altar.
He looked up and declared, "The mummy carcass is gone. Or it removed itself. Either way, something has been here since us."
"If you're suggesting we stay on our guard, don't worry," responded Hennet. "We are."
Brek grinned through his beard.
Hennet continued, "Which way does your map show now?"
Ember moved next to the dwarf as he set down his warhammer and lamp and pulled out the charred map. It indicated that of the six passages connected to this chamber, only one was marked-with a symbol of a skull and scythe.
Brek pointed at the corresponding passage across the room and said, "That way."
"How much farther to the temple?" asked Nebin.
The dwarf shook his head. "The map is only a fragment. If it ever had a scale, it's gone now. Pointing us down this corridor is the limit of its usefulness. I'll lead."
The dwarf held forth the lamp and plunged into the corridor. Ember walked to his right, and she heard Hennet and Nebin follow.
Like the last corridor, this one, too, was lined with elaborate urns. Unfamiliar glyphs on the sides of the urns winked below their ages-old blankets of dust. No one wanted to look at them too closely for fear of disturbing their contents. Almost immediately, the passage angled downward. After walking a long distance on the steep grade, the lantern revealed a mist in the air. The farther they pressed forward, the thicker the haze. Soon, it was a true fog. It smelled faintly of dank copper, or blood. Brek Gorunn's light was a glowing spot of blue in the darkness.
Ember put her hand on the dwarf's shoulder and murmured, "Slow down a bit. The mist could hide anything."
The dwarf grunted, but slowed. Ember thought all their footfalls sounded muffled, as if sound were strangled by the mist.
Eventually the grade leveled off and the passage issued into a room whose edges were obscured in fog. The vapors were acrid in Ember's mouth and nose and made her eyes water. Brek stopped short of entering, and she stopped with him.
Looking back, she said, "Stay close. It's impossible to say how big this room is, with the mist, and we don't want to lose anyone. We're going to follow the right-hand wall around the room. Keep your hand on the wall and you won't get lost. We'll follow it right around until we've come back to this entrance. That way, we won't miss any exits in this damnable fog."
Brek grunted his approval, and they moved out. The fog was thicker than ever.
The trip around the chamber proved a journey of only a minute, and they were moving cautiously. A single sealed exit opposite the entry was found during their circuit. A face, its mouth gaping wide, was carved in relief into the stone above the exit. Fell vapors issued from its mouth, constantly replenishing the haze in the chamber and the corridor leading to it.