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The echo of an oar wading through [color=black][b]dank waters[/b][/color] crept throughout the underground tunnels the party had found themselves in. More pernicious than the noise was the odor. It was worse than the common refuse one might expect from a large city. It smelled unnatural, like a kind of decaying;  of what no one could be sure. The only reprieve from the darkness that encroached on their boat was a small [color=6ecff6][b]orb of light[/b][/color] manifested by the mage who had navigated the party through the city. He kept his focus on steering the gondola yet the orb persisted without faltering.  

[hider=Annabella]
You’d finally been offered a chance to rest without the burden of the mage upon your shoulders. Karlus was lithe, and quite easy to lift. Even still, the stranger had guided your party through small spaces, tunnels, stairs and a host of other obstacles. Reaching this hideaway seemed a new journey entirely. These sewers smelled of the plague. You’d only seen its effects in passing, but even then the sights of those afflicted were haunting. 

There was no doubt that you were underneath the Elven Quarter, a district home to the elves native to Caracas. You’d heard tales of the interplay between elven and human culture that made the district unique. You found only disease and rot in your time there. Where exactly was this stranger taking you all? 
[/hider]

[hider=Sigemund]
It was difficult to make out much in the darkness. Though perhaps the smell alone would be enough to help your crew identify whatever hole you’d fallen into. You noticed occasional stutters as the boat moved through the water. The strange magic the mage cast to light his path forward was enough to illuminate a clenched hand at each stop. Whatever he was doing seemed to cause him some discomfort, but you couldn’t hazard to guess what witchcraft was at work. 
[/hider]

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The boat came to a halt one final time. A dead end. The party found themselves in a large cavernous room with only a small dock and blocked off tunnels ahead of them. 

“[color=f6989d]Come,[/color]” the stranger urged as he stepped from the boat out onto the decrepit dock. It stretched out onto the water like an old finger. The mage calmly stepped forward without another word. The wooden planks creaked beneath them.  As the party followed the mage toward the tunnels he looked back to them. “[color=f6989d]Please, pardon my compatriots. Things...have been difficult.[/color]” 

With that the mage put a hand on one of the walls to the tunnel. [i]A ripple in space itself that followed from his touch. He pushed through the facade as if stepping through water as the party followed closely behind him.[/i] 
[hr][hr]

Whatever magic had allowed them all to phase through the wall led them into another large cavern. Its was long and vacuous, but narrow. They made their way through the dark hallways of the cavern. The smell from before had finally subsided, relatively at least.

The sounds of footsteps meeting the party at the other end of the cavern was enough to give them pause. The stranger seemed undeterred by the advancing noises. Eventually, an older man stepped from the shadows greeting the party as they made their way to the end of the tunnel. The elder man looked the party over before glancing towards the stranger with contempt. There were no words exchanged as the stranger brushed passed the elder who then followed behind the group. 

The party made their way into a makeshift foyer. A number of small fireplaces lit the area more than most of the cavern. People were hustled around them. Their gaze turned to the party as they made their way forward. Hushed whispers spilled out around them. There was old furniture, tomes, luggage, and artwork scattering the area. There was the occasional shanty nestled away in the darkest corners of the room. 

The elder mage finally broke the silence among the party. “[color=0054a6][b]I knew you to be a fool, Horatz, but to bring strangers to this place? After what happened at La Grazia? In your arrogance, you’ve jeopardized the safety of the entire league.[/b][/color]”  The old man made no effort to cloak his words behind niceties nor did he seek to hide them from the party. 

“[color=f6989d]No Phideas[/color],” Horatz protested. “[color=f6989d]They were helping a mage who had been attacked by one of Stantos’ men.[/color]” 

“[color=0054a6][b]There is no weaker a bond than one forged in mutual hatred. Even still...[/b][/color]”  Phideas stopped at the end of the foyer before turning to the rest of the party. “[color=0054a6][b]I mean you all no offense. These are troubling times in our fair Caracas. I’d only wish Horatz had made us aware of his sudden...philanthropic predilections.[/b][/color]” The man spoke with a heavy Caracan accent. His voice was rich and deep, but there was a weariness to it. It was almost mesmerizing. 

“[color=a187be][b]Helping others is how we win against my brother, is it not Phideas,[/b][/color]” another voice called out from beyond the foyer. A young man stepped out towards the party. He spoke with a flamboyance, and he worked to mask any trace of an accent. He was devilishly handsome. A small golden chain linked from his nostril to his earlobe. His eyes were a murky hazel, and his skin a light brown color. His robes were fanciful though covered by a cape. The cape itself had an extravagant collar that was nearly weighed down by its own heaviness. It's tip extended up the man's neck towards his ear on one side, and hung closer to the chest on the other. 

“[color=0054a6][b]I meant only that we should take caution, Dantel.[/b][/color]” 

Dantel made his way towards the group as if ignoring Phideas’ protests. He studied the party with an exaggerated level of charm. “[color=a187be][b]Such beautiful new allies you’ve brought us Horatz.[/b][/color]” He made his way towards Kjellfrid before taking her hand and kissing it gently. “[color=a187be][b]I am Dantel Ernesto Amarillo de Caracas. Prince of Canal City and...humble leader to the League of Magi. You must forgive the...eccentricities of my collaborators. They are far too dire.[/b][/color]”  Dantel looked to Karlus who still laid unconscious draped over Annabella’s shoulders. 

Noticing Dantel’s prodding Horatz looked towards him. “[color=f6989d]It seems he has spell fatigue. He just needs some rest, and a bit of caster’s milk.[/color]” Dantel nodded in response. 

“[color=a187be]Jareez, please help our new friends. Would you be so kind as to carry this handsome specimen to our infirmary?[/color]” Horatz rolled his eyes at Dantel's flattery. 

Stepping out from one of the groups huddled around a fire was a large tiefling woman. Her hair was cut short, and her horns were frayed. She couldn't help but stare at Vekyzz for a few moments, before looking to Dantel. She nodded before gently taking the mage from Annabella’s care. 

“[color=a187be][b]If you’ll all follow us,[/b][/color]” Dantel motioned for the group to follow his lead behind Jareez. The group made their way through corridors that lined the cavern. It was clear that something had been built down here long ago. Most of it was tattered and in ruins now,  but there was a time when this place stood strong. 

“[color=a187be][b]I must apologize for the state of our current abode. My brother has thrown a tantrum because he is not the heir to this great city. He’s ransacked our former base of operations, and has made retrieving much of my property from the royal offices all but impossible. Meanwhile the people he seeks to rule are made miserable by his ineptitude.[/b][/color]” 

As the party moved through the hallways the sounds of coughing and vomiting grew louder. The smell that filled the sewers returned, though more acute than before. Jareez turned into one of the corridors on the right. There were a number of makeshift beds where a number of sick lay in misery. It was difficult to make out much in the room with such little lighting, but there was enough to see strange brown rashes and rotting pustules having mutilated the faces of many of the sick. 

“[b][color=a187be]I realize the sight is a troubling one. We’ve been working to find a cure,[/color][/b]”  Dantel said. “[color=a187be][b]Forgive my bluntness, but we are fortunate that it only affects elven-kind. They’ve taken to calling it [i]woodrot[/i].[/b][/color]” 

[hider=Vekyzz]
Peering into the room you could see the suffering of many, but even still in the darkness something caught your eye. One of the sick, they looked familiar. The sickness had obscured many of their facial features, but you knew them. [i]White hair and nipped ears…[/i]
[/hider]

Jareez put Karlus down in a corner bed, away from the others. 

“[color=0054a6][b]Remember your purity spells,[/b][/color]” Phideas urged as Jareez walked passed the group and back out towards the foyer. 

[hr][hr]

Dantel had taken the group to a back room that seemed to serve as his office. There wasn’t much in terms of personal effects save for some tomes, magical objects, and a small carved dragon resting on a stack of opened scrolls. 

“[color=a187be][b]You all are welcome to stay here for as long as we are able to host you.[/b][/color]” Dantel paused for a moment before continuing. “[color=a187be][b]My brother has surrendered to madness, and for it people are suffering. I can imagine that you all don’t trust me, and to be frank, I’m not sure I trust you all either. What I do know is that none of you are getting out of this city without stopping Stantos.[/b][/color]” Horatz looked to Dantel, who in turn looked towards Phideas. Dantel nodded to the elder. 

“[color=0054a6][b]There is more than just Stantos,[/b][/color]” Phideas sighed. “[color=0054a6][b]We believe there is some larger conspiracy afoot… some sort of cult bent on ruling the Union with the use of some hellish magic. We don’t know much of anything save for what one of the people in our care has been able to tell us.[/b][/color]” 

“[color=a187be][b]But we believe Stantos is connected to it, somehow,[/b][/color]” Dantel added. He studied the group looking for some reaction. They all seemed rather tired. He let out a small sigh, trying to defuse the tension. “[color=a187be][b]For now, you are all safe, and have no obligation to me. Get rest and food, and return to me once you have the strength.[/b][/color]”