Almost immediately after taking a few steps down into the darkness of the sewer, Rygic shot back up the ladder with a horrified expression etched upon his face. He leaned over and dry heaved a few moments before being able to collect himself. “It smells MUCH worse down there than I expected!” he managed to utter between gasps, his features still contorted with revulsion.
The rest of the group instinctively took a collective step back. Even from where they stood, they were beginning to catch faint hints of the putrid odor emanating from the depths of the sewer. Nearby, curious onlookers wrinkled their noses at the foul stench, casting sympathetic glances toward the group before hastening their steps to distance themselves from the area.
“Wait, I think I have just the thing!” exclaimed Quart. He began fishing around in one of the larger pouches he wore on his belt. He paused ever so slightly when a pink-colored potion came into view before quickly continuing to rummage. Rygic's lips curled into a knowing smirk as he caught sight of the familiar potion. It was the one Quart had fervently described during their visit to the local alchemy shop, The Crucible. After a few more moments of searching, Quart triumphantly retrieved a small, ornate jar filled with a creamy eggshell-colored ointment. Holding it delicately, he slowly unscrewed the lid and cautiously brought it close to his nose, somewhat hesitant to breathe it in. His abrupt withdrawal and sudden head movement indicated the strength of its scent. With a quick exhale and a few big blinks of his eyes, he muttered, “Yep, this should do.” He carefully scooped a tiny amount of the cream, applying it meticulously above his upper lip.
The group couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of Quart's expression, resembling someone who had just downed a tall glass of milk. Quart passed the jar of cream to Trella, motioning for her to follow suit.
“What exactly is this stuff?” asked Trella as she gently took the jar in her hands. She examined it with a mix of curiosity and caution, tilting the smooth glass container slightly to catch the light.
“The alchemist that runs The Crucible called it ‘Dewaft.’ He claims it’s popular among the students, especially the first years. Says it’ll help cover up most smells,” answered Quart.
Following Quart’s lead, Trella dabbed a small amount above her upper lip. Her eyes widened and a brief cough escaped her lips as the Dewaft cream assaulted her sense of smell. A few moments later, she smiled, evidently pleased with its effects. “Seems to be working well, though it’s a little strong at first,” commented Trella.
Seeing how effective Dewaft was for Trella, the rest of the group quickly applied it. Rygic approached the opening leading down and cautiously took a few tentative sniffs. Satisfied that the cream was working its magic, he mustered his courage and began his descent into the dark depths. With each step, Rygic felt a growing sense of relief washing over him, thanks to the remarkable effects of the Dewaft cream. Finally, a triumphant grin flashed across his face, as it seemed to be a complete success at keeping the heinous odors at bay. “It's okay, you can come down now,” Rygic called out to the rest of the group, their hesitant figures silhouetted against the faint light above. As they joined him one by one, he began to scan his surroundings, the dark areas appearing as various shades of grey thanks to his elven night vision. Hundreds of spiders clung to their intricate webs, their tiny eyes reflecting what little light came from the surface. The group’s quarry, the elusive sewer rats, scurried away from the light, retreating further into the thick gloom.
The rest of the group slowly made their way down and stood next to Rygic. The last to come down was Quart. The moment he stepped off the ladder, a string of silent curses escaped his lips as he saw the sewer’s stagnant water was up to his knees. Rygic and Dreck offered to carry Quart, but their assistance was met with vehement refusal with a sidelong glance towards Trella. Quart was too prideful to be carried in front of her.
Trella smiled warmly at Quart as she gently placed her hand on his shoulder. “You should be okay so long as it doesn’t get any deeper, right?” Quart dreamily nodded in confirmation.
“Ugh. I can’t see a thing down here,” Sulic grumbled, frustration evident in his voice. He unsheathed his short sword from its scabbard strapped to his waist. His eyes glimmered with a faint blue hue as he ran his hands along the blade, uttering the word "Hinoken" under his breath. Tiny orange flames began to cover his sword, though not nearly as bright and powerful as Skoshi’s had been when he used the spell Flaming Weapon to defeat the orcs. A satisfied smirk appeared on his face as the area around the sword began to light up. Empowered by the enchantment's illumination, Sulic took the lead and ventured deeper into the murky sewer with the rest of the group following closely behind. The light continued to flicker, revealing the winding tunnels and the eerie shadows that clung to the damp and musty walls.
Though Sulic’s flaming sword spell provided adequate light for him to see where he was walking, it barely reached Trella who, along with Quart, was positioned in the back of the group. After stepping on the heels of Rygic’s feet several times due to not being able to see well, Trella's patience was wearing thin. Despite her increasing frustration, she resisted the urge to cast an illumination spell, unwilling to hurt Sulic's pride in his clever solution. She could only misstep so many times before completely losing her patience. “Furotin” she muttered after stepping onto Rygic’s feet once more. She pointed to a spot above Rygic, who was walking in the middle of the group. A small orb of light materialized in the direction she pointed, brightening the area for the entire group and throwing back the shadows that had shrouded their path.
“Good thinking!” praised Quart. “I’ll have to learn the Floating Orb spell. I never gave it much attention since I can see well enough in the dark. This is so much better!”
“Thanks,” said Trella with a wink towards a blushing Quart. She briefly brushed her hand along his shoulder. “It’s nice to be appreciated.”
As the group pressed deeper into the dark depths of the sewer, the floating orb of light continued to guide their way, illuminating the grimy walls and murky water. Their steps echoed through the narrow tunnels, creating an eerie atmosphere. Just as they rounded a corner, Sulic abruptly came to a halt, causing Dreck to nearly stumble as he barely avoided colliding with Sulic. But before anyone could voice their questions, a faint yet distinct sound filled the air—a barrage of countless tiny feet scurrying and scratching against the damp stone. The noise grew louder with each passing moment. In an instant, some of the sounds went from the nails scraping the floor to the sloshing of water. It was apparent that “something” was getting much closer. The group exchanged uneasy glances, their hearts quickening with anticipation. Squinting into the distance, they could now make out numerous rats, their beady eyes gleaming in the darkness, fixated on their presence and steadily closing the distance between them.
“Get into position,” ordered Sulic. He moved into a battle stance, his shield out in front of him.
Dreck positioned himself slightly to the right of Sulic, his hands firmly gripping the hilt of his daggers. A few steps back and to the left stood Rygic, his wand drawn and aimed towards the menacing eyes. Quart and Trella were a short distance behind Rygic, ready to unleash their spells at a moment’s notice.
Not long after, the first group of rats scurried close enough for the floating orb to fully illuminate them. Sulic seized the opportunity, swiftly swinging his sword in a wide horizontal arc. As his blade sliced through the air, a line of fire erupted, extending a short distance and engulfing the first few rows of rats in searing flames. However, the fiery assault seemed to awaken a primal fury within the remaining rats, and they became singularly fixated on Sulic, their beady eyes gleaming with rage as they charged toward him.
“What was that you just cast?” Rygic asked while firing his wand at a few rats that managed to survive Sulic’s first attack.
“Flame wave,” Sulic called out over his shoulder.
Rygic couldn’t help but be impressed by Sulic’s remarkable tanking skills. He was skillfully holding most of the aggro, slang for attention, commonly used by Adventurers. He deftly dodged and blocked the rats’ attacks with his shield. Rygic then glanced at Dreck, whose agility and finesse in combat were equally commendable. With swift and calculated movements, Dreck weaved in and out of the fray, seizing every opportunity to strike at vulnerable spots. Meanwhile, Quart and Trella were also performing their roles well. Quart’s Water Bolts flew over his head, precisely striking rats that were out of melee range while the occasional flare of light from Trella’s Healing Light spell, would cover Sulic and Dreck, infusing them with a soothing warmth that mended their wounds and revitalized their spirits. In the midst of the intense battle, Rygic couldn't help but feel a surge of satisfaction and gratitude. The synergy among the group members was evident with their individual skills seamlessly complementing one another. “We’re doing well, this is a great group,” he thought to himself.
After the last rat was defeated, the group breathed a collected sigh of relief. Though they never felt they were in mortal danger, the sheer number of rats that attacked them could have easily overwhelmed a mediocre group. To ensure they were making steady progress, Sulic proposed the idea of designating one person to gather the rat carcasses. The idea was for someone to collect while Sulic pulled the next group of rats in. Initially, Quart, being a damage dealer, was suggested for the task. However, he quickly dismissed the idea, rightfully pointing out that some of the rats were nearly as large as himself. With Quart bowing out, the group turned to Trella as the alternative choice. Though Dreck and Rygic had reservations about the decision, Quart's vote tipped the scales, resulting in a three-to-two majority in favor of Trella taking on the role.
For the next several hours, the group forged ahead, venturing deeper into the sewers, distancing themselves from the entrance they had used. So far, they had defeated three separate groups of rats with the last one being the greatest in number. A sense of familiarity and confidence settled upon them, turning the once daunting task into something that almost felt effortless as if they were following a well-rehearsed routine.
“Is it me or is this group working great as a team?” Quart asked out loud.
“Not just you, we are making great progress,” replied Trella. Sulic nodded in agreement though he didn’t particularly look overly impressed.
“Defeating the rats is beginning to feel easier, even when they were coming at us in greater waves,” added Dreck.
“At the rate we are going, we should be done with the quest by the end of the day,” commented Rygic. “I hope I didn’t just jinx us,” he thought.
As if he’d been waiting for the right moment, Sulic eagerly asked, “In that case, how about I pull as many rats in the area as I can?”
“Go for it!” exclaimed Quart. He was beyond ready to get out of the sewer. There were a few times the water came up to his chest. He shuddered when he thought about it.
“I agree, I am ready to get back topside,” added Dreck. He was frowning as he looked over his damp leather armor.
“Great, I’ll be right back,” announced Sulic, a sly smile forming on his face. He swiftly turned and jogged deeper into the sludgy depths of the sewer. The group watched as the dancing light grew distant until it was reduced to a mere flicker. Faint echoes of Sulic's shout reached their ears, barely audible in the damp tunnels. Gradually, the glow from the sword intensified once again, illuminating the surroundings with an increasing brilliance. It seemed he was on his way back to them. Suddenly, the distant sound of hundreds of scurrying feet became ominously clear. Trella quickly got behind Quart and placed her hand on his shoulder for comfort.
“Is that what I think it is?” she questioned, already knowing it was the approaching horde of rodents. Judging by the sound of the rats’ approach, it sounded as if Sulic pulled the entire sewer system’s worth of rats all at once.
“Don’t worry, we’ve got this!” Quart exclaimed with bolstered confidence.
Soon, Sulic was in view. Thankfully, he easily outpaced the advancing rats. As he rejoined the group, he turned to face the impending onslaught, but just as the rats closed in on melee range, he pulled a potion from his pack and guzzled its contents. In an instant, Sulic vanished from sight, leaving the rats bewildered and confused, their frenzied assault meeting nothing but empty air before searching for the one who disturbed them.
“What the ...” exclaimed a baffled Rygic.
“Where did he go?” Quart nervously called out.
Dreck had a puzzled look on his face. The group turned to ask Trella if she knew what was going on, but she was nowhere to be found. In her place was a bottle floating just above the surface of the murky water before sinking. Not far away, splashes of water could be seen tracing a path away from the group, going back towards the entrance.
“Nolrey gives his greetings,” Sulic mockingly shouted, his voice filled with amusement.
A mischievous giggle echoed through the sewer, resembling Trella's voice. "Goodbye, Quart! Thanks for the generous donation of extra potions. How thoughtful of you!" Her voice dripped with sarcasm and ill will.
"Not to mention the rats. Thanks, guys!" Sulic joined in the laughter, reveling in their successful trickery.
Quart’s eyes widened and he frantically checked his bag to find he was missing several low-grade health potions. It suddenly dawned on him that every time Trella had innocently placed her hand on his shoulder, she was most likely pilfering potions from his bag! Anger welled up inside him as he berated himself for falling for the ruse.
“I can’t believe… I should’ve…” Quart was beside himself, but before his anger and disappointment could consume him completely, a shout from Rygic snapped him back to the present moment.
The rats who had been caught off guard by Sulic’s vanishing act swiftly redirected their charge toward Rygic, who happened to be the closest to them. With a swift motion, he drew his sword, its blade curving ever so slightly at the tip. He fought back against the onslaught, parrying and striking at the leaping rodents. Sensing the urgency of the situation, Dreck abandoned his usual position at the side and rushed to Rygic's aid, fighting shoulder-to-shoulder with his friend. Together, they battled the rats, their arms and legs bearing numerous cuts and bite marks.
Rygic was beginning to wonder how long they could keep up before bleeding out. The assault was really beginning to take a toll on their weary bodies. In the midst of the chaos, Rygic felt tiny droplets of water land on him, almost like an indoor rain shower. Wherever the water would land, it provided a warm soothing feeling. The multitude of scratches and bite marks began to slowly close and heal. “Quart’s healing rain! We might have a chance,” he thought to himself. Looking briefly at Dreck, he could see that he too realized Quart was healing them. They began to attack with renewed vigor. Bolts of water would occasionally fly over their heads, hitting rats that were out of melee range.
After what felt like an eternity, the final rat lay defeated, joining the countless others that littered the sewer floor. Over a hundred carcasses bore witness to their hard-fought victory. Exhausted, Rygic, Dreck, and Quart downed the last remnants of their low-grade healing potions, their chests heaving with fatigue and exhilaration. Thankfully, Trella was never near enough to steal Rygic and Dreck’s potions, so they were able to share what they had with Quart as well. Rygic was acutely aware that they had narrowly escaped disaster. Had there been twenty or thirty more to swarm them, the outcome may have been a bit different.
“I am so sorry guys,” lamented Quart, his face full of regret.
“Sorry? How is it your fault that those two tricked us?" Dreck asked. His voice suggested the idea was preposterous.
Quart shifted his weight and scratched the back of his head. “I... I was too smitten to notice Trella’s true intentions. I should have been more cautious like you were, Dreck,” he admitted.
“Nonsense, Quart. Even if we were wary, we still grouped with them. It is as much our fault as it was yours. Maybe even more so since we didn’t fully trust them to begin with,” stated Rygic.
“I agree with Rygic, Quart. They tricked us good. I promise you; they will get some payback coming their way,” vowed Dreck. He sloshed his daggers around in the water, wiped them on his pant leg, and placed them back in their sheaths.
Rygic stretched a little and looked to their exit. “For now, let's get back topside. We’ll need a couple of replacements if we are to finish the quest in time,” he suggested.
“If that’s even possible at this point,” groaned Quart as they made their way back to the sewer entrance.
