Break down the wallYou had barely removed the first stone as a cloud of miasma burst out of the breach! Dropping the pick, you jumped away.
- Strange, - Kastar said, - passage was sealed long ago and there is just nothing inside to rot.
You stand and stare at miasma. Your actions?
- Hey, what’s that stink? - Kastar asked.
- Some mouldy stuff. Something big must have died in there.
- Maybe you could go back and take another sniff?
- Go sniff it yourself, - you scowled.
The sun had almost disappeared, it was getting dark quickly. A gentle breeze started blowing.
Not willing to linger, you decided to explore the place anyway. Kastar came closer to the walled up passage, kicked the block and only managed to mumble a few words like "what the hell" when something exploded behind the wall and the wall shattered - dismembering Kastar and flinging you away.
Well, fucked up now! - You thought, waking up a few minutes later and seeing the scattered remains of Kastar.
Some alchemical trap triggered and tore the poor dwarf to shreds. You examined and checked yourself - praise to Armok, everything was in place. Out of the hole smoke poured and stench oozed. You had no desire to keep examining the entrance, as there still might be many traps.
However, it was getting dark.
Breathing deeply from the stress, you sat down near the wall on the floor ... Tossing around gathered meat of Kastar, being in an excellent mood, you're humming a strange tune and try to catch all the reflections of light on this dance floor.
The bad news (not counting your companion's death) - all the food is gone. It was in Kastar's bag, of which little is left. The good news is that Kastar didn't try to haul your backpack too, so it's intact. Soon the sun will set, stomach is empty, you have not eaten since noon. Remains of Kastar irresistibly attract your eyes. Hunger is struggling with conscience and morality. The nearest shelter is miles and miles away, but at night you can easily become a victim of bugimen. Passage Opened by unlucky Kastar heavily unnerved you - who knows what else can be expected after such a beginning? You have decided to think - what would Likot do? Grunting, you began to collect the most undamaged bits of meat. Suddenly, a small voice from behind came:
- Whatcha doin, fella?
You turned around - a kobold! A leather helmet, beady eyes and dark blue pants with white stripes on the trouser legs. Standing up to your waist, but armed with a real bone spear (while yours was lying about three meters away), it was looking up at you in the most insolent manner.
In your head suddenly inner voice sounded: "In any unclear situation do what Likot would!"
- Okay, - said softly you.
- Wha " 'kay"? - in brash tone Kobold asked - Hey, who ya to ...
He was interrupted by a blow in the face with meat! Without hesitation, you kicked him in the head, knocking away a front tooth. Spear and cap fell next, and while small one was unconscious, you equipped with dropped loot. Kobold finally regained consciousness and cringed in terror on the ground, and you pressed him down with your foot and looked very stern:
- I am the danger! I am the one who knocks on the door!
The Kobold rolled his eyes:
- Wha dang do'r?
- Shut up! I'm glad you finally came, I was waiting for you ...
- Whaaaaaa?
- How many of you are there? And where did you pop out of anyways?
- Aw - ah was jus' rounda cornah, takin a piss when BOOM! Den ah took a shit too. Came to have a look, an' here y'are ... Ain't no one wid me, ahm an adventurah...
- Name! - Threatened you with a spear.
- NUUUUX! Mah name's Nux ... no crap ...
- Well, then, Nux - you said, still in character - You were looking for adventures? You found them. Take off your pants and get into that hole.
- You fnofed me toof owff, bitf!
- Just one? Oh I'm so sorry... Let's get the rest of ‘em!
- No-no, nuff, really! Ah only came to afffk!
- Take off your pants!
- Why fants?
- I’m taking them as collateral.
- Ah ain’ff gonna wwwun away, hew!
- Come on - You shook your spear menacingly.
The Kobold pulled the pants off and handed them to you.
- Now go.
- Hew, I don't wanna go in wwweah!
- And your desire is not required - you grabbed litlle brat by the leg and having dragged him up to the passage, threw him right in.
He rolled a bit and stopped at the edge of the stairway.
The light was now dim enough to turn on your dwarven vision.
- Uh heafff me? - the Kobold squeaked, -You bettah look at wiss...
- Well, what is it? - You called out - Bring it here!
- Ah ... Ah canna do. Thh affa boffom.
- What is it down there?
- Look, ah canna say. It. A cweatcha.
- Living?
- Lookf like.
You held on to the spear and went to have a look. The Kobold was not lying, inside there was a fire burning, throwing a dim flickering light on the arches and columns. You cautiously approached the spot where Nux was standing. A giant gray skinless humanoid chameleon was sitting in a chair. It was smoking a pipe, writing something in a thick tome, dipping the pen in the ink, and humming a melody to itself, not noticing you. The stench inside was terrible, and this creature seemed to be the source of it.