44

Inside, the catacombs are only dimly illuminated. You’re not sure where the reddish light is coming from—some cracks in its construction, perhaps, or a blighted lichen, or a strange property of the rock itself. It’s an uncomfortable place no matter what, the air thick and musty like there’s poison in every breath.

You’ll never understand how some people casually traverse the catacombs like a secondary road network through the city. You do understand why so many of those people never emerge from the catacombs, though; every trip down is another roll of the dice and, today, it’s the three of you who are rolling.

Two tunnels lead off from the entrance chamber you’re in. To the right, one leads off to the upper levels. A weird noise echoes along its walls—a sort of oozing, scraping sound you’ve never heard before and would be happy never to hear again. To the left, the tunnel’s sloping floor leads down deeper into the catacombs, where the air is flat and silent, but the red glow deepens and seems to squirm when you look at it.

• To explore the upper levels, turn to page 45.
• To descend into the lower levels, turn to page 50.