49

The worms defeated and Tarquin thoroughly slimed, the three of you press on deeper into the tunnels that criss-cross the upper levels of the catacombs. The floor is still sticky and the walls covered in the trails of ooze the worms have left behind, but it’s not as though you can get much filthier than you already are.

Every so often, you come across a gelatinous corpse—mostly smugglers, occasionally darkspawn, and probably one or two errant wanderers who lost their way and fell victim to the worms. Although Ashur and Tarquin tentatively examine every corpse, none of them seems likely to hold any information that could lead you to Neve.

Eventually, you start recognizing the slimy walls you’re passing and the high-ceilinged chamber that greeted you at the catacombs’ entrance.

“I think we’re going around in circles,” you say.

“I agree,” says Ashur. “I think we’ve been everywhere we can go up here.”

Tarquin says, with some bitterness, “Glad we came.”

You sigh, already weary. “I guess we’ll just have to search somewhere else.”

• To go down into the lower levels, turn to page 50.
• To leave the catacombs, turn to page 53.