Fifty feet to the northeast our heroes discover a major six-way intersection in the dungeon architecture. At the center of the intersection, like the hub of a wheel, is a deep natural well that is the source of the wet, rhythmic sucking and blowing sounds. The cavern floor is carpeted with a greenish-black layer, like creosote or lichen, that is dry and crunchy underfoot. The entire area appears well worn and heavily trafficked. The ceiling is high out of sight and occasionally drips with water. Carc shies away from these water droplets and shakes his feathers if any of the moisture splashes on him. There is a faint smell to the air that none of you can quite put your finger on, kind of dank and salty.
Dougal deduces that the mystery sound is coming from
something at the bottom of the well, which (by ear) he guesstimates to be 50-100' feet deep and out of lantern light. Something
big and
squishy!
Willie notices a ring of chalk-drawings around the circumference of the well. They are old-fashioned runes, like you would draw at your front door to keep the evil spirits at bay. He can also make out the recurring phrase: "THE PIT OF INSANITY!"
Tet listens to the damp susurrations from the pit and lets his mind wander. He has a chilling thought, a memory from childhood of an older cousin who was always up to no good. The cousin went away for the summer, to a fishing town called Innsmouth, and came back a meaner bully than before. There was a song the cousin used to sing, when he thought nobody was listening, a song not in English but made of glurping and blooping syllables that made young Tet deeply uncomfortable.
The noise down the well reminds Tet of his cousin's song!
Dame Simonetta has an ear for languages and could understand this one
if she chooses. However, she knows that this is a special type of language, a
Mythos language, and understanding it is not compatible with a completely sane worldview. If Dame Simonetta chooses to learn the language of Innsmouth then she would still be Lawful and in full, rational control of her actions, but she would also become the first party member to join a special club. She would still be a member good standing of Adventure Club, but then she would
also be a fledgling member of Mythos Club. Decisions, decisions...
Dougal and
Willie may also choose to learn Innsmouth Mouth and join the Mythos Club, having passed their Int check and with unclaimed language slots.
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