Weird Tunnels

The three adventurers looked at each other before entering the weird looking cave. Almost perfectly circular, not even an even ground to walk on. For the past few weeks something has been pestering the local village and the three of them were asked to check it out. Not wanting to pass their first chance at adventuring they agreed and set out, without asking many questions. All that they knew is what George learned while getting pissed again in the tavern. The farmers told them that some fields are losing some crop, while others were completely ploughed over. One farmer even claimed that his dog vanished during a very rough night with a lot of earthquakes, but most just assumed it just ran away from him.

All three of them now looked at each other, none making any gesture to move. Then Silvya just shrugged her shoulders and stepped in, followed by Borval and then George.

Stepping through the entrance only the sunlight lit their way, yet it got not too far into the tunnel, so they lit some torches before they headed on further in. In the beginning the decline was shallow. Borval inspected the walls as best he could. Determinising that it must have been made by some kind of machine.

Slowly they explored further, until the drop increased rapidity, at which point they started to tie each other together and slowly climb down the shaft. “This must be some kind of ventilation shaft.” Borval announced in his deep voice, while holding onto an out crop.

After about twenty minutes of climbing, they finally managed to find the bottom. Yet it was less promising as they were hoping. As there was no ventilator down here, nor was there any tools or sign of live, other than a continuous rumbling all around them. George pulled out his club, while George tried to calm him. Yet Silvya was already going further into the tunnel, her torch held up high. Quickly the other two were catching up to her, bickering about who is more scared. Which was interrupted by a large cavern opening in front of them, filled with large creatures worming their way over and under each other. In the centre they saw a large nest with eggs the size of a large child. While all around them creatures left the cavern or returned. “I count at least three dozen of them.” Borval said, trying to hold onto George wanting already to charge into the nest. “Can you speak to them?” Borval asked Silvya, who just stared at them in awe. “How could they have grown so much?” she asked her self-aloud. “This is impossible, alone the physics of it doesn’t work. It cannot be an increased oxygen level, because the torches are not lit brighter than usual.” She brambles on.

“You are doing it again.” Borval said, tugging at her hand. She shook a bit, then looked at him and then smiled. “We need to find out what caused this. Or else the village won’t be rid of this nuisance.” While they were talking, George already headed to the edge, looking up at what illuminated the whole cavern and then pointed up. “What’s that?” he asked. He saw a large crystal emanating blue pulsing light. “This must be one of the ancient crystals. They’ve charged them up with magic and used them to lift whole cities of the ground.” Sylvia said not taking her eyes of the worms in front of them. “So, we found it, what now?” Borval said, starting to rummage through his backpack “Can we blow it up?”.

“We can try.” She started. “But the thing is, they must be continuously recharged, as slowly discharge their energy. I assume a worm came across one by chance and triggering it. Most likely the problem would have solved itself after some time. The question is how long it would take.”

“So, we are going to blow it up?” George asked excitedly with a big smile on his face. “Yes, we will.” Borval said, handing him a heavy pouch. Taking out a device. “Listen carefully, when you place them press this purple button... Yes, this one. NOT NOW! This will make it sticky, allowing you to place it. Then you come back. Silvya can trigger them with her spell, no need for burned butt cheeks this time.”

As soon as George returned Silvya breathed in deep. “You know the rules, if you cannot find another way, this is how we do it.” Borval said shrugging his arms. “Anyway, the bombs are planted, so it would be a shame to waste them.” Not having a good answer, Silvya turned around and cast her spells. First to slow down time and the second to ignite the fuses. Not wanting to wait for the firework, the boys already started retreating.

Not a second after the group managed to leave the tunnel, they felt the earthquake caused by the explosion. Out of breath and at their limits they jump behind the first tree in sight and dodge out of the way of the oncoming fire storm. “You did not tell me; they were magical bombs!” Silvya shouted at Borval, while George was clapping with delight. “How else did you think they magically attached by pressing a button?”

“Did you not listen to a word I told you? That crystal is full of magic, it multiplied the effect making every one of those entrances spying fire!” She continued shouting at him.

“What’s a little bit of fire over some giant worms?” Borval said with a wide grin on his face, looking back at the charred entrance of the tunnel.