h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

At your command, my King.

...Although I would rather have travelled through the forest.

Oh don't worry, we shall, we can't travel the entire way through the tunnels....

I'm coming down there too...

Oh good

*Lady Anne heads down into the tunnel, still shivering a little. She sees the light given off by the torch, and slides down into the semi-darkness.*
Which way shall we travel? The breeze seems to be coming from that direction... *points off to the left, and stops mid-sentence* That was a breeze, wasn't it? *Her features become shadowed with a nameless fear*

A breeze? Of course it was...probably...

So let us then head off in this direction then, for 'twill lead us near by where we needs must go...

Look! There are sconces mounted along the walls of that tunnel with old torches in them...we can light them as we go. That breeze is either coming from the center of the earth or from an opening somewhere ahead.
*as the party moves down the tunnel they hear a rumbling,followed by muffled laughter behind them*

I've got a bad feeling about this...

*whistles*

*in the shadows behind them, the adventurers see several gnomes. They are short and rather fat, dressed in bright colours and high boots. A gnome with a long white beard steps forward and clears his throat*
We haven't had visitors down here for several generations. Have you come to mine for gold or follow the tunnels to the ruins?

Greetings again, good sir gnome. We come here to travel, for these folk have yet to experience the power of the ruins, and all are stout-hearted people with the purest desire to learn whereof such force is manifest.

*the gnome bows to the King and hands him a small leather pouch containing rune stones and several large crystals wrapped with gold wire*
The rune stones will answer SOME of your questions if you cast them in the light of the full moon. The crystals will contain and hold dark power for a short period of time if you are attacked...beware the confusion and anger that you will feel as you are approaching the dark power.
Good luck! We will try to help if we can!

*returns the bow*
Thank you good gnome, we may have need of these ere we draw closer to the ruins. Come ye all now, it is time for the journey to begin anew, as we strike out through the tunnels towards our destination.

Mind you, if we never go anywhere we won't *hands them back to the gnome* Well, that's enough of *that* then!

*wanders back out of the tunnels and into the River Lodge*