85. Because I’m an Adventurer

Jason, Humphrey, and Clive regroup after failing to find an entrance to the suspected lair. Clive proposes a well-digging ritual, explaining his spell-focused gifts and Mana Equilibrium, while Humphrey outlines racial gift evolution and Clive’s blessing from the Celestial Book. Their discussion frames the team’s capabilities and risks before acting.

Clive stabilises the ambient magic and draws a ritual circle using a rune-essence ability. The spell blasts mud upward, carving a deep shaft that ends on neatly laid green-stone bricks—anomalous in saturated ground. The discovery shifts their objective from a simple recovery to investigating a hidden structure.

They debate informing the Magic Society, but decide to first locate the fallen adventurer to retain agency over the find and mitigate risk. Jason produces adventuring gear, notably acid, and bores a hole through the green-stone floor from above, avoiding immediate hazards in the shaft.

Leaving Humphrey’s familiar on watch, they descend a rope ladder into a wide, dry brick tunnel illuminated by Jason’s starlight cloak—further proof the area is sealed from the swamp. When Humphrey passes the tracking stone to Clive at the lead, it still points straight down, confirming the body lies deeper and compelling the team to continue.