Quote:
Investigate where the trapdoor may lead!
While open, the trapdoor is hardly inviting. A crude darkness looms out at you from the gaping mouth of the tunnel down under the floorboards of the Assembly.
Clambering down the access ladder, you shortly reach the packed earth floor of the tunnel. In the dusty confines of the space, you are provided just enough sunlight from the trapdoor above to make out two details: unlabeled paths branching north and south from your present location, and a cleared pattern in the dust on the floor. Bending down to take a better look, you are just able to discern what look like faint footprints in the dust.
Almost as if someone else had been passing through this unused storage tunnel not long before you.
You take the path headed in a roughly southward direction – that is the way, after all, to the Library. After a short, cramped, and increasingly humid walk, a blank stone wall looms up before you. You have apparently reached the end of this section of tunnel – and, with it, a new ladder set into the wall, stretching upwards.
Peering around the alcove, your eye catches a dim flash of colour. A closer inspection reveals a curling, yellowing scrap of parchment nailed to the wall near the ladder. In faded ink is written a single word, ‘LIBRARY’, along with a spiky arrow directing the inquisitive adventurer upwards along the ladder.
Well, that was easy. You begin your climb; as you’re only a few meters below the floorboards, it takes little time. You reach the top of the ladder and are greeted with another trapdoor, this one closed. As you are about to heave it open, however, you catch the muttering of voices floating through the floor.
Strange. The Library door was presumably still locked; otherwise you wouldn’t be down here sweating in near-darkness. So who was inside?
Pressing your ear against the door, you make out the occasional word in what appears to be a conversation.
Recent … Assembly … fools … instability … must … That was a male voice you hadn’t heard before, though the tone was obvious; contempt and frustration seemed to be dripping from the man’s speech.
Efforts … failed … blasted … Enciane … A new voice; this one was higher, more clearly angry. You realize they must be discussing Member of the Assembly Pyre Enciane; the man had caused quite a ruckus by revealing himself to be involved in some sort of attempt at foreign interference in the election. Mathson and the Guard were keeping a tight lid on information as was usual - though as a member of the Labourer’s Council, you have been privy to information suggesting that this was part of some sort of effort across the south-east of the Empire. But what connection had these men with Enciane, to speak of him in such furious tones?
Soon … action … solution … support … military … cut off … isolate … indisputable. With a start, you recognize the unmistakable tones of Minister Thomas Stoutwell: your fellow on the Labourer’s Council and candidate for the Ministership! What was his place in this meeting of sorts, and what was the meaning behind his words?
Arms growing numb from clinging to the old ladder, you descend as quietly as possible to the floor of the tunnel. Crouching there in the darkness, you ponder the startling snatches of the conversation upstairs you have just overheard.
Clearly, great contempt for and anger and frustration with the Assembly, and perhaps with the current electoral process as well.
Some sort of strange connection with Enciane, and apparent references to a kind of effort that failed. You would guess that the two are related, and that whatever plans these men had fell through due to, or because of him – the anger in regards to Enciane was palpable.
Finally, the most intriguing and least clear: Stoutwell himself, making reference to some sort of actions, no doubt soon to be taking place, which these men were apparently convinced would serve as a solution to just whatever it was that was bothering them. The number of ominous references in Stoutwell’s words does nothing to comfort you about just what these actions might be.
One thing you do realize: it would not be wise to continue up through that trapdoor and poke your head up into the middle of this melting pot of anger and scheming.
Still, you do need that file. And it would be best to gain access to the Library one way of another – ideally, of course, without letting the men inside know of your eavesdropping.
That would likely discount the windows and skylight - it can't be obvious that you're attempting to gain access lest you rouse these men's suspicions.
Returning to the surface in short order, you stand once again before the door of the library.
How do you open the door?
