Leaving Wonderland

DAY FOURTEEN (December 12th), 8:06 am

 

Those amongst the adventuring company who are cognizant of their surroundings gather the others and lead them away from the Tea Party (but not before Korbin manages to steal a couple handfuls of silverware).  Shadow leads the group through the White Rabbit’s house toward the burrow opening in the back yard.

As he crouches to duck beneath the lintel of the front door, Raven glances back and sees that the table he split in half has either been repaired or mended itself and that the tea party continues unabated.  He shakes his head ruefully, glad to finally be leaving this land behind.

One by one, the adventurers squeeze through the burrow opening and find themselves inside a low-ceilinged tunnel with squared off walls.  Wooden beams and rafters support the earth all around and a diffuse glow from somewhere up ahead provides enough light for everyone to see by.  After several minutes of duck-walking, the group enters a large cavern with a high-domed ceiling of packed dirt.  Roots protrude from the cave roof and a knee-high pile of ash leaves lay on the ground near the center of the chamber.  The party makes its way over to the leaf pile and looks up, noticing a small hole in the center of the top of the dome.

 

As they step beneath the opening and look up at the tunnel above them, they begin to rise.  They float upwards for several minutes, passing by shelves laden with jams, jellies and orange marmalade, bookshelves and cupboards and here and there are maps and pictures hung upon pegs.  Eventually, this gives way to a simple earthen tunnel with exposed roots and openings for animal burrows and then finally, the earth gives way to a brick-lined well that opens into another large underground cavern.  The roots of a massive tree loom overhead.  A tall man stands at the edge of the well.  He extends one hand, offering to help as each party member climbs over the lip of the well.  The man is the personification of male beauty; six and one-half feet tall, well-muscled without appearing disproportionate with oiled, shoulder length black hair.  His blue eyes gleam merrily and his mouth splits into a wide smile.  Once everyone has climbed free, he speaks in a smooth baritone, “The All-Father said you would arrive on the Third Day.  Come, the battle is joined.  I, Baldur the Brave, shall explain on the way.”