The path chosen by Zevriel seems safe this time... our heroes manage to turn - and realize that the system of corridors eventually leads to a door. A solid wooden door reinforced with iron, which is unfortunately locked.

Zevriel runs a hand along the iron-banded planks and lets out a small sigh. “Locked solid. I didn’t pack any picks.” He looks back at the group, shrugging. “If anyone’s got thieves’ tools, I can give it a go—might get lucky with the tumblers. If not, this is a dead end, and we head back the dragon way after another little prayer for breathing.”

He steps aside so any would-be lock-picker can work, keeping his twinblade ready and eyes on the corridor behind them.

Tarysaa gives a negative shake of her head, "I carry no lock tools.  And I fear, the one spell that might be of use is not one of those I have memorized for use.  I would need another full rest before I could attempt to use it.  I could try burning the door though, as stout as it appears,  that could take hours upon hours."

She looks about intently, "It appears our choices are dwindling rapidly."

The party choices appear to dwindle rapidly, so our heroes head back the dragon way after another little prayer for breathing. Comforted by the benevolent feeling of Eldath's protection, it is easy to reach the room again with the Permanent Teleportation Circle.

There are two unexplored paths for now... Either the door opposite the one of the room where the witch had taken up residence [[ OOC : labeled '1?' ]] or the wide corridor that is in the southernmost section of the east wall [[ OOC : labeled '2?' ]]

Zevriel rubs the back of his neck, glancing up toward the ruined section of ceiling over Nesurentul’s chamber.

“We still haven’t looked at what’s up above the dragon—or over the hag’s old room,” he says, voice plain and steady. “Could be a way around, or another nasty surprise waiting to drop on us.”

He nods in the direction of the amethyst-scaled dragon. “Best we ask first. No point poking about overhead if it bothers him.”

Turning to Elias and the others, he adds, “Let’s speak to Nesurentul, get leave to swim up through that break. We clear what’s above—then we know our backs are safe before we push deeper.”

With that, Zevriel heads toward the dragon’s lair, ready to make a courteous request.

Nesurentul seems absorbed as usual - probably perfecting the appropriate strategy to eliminate the residual seeds of the Far Realm threat from the Keep's underground - but noticing the heroes' arrival, he is ready to approach and, extending his horns towards them, welcomes them: "Welcome back. Are you having success in your quest? And have you by any chance located influences from the Far Realm?"

Zevriel gives the dragon a respectful nod. “We ran into three big fish-folk—Merrow,” he says. “Mean sorts. Not sure if they’re Far Realm trouble, but they felt wrong enough. We dealt with ’em.”

He points upward toward the break in the ceiling. “Want to check what’s above your hall, just in case something’s hiding up there and drops on us later. Mind if we swim up and look? Won’t touch anything that’s yours.” A thought strikes him, and he adds, “There’s a barred room west of here—pile of coins inside. That part of your hoard? If it’s not, we might use the coin for supplies.” He waits quietly, letting the dragon judge.

Sensing that the influences he cares about have not been identified, the dragon seems to lose interest for the most part.

"Oh, go ahead, explore above," he concedes absently. "Almost no one ever comes from there... Only once has one of the Lords From Below come down, to... get acquainted - and make a non-aggression pact with me."

"And I have no hoard," Nesurentul concludes, no less absently. "I haven't had time to concern myself with it, to accumulate it... who would, when there's this threat from the Far Realm to be thwarted? If you find material riches, take them; I claim no rights to them."

Zevriel nods his thanks, then kicks upward through the gap where loose stone and timber fell long ago. He keeps his twinblade close, ready to dart aside if anything lunges.

(Takes the dodge action)

Zevriel emerges in the middle of a room (in which obviously a good part of the floor (starting from the entrance corridor) has collapsed.

A newly constructed 3'-tall small wall has been erected around the perimeter of the collapse within the room, preventing the rest of the room from flooding. On that still intact part of the floor, there is an elegant single canopy bed, at the foot of which is a locked chest.

A half-elf dressed soberly, but with taste and elegance (perhaps a legacy of his elven half?) is sitting on the bed and turns at the sound of the small splash of water caused by the adventurer's emergence. His penetrating and curious gaze fixes on him: "I wasn't expecting visitors. Least of all from that direction. Did Nesurentul send you?"

Meanwhile, the other members of the party also emerge and the half-elf relaxes partially and smiles at the sight of Mival: "Oh, Blossom. It's been many hours since we saw you. We were beginning to think you had left us".

"Indeed, it is so Mekkunod" the hero doppelganger admits, apparently a little embarrassed. "I... feel that this is the right decision for me. Of course I will not forget that you welcomed me as soon as I introduced myself and I will always be grateful to you for that. I will not do or say anything that could harm you".

Mival then explains to the rest of the party: "This is Mekkunod, the Ambassador of the Lords From Below. Since this is his private room, I did not know that the passage would lead us here. If we want to ask or negotiate something..." he looks into the eyes of the other party members (it is clear that he is thinking of possible negotiations for the release of Thetis - the 'forced receptionist Nereid') "we have undoubtedly found the most suitable Lord From Below. If not... we can as well swim back down - no threats will come to us from here, since we are not enemies of the Lords From Below".

Zevriel shifts his grip on the twinblade, easing the tip toward the floor so it’s less threatening. He gives Mekkunod a small nod—a plain, honest gesture of respect. “Sorry we dropped in,” he says, words simple and direct. “Didn’t know this room was here. We came up through the hole over the dragon’s place, just checking what’s above before we go deeper.”

He jerks a thumb westward, toward the direction that should line up with the hag’s collapsed ceiling. “What’s that way? Don’t want to barge into another private spot or spring more traps by accident. A map—or just a warning—would help us stay out of folk’s rooms.” Zev glances to Mival, then back to Mekkunod. “If there’s places off-limits, just say. We’ll steer clear.”

(Zevriel knows nothing about Thetis and simply doesn't make the connection.)

[[ OOC: Yes, let's see whether Tarysaa wishes to say something about that or not. ]]

"West?" Mekkunod is quick to answer "There are the chambers of other Lords From Below, as Blossom knows well..."

And Mival confirms: "Yes, I couldn't orient myself from below, but seeing from here... further west is the chamber I shared with my father and another. And even further west is a chamber occupied by other Doppelgangers. This area is the real lair of the Lords From Below".

"Since I was one of them," the Doppelganger hero ponders "if you want I can show you that area, under the pretext of greeting them before taking final leave... but it is clear that, after this, they will not like to be disturbed in their lair without reason" he turns his gaze to Mekkunod, who nods in approval "and if we have to deal (or discuss something) with them, the one who speaks on their behalf is already here, it is Mekkunod himself".

Tarysaa says little other than an elvish formal greeting to Mekkunod.   She gives a formal bow and says, "Elen sila lumenn' omentielvo"

Hearing the Harpells' envoy say in elvish 'a star shines on the hour of our meeting', Mekkunod slowly focuses his attention on her, then after a while he smiles: "Of course! This is a fortunate meeting. And there will always be a star shining on our meetings, especially if... you keep us a secret. You know, it could be so destabilizing for the balance of this area, if word spreads that Doppelgangers are nesting here... Many zealots would automatically think that we are ill-intentioned. That we are just dangerous monsters to be exterminated. Perhaps expeditions would be organized against us. Both in the hamlet and in the dungeon there would be worry, blood, death... and for what? We just want to be left in peace".

In any case, the party has been granted permission to visit the other chambers of the lair (with the excuse of Mival taking leave of the other Lords From Below). So, when our heroes consider the conversation over, they can decide whether to take advantage of this opportunity, or dive back into the waters.

Zevriel gives Mekkunod a polite nod, then turns to Mival. “If you want to say your farewells, do it,” he says, tone straightforward. “I’m not one for poking around folks’ rooms. A few of us can wait below.” He looks to the others. “Anyone curious can go with Mival. The rest of us swim back down, touch the shrine for another breath spell, and meet up at the circle room when we’re done.”

Zev shoulders his pack, ready either to follow or head back. “No rush. We’ll guard the way till you return.” On the way back to the portal room, Zevriel plans to pay a visit to the chamber NW of the dragon (location 1 on an earlier map). He checks carefully for traps first, before opening the door. 

"We Doppelgangers are not an overly sentimental species" Mival explains to Zevriel. "What I was proposing was a pretext - in case you wanted to explore here too. Since that is not the case, I am coming directly with you."

And so it is that it is with the full party that Zevriel approaches the door that 'defends' the small ownerless hoard. The door used to be reinforced with metal studs, but it is now completely rotted. A couple of fist-sized holes can be peeked through, so even though it is locked, it should take very little effort to break it down.

[[ OOC: I'd need a Perception check and an Investigation check from Zevriel... assuming that, if he doesn't detect anything suspicious, he also wants to break down the door, let's also roll a Strength check in advance. So I'll have all the rolls I might need to narrate what happens. ]]

Perception: 22, 14 if in dim light
Investigation: 12
Strength: 16 (+2 if Athletics proficiency factors in)

Zevriel doesn't detect any traps from the outside and with just a well-placed kick he shatters the door ruined by water and time.

No threats appear inside either... so... time to get closer to the coins and loot?

Zevriel edges through the broken doorway first, dagger loose in his grip. The water in here is still, save for the ripple his boots make. He turns a slow circle, eyes sweeping corners and ceiling—a last check for anything waiting to drop, scuttle, or bite.

If nothing stirs:

He relaxes a fraction, tucking the dagger back. “Looks clear,” he says over his shoulder, voice low but calm. “Come have a look.”

Zev kneels by the scattered coins, running a hand through them just enough to let silver and copper chink together. Yet his real focus is the floor, the cracks between stones, the dark silt at the edge of the pile. “Keep an eye out for a thick gold band—two R’s inside,” he reminds, brushing debris aside. “Ring might’ve rolled off or got kicked under something.”

He works methodically—no fancy search patterns, just steady patience—happy to let the sharper minds tally the treasure while he hunts for that wedding ring among the forgotten loot.

Zevriel, reassured by not having spotted any threats, kneels by the scattered coins, running a hand through them just enough to let silver and copper chink together... and that's when the pile of coins begins to move and swarms him!

In fact, now the true nature of the coins is revealed: they are actually beetle-like creatures that, through some feat of natural adaptation or alchemical ingenuity, have taken on an appearance that makes them mistaken for gold coins!

Emitting a glittering metallic dust from their wings, the little creatures try to bite...