Opening the door rebeals a hallway that clearly circles back to the room of pillars. It also brannches northward.

(Sorry about the delay for a weak update! Ive been road-tripping. Finally landed someplace and got a moment's peace. SHould be back to normal for a bit, barring any interruptions from Hurricane Dorian.)

Titus suggests they continue on this path and carefully steps into the corridor. He has his shield at the ready, as he takes the turn with military precision. 

Morph nods to Titus,

"Right, lead the way, we are right behind you."

The group creeps northward, coming to a T-intersection witha passage heading west and another heading east.

(FYI - I will be at Hollywood studios all day today. I probably won't post until tomorrow morning. We should still have power tomorrow. No promises on the day after that!)

Morph looks back into the room, remembering Joy and the painted line, and directs her to connect the line from the previous corridor, north into the secret room and out the west door, to end just south of the groups new position.

Morph then keeps an eye out for anything coming from the south, while his friends assess the new passages.

(Did I see/hear anything from inspecting the grates?)

Laniel says, "Let's try going west." He points down the corridor into the darkness.

(Oh, sorry. The grates: They are small enough that someone Tiny could fit inside, if they could be pried off. The distant, garbled sounds of voices that sound like a busy market filter through the grates, as does a little fresh air.)

"This looks like it leads back to the intersection Midnight found to the south where he saw something moving.  Do we think we should check that out first?"

(If it sounds like the market and fresh air, Rethan will leave it for now, figuring it leads back tot he surface)

Titus nods to Rethan "I too think we should explore the area Midnight was stalking around. If we can confirm its one big loop we'll be led back this way soon anyhow."

Entering the diamond-shaped room, the group finds it filled with pillars. The skeleton of a constrictor snake is ccoiled around the top of the northernmost pillar. The words “Certain death this way!” are carved in Common on the southeast wall, with an arrow pointing toward the southern exit.

Morph looks at the words and the arrow and turns to the others,

"Well I'm fine with not taking the southern passage, if we don't need too."

Morph looks around the room, checking the passages south and west, as best he can from the stairs, lifting his lighted rob to see.

"Yah...." Rethan agrees. "I vote we go another way after all."

To the south is a long passage enveloped in darkness. Nothing moves, as far ass Morph can tell. To the west is a passage that has niches on the north and south walls. Inside this room of pillars, Morph notices that the base of one pillar has a loose tile. It is at this time that the unseen servant disappears.

Titus holds his shield at the ready and slowly advances into the western passage. 

 "Oop, looks like Joy is done, let me just bring her back real quick..."

Morph recasts Unseen Servant (as a ritual), to bring back Joy and get her painting the continuation of the line, down into the lower cross roads and then up the stairs to the west passage, behind our group.

(Let me know, if I'm assuming the wrong western passage.)

"Oh Titus, lookout for that tile over there."

Morph points out the loose tile that he just remembered he noticed before Joy disappeared.

"It could be nothing, but this is Undermountain...better to be careful down here."

If/when the group gets close to the tile, Morph will check it over, without touching it, to see if he thinks it might be a trap or a secret or just a loose tile.

Investigation check: 20

Investigating the loose tile, Morph finds it is not trapped. Nor is it a mere loose tile. It appears to be a small door, which he cautiously opens. Inside, he finds nothing. Whatever was once stored in here has long been retrieved by some other person or creature.

Laniel stands peering into the darkness. "Whatever lies south will always be at our backs," he says. "Perhaps we should just go confront it now."