One by one, as Stroud and his adventurers were lowered into the Hole, the light slowly disappeared above them.
The voices of those at the surface grew fainter until only the creaking of the rope remained.
Then came the darkness.
The first level of the Mountain Down Under greeted them with cold stone, stale air, and the distant sound of dripping water. Their footsteps echoed through abandoned tunnels and crumbling chambers. Here and there, they found signs of previous travelers—old footprints, broken crates, and the occasional discarded weapon.
This was the shallowest region beneath Davos. This level consisted mostly of natural caverns, abandoned mines, old tunnels, and collapsed ruins. There were numerous passages leading back toward the surface.
Goblins, kobolds, and other Mana Core-level beasts inhabited this area. The adventurers made quick work of the monsters on this level. The deeper they went, the quieter it became.
