A traveller who wishes to make his or her way to the Sunless Sea should travel to the caverns stalked by the Destroying Angel (07.06). Here, the traveller must identify which of the river’s forks leads downwards; the others pool in stagnant lakes polluted by the Angel’s droppings.
The right passage is always marked, but never in the same way and not always in a manner perceptible to the eye.
The correct passage, the Winnowing, is a combination of rapids where the glassy rocks jut out of the water – sharp edges seemingly always oriented towards approaching boats – and long, slow-moving stretches where dwell albino crocodiles, large phosphorescent squid and nests of stirges.
Sound and light will disturb the crocodiles and squid, but if travellers make no sound and cast no light these aquatic predators will show only tremendous curiosity – nudging the boat, exploring its contents with their tentacles or pushing their snouts over the side to sniff the smell of the surface.
The stirges, however, will waste no time in latching onto the intruders. Since it is rare that any traveller passes by, the maladies from previous victims that they pass on may be strange indeed.
The fish in this river are fat and lazy, which explains the amiability of the predators.
Connection:
- This this the continuation of the caverns of the Destroying Angel (07.06).
Hooks:
- Who makes the markings?
- What infections do the stirges have?
