We were north of Foan Castle, sailing up this river. At the end of this river was this cave, just as we had heard. Chamoro docked the ship at the mouth of the cave.
"Make sure to follow me," I said to the others as I looked at my notepad. "According to our sources, this place is a labyrinth so we can easily get lost."
"We can cast Outside if we can't find our way back," said Chamoro.
And so we went in. The corridors of this labyrinth were made of stone, with stone floors and ceilings and walls. Vines grew along the walls. I held the torch as it revealed the labyrinth.
"First go north," I said, reading what I wrote on the notepad that I carried. "At the T-intersection, go East. Turn north at the first intersection, take the next intersection to the west, and then continue south."
As we walked north along the corridor, two monsters showed up; an armored orc wilieding a chain with spiked balls on both ends, and a troll armed with a club. I cast Zap to zap these monsters, and then I made sure to use fancy footwork to avoid the orc's ball and chain before striking with my Sword of Miracles. In less than a minute these monsters were vanquished.
We soon reached the T-intersection; I looked at the compass.
"That way," I said, leading the others east. Then at the first intersection, we headed north. Reading the notepad, we headed weest on the next intersection, and continued south.
At the end of the corridor was a staircase leading down.
"I hope this is the way," said Muriel.
"Only one way to find out," I replied.
We walked along the corridor, hoping to find this gargoyle statue. Along the way, we fought monsters, such as the orcs and trolls we fought earlier, magically-animated puppets, these huge horned sheep which could put us to sleep, and giant flies. My Hustle Dance skill was very useful in healing the wounds inflicted by the enemies, while Muriel's screaming terrified the enemies and Hassan's Spirit Punch skill punched them to kingdom come.
"There it is," said Barbara.
I looked and sure enough there was the statue of the gargoyle.
I read from the notepad. "Go south from the gargoyle statue," I read. "Head along the left-hand wall at the T-intersection, and search the first corner."
Looking at my compass, I walked south from the gargoyle statue until I reached a stone wall. I then turned left, walking along the wall, until I reached the corner.
"I wonder what's here," I said, looking down on the floor. "There doesn't seem to be anything..."
I then heard a sound.
"Look," said Hassan. "Stairs.
Indeed, there was a narrow staircase leading down, so of course we went down the stairs.
We emerged in this chamber- one set of stairs led back up, another stairs led down.
I read the notepad. "Down three floors, and up two," I said. "Then the road will be made clear."
"What are we waiting for?" asked Chamoro.
We went down the staird and emerged in an identical-looking chamber; we climbed down the stairs two more times.
We then went back upstairs and climbed the stairs twice.
"This is still the same place as before," said Hassan.
"No," said Barbara. "Look over there."
There was an opening in the wall; we must have triggered a switch. On the other side of the opening was a set of stairs leading down, and down we went.
We were thern in this huge chamber with an underground pool. We left the chamber, walking through the corridor, fighting off the monsters as we went with our weapons and spells and skills.
Finally, alfter slaying two trolls, we came across this raised platform, a treasure chest sitting on top.
Opening it, I reached in and pulled out a shield with a cross emblem on it.
It was the Shield of Sufida; there was only one more legendary armament to collect.
"We got the shield," said Hassan. "Where would we go next."
"Calberona," said Barbara. "I remember now. I came from that city, and there was some disaster, and that's how I ended up in the Mirror Tower. If we go to the dream world, we can find Calberona."
"Then let's do it," I said.
Barbara cast Outside, and we were on our way.