Go to the gnome tunnels

You study your map carefully and realize that the entrance to the gnome tunnels are close to your present location! You climb down from the tree and decide to search for what you believe will be a direct route to the mountains under the muck of the swamp.

The entrance to the tunnels is located in a slightly elevated area, and you spend an hour searching among the downed trees, rock piles and grassy mounds. Finally, concealed by a thicket, you notice an iron lid with gnomic engravings. You are surprised when it is easy to pull open, and wonder if someone else had recently paid a visit.

You bend down and peer into the portal, which is much smaller than you expected! Undaunted, you push your bow ahead of you and wriggle in head-first. The air is cool and earthy, with a vague smell of decay. As you crawl downwards, claustrophobia begins to set in and you hope the tunnel opens up soon. Your large breasts drag along the bottom of the tunnel, and your progress halts when the front of your tunic catches on something. You are unable to maneuver back the way you came, so in growing panic you launch yourself forward. The tunic remains snagged, however; you hear a tearing sound, and feel your breasts tumble forth from the confinement and come to a rest on the cold clay.

Happily, your efforts are rewarded as the tunnel expands sufficiently to allow you to crawl, and finally even walk. You think you notice light ahead, and as you proceed you discover eerily glowing lichens coating the walls, roof and floor of the tunnel. Soon they are of sufficient quantity so as to allow you to inspect the damage done; the tunic hangs in tatters, torn to your belly button and leaving your fabulous breasts hanging free and thankfully unharmed. You notice the sheen of sweat on your chest, and realize it is not only from exertion but from the humidity, as the air is now warm.

You have now discovered what you believe is the tunnel system proper, as the tunnel is no longer earthen but constructed of stone masonry. Although no doubt roomy for a gnome, you walk slightly hunched, as the ceiling is a few inches shorter than you are. The tunnel now intersects with another, running left and right.

To your left, the tunnel curves gently to the left, and you can hear a clanking sound as if some machinery is at work in the distance. To the right there is no sound or light, but the tunnel has an odd smoothness as though scoured clean of moisture and the luminous lichens.

Directly forward you can see a strange bluish light in the distance that looks different from the ubiquitous lichens. You can also see a side-tunnel branch almost immediately, sloping steeply downward.