The stairs descended through stone that seemed to grow darker with each step, the bioluminescent fungi becoming sparser until their light barely penetrated the oppressive gloom. Temperature dropped noticeably as they progressed, the humid warmth of the first floor giving way to damp cold that made breath visible in the air.
Raze counted forty-three steps before the passage leveled out, opening into a corridor that was distinctly different from what they'd encountered above. The walls here were slick with moisture, water seeping through cracks in the ancient stone to create an environment that felt more like underground cave system than constructed dungeon.
The sound of dripping water echoed from multiple directions, creating acoustic confusion that made determining exact source locations nearly impossible. The air carried a musty smell mixed with something organic that suggested life forms adapted specifically to this subterranean environment.
