The towns of Delarmir, Gobbleham, and Rockface all rest within an area having many veins of bituminous coal. Despite the black gold buried in the ground beneath them, the resource is not exploited on a large scale as the many bogs and marshes of the area have a tendency to cause deadly cave-ins and fill mineshafts with swamp water.
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Down, down, down the adventurous goblins descended into the darkness. Although it wasn't really all that dark for them as they could see rather well in the inky blackness.
“Okay! Let's go find the Toad!” Bloogan cried, jumping into action and starting down the tunnel.
They walked down the ancient streets, following the tunnel before them. The walls were built of rough cut stone, but in many places brick showed where the exteriors of the old town’s houses made up the walls. It was quiet, eerily quiet, as they trekked on deeper into the old underground town.
Everything was bleak, until tiny rays of light came into view. As they grew closer slim shadows danced on the stone walls, ancient street lamps with their tops broken and full of burning coal provided an unnatural light. It was eerie, spooky even, as the odd lighting showed the old town around them. They could see the cracked broken cobblestones they walked upon, the dwellings of peoples past, and the signs that suggested some of them to be dwellings still...
“WHOO GOES THERE?!?!” Suddenly shouted a shrill and ugly voice.
“AAAHHH!” The goblin brothers all screamed in unison as the owner of the ugly voice stepped into view.
And yes, the grotesque figure was just as ugly as the voice. Stepping out of the shadows an old crone raised a gnarled and warty finger, viciously pointing it at our young heroes.
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“WHO GOES THERE?!” She shouted, earning another yell from the goblins.
“We’re right next to you! You don’t have to yell!” Hoogan exclaimed in annoyance.
“Oh fine, I suppose yur young ears hear bett’r than mine. Now, who goes there?!”
Bleegan stepped forward, stuttering and saying “w-we don't mean any harm, we were just p-passing through to the-” but he was cut off as she shrieked again.
“OH BY GELNOSHES TWISTED TONGUE! I DON'T CARE WHERE YOU ARE GOING! I WANT TO KNOW WHO YOU ARE!!!”
The goblins reeled back, completely taken aback.
“We are Heegan, Bleegan, Hoogan, and Bloogan of Gobbleham! Who are you!?” Hoogan cried, regaining his wits and ability to speak.
The old crone raised her chin at an odd angle, glaring at them sideways while motioning to the ruins around them. Homes and dwellings made from the ruins of the old town's houses and apartments were now apparent, as well as the unsavoury figures that had claimed them. Bandits, the homeless and invalid, thieves and other lawless persons, an odd gnome or two, were those who made the UnderTown their home.
A miserable place to be; probably full of sweat, blood, tears, alcohol and regrets. The old crone's grotesque form fit right in.
“I am here, and you are there. Welcome down to UnderTown!” She giggled and almost sang her response, though she wasn't very good; probably too low of a key for her. “What brings you down here, young ones? This is no place of joy and happiness.”
Bloogan piped up, blurting out their quest. “Ooh! We’re searching for the Toad of, well…." He shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly. "This place.”
The crone laughed and giggled, motioning for them to follow her. “Oh! Him! Come, come! He lives just around the corner of our Main Street, on Mucky Boulevarde about a block down just before the actual block.”
She led them to what was probably the "town square" and pointed them down "Mucky Boulevarde" before stopping.
"I go no furth'r, but if the Toad is who ye seek then down there go and speak," she rhymed, giving the goblins a gap toothed grin.
After thanking the woman for the directions, they hurried along their way; not wanting to stick around and ask anymore questions.