14 Au, 57AD
When viewed from distance, the entrance to the caves does indeed look like a sideways mouth slashed into the lava hills. Beyond, you see the ocean and the clouds that seem to be gathering on the horizon.
The five elven scouts that are prepared to enter are ready, as is Indrian. They both greet ATACIUS warmly up to the front and allow him to take point.
Shaiman looks extremely eager to get started!
"It will be dark in a short time, so we should press on! I don't want to let Sinyr take the Elder into the caves without us being there!" he says.
(I'm assuming the following order: ATACIUS, 5 elves, Indrian, TAKASHI, Claudia, CALLIN, Angon, Almanin, Shaiman, GRAIAN, BELLESH, CYNRIC, 5 elves)
It is indeed a very tight squeeze!
The tunnel twists and bends, with some areas requiring you go onto your hands/knees and other areas requiring you climb a bit to squeeze through! For the benefit of the humans, torches have been lit at various times.
At odd times, you hear a very faint rumble. Other times, you catch a sulferous odor in the air.
It feels like hours pass (only 12 turns) when you come to a small cavern. The walls are damp and you can smell faint odors of ocean water. The floor is dangerous, with loose rocks and boulders all over that will make passage difficult.
Ahead of you (we'll call it North only for direction purposes...), on the far end of the floor, you see that the walls become cliffs with two distinct openings beyond, to the left and right.
What will you do?