Visions

We reached the end of the corridor through an ornate archway into a chamber of worked stone 60 feet square. An identical arch, sculpted as though angelic figures were rising from the ground, stood in the centre of the wall opposite. Flickering torchlight, a pale azure that washed everything in a chill, sombre color rose from three braziers inset in the walls. Someone obviously kept these torches burning. Someone who was not undead.

A wide well with a low ringed wall of chiseled stone lay in the centre of the chamber, and the light from the torches reflected the stagnant water within up onto the ceiling overhead. Trailing ivy ran the length of the walls and the uneven floor was awash with runoff from the numerous cracks in the ceiling that dripped with an ominous echo all about us.

Cautiously we crept forward to examine the well. Kaith pointed out that all manner of monsters could lurk in such places. She was the first to look down into the waters. As she did she suddenly froze as if caught in a hypnotizing gaze. Before any of us could react she jerked back. He cries of "Spider, a huge spider" had us leaping to attack but she quickly explained that she had seen the spider in a vision seen from the waters below.

The grimy water in the pool swirled as though directed by something unseen beneath the surface. For an instant she saw an image of a huge, bloated spider rearing up on its legs. With a swiftness that belies its size, the spider lunged forward. As the spider drew back, she saw that a body lay in its jaws, and as its head tilted back, she saw that the body was hers, her eyes gazing lifelessly up at the cavernous ceiling overhead as the spider retreated into its webbed lair with its prize. The waters swirled once more and the vision was gone.

Curious, I thought to see for myself what the waters would show me.