To see the first half of Chapter 3 and see what the vote was:
click here -> https://peakd.com/spt/@tanzofett/derian-kell-chap-3-brass-and-bone

The vote tied at 3... in this instance, I will try my best to include both pathways. A warning however... when the community isn't clear, the character is in danger! Anyone who has played table-top RPGs will recognize this as: splitting the party. Dun dun dunnnn.

Special thanks to @pickletoes for the artwork!

Let's see what happens as Derian Kell pushes ahead and the Sheriff goes to gather more help.

---

The Sheriff pondered this for a moment before speaking.

"I'm not assured going in there is a good idea right now. We should go and get some help, I have some deputies I can bring." The Sheriff looked like he already knew Kell's answer.

"You go and get help, I'm going now. I need answers, and this thing is going to give them to me." Derian pointed at the grate. "Can you just... help me for a second? You know before you go?"

"You are a fool Mr. Kell." The Sheriff walked over and easily pulled the grate off and set it aside. "If you go and get yourself killed, I'll hang you myself." The Sheriff spit to the side and pointed to fingers at his eyes then at the young man. Derian laughed.

"Understood Sheriff." With that he slipped down through the opening and made his way down the ladder. The Sheriff wrinkled his nose at the smell and turned back towards the station to get his deputies.

---

Feet now firmly on the old stone of the waterways, Derian covered his nose with his hand, the smell was overwhelming. The tunnel stretched out in both directions leading to intersections with even more tunnels.

The light from the opening above him illuminated some of the area around him, but not enough for any more than a cursory search. Frowning, Derian pulled a piece of candle from his pocket and flicked a match with his thumb to light it. It wouldn't last for long, but he could see a little better at least. Enough to avoid the channel of foul water that ran down the centre of the tunnel.

Despite the smell and the state of the sewer, it didnt take long to find boot prints heading south beside an odd looking line scraped through the thing scum on the stones. Derian was certain that was the direction he needed and began moving quickly before his light ran out.

He heard the occasional squishing sound emanating from somewhere deeper in the tunnel system but it was never clear enough to pinpoint where it came from. Shrugging it off as little to worry about, Derian continued on, drawing his sword as he moved cautiously. The candle was already beginning to gutter and burn his fingertips.

He knelt and opened his backpack, looking for his ruined shirt from the attack. Glancing around, he spotted a broken chair in pieces by the wall. Quickly tearing the shirt into strips he wrapped them around the chair legs and stuck the whole mess in the candle flame. The fire began licking the fabric as the candle went out.

Derian desperately blew on the flames to help the fabric catch and after a few tense moments, the torch was lit, such as it is. Smiling, he turned to scoop up his backpack and froze in sudden shock. Directly in front of him was a shimmering, squishy looking cube.

A gelly-like appendage flashed out at him. Derian yelped and dove out of the way, feeling himself hit the murky channel of water moments before an impact on his head and then the torch didn't matter any more.

Everything went black.

---

Today we have two decisions:

Choice The First - Introducing a New Character!
This will be a main protagonist we will follow through another set of adventures. This story will take place in the same timeline as Derian Kell and there is a high likelihood of the stories crossing over. Of course, that depends on all of you and what decisions you make.

I am not going to offer options on this one, put some suggestions in the comments of what kind of story you would like to see. If more comfortable, send me a message on discord. If there is no clear winner, I do have something planned, so don't worry.

Choice The Second - Derian's Fate
This choice will be another unique one. I want to hear some speculation. What happened? Would he survive? What happens next?

The choices as I see it are:

A) Derian dies, an unfitting end for so brave a soul.

B) Derian is rescued by The Sheriff and his deputies.

C) Derian wakes, still in the sewers, this time without any light or any idea where he is.

But by all means, in this case, add your own options if you'd like. Get others to vote for them.

If there are twenty good comments on this post... I will give away a legendary card. It won't have anything to do with the story but I got one in a pack the other day so I'm willing to put it up if you guys really engage with this post.

You guys can do it! I believe in you!

---

But Wait! There's More!

The winner of the final card from Chapter 3 is -> @warrentrx

You Win a Gelatinous Cube! Let me know what you want done with it.

Now that you have made it all the way down here, Thanks for Reading!
I appreciate the eyeball time.

Have a great day and stay safe out there!

Tanzo