Chapter II
Chapter II
After spending the month of December at his estate near Faeriyev, Viscount Oleg Protopopolov finally decides it is time to set out on his expedition to the basement. However instead of the expected route down the Short and Long Hallways, he leads the travelling party into a dark, spooky corner of the kitchen known as Wallachia. They spend an unnerving evening being entertained by Zladislav Zepes, Count of Wallachia.
The next day the members of the expedition are led through the Inbetweens separating the Kitchen and the Long Hallway by Kasamir, one of the Count's retainers. After fending off a rat, they arrive at the top of the Quivering Stairs. During the descent, they discover that a regiment of the Imperial Army, commanded by Colonel Hans Nadel has blockaded the landing, preventing anyone from from leaving the basement without being closely scrutinized.This is being done, he says, because there have been several of his soldiers have recently been killed in El Paso de Umbral.
Passing through the checkpoints, Protopopolv's group delivers Doña Luciana back to her home and makes preperations to travel to Al Sehir, where the Viscount has to see a man about a spider.