20 - Beneath the Baths of Diocletian

Father Arturo, Rocco and Astore, venture out one morning in the September of the Year of our Lord 1342. They notice that they are being tailed by a pair of urchins. They turn up towards the Baths of Diocletian but stop in a tavern on that street where they are well known. Rocco has the bartender to offer the urchins, lounging innocently on the other side of the alley, a jug of wine. Realising that they have been made, they scamper off, though not before snatching the jug from the bartender.

At the Baths they are welcomed by Renzo and Lino. They are less than enthusiastic about the prospect of people poking around in their basement. However, out of friendship and a respect for Cola, who they know is keen on this venture, they allow it.

The party descend via a fissure in the corner of one of the great depressions in the ground they take once to have been pools. Rocco descends first and appears to encounter some difficulty. However, Father Arturo prays for his soul and he soon rallies to call up that the coast is clear. They descend into the darkness.

They reappear a scant hour later, bruised and in the case of Arturo, somewhat bloodied. They tell of the dead that walk but say that all is now quiet. They carry an ancient casket, a few handfuls of old coins wrought of base metal, and a bag of what appear to be bronze collars of dubious value.

After some hours rest, they declare themselves fit once more and return to the deeps. This time they remain down there for several hours, before emerging once more. They appear mostly uninjured, although Rocco has sustained some nasty scrapes from the final ascent. They return to the Palazzo Trivio to report.