2. The First Delve

Grand Foyer

The spiral staircase from the surface descends around 100’ to deposit you in the centre of a large square chamber. The walls are constructed from rough-faced limestone blocks, the floor consists of worn flagstones, and the vaulted ceiling rises to a height of 20’. In various places, more recent inexpert repairs have been made using crude plaster, rough mortar and poorly worked stone.

Looking around, the floor is littered with the detritus of past expeditions - burned-out torches, broken armour, empty oil flasks, etc. - all of it useless. The stale, musty air is oppressive after the freshness of the canyon.

There are five obvious exits from the chamber: two passageways leading north, two passageways leading south, and a door in the east wall.

Mapping information: square chamber, 40' x 40'. The spiral staircase ascends from the centre of the room. There are five obvious exits (working clockwise around the room):
1. A passageway running north from the easternmost section of the north wall. After 10’ it ends at a closed door.
2. A closed door in the east wall, 10’ from the north wall.
3. A passageway running south from the easternmost section of the south wall. After 10’ there is a side passage leading east. After 20’, there is a corner that turns to the west.
4. An archway leading south from the westernmost section of the south wall. After 10’ it ends at a closed door.
5. A passageway running north from the westernmost section of the north wall. After 10’ this passes through an archway and continues north beyond the range of your light.

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Day 1, 1:40 pm
Druin, Dwarf 1: 5/5
Gabbro, Elf 1: 7/7
Orelia, Cleric 1: 3/3
Ricard, Fighter 1: 7/7
Swan, Fighter 1: 6/6
Tess, Thief 1: 3/3

"Wow. Adventure City. We have come to the right place to start."

"Anyone want to guess which way is going to lead us to treasure."

Druin looks around at the mess and the poorly maintained structure, those nearby can hear him audibly tsking softly as his eyes pass over some of the shoddier repairs to the walls. He wanders over toward the western passage that heads northwards and peers into the darkness trying to see if he can make anything out.

Oh ... there's some additional detail about that particular passage that might influence your decision as to whether you want to explore it or not. The archway that it passes through after 10' is carved to resemble a fanged ogre mouth (see picture). With his infravision, Druin can see what looks like a second identical archway after a further 30'. At the very limits of his infravision he can just about make out a crossroads and some sort of structure or assembly.



There's nothing similar for any of the other exits from the Grand Foyer ... it's just in this direction.

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Day 1, 1:40 pm
Druin, Dwarf 1: 5/5
Gabbro, Elf 1: 7/7
Orelia, Cleric 1: 3/3
Ricard, Fighter 1: 7/7
Swan, Fighter 1: 6/6
Tess, Thief 1: 3/3

"Well I like the giant mouth, something important through there otherwise why carve it?"

"Better workmanship than the rest of the place certainly," says Druin, nodding. "Some effort went into it, so whoever had this built wouldn't have been the poorest of the lot, no doubt. Nor likely the most defenseless, of course."

"Seems an odd decorative choice, but what do I know? Though it reminds me that note mentioned something about a cult."

"Ah. Why don't we save that passage for LATER." She walks over to one of the northern ones, "Lets check one these two out." she walked to the right one of the two facing her.

(To clarify - the carved face IS down one of the northern passages - the one towards the west (left) side of the room.)

Tess wanders to the opening of each passage to see if she can hear any type of noise from each one.

Then Swan is now at the other northern entrance that was to the right.

"Yer something of a contrarian, aren't ya Swan? Always running ahead, group says yay you say nay... Fine by me as long as yer the one going first heh heh heh."

Ricard stacks up behind Druin as the group prepares to go through the non-amazing looking Northern door.

Yes Ricard. I think Swan has a death wish. I prefer to look before I leap. Tess says as she walks from opening to opening listening for noises.

She replies back, "If I had a death wish then you would seem prancing down that passage there. No. I'm just looking over this one. Seem we will soon or later we will be checking it out." She doesn't see much as she doesn't have light as she peers into it. Swan doesn't go scouting beyond the lights range ever. She was pointing to the carved mouth entrance earlier for no prancing. She is killing time before the party decided which way to go.

Tess listens carefully at each of the five exits from the Grand Foyer (I'll say this takes 1 turn in total).

All is eerily quiet.

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Day 1, 1:50 pm
Druin, Dwarf 1: 5/5
Gabbro, Elf 1: 7/7
Orelia, Cleric 1: 3/3
Ricard, Fighter 1: 7/7
Swan, Fighter 1: 6/6
Tess, Thief 1: 3/3

Meanwhile, Swan moves to investigate the passageway at the eastern side of the Grand Foyer's northern wall. It proceeds north for 10', before ending at a closed door. The door is of solid-looking construction, consisting of iron-banded timbers. Tess can't hear any sounds coming from the other side. There is a faint smell of smoke though.

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Day 1, 1:50 pm
Druin, Dwarf 1: 5/5
Gabbro, Elf 1: 7/7
Orelia, Cleric 1: 3/3
Ricard, Fighter 1: 7/7
Swan, Fighter 1: 6/6
Tess, Thief 1: 3/3

Druin takes up position next to Swan at the northeastern door. He tilts his head and frowns, sniffing at the smoke. He waits for the others to form up behind him while reading himself to charge forward in the not entirely unlikely event that his partner kicks the thing down, iron bands and all.

Seeing Tess not alarmed by any noises, Gabbro joins Druin, Ricard, and Swan by the northeast exit. "I'd say we try this door," Gabbro says, "or the passage to the south. But I was thinking of the passage to the south just because it's open. I like the idea of this door, because it may lead to a different way north...to maybe get past those mouths."

Swan smiles and says to Gabbro, "Aye. Seems you have read my mind why I'm looking this way. Always for the treasures." With all gathered she will open/force (method 2) the door to lead onward.

A gal in action with her sword and shield ready for action. She has zero problems showing her brute force. She minorly flips some of her straggly black hair out of her face. She really needs to get a hair band or something she thinks.

Burned Room

After pausing for your hourly rest, Swan forces open the door in the north-east corner of the Grand Foyer. It reveals a room that has suffered a significant fire. The walls and ceiling are covered in soot and the charred remains of furniture litter the floor. The reason for the acrid smell of smoke is clear, even if the cause is not.

There’s one other obvious exit from the room - a blackened door in the eastern wall.

Mapping information: rectangular chamber, 30’ x 20’. The door you enter through is in the centre of the southern wall. The other door is in the northern section of the eastern wall.

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Day 1, 2:00 pm
Druin, Dwarf 1: 5/5
Gabbro, Elf 1: 7/7
Orelia, Cleric 1: 3/3
Ricard, Fighter 1: 7/7
Swan, Fighter 1: 6/6
Tess, Thief 1: 3/3