2. The First Delve

"Bad news seems to be that way!" Bea warns, drawing their attention to the sounds of presumed torture to the west.

"Should I take a peek?" she asks the companions that had climbed down to join her. "Could he someone worth saving, and whoever’s doing the laughing sounds busy!"

Distracted...

How many coin purses had she pilfered while men were busy laughing at their own stories and stick their faces in a cup of wine…

A quick note on how I’ll handle the rope climb …

Bea is an expert climber. The rest of the party, not so much. Nevertheless, you are all bold adventurers and a rope climb should be something you are collectively capable of.

Therefore, I will say that provided you aren’t hurried or under undue pressure (e.g. being chased by a monster), you can all ascend and descend the rope safely without the need for a roll. This assumes you are being careful and supporting one another. It will take 2 turns for the whole party and their equipment to descend the rope, and 4 turns for everyone to ascend.

However, if you are in a situation where you need to ascend or descend quickly and less cautiously, then I will require a roll based on Dexterity (or for Bea, her climb skill).

Just to be clear, Bea gets the impression from the various noises that there is quite a group in there. It doesn’t sound like it’s just a couple of people.

Swan says in a quieter voice, "You could go ahead but I think it better we just rush in."

Let's say "yes". I don't want to get overly simulationist.

I reserve the right to update the climbing rules for other locations though ... there are deeper and darker holes elsewhere in this dungeon!

Once Fenwick sees Ricard has encountered no issues and the area below them seems safe, she tosses her pack and spear down onto the tarp and climbs down to retrieve them.

She then positions herself facing the noisy passage to serve as a look out as the others make their way down.

Ricard shakes his head "no" at the idea of rushing in headlong, from the sound of things the party would be wildly outnumbered.

"We might be able to lure them into the hallway to fight in a choke point but I think a scout is a good idea."

"Well, I can't be hesitant about this, since it was my idea." Gabbro shrugs at Tiberious. "You want to go first, or shall I?"

Gabbro descends the rope to join the others, whether before Tiberious or after.

Swan says to whomever is going to scout ahead, "Come back quick with what is what." Swan in her dear plate mail doesn't think she has much chance of sneaking up on anything. Not that she really would want to. She is more of in your face and kill you type person.

"We may be in too deep here," whispers Ricard's to the others who have descended,

"Perhaps we should climb back up and more thoroughly explore the top level..."

Swan replies back to Ricard, "Let us hear what the scout has to say before we think about leaving here."

"Watch my things!" Bea says, ever the daring adventurer. She puts a finger to her lips, beckons for the others to stay, and creeps forward.

She listens first, waiting to hear for sounds of approaching laughs, footsteps or grunts, before risking to take a peek from a hiding place behind a piece of stone.

Tiberious looks around at the empty room. He can hear Gabbro straining as he climbs down the rope. Ominous shadows fill the corners of the cavern.

Tiberious takes a long squirt of wine from his skin. He doffs his sandles, blows out the lantern and ties it to his belt before climbing over the edge of the well. He struggles to rappel down the length of the well, but finally feels his feet touch the tarp. He dons his sandles again and takes another squirt from his wineskin. He silently offers it to the others while they wait for Bea to return.

You are all now at the bottom of the well. I'll assume you extinguish the torch as you will have the lantern.

Bea - make a "Hide in Shadows" check (at 1st level it’s only 10% I’m afraid).

If you’re successful, I’ll say that you are so well hidden that you can get a good long look into the room to the west with no chance of you being spotted.

If you’re unsuccessful, I’ll say that you’re only able to get a quick glance and that there is a small chance (1 in 6) that you will be spotted by one or more of the room’s occupants.

---
Day 2, 9:00 am
Bea, Thief 1: 3/3
Fenwick, Elf 1: 5/5
Gabbro, Elf 1: 7/7
Ricard, Fighter 1: 7/7
Swan, Fighter 1: 5/6
Tiberious, Magic-User 1: 5/5

Link to Gabbro's mega-maps ...

Bea creeps cautiously westward and is able to get a very brief look into the noisy room before having to retreat to avoid being spotted.

The dimly lit chamber is a scene of chaos. There are numerous individuals, perhaps up to a dozen, scattered around the room - some sitting, some standing, some crouched, and some lying down. All are human, a mixture of men and women, and all are dressed in ragged clothing. At least two are restrained in straitjackets. The various shrieks, moans and laughter are clearly coming from these occupants, but there’s no obvious reason or stimulus for their outbursts.

Aside from the inhabitants, the room has an eclectic collection of furnishings, and the walls are adorned with childlike drawings. Bea spots at least a couple of further exits.

---
Day 2, 9:00 am
Bea, Thief 1: 3/3
Fenwick, Elf 1: 5/5
Gabbro, Elf 1: 7/7
Ricard, Fighter 1: 7/7
Swan, Fighter 1: 5/6
Tiberious, Magic-User 1: 5/5

Link to Gabbro's mega-maps ...

Swan listens to the report and says, "Let us quietly go another direction." She motions to go in the opposite direction.

Hang on ...

Meanwhile, as Bea scouts to the west, the rest of the party at the well bottom hears something approaching from the east. The sounds are coming from beyond the range of your lantern light, but whatever it is is making an intermittent slapping noise on the stone floor of the dungeon as it moves towards you rather than regular footsteps ...

Tiberious takes one last squirt of wine and packs the skin. All the more for me he thinks to himself, then settles in behind Swan holding the lantern up so the group can see the corridor to the east.