2. The First Delve

"I'm still inclined to find the forest room and the safe area managed by the kobolds beyond-- if most visitors to the prison stay there then this orc tribe can't be too dangerous and I believe we'd only be passing by the edge of their territory, not entering it, right?"

"I guess we will find out, we have to find that trade post one way or the other."

With a half bow to the dwarves, Ricard makes ready to leave.

Swan is waiting at the doorway quietly.

Then it is agreed. To the Forest Room. Tiberious says. The Orc tribe could be a problem. We could take the safer route and continue south. I am sure that all of us can work together to raise the portcullises.

Having clarified the dwarf’s directions, you head back south to the third intersection.

Are you now going to head east, along the corridor marked "Open Sore Tribe - Keep Out!"? Or continue south towards where there are apparently more portcullises to navigate? Or are you going to do something else?

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Day 2, 11:40 am
Fenwick, Elf 1: 5/5
Gabbro, Elf 1: 7/7
Lanhkmer, Thief 1: 4/4
Ricard, Fighter 1: 7/7
Swan, Fighter 1: 5/6
Tiberious, Magic-User 1: 5/5

Link to Gabbro's mega-maps ...
Link to Tiberious' mega-maps ...

As the party heads back south, at a leisurely pace to make sure we don't catch up to the skeletons as well as checking for traps, Gabbro comments "Funny how that southern passage turns west but ends up going east to this Forest Room, according to the dwarves." He hums for a moment. "I guess that's what you get after centuries of different builders work on a place...lots of things that don't make sense."

When the party arrives back at the third intersection, Gabbro leans over to ask Tiberious a quiet question: "I've been wondering: how do the walking dead like those skeletons perceive things? They don't have ears or eyes...can they hear us, or see us, or what? I figure you might know, from your study of magic." He shrugs. "It would help us to know how to hide from them in future...which might come in handy, since they either went east or south from here, and those are the two directions we're considering..."

Tiberious looks at Gabbro perplexed They are magical entities. I do not think they perceive anything. The magic animates them and moves them forward. The how is a mystery to me as well ... though I do wish I knew the spell that animated them. We would have an army of them clearing out this dungeon in short order. Tiberious smiles and winks.

You head east along the "Open Sore" corridor. 30’ beyond the third intersection, there is a door in the northern wall of the corridor. 10’ further along from that door, there is a side passage that heads south (or you can continue east).

The southerly passage continues for 20’ before arriving at a corner section that turns west.

Looking east, you can see a door in the northern wall a further 30’ ahead of you, at which point, immediately opposite the door, the passage turns south. You can hear grunted conversations in an unfamiliar language coming from this direction.

(There’s quite a lot going on there from a mapping perspective! I’ll check your efforts once you’ve updated).


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Day 2, 11:40 am
Fenwick, Elf 1: 5/5
Gabbro, Elf 1: 7/7
Lanhkmer, Thief 1: 4/4
Ricard, Fighter 1: 7/7
Swan, Fighter 1: 5/6
Tiberious, Magic-User 1: 5/5

Link to Gabbro's mega-maps ...
Link to Tiberious' mega-maps ...

"Man, I really feel like these dwarves could give better directions-- I'm beginning to wonder if they're just messing with us. Should we take one of these paths south, because they mentioned that another passage farther south met up with the forest room? If so, maybe we take this closer one since whatever I'm hearing from down the passage doesn't sound like Kobold?"

I think it is best to take this first passage south. I am worried about what we might find south of that next turn. Tiberious shrinks back from the grunting further east.

"I'm of the same advice,let's always carefully check the floor/walls for traps"

You turn to the south, following the passage for 20’ before you reach a corner section that turns to the west. That turn is immediately followed by another corner section that turns back to the south. You pause at this point for your hourly 10-minute rest.

After that second corner, the corridor continues due south for 40’ before opening into an octagonal chamber. The walls of this chamber are covered in flaking murals of trees and forest glens. Against the south-east wall, there is a pile of dirt and wood. Portcullises guard exits to the east and west. To the south, there is an open exit at which a dwarf is standing. He is similarly dressed and equipped as the scholar dwarf’s retinue in the room with the stone carvings.

The flame in your lantern gutters, as if it is about to run out of oil.

Mapping information: octagonal chamber, 30’ x 30’. The "flats" of the octagon are to the north, south, east and west. You enter the chamber through the northern side. The exits to the east and west are barred by portcullises. The exit to the south is open - it continues due south for 30’, beyond the range of your lantern’s light.

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Day 2, 12:00 pm
Fenwick, Elf 1: 5/5
Gabbro, Elf 1: 7/7
Lanhkmer, Thief 1: 4/4
Ricard, Fighter 1: 7/7
Swan, Fighter 1: 5/6
Tiberious, Magic-User 1: 5/5

Link to Gabbro's mega-maps ...
Link to Tiberious' mega-maps ...

"So then it is the magic that is doing the perceiving? Because the skeletons seem to respond to stimuli..." Gabbro realizes belatedly that the others are talking about something other than the mechanics of animated dead. "Oh!" He lowers his voice. "We could take the first or second southern passage, but neither one seems to turn in the direction we want: east. I'd be just as likely that we take one of these northern doors." A thought occurs to him. "Do any of you think that the voices we're hearing could just be patrons of the tavern?"

@Gabbro - it looks like our posts crossed. I've assumed the party has taken the first southern passage to the Chamber of the Woods based on the others' posts. However, if you want to back up and investigate any of the doors to the north, let me know.

"So then it is the magic that is doing the perceiving? Because the skeletons seem to respond to stimuli..." Gabbro realizes belatedly that the others are talking about something other than the mechanics of animated dead. "Oh!" He lowers his voice. "It looks like we've found some of the portcullises that those dwarves mentioned. Anybody want to try lifting them, or should we head south?" Then the elf notices that the visual quality of the world around him was changing. It takes him a moment to identify the cause. "Wha..? Oh, you should probably put more oil in that lantern, or light a torch."

Swan takes another flask of oil out and refills the lantern. It appears she has more flasks if needed. She comes prepared. "Sooner or later I will run out of this oil."

Fenwick puts on a friendly smile and approaches the dwarf.

"Ho there, friend. Would you happen to be part of the team performing artistic studies of the mine's carvings? If so we had the pleasure of meeting some of your companions." she says. "You'll have to forgive me, as apparently I get all sorts of turned around indoors. Which one of these passages leads to Kobold Korners?"

OK - noted. Make sure you've updated your inventory.

At Fenwick's approach, the dwarf puts a forefinger to his lips in a "be quiet" gesture and beckons you with some urgency to follow him to the south. You can see that the passageway in that direction extends at least 30’.

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Day 2, 12:00 pm
Fenwick, Elf 1: 5/5
Gabbro, Elf 1: 7/7
Lanhkmer, Thief 1: 4/4
Ricard, Fighter 1: 7/7
Swan, Fighter 1: 5/6
Tiberious, Magic-User 1: 5/5

Link to Gabbro's mega-maps ...
Link to Tiberious' mega-maps ...