4. The First Expedition

"Jacky-friend! No get eaten, Thrudmarr protect!"

"Close the door behind you and wait. We’ll try to circle back and open the door from this side" the elf said, just before hurrying after Thrudmarr and Jacky.

So, can I just double-check that I've understood everyone's intentions correctly ...

Jacky, Thrud (with the lantern) and Ella are going to head halfway down the southwesterly corridor and pause to see what is making the approaching noise.

Zach and Grim will go through the secret door and, if they follow Ella's instructions, will close it behind them. They currently have no lit source of light, although Grim has his infravision.

Is this correct?

Zach enters the corridor behind the funky monkey, and searches for any mechanisms which may serve as openers.

Zach and Grim hurry through the concealed door. There’s an obvious switch on the other side that closes it, plunging the duo into total darkness. Zach can see nothing. Grim, through his infravision, can see a stairway that descends beyond his range of sight (60’).

Meanwhile, the others assemble midway down the south-westerly corridor and turn to see what is approaching. As it comes into view, your first impression is that your vision has become blurred. But you quickly realise that the source of the noise is a large, almost transparent, jelly-like mass that is sweeping along the corridor. It has no discernible features and fills the full width of the passage. Within its body, you can see various items of debris accumulated during its travels - stones, pieces of plaster, discarded flasks, etc.

As it approaches the junction in front of the baboon fresco, which way will it go?! The path of least deviation is away from you, north, towards the large room with the statue. I’ll give that a 1-4 on d6 chance. On 5-6, it turns towards Ella, Jackie and Thrud. At least Zach and Grim close the concealed door so that it can’t pursue them down the stairs!

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11:30 am, Basilsday 2nd Lucreon (April) 2993 AEP
Ellagel, Elven Fighter/Magic User 1/1: 6/6, 90’
Grimidek, Dwarven Cleric 1: 9/9, 60’
Jacky, Halfling Fighter/Thief 1/1: 6/6, 60’
Thrudmarr, Wiskin Fighter 1: 5/5, 90’ (Lantern)
Zacharias, Archontean Fighter 1: 10/10, 60’

Link to Jacky’s maps …

"What in the world is that?" Jacky's eyes widen as the quivering blob lurches toward the trio. "How do tallfolk live in a land that has things like that?" He rummages in his belongings for a moment, then stops. "We could try to distract it with some food, but that might encourage it to follow us further!"

Uh-oh! Ella, Jacky and Thrud have a gelatinous cube that is about 30’ away from them and heading in their direction at 60'/round. We will move to combat rounds to resolve the next steps.

Please can Ella, Jacky and Thrud declare their general actions and any spells for the first round. Once we’ve established those, we’ll roll for initiative.

At this point, Grim and Zach are unaware of what is going on.



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11:30 am, Basilsday 2nd Lucreon (April) 2993 AEP
Ellagel, Elven Fighter/Magic User 1/1: 6/6, 90’
Grimidek, Dwarven Cleric 1: 9/9, 60’
Jacky, Halfling Fighter/Thief 1/1: 6/6, 60’
Thrudmarr, Wiskin Fighter 1: 5/5, 90’ (Lantern)
Zacharias, Archontean Fighter 1: 10/10, 60’

Link to Jacky’s maps …

Greencheese, good buddy, do you have a torch? If you do, light it and stand behind me so I can use both shield and sword to protect us. If you don’t, I have five in my pack. Take one.

With a quick look at the elf and human, Jacky sees that he's not alone in his idea of flight. "Let's get out of here," the halfling calls to them before darting down the corridor and away from the strange cube.

OSRIC is vague about non-melee combat movement. It seems reasonable to allow Ella to shoot and move at least a short distance. Therefore, I will say that she can, but you must declare before initiative is rolled how many segments she wants to spend moving. Each segment allows her to move 1/10th of her full movement rate, but delays the shot by that number of segments. Seem fair? There is a risk that she won’t get the shot away at all if you plan to move too far and the initiative roll goes against you.

How this encounter plays out will be very much dependent on who wins initiative. If the gelatinous cube wins, it will "Close into Combat", therefore engaging you all in melee. That’s going to limit your options. It won’t be able to attack you this round, but you won’t be able to attack it either.

Therefore, focus your declarations on what you will do if you WIN initiative …

- Jacky - if you’re planning to run away unilaterally, remember that Thrud has the only light source!

- Ella - if you plan to move and then shoot, let me know how many segments of movement you plan to take.

- Thrud - a "Fighting Retreat" is an in-melee manoeuvre. What will you do if you win initiative?

Ellagel turned around and rushed towards the southern intersection at full speed, without a word. At that point, she briefly checkes if there were no further nasty surprises in the eastern passage. If she sees no one in that passage, she will move the relai der of her movement in that direction.

Grim takes a torch and tinder from ol’ Zach’s pack. Then stubby fingers set it alight.
With torch in one hand, and holy symbol gripped in the other, our dwarven fellow gazes warily about.