4. The First Expedition

I just try to follow the combat sequence as outlined in the OSRIC rulebook.

So, for each round ...

1. Declare spells and general actions.
2. Both sides roll initiative.
3. Initiative winners act
4. Initiative losers act.
5. Second attacks as required.

So if you lose initiative, you should hold your actions until I have resolved your opponents' actions.

Best to roll again for Jacky to keep everything clear and together.

Jacky takes aim at the nearest cephalopod.

Seeing the tide turn in their favour, Ella continued to shoot at the retreating foes, aiming at those of the floating monstrosities that seemed hurt.

Cephalopod Skirmish - Round 2
Zach manages to land one more blow on the cephalopod closest to him. However, whilst it’s clearly badly injured, it doesn’t drop and is able to begin fleeing. It propels itself up and away into the darkness.

Grim’s trusty warhammer lets him down again. As does Thrud’s battle axe. However, between them, Ella and Jacky manage to kill a second cephalopod.

In total, four cephalopods are able to flee into the darkness, one of which is badly injured.

Do you intend to try and pursue? They generally headed away from you, at speed, upwards and eastwards, out of the range of your lantern’s light.

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2:10 pm, Basilsday 2nd Lucreon (April) 2993 AEP
Ellagel, Elven Fighter/Magic User 1/1: 6/6, 90’
Grimidek, Dwarven Cleric 1: 5/9, 60’
Jacky, Halfling Fighter/Thief 1/1: 4/6, 60’
Thrudmarr, Wiskin Fighter 1: 5/5, 90’ (Lantern)
Zacharias, Archontean Fighter 1: 10/10, 60’

Link to Jacky’s maps …

Zacharias's blood-lust, or is it ichor-lust, is up. He turns to Thrudmarr and asks Thangorodrim, good buddy, we chase?

Staying dour dwarven fury, Grim crouches low. He clutches his Lucrean symbol, and utters a brief prayer. Even as healing power fills stout dwarven bones!

Cure Light Wounds on myself. Gotta keep the Cleric going!

Keeping a wary eye out for more trouble, Jacky suggests: "Shall we go see what these things were guarding inside the room?"

"We shouldn’t split up, or go far away from the tunnel. If someone carries the light, Jacky and I can probably shoot them down before they approach."

The elf looked about, heart beating hard from the dangerous encounter but smiling inside since fortune favored the party in the end.

After pausing for a few minutes to catch your breath after the fight, you cautiously enter the columned hall to investigate it properly.

When you are able to gauge its full extent, you find a large rectangular chamber that runs for 80’ west->east and 40’ north->south. Twenty-one (7x3) golden pillars, spaced evenly at 10’ intervals, support the 20’ high ceiling. There are three other visible exits - a door in the middle of the western wall and two 10’ wide passages leading east - one that is 5’ from the northern wall and another that is 5’ from the southern wall.

In total, seven bodies litter the floor - two halflings, four humanoids with pig heads, and a human magic user.

There is no sign of the cephalopods.

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2:20 pm, Basilsday 2nd Lucreon (April) 2993 AEP
Ellagel, Elven Fighter/Magic User 1/1: 6/6, 90’
Grimidek, Dwarven Cleric 1: 6/9, 60’
Jacky, Halfling Fighter/Thief 1/1: 4/6, 60’
Thrudmarr, Wiskin Fighter 1: 5/5, 90’ (Lantern)
Zacharias, Archontean Fighter 1: 10/10, 60’

Link to Jacky’s maps …

Ella will immediately examine the body of the fallen spell-caster. There might be some spell components or books to be taken. She will first assess the degree of decomposition, and try to limit any contact with rotting flesh.

Grim stoops low, examines the nearest body, looking for interesting items. Then says a prayer for safety of souls.

Jacky, too, sends a prayer up to his deity, but not through words. His goddess wasn't named Lightfingers for nothing! He picks one of the two halflings to start with, riffling for any valuables in their pockets or boots.

If one of them had something with their name on it, he'd note it down and bring the news back home too.

Zach will wait for the others to check the bodies. Any treasure we can split? he asks, as he cleans his sword of ichor.

Hall of Columns
You search the various bodies lying between the golden columns.

The halflings only have the leather armour they are wearing and a short sword each.

The humanoids with pig heads were each carrying a spear. One of them is wearing a steel helmet.

The most interesting items are on the magic user. You find two potions (they appear different, but there is nothing to indicate their effect), a coin pouch (containing 48 gold pieces and 34 silver) and a metal rod with a fish-shaped cross-section.
It looks like the bodies died relatively recently. None exhibit an advanced state of decomposition. The pig-men are the most decomposed, the magic user the least. This suggests that they were separate groups rather than a single party.

You know the four cephalopods floated away in an easterly direction, but there’s no indication as to which passage they exited by. They would have been in darkness at the point they left the chamber.
The cephalopods gave you a nice haul of XP - 551 in total.

The current scores on the doors are as follows:

- Ellagel: 400
- Grimidek: 440
- Jacky: 468
- Thrudmarr: 400
- Zacharias: 400

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2:30 pm, Basilsday 2nd Lucreon (April) 2993 AEP
Ellagel, Elven Fighter/Magic User 1/1: 6/6, 90’
Grimidek, Dwarven Cleric 1: 6/9, 60’
Jacky, Halfling Fighter/Thief 1/1: 4/6, 60’
Thrudmarr, Wiskin Fighter 1: 5/5, 90’ (Lantern)
Zacharias, Archontean Fighter 1: 10/10, 60’

Link to Jacky’s maps …

Some behind-the-screen GM rolling ...

Finding nothing of interest on the bodies, Jacky will give them another glance over to see if they're former victims of the cephalopods before turning his attention to the columns. Do these have inscriptions on them of the gods too?

Those are your current XP totals. They don't include any XP you would gain from returning treasure to a safe place.