4. The First Expedition

The halfling dips his chin in agreement with Ellagel.

Grim pockets the license.
Someone better grab de armor, Grim says. We can at least sell it, if no one’ll wear it.

Hall of Columns
It’s gold-coloured paint rather than actual-gold-paint. It’s worthless.

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Anyone taking anything from Dalton, please update your character sheets accordingly, including encumbrance. If this changes anyone’s movement rate, please let me know.

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The western exit from the Hall of Columns is a closed, iron-bound wooden door. It’s not locked, but is stuck. If you want to open it suddenly with the possibility of surprising anyone/thing on the other side it will need an open doors check. Or you may open it without a check, but this will take longer and alert anyone/thing on the other side.

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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: 9/9, 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 …

Ellagel examined Dalton’s longsword. She wondered whether there was anything remarkable about it’s make. As she did so, she pocketed the flask containing the green potion.

Hall of Columns
There is nothing apparently remarkable about Dalton’s longsword. It seems to be an entirely standard weapon.
No, the bodies are more randomly distributed amid the columns. They are not clustered in a particular location.

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2:40 pm, 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: 4/6, 60’
Thrudmarr, Wiskin Fighter 1: 5/5, 90’ (Lantern)
Zacharias, Archontean Fighter 1: 10/10, 60’

Link to Jacky’s maps …

Zach looks at the banded mail, and then at Thrudmarr, and then at himself. You take it, Thurgood old buddy, you tend to run into the thick of things before I can get there, it will do you more good he says with a rare smile.

Hall of Columns
Sure, you may carry the chain mail. However, it’s bulky, so both hands will be needed. This means that someone else will have to carry the lantern. And, if you’re caught by surprise, you won’t have your shield or weapon immediately to hand.

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2:40 pm, 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: 4/6, 60’
Thrudmarr, Wiskin Fighter 1: 5/5, 60’ (Lantern)
Zacharias, Archontean Fighter 1: 10/10, 60’

Link to Jacky’s maps …

Jacky glances at the warrior with his hands full. "I can lend you my cloak to wrap that up with, Thrud," the halfling suggests. "It'll be easier to carry in a bundle."

Grim can help carry it.

Leaving the Hall of Columns and the remains of Dalton, you head through the southerly exit in the eastern wall. A 10’ wide corridor continues due east for 20’ before opening into a small, square chamber. The room appears largely empty, except for a pile of trash in the southwest corner.

There’s one other visible exit from the chamber - another 10’ wide passageway that continues east. You have sufficient light to see that it extends for 20’ before ending at a closed wooden door.

Mapping information: square chamber, 20’ x 20’. You enter through the northernmost section of the western wall. The other exit is in the southernmost section of the eastern wall.

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2:40 pm, 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: 4/6, 60’
Thrudmarr, Wiskin Fighter 1: 5/5, 60’ (Lantern)
Zacharias, Archontean Fighter 1: 10/10, 60’

Link to Jacky’s maps …

As the party spilled into the new room, Ella looked at the ceiling, wondering if anything might be lurking there, observing the party enter. If satisfied there were no immediate threats, she will allow herself to examine the trash accumulated on the nearby corner (SW) without touching it or approaching too much.

Jacky keeps his eyes and bow trained on the ceiling as well. If the cephalopods hadn't floated into the other passage, this must be where they've drifted toward.

The ceiling is only 10’ high in this room - around half the height of the Hall of Columns. There are no signs of the cephalopods.

From a distance, the pile of trash appears to be just that - it consists mainly of broken plaster and dust that has presumably fallen from the chamber’s walls, but you can also see scraps of cloth, discarded oil flasks, a broken arrow shaft, etc., etc. There’s nothing obvious to suggest that it’s harbouring something sinister (but that doesn’t mean it isn’t!).

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2:50 pm, 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: 4/6, 60’
Thrudmarr, Wiskin Fighter 1: 5/5, 60’ (Lantern)
Zacharias, Archontean Fighter 1: 10/10, 60’

Link to Jacky’s maps …

Thrudmarr approaches the trash pile, and starts nudging the debris around with the toe of his boot. He picks through it halfheartedly, not expecting to find anything of much value, but keeping his eye open for anything of potential use nonetheless.