4. The First Expedition

Seeing the sheep-headed man's preference for Ella as a conversation partner, Jacky turns his efforts toward uncovering any dangers leading toward the yet-to-be-explored direction past the trapped door.

As he shuffles along beside Ella, it’s clear that the elderly Ovinius will need assistance in traversing the wire trap. Indeed, you end up pretty much carrying him across it, although he is very reluctant to accept the help.
"Well," says Ovinius, scratching his woolly cheek. "I don’t rightly know exactly how many of us there are. Well over a hundred, I would say," and with a chuckle, "Fortunately, they’re not all quite as ‘battle-hardened’, as you kindly put it, as me!"
You learn that the beastmen’s leader is called "Deino", but Ovin generally refers to her as "Mother".

He doesn’t appear to have any clear idea (or interest) regarding the beastmen’s goals, other than to protect their precincts. Such matters are left to Mother and her three "Counts". He just follows orders.

There are no particular threats he is concerned about. He considers the beastmen to be sufficiently well-trained and well-organised that they can deal with any intruders.

Ovinius says the beastmen mostly use two entrances to Arden Vul - the pyramid entrance (that you are already aware of), and a concealed entrance in the cliff face on the far side of the "Great Cavern".

Do you wish Ovinius to accompany you (and essentially join the party as a retainer), at least until he makes his saving throw vs. Ella’s Charm Person spell (which is likely to be weeks or months, rather than days)?

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4:20 pm, Basilsday 2nd Lucreon (April) 2993 AEP
Ellagel, Elven Fighter/Magic User 1/1: 6/6, 60’
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 …

"Is the Great Cavern on this level? Is it within your Pentarchia’s territory?" Ella asked as they stepped beyond the trapped doorway.

After precious moments of stoic silence, Grim adds, Aye, if ya can take us to de Cavern, we’ll be much obliged!

Thrudmarr helps Ellagel carry the elderly Ovinius over the tripwire, his large hands surprisingly gentle as he supports the sheep-headed beastman. Once across, he steps back, giving the others space to continue their questioning.

"Yes, it’s over in that direction," (pointing south).
"As far as I know, the Great Cavern is only accessible through our precincts. And I don’t think you’ll be allowed through. I’d stay away if I were you … especially you two," (gesturing at Thrud and Zach). "Mother can be … ,"

He pauses, seemingly searching for the right word, "... persuasive."

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4:20 pm, Basilsday 2nd Lucreon (April) 2993 AEP
Ellagel, Elven Fighter/Magic User 1/1: 6/6, 60’
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 …

"Do you have any idea where we should head toward instead, then?" Jacky says.

"Mother?" Thrudmarr looks up at the mention of the word. He approaches Ovinius with an unusually earnest expression, his normally boisterous demeanor softened as he points to himself. "Thrud no have mother."

After this brief moment, he turns away abruptly, returning his attention to watching for dangers from the corridor.

Ellagel listened carefully to Ovinius and to her companions. She looked with slight concern at Thrud, but she chose not too say anything about it. Turning to her newfound companion, she asked a question that had been bothering her.

"Would you feel safe returning to your comrades, or have you forfeited your position in the pentarchia by stepping outside to talk to me?"

Ovinius looks confused and then suspicious of Jacky’s question. Is this some sort of trick the half-man is trying to play on him?

"Where should you go? How am I supposed to know that? I have no idea who you are or what you’re doing here!"
"Oh, I’m sure they won’t mind me popping out to chat to an old friend."

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4:20 pm, Basilsday 2nd Lucreon (April) 2993 AEP
Ellagel, Elven Fighter/Magic User 1/1: 6/6, 60’
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 …

Zach watches as the remainder of his party deals with the ovine beastman. I'm just waiting until the spell wears off, and the swords start flying, he thinks with a touch of the macabre.

"That's good to know," Ella responded, satisfied that he could be left with his soldier-friends at the guard station.

"So the only way to reach the Great cavern is through your territory? Hmmm..." she pondered quietly. "Do you know what exists around your territories, who tries to take your halls from the different directions? We wouldn't want to run into more of your friends who could take us for enemies... the gods forbid!"

Gesturing for Jacky to bring forth his map, she continued : "Here, can you point to other landmarks around your territory, or show where there are other entrances to your halls?"

As the others continue to talk, Thrudmarr continues to keep a closeful watch to make sure the other beast-men don't follow and sneak up on them.

Ovinius takes the map from Ella and squints at it. He moves it back and forth repeatedly as his aged eyes struggle to bring the detail into focus. Eventually, he gives up and hands the map back to Ella.

"Hrrmph - ‘fraid the old eyesight isn’t as sharp as it used to be. From what I can make out, you’ve only mapped a tiny fraction of this level. There’s the Great Cavern away to the south, whilst to the north it’s mainly old tombs - best left alone in my experience; you never know what ancient horrors might be lurking within. Similarly, I’d keep away from the western reaches of this level - the priests of Set, a nasty bunch, have taken over that area."

Whilst Ella and Ovinius discuss his map, Jacky returns to the northern end of the passage with the trapped door and looks east. Using his infravision, he sees that the corridor continues for 20’ before opening out into a large chamber. Whilst his infravision loses a fair amount of detail, he can see that the walls of the room are completely lined with carved wooden stalls, each containing a seat. There’s also something unusual on the floor - it looks like an oval-shaped mosaic, but, again, it’s difficult to make out the detail with his infravision alone.

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4:20 pm, Basilsday 2nd Lucreon (April) 2993 AEP
Ellagel, Elven Fighter/Magic User 1/1: 6/6, 60’
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 …

"That's really good information, Ovinius. Set's freaks to the west, cursed tombs to the north, and the Great Cavern to the south," the elf repeated, in part to memorize these reference points. "Not gonna lie, Ovin: we need to find that other exit, through the Great Chamber. What lies that way?" the elf continued, pointing in the direction that Jacky had been moving towards. "Does that way lead to more of your territory?"

Looking towards the chamber to the east that Jacky is peering into, Ovinius shakes his head. "Not that way. We avoid that area. It’s haunted."

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4:20 pm, Basilsday 2nd Lucreon (April) 2993 AEP
Ellagel, Elven Fighter/Magic User 1/1: 6/6, 60’
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 …

I feel like that’s the area we need to explore, Grim interjects. I can attempt to turn any…haunting. Unless someone has a better idea.

"Ghost place? Bad! Ghost make Zach...old!"

Thrudmarr points at Zacharias, then touches his own face and visibly shudders, as if imagining what the ravages of time would do to his own skin.
Despite his concern, Thrud nods at Grim's words. "Ghosts strong...but dwarf friend stronger. We go if have to, Grim protect."