4. The First Expedition

Thrudmarr watches his companions with growing confusion as they walk into the mist and talk to the black stone. His brow furrows as he tries to understand what game they're playing. He shifts the lantern from hand to hand nervously, occasionally glancing at the strange writing that everyone keeps looking at.

"Umm, why friends talk to rock?" He shakes his head sadly. "Friends go crazy. Rock no talk!"
Thrud nods vigorously at this suggestion. "Grim right. Come, crazy friends! Leave rock!"

"Lead on, brave Thrudmarr!"

Done!

Now that you've settled into the mapping, I'm going to stop providing corrections for any mistakes (unless the mistakes are on my side). Of course, Jackie/testlum doesn't have to take sole responsibility for the mapping - others can double-check the accuracy and highlight any errors).

You backtrack to the simple wooden door at the bottom of the short flight of steps. It opens to a small rectangular room, the floor of which is covered with a thick layer of trash - bits of leather, ruined clothing, scraps of metal, and a foul-smelling bolus of decaying animal matter.

Mapping information: rectangular room, 25’ (east-west) x 15’ (north-south). You enter through a door in the northern-most section of the western wall. There are no other visible exits.

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13:20 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: 6/6, 60’
Thrudmarr, Wiskin Fighter 1: 5/5, 90’ (Lantern)
Zacharias, Archontean Fighter 1: 10/10, 60’

Link to Jacky’s maps …

"Blegh, what died here? It's making my eyes water." Jacky comments, staring at the disgusting mass. He takes a few steps back from the stench. "Before you ask, I'm not touching that."

Ellagel observed the cesspit dispassionately. "Was the smell emanating from a specific spot, or did the entire place smell so badly?", she wondered.

Zach is still moping over not getting an answer from Thoth and doesn’t even notice the smell.