4. The First Expedition

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Feb 9, 2025 8:51 pm
"Here’s something to lay my debt," the elf stated with a smile as she tossed the coin pouch to Zach and the others. This would probably buy. Them lodging and meals for a short while.

"Now what do we have here…" she mused, producing the two vials. She held them carefully and took mental note of their appearance: color, viscosity, texture. These will require some testing," she added. Unmarked potions could as soon harm you as they could benefit you, she’d been told countless times by her elven tutors.

And then she pulled out the strange rod-like item with a fish cross-section. This one intrigued and excited the elf most profoundly. It could be something as mundane as a key or a lever. Or it could be a powerful eldritch artifact containing dormant magics only waiting for the needed string of words to activate. "Fascinating!", she exclaimed solemnly.
OOC:
If you have any further description of the potions, I’d be interested to know more. But what I’m most curious about is the rod:
- how long is it?
- can Ella discern what it is made of?
- is it’s body a cylinder or is the cross section square-shaped?
- do the ends of the rod show any markings or other details that might suggest their use? Are te two tips similar? (i.e., scratches indicating that it is a lever fitting in a mechanism? Or deliberate marks —such as glyphs — or an ending that suggests it might link to other items?)
- is the fish-like cross-section about half-way up the length of the rod, or is its positioning asymmetrical? Does it seem like it can move up and down the bar, or turn around it, or is it affixed?
Last edited February 9, 2025 8:54 pm
Feb 10, 2025 1:48 pm
Thrudmarr's large hands fumble slightly as he catches his share tossed over by Ella, and he holds the coins up to the lantern light, letting them clink together. A broad smile spreads across his face at the gleam of gold. "Gold pretty! Like columns!" He stuffs the coins into his belt pouch, patting it with satisfaction.

His eyes turn to the pig-headed bodies, remembering Gog's words about eating such creatures. He points at them. "Pig-men for Gog? Dead already..."
OOC:
The gold splits into 9 each, with 3 left over. The silver splits into 6 each with 4 left over. We could break down the extra gold into silver to split it among us but not sure @Burbage will let us do that in the middle of a dungeon, so someone might want to keep track of the extra.

@Burbage, I think we get XP for gold in this edition as well yeah?
OOC:
Edit: Btw, We're 2 hours into my last pint of lantern oil now, with 2 more hours remaining. If I recall it was over an hour to get down the stairs, and a further 30 minute hike back to the inn. We could think about heading back soon.
Last edited February 10, 2025 2:28 pm
Feb 10, 2025 3:52 pm
Jacky wrinkles his nose. "I don't think we should do that, Thrud. Imagine what kind of attention we'd get from trying to drag these corpses across the whole dungeon!" Not to mention, he finds the idea itself distasteful. "These columns, on the other hand... Anyone have an idea how we could strip the gold out?"
OOC:
I've got an extra pint of oil, and it's still early by my reckoning. We can at least get in a couple hours more of exploration done!
Last edited February 10, 2025 3:53 pm
Feb 10, 2025 5:53 pm
"Thrud not want carry smelly dead thing anyway." He wrinkles his nose at the thought.
testlum says:
"These columns, on the other hand... Anyone have an idea how we could strip the gold out?"
Thrudmarr brightens at this suggestion and pats one of the columns eagerly. "Thrudmarr chop like tree?"
Feb 10, 2025 6:35 pm
Zach turns to Jacky. It's not across the entire dungeon, it's just down the monkey steps, Jerome. Maybe we should. Looking at the pouch Ellagel threw, Zach continues. Is someone holding our found treasures or should we split them up now? At least the coins, maybe.
Feb 10, 2025 8:34 pm
"I owe you my dinner and lodgings, friends. We ought to spread our gains, so if ever one’s doom come too soon, we need not lose our plunder along with our friend," Ella commented, her eyes still fixed on the strange rod they had just recovered.
OOC:
We should keep a running ledger of stuff we’ve found, regardless of whether we spread it around IC immediately. It will help @Burbage keep track of our gold, and therefore our XP. If we could have a thread titled expedition log book or something like that, I’ll volunteer to keep notes of what we’ve done and what we’ve found…

As to our next steps, I suggest we explore a while longer if we have the light to do so safely. Maybe check the door out of this room, rather than the open passages. If there are pigmen to be found hereabouts, we might want to take fresher meat downstairs. Also, before leaving this spot, Ella will try to recover some of the six arrows she shot, since she has very limited ammunition. I’ll roll according to the DM’s earlier ruling, here.

Edit: based on those rolls, Ella recovers 4 of 6 arrows shot.
Last edited February 10, 2025 8:35 pm

Rolls

Salvaging arrows (1in6 chance arrow is lost) - (6d6)

(612133) = 16

Feb 10, 2025 9:02 pm
Jacky frowns. "If you insist, Zach, I leave that nasty chore to you. I'll scout ahead in the dark."
OOC:
As a halfling, I've got 4-in-6 to surprise if I'm 90ft and alone ahead of the others, excepting Ellagel because she's elven.
He shakes his head, turning his mind to cheerier topics. "What’s that you have found, Ella? If it's some kind of relic, I expect the factors back at the inn will pay a handsome price. Best you be the one to carry it, though," he adds, thinking of his deal with Crisarius.

Rolls

Arrows recovered - (2d6)

(55) = 10

Feb 11, 2025 3:42 pm
Our dwarven fellow waits while Jacky scouts ahead. Gazing brown bulging eyes over the found treasure, and examining the relic piece.
Feb 11, 2025 4:05 pm
Hall of Columns
Upon closer inspection, it becomes clear that the columns aren’t in fact solid gold, or even gold-plated. Rather, they are stone pillars covered in a shimmering gold paint.

Regarding the potions, one of them is green and slightly effervescent. The other is a very dark brown, almost black, with small black flecks floating within it.

The rod is about 9" long and made from a dull metal. It is cylindrical, but rather than having a circular or square section, it has a fish-shaped section along its entire length. So, for example, it would fit end-wise into a 9" deep fish–shaped cavity with the corresponding outline (I can do a rough sketch if it’s still not clear).

You must take the coins as you find them - you can’t start converting them into other denominations! And yes, you get XP for gold, but only when you return that gold to a "safe" place. Same for magic items (more XP if you sell them, less XP if you keep them).

Expedition Log Book thread created! Thanks matmaisan for volunteering to do this. I do keep my own records for XP purposes, but there is a vast amount of stuff you could collect down here, so it would be sensible for you to keep your own records.

If you’re planning to reconfigure the party for exploration purposes with Jackie and/or Ella scouting out front, please can you update the Marching Order thread?
Oh, and finally, please can someone, anyone, roll 1d6 for surprise?!


---
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 …
Feb 11, 2025 6:52 pm
The elf continued to examine the rod silently.
OOC:
I'll get on the log as soon as possible.

Rolling for surprise.

Rolls

Surprise roll - (1d6)

(2) = 2

Feb 12, 2025 12:52 am
Zach sighs and resumes his place at the front. I still think we should bring Grok these orcish pig men, but I am not going by myself. Too spooky.
Feb 12, 2025 3:39 pm
I will help you retrieve the pig men, Grim replies in kind, gruff dwarven fashion.
Feb 12, 2025 4:22 pm
Hall of Columns
As you discuss your next actions, you’re suddenly aware of movement to your north. You turn to see two Archonteans stepping through the secret door you entered the chamber by. One is a tall, handsome man with flowing brown hair tied back with a leather cord. The other is short and barrel-chested with close-cropped black hair and a long black beard.

Whilst looking at you with a dashing smile, the taller man says to his companion: "Ah, here we go Jason, I told you they’d be in the thick of the action. I wouldn’t expect anything less from Dalton’s Darlings. Now, which one of you is Dalton?"

You can see others congregating behind the two men in the passage leading up to the secret door.

---
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 …
Feb 12, 2025 6:34 pm
OOC:
Can we tell if these jokers are armed?
Feb 12, 2025 9:38 pm
Jacky lifts his head at the name Jason, thinking he's been mislabeled by Zacharias yet again, then sees the strangers. Since the element of surprise is gone, he addresses the long-haired man: "You know, it's usually more polite to introduce yourself first before tossing questions, my friend!"
OOC:
By the way @Burbage I believe you missed out Jacky's earlier action of seeing whether the dead orcs, magic user and halflings were killed by cephalopods or something else?
Last edited February 12, 2025 9:40 pm
Feb 13, 2025 5:37 pm
Hall of Columns
"Of course, I do apologise. I am forgetting my manners - how rude of me," replies the taller gentleman with another beaming smile. "The name is Erdell and this," gesturing to his bearded companion, "... is Jason. My colleagues Helga, Heliagabulus, Isidor and Yvette are just behind. Now, I’m looking for Dalton, leader of the Darlings. I understand from those uncouth halflings beneath the pyramid that you are members of his crew. Is he with you?"

Whilst Erdell is saying this, two more people enter the chamber through the secret door behind him - a tall, blond Wisken warrior maiden and a thin, robed man with greasy black hair and a long Roman nose.
WhiteDwarf says:
OOC:
Can we tell if these jokers are armed?
Indeed. They are armed and, for the most part, armoured. Only the robed figure appears not to be so.

---
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 …
Feb 14, 2025 8:13 am
"I'm afraid we haven't seen hide nor hair of Dalton since we set foot down here," Jacky replies. "As a matter of fact, I'm getting rather fed up with the man. How are we supposed to meet someone who goes traipsing about?"
Feb 14, 2025 9:53 pm
Zacharias, having no recollection of any Dalton, lets Jacky do all the talking.
Feb 15, 2025 11:44 am
Hall of Columns
"Oh! Are you sure he’s not here?" replies Erdell, peering over Jacky to get a good view of the rest of the party. "The scoundrel’s not hiding behind one of these pillars, is he? I feel like I can sense his presence."

The final two arrivals step through the secret door - a plump halfling sporting a ridiculous hat and an Archontean holy woman wearing a symbol that depicts a silver skull and a silver scythe upon a round, black background.

---
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 …
Feb 15, 2025 11:56 am
OOC:
Hm, now I get the feeling that Dalton's one of these guys.
"I have the sense that you're playing a joke on us, master Erdell. My own name's Jacky, by the by," Jacky comments. "Not to mention, you certainly seem to have had a longer acquantaince with Dalton than us. I'm all ears if you have a story to tell."
Last edited February 15, 2025 12:04 pm
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