4. The First Expedition

Zach peers over Ellagel’s shoulder,trying to see if he recognizes the language of the book.

Judging by the appearance of the items, Ella would guess that they have been here for some time - perhaps lost or forgotten by a previous owner. Whether that might be decades or centuries is impossible to tell.

The book is a codex consisting of leather-bound parchment. It has dimensions of 9" x 12" x 3" and, if you decide to take it, it weighs 5 lbs. On the inside of the front cover is an inscription in Mythric.

There are others in the party who can read Mythric, but would Zach like to put his (very rudimentary) skills to the test first? If so, roll under Zach’s Intelligence on 4d6 to see if he can understand it.

The rest of the text in the main body of the codex is in a language or code that none of you can understand. You can’t even identify the language, let alone translate it.

From its antiquity alone, you get the impression that the codex probably has some value.

If anyone is taking any of the items - silk, lantern, oil, codex - please add them to your character sheets, update your encumbrance, and let me know if this has any effect on your movement rate.

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3:20 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: 4/6, 60’
Thrudmarr, Wiskin Fighter 1: 5/5, 60’ (Lantern)
Zacharias, Archontean Fighter 1: 10/10, 60’

Link to Jacky’s maps …

While the others busy themselves with Thrudmarr's find, Jacky proceeds along the corridor up to the junction at 20', checking for traps along the way. Once there, he'll have a look down the side passage to see where it goes.

Zach, recognizing that the glyphs are Mythric, tries to puzzle out their meaning.

The script on the inside front cover of the codex defeats Zach. Grim, however, translatea it as "Property of Eustachius the Cantor".

Meanwhile, Jacky advances eastwards to peer down the side passage to the south. He sees that it continues for 10’ before ending at a wooden door.

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3:20 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: 4/6, 60’
Thrudmarr, Wiskin Fighter 1: 5/5, 60’ (Lantern)
Zacharias, Archontean Fighter 1: 10/10, 60’

Link to Jacky’s maps …

Gristle, what do those Mythric letters spell? Zach asks, eager to continue to learn this ancient language.

Ellagel shook her head in disappointment after failing to read the book’s contents.

"With some rest, I can utter the runes necessary to decipher this tome. It might contain valuable information to guide our exploration."

Grim studies the Mythric titled book.
Eh. Property of Eustachius the Cantor. A cantor…dat’s a choral leader, like in a church, leads choirs in singin’ n’ such.
Calloused dwarven hands quickly peruse the book, in case our dwarven priest is able to glean any additional information.

So it’s a book of songs? Or chants? Maybe evil chants????

Deciding to venture down the fork, Jacky will poke about for any traps.

None of you can make any sense of the contents of the book. The text is impenetrable. A Comprehend Languages spell would allow you to gain an impression of its overall contents, but not the full details (the spell only lasts 5 rounds/level, so you would only create a reading window of 5 minutes per cast).

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Jacky makes it safely down the short southerly corridor without finding or triggering any traps. However, there’s something about the door that raises his suspicions. He can’t see any obvious trap mechanism, but a sixth sense tells him that there’s something not quite right about it.

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3:40 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 …

Wait up, Jules, you shouldn't be walking around by yourself here! Zach follows Jacky down the hall. Thangorodrim, we have to protect the little rogue, Zach calls to Thrudmarr.

Thrudmarr's head snaps up at Zach's call. He hastily stuffs the yellow silk into his backpack, along with the other treasures nobody has claimed.

He secures his pack with one quick motion while already moving toward the corridor, the lantern in his hand casting long shadows as he hurries to join his companions. Arriving behind Zach, Thrudmarr peers past him at Jacky examining the suspicious door.

"No trap? We go through?" he asks the halfling, axe already half-raised in anticipation of trouble.

"There's something odd here," Jacky murmurs over his shoulder. "Stand a bit further back, please!"

Taking his own advice, Jacky retreats a few paces until he's about 10' away. The halfling pulls out his ten-foot pole to prod the door.

Grim stands back, and draws his light hammer. Just in case he needs to make a dwarven throw at an approaching monster!

The silk weighs 5 lbs.

Jacky prods the door, but nothing unusual happens. There’s the expected solid *thunk* as the pole makes contact with the wood.

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3:40 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 …

With a raised eyebrow, Jacky takes one more step back. "I don't know what's giving me second thoughts about this door, but we might need that axe of yours, Thrud." He runs a hand over his hair and glances behind him. "Come on up, Ella. What do you make of this?"