4. The First Expedition

Beastmen Barracks: Veterans’ Hall
Only one of the six beastmen, the charmed, sheep-headed veteran, is favourably disposed towards you. And he only considers Ella to be a trusted friend, not the rest of the party. The other beastmen are panicked at having being caught unawares and confused as to how you managed to bypass the trap on the previous door.

Therefore, I’m going to leave this to a reaction roll. A high roll will indicate that the sheep-headed beastman is able to reassure his colleagues that you pose no threat. A low roll will indicate that the five other beastmen will immediately raise the alarm and prepare to repel you. A middling roll will indicate that you’ve bought yourselves a bit more time before the alarm is raised, but the beastmen consider you intruders (if only accidental ones).

I’ll give you a +20% bonus to the roll to account for the positive influence of the charmed beastman.

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4:10 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 …

Beastmen Barracks: Veterans’ Hall
That’s a middling roll. The other five beastmen won’t raise the alarm just yet, but they consider you to be potentially hostile intruders.

The sheep-headed beastman stands up from his pallet and walks over to Ella to give her a warm, woolly embrace.

The other five beastmen scramble to gather spears and shields. They form a protective cordon around the southern and western exits from the room.

"Ovin, what are you doing? Who are these people?", demands rat-head.

"Oh, this is my old friend … errr …". Ovin pauses, as if he’s trying to recall Ella’s name from the depths of his long memory.

---
4:10 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 …

"Ella," Jacky supplies. "There's no call for violence! We didn't expect to find anyone here."

"Ovin, old friend!" she exclaims, trying to avoid choking on the beast man’s dingy fur. "I hoped we would find you, but as my friend here explains, we thought these rooms were empty. We didn’t come looking for a fight, we came looking for a friend! And if you’re Ovin’s mates, then I count you as all my friends too," she added, with a big elfin smile.

"We are beyond lucky to find you. We were afraid of running into more of those flying brains that shock you to death…"

Thrud watches with his head tilted in confusion as the sheep-headed beastman embraces Ella. When the other beastmen gather weapons and form a defensive line, he tenses again but remains still, following his companions' lead.

"Yes," Jacky picks up the elf's train of speech. "We were fleeing from those floating monsters and ended up here! By the way, we came across the body of someone who looks a little like you. I think the cephalopods got him. Sorry to be the bringer of bad news," he adds.

Zach is going to leave the thinking to others. However, he takes the opportunity to let slip his pack and take a firm grasp on his sword and board, just in case whatever shenanigans Jacky and Ella are up to do not pan out.

Beastmen Barracks: Veterans’ Hall
The five non-charmed beastmen raise their spears and shields in a defensive stance. It’s clear that, despite their advanced years, they have military training.

"However you came to be here," replies rat-head, "you cannot come through. These precincts belong to the 4th Kentarchia of the 3rd Cohort of the Imperial Tagmata. Turn around and leave, or you will be taken into custody."

"It’s true," whispers Ovin to Ella, "these chambers belong to the Children of Deino. You'd best turn back. Although I’d be honoured to join you."

---
4:10 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 …

"This is the first time we've heard of this Imperial Tagmata," Jacky says, turning his head to the others for nods of confirmation. "And it's clear neither of us really wants to fight the other. On the other hand, a conversation might be nice. We learn more about you, and you learn more about the places we've explored."

Ella nods, understanding.

Beastmen Barracks: Veterans’ Hall
"We have no interest in idle chat. Our duty is to defend. This is your final warning. Leave now or forfeit your liberty."
I always give dimensions as (E-W) x (N-S).
The "Imperial Tagmata" is part of the Archontean Army. It is the imperial guard under the direct control of the emperor. How that relates to a group of beastmen in Arden Vul is a good question, and one worth pondering.

Ella is not familiar with "The Children of Deino" (although you may have heard some related rumours!).

---
4:10 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 …

Thrud remains ready to charge at a moment's notice hearing this. He aims himself directly at the rat-headed one, silently nodding at Zacharias to indicate his plan to take down that one first if it comes to it.

Zach nods back at Thrudmarr, preparing to attack the beastman flanking Thrud's rat-headed target.

"Come Ovin," the elf said in a reassuring tone, "come that we may speak briefly before parting ways again, I wish not to rattle your companions and set them on the path of war."

She then signalled to her companions that they ought to retreat to the next chamber. If possible, she will seek to obtain information from Ovin before we head out to another direction.

Jacky tags along with the elf and her newfound companion. "Say, Ovin, what does that silk string of yours tied across the doorway do?"

Zach sighs and follows the party back out the door. While itching for some excitement, he is happy to leave the thinking to Jackie and Ellagel.

Together with Ovinius, the sheep-headed beastman, you leave the barracks and return north towards the trapped door.
Checking with Ella that the halfling can be trusted (remember - Ovin only views Ella as a friend - he hasn’t the faintest idea who anyone else in the party is), he replies ...

"Oh, it triggers an alarm when broken. One of our witch doctors will have set it."

---
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 …

"Smart," Ella punctuated with another big smile. "How many of you are there, in your Kentarchia? Or in your cohort? I mean the Children of Deino must feel reassured with such tremendous defences! And all of you so battle-hardened, not a young recruit in the mix!"

Thrudmarr grabs his lantern and follows the group back through the doorway, careful to step over the tripwire once again. He keeps a wary eye on the sheep-headed beastman walking alongside Ellagel. Occasionally, he glances down the corridor toward the tripwire, as if expecting the other beastmen to follow them