2. The First Delve

Luther waits to see what will happen. Sheild on one arm mace gripped ready for anything."Ready."

Pickles finds a gap to peer through with short bow in hand notched with an arrow, the plucky Halfling scanning the halls behind the group.

Ancient Parlour
Gabbro unseals the door and pushes it open. As the light from Johann’s fresh torch spills into the room, you’re briefly dazzled by a highly reflective object, just beyond the door to your left. As your eyes adjust, you realise that the source is a crystal statue. It depicts a full-sized human male in a commanding pose, his right arm outstretched and pointing directly towards you and the door through which you’ve just entered.

In its day, this would have been a finely appointed parlour. But now the furnishings are decayed, and the torn wall hangings dangle limply from their hooks. Everything, including the upper surfaces of the statue, is covered in a thick layer of dust.

There is one other visible exit - a door in the western wall.

Mapping information: rectangular room, 30’ x 20’. You enter through the middle of the southern wall. There is a door in the northern section of the western wall. The statue is in the south-west corner of the room.

---
Day 4, 1:30 pm
Gabbro, Elf 1: 7/7, 90’, Sleep
Horath, Cleric 1: 4/4, 90’
Luther, Cleric 3: 6/10; 90’, Cure Light Wounds
Pickles, Halfling 2: 10/10, 90’
Ricard, Fighter 3: 16/18, 90’
---
Johann, Gnome 1: 3/5, 90’, (Torch)

Link to Gabbro's mega-maps ...

Ancient Parlour
Hungry Horath takes a stride into the room and … nothing happens. The only change is the footprint he leaves in the dust-covered floor.

---
Day 4, 1:30 pm
Gabbro, Elf 1: 7/7, 90’, Sleep
Horath, Cleric 1: 4/4, 90’
Luther, Cleric 3: 6/10; 90’, Cure Light Wounds
Pickles, Halfling 2: 10/10, 90’
Ricard, Fighter 3: 16/18, 90’
---
Johann, Gnome 1: 3/5, 90’, (Torch)

Link to Gabbro's mega-maps ...

Ricard grabs Horath by the shoulder, "Let me check the floor for you Father." The fighter then moves into the room tapping the floor methodically checking for traps.

Pickles waits with bow in hand for Ricard to check the floor

Ancient Parlour
It takes Ricard a turn to tippy-tap his way around the floor of the decaying parlour with his spear. All seems solid and safe.

---
Day 4, 1:40 pm
Gabbro, Elf 1: 7/7, 90’, Sleep
Horath, Cleric 1: 4/4, 90’
Luther, Cleric 3: 6/10; 90’, Cure Light Wounds
Pickles, Halfling 2: 10/10, 90’
Ricard, Fighter 3: 16/18, 90’
---
Johann, Gnome 1: 3/5, 90’, (Torch)

Link to Gabbro's mega-maps ...

Gabbro nods to Pickles. "Your altruism is legendary." He neglects to mention that he was also standing around watching someone else do the work. The elf proceeds to the statue and examines it more closely; is there a plaque or any detail on the statue that would give any indication of who it's supposed to be?

Pickles pauses with a thinking look upon his face for a second. The Halfling raises an eyebrow, "Thanks Gabbro." he says simply before following into the room to give it a search.

Ancient Parlour
Gabbro can see nothing on the statue that explicitly identifies the person it is depicting. It is a human male dressed in simple clothing. He is unarmoured and carries no weapon. But, from his commanding posture - upright and pointing - and stern visage, you get the impression that he is someone of authority or importance. From the little you know of Stonehell’s history, perhaps a former governor of the prison? Or, in the prison’s later and more chaotic days, a leader of one of the prisoner factions?

Is there anything or anywhere specific that Pickles would like to search?

---
Day 4, 1:40 pm
Gabbro, Elf 1: 7/7, 90’, Sleep
Horath, Cleric 1: 4/4, 90’
Luther, Cleric 3: 6/10; 90’, Cure Light Wounds
Pickles, Halfling 2: 10/10, 90’
Ricard, Fighter 3: 16/18, 90’
---
Johann, Gnome 1: 3/5, 90’, (Torch)

Link to Gabbro's mega-maps ...

Pickles always curious gives the walls some persuasive encouragement to reveal any secrets it may be withholding . . .

Ricard examines the statue more closely, though not while standing directly in front of it. He taps at the crystal with his spear and then hops back defensively as though afraid it might come to life and tap him back.

He examines the base of the statue for any writing and prods at the stone in search of switches or hollows.

Ancient Parlour
In addition to the two doors (the one you entered through and the one in the northwest corner), there are eight 10’ sections of wall in the chamber. So it takes the party two turns to search them thoroughly. Disappointingly, you uncover nothing of note.

Nor does the statue respond to Ricard’s tapping. There’s a solid "chink" as the tip of his spear connects, but it remains motionless. Satisfied that it’s not about to spring to life, Ricard searches the statue thoroughly, but again draws a blank.

---
Day 4, 2:10 pm
Gabbro, Elf 1: 7/7, 90’, Sleep
Horath, Cleric 1: 4/4, 90’
Luther, Cleric 3: 6/10; 90’, Cure Light Wounds
Pickles, Halfling 2: 10/10, 90’
Ricard, Fighter 3: 16/18, 90’
---
Johann, Gnome 1: 3/5, 90’, (Torch)

Link to Gabbro's mega-maps ...

Gabbro proceeds to the door in the northwest. Is it locked?

It's closed, but not locked.

Pickles noticing Gabbro making to the door readies his bow to cover the Elf, "Well let’s see what is behind door two."

Ricard takes position alongside the door, ready to block the hole should he need.

Gabbro looks to the others, nods, and opens the door.

Ancient Parlour
As soon as Gabbro’s hand touches the handle of the northwestern door, you hear a brittle, cracking sound coming from over your shoulders. Spinning around, you see the crystal statue lower its outstretched hand and take a jerky, Harryhausen-esque, step towards you.

Please can someone, anyone, roll to see if the party is surprised.

Here’s a sketch of the situation so that you can get your bearings.



---
Day 4, 2:10 pm
Gabbro, Elf 1: 7/7, 90’, Sleep
Horath, Cleric 1: 4/4, 90’
Luther, Cleric 3: 6/10; 90’, Cure Light Wounds
Pickles, Halfling 2: 10/10, 90’
Ricard, Fighter 3: 16/18, 90’
---
Johann, Gnome 1: 3/5, 90’, (Torch)

Link to Gabbro's mega-maps ...

Pickles turns at the noise . . .