2. The First Delve

With map in hand, Gabbro leads you expertly through the sprawling passages of Stonehell. You negotiate the Chamber of the Mountains with its broken feet-and-ankles statue; the pit trap, from which emanates a distinctly foul smell; the Chamber of the Woods with its flaking murals of trees and forest glens; and on, northwards, towards the staircase in the Grand Foyer and the sweet, fresh air of the canyon meadow above.

It’s only when you reach the party of dwarves, who are still meticulously recording the details of the masterpiece stonework, that you realise the flaw in Gabbro’s plan - the exit to the west, and the Grand Foyer less than 100’ beyond, is one-way!

Click for a reminder about a previous encounter with the dwarves in which you learned about the one-way door.

Please also let me know who is carrying Johann's body.

---
Day 4, 3:00 pm
Gabbro, Elf 2: 10/10, 90’, Sleep, (+1 1st level spell)
Horath, Cleric 1: 4/4, 90’
Luther, Cleric 3: 6/10; 90’, Cure Light Wounds (Torch)
Pickles, Halfling 2: 10/10, 90’
Ricard, Fighter 3: 7/18, 90’
---
Link to Gabbro's mega-maps ...

"Uh, did we get lost?" Ricard casts his gaze about as he tries to reorient himself around the one way door but realizes that without Gabbro he has no clue where he is.

"Oof, I forgot to mark the door as one-way," Gabbro admits. "Sorry, everyone. I forgot about the door in all the excitement of the last few days.""I'll fix that now. Hmm." The elf considers the map again. "We never did quite find a way back, earlier. It looks like our best chance at getting back to the Grand Foyer is past Gruk and the other orcs again."
He points out where we are on the map (the RED X):


"When we went looking for an exit days ago, we went past Precious and the other giant rats in the Dung room, then spoke with Gruk and the other orcs at the guard post here, then went north through the big room with the columns (where Pickles burned the webs). There's that passage leading west that we didn't explore, because we read all the clues on the wall at this old campsite (the Graffiti room)." He considers. "We could do that again, or we could try going east from the intersection south of the Dung room and see where that goes. Gruk did warn us that 'south was off-limits' and that further east was full of undead, so maybe we should hope the Open Sores are still feeling hospitable and retrace our steps instead?"

Pickles stifles a laugh as they chat about not being able to leave the dungeon. He finally puts up a hand as if someone will choose him, and starts talking anyway. "Maybe we could as the Beggers how to get out, don’t charge people leaving? Or if we do ask the Sores, we should mention that the goblin clan the beggars asked us to wipe out have been killed. Hopefully while we are away they knock each other down a little." The Halfling gives a little smile at the thought.

Ricard considers the plan and then adds,

"Or we could try to break down the one way door..."

So, what's the plan?

In response to Ricard's suggestion, there's no "standard" way to break down a one-way door. For example, it can't be done with a standard Strength-related check or similar. You would need to come up with something specific and out of the ordinary if you wanted to try to brute force it. Also, bear in mind that the dwarves would probably take considerable exception to you damaging the beautiful stonework.

Thwarted by the one-way door, you back up to the entrance to the Orc trash heap (marked "DUNG" on Gabbro’s map!) and contemplate another smelly crossing. Its rodent occupants, at least a dozen of them, are still present, including "Precious" with her distinctive brass tag.

As the light from Luther's torch spills into the room, the rats become increasingly agitated. They pause their scavenging of the room's detritus and focus their attention in your direction. Whilst previously they have seemed largely uninterested in you, something appears to have triggered a more aggressive response.

---
Day 4, 3:00 pm
Gabbro, Elf 2: 10/10, 90’, Sleep, (+1 1st level spell)
Horath, Cleric 2: 9/9, 90’
Luther, Cleric 3: 6/10; 90’, Cure Light Wounds (Torch)
Pickles, Halfling 2: 10/10, 90’
Ricard, Fighter 3: 7/18, 90’
---
Link to Gabbro's mega-maps ...

"That can't be good," Ricard mutters as he relaxes his stance to appear less threatening...

"Can we make an oil bomb and fire them up?"

Orc Trash Heap
Because of the way the Giant Rats are scurrying over the debris, it’s difficult to get a handle on their precise numbers. You reckon there must be at least a dozen of them, but no more than twenty.

---
Day 4, 3:00 pm
Gabbro, Elf 2: 10/10, 90’, Sleep, (+1 1st level spell)
Horath, Cleric 2: 9/9, 90’
Luther, Cleric 3: 6/10; 90’, Cure Light Wounds (Torch)
Pickles, Halfling 2: 10/10, 90’
Ricard, Fighter 3: 7/18, 90’
---
Link to Gabbro's mega-maps ...

Pickles eyes the rats warily before reaching into his pack grabs an iron ration package, and hurls it over the head of the nearest rats into the middle of the pack . . .

"Brilliant work pickles!"

Ricard used the distraction to lead the group around the feeding rats and through the exit.

Orc Trash Heap
Woah! It’s a great idea from Pickles, but I don’t think we can assume it will automatically work. After all, it involves throwing something at a group that is currently unfriendly towards you and considering an attack … that could be misinterpreted!

I will, however, say that it triggers another reaction roll, factoring in Pickles' Charisma bonus.

---
Day 4, 3:00 pm
Gabbro, Elf 2: 10/10, 90’, Sleep, (+1 1st level spell)
Horath, Cleric 2: 9/9, 90’
Luther, Cleric 3: 6/10; 90’, Cure Light Wounds (Torch)
Pickles, Halfling 2: 10/10, 90’
Ricard, Fighter 3: 7/18, 90’
---
Link to Gabbro's mega-maps ...

Orc Trash Heap
The Giant Rats scatter as Pickles' ration pack lands amongst them. They approach it warily, giving it a good sniff before starting to tug at the wrappings to get at the tasty morsels within.

Suffice to say that it provides a sufficient distraction to allow you to scamper through unimpeded to the exit in the north-east corner of the trash heap.

Ahead of you, you can hear the sounds of the orcs at their guard post.

Pickles - if you haven't already done so, please deduct 1 portion of iron rations.

---
Day 4, 3:10 pm
Gabbro, Elf 2: 10/10, 90’, Sleep, (+1 1st level spell)
Horath, Cleric 2: 9/9, 90’
Luther, Cleric 3: 6/10; 90’, Cure Light Wounds (Torch)
Pickles, Halfling 2: 10/10, 90’
Ricard, Fighter 3: 7/18, 90’
---
Link to Gabbro's mega-maps ...

Pickles smiles as the rats tear at the food before quickly following Ricard, "Those rats remind me of Uncle Gobble, he could never refuse a good feed especially a free one."

"Sounds like Uncle Gobble and I have that in common!"

"Sad to see the food go to waste, though, eh, Horath?" Gabbro nudges the cleric playfully, before fading back in the group as they approach the orc guardpost.

With the Giant Rats safely navigated, you continue east towards the orc guard post. It’s very much as it was when you were last here, with Gruk and his six colleagues keeping watch across the makeshift barrier that spans the room. The alarm gong in the northwest corner of the room is still there.

As you enter the room, Gruk exclaims, "Well, look who it is! The wanderers return!"

He proceeds to stride towards you, embracing Ricard in an over-familiar hug and ruffling Pickles’ hair much too vigorously.

And then, as if flicking a switch, he transforms into serious mode. "So, how goes it? You got any updates for the Boss?"

---
Day 4, 3:10 pm
Gabbro, Elf 2: 10/10, 90’, Sleep, (+1 1st level spell)
Horath, Cleric 2: 9/9, 90’
Luther, Cleric 3: 6/10; 90’, Cure Light Wounds (Torch)
Pickles, Halfling 2: 10/10, 90’
Ricard, Fighter 3: 7/18, 90’
---
Link to Gabbro's mega-maps ...