Quick Summary
Trap collapses the stairway, eliminating the statue
Kellan located and healed
Rio negotiates with goblins to allow entry into goblin kingdom
Ettin heads presented to the Goblin King
Goblin King explains their reasons for being in the fortress
Group spend the night with the goblins before taking a tour
During the tour of the furnace room, a pedestal is found that seems to match the strange egg
…the rope streams up into the darkness followed by a low rumbling sound. Moments later the partially-barricaded doorway explodes in a plume of dust and small rocks sending those nearby ducking for cover. As the dust settles, silence once again descends in the fortress. A quick glance at the doorway reveals nothing other than compacted rock debris. With the immediate danger finally resolved, the group decide they must recover Kellan.
The only route identified is back through the spider-egg-infested throne room. As before, Gaerfinas boosts Kelnor up over the balustrade who then drops down a rope for everyone to follow. Confident the room beyond is now safe, Rio and Kelnor use a crowbar to force open the locked door back into the mushroom farm.
While Rania moves to check the carnage of the trap, Gaerfinas heads up the stairs to cast a healing spell on Kellan’s unconscious form. As Kellan wakes, Gaerfinas explains what has happened, helping him to his feet. Kellan uses the healing wand to fully restore himself.
With the group back at full strength they discuss the next move. The chalice is secured, but there are more mysteries left to discover and it is decided to try to deprive the Zhentarim of any other powerful artefacts that may still be hidden within. Kellan relishes the chance to infuriate the enemy and leaves an insulting note for them within the sarcophagus.
Remembering the deal made with Ristakki, Kelnor moves to the north-eastern doorway and hears two goblins whispering beyond. Rio knocks on the door to talk to the goblins, explaining how the Ettin was now dead and Ristakki promised a reward. The goblins sound dubious, but the sounds beyond indicate they will be opening the door. Taking this chance, Kelnor hides among some mushrooms ready for whatever may occur.
Ristakki enters the room and starts dancing on the Ettin’s corpse while Rio and Gaerfinas begin removing the heads. Other goblins enter to collect the bodies of their fallen brethren. Ristakki beckons the group to follow him down a long corridor. Kelnor follows at a distance in the shadows.
Exiting the corridor, the group find themselves in front of a huge group of goblins. Both sides are shocked at seeing each other and the tension rises. The larger warrior goblins move to the front to protect what turns out to be families of goblin living within shanty towns of discarded dwarven furniture.
To diffuse the situation, Rio raises the Ettin head up high, proclaiming the Ettin is dead! The goblin crowd erupts in cheering and celebration at the sight of their defeated interloper. Presently, emerging from the crowd, comes a shuffling, fat goblin clad in shining chainmail. He introduces himself as the King of the goblins and he is accompanies by his Shaman, Shadrat, carrying a large staff topped with a goblin-skull.
The group asks after the reward promised by Ristakki, only to find that the feast and party thrown by the goblins are the intended rewards. While the party preparations got underway (including cooking up the dead goblins, who are to be cannibalized), the King explains how they had come to be in the fortress. Their God, Magubliyet, gave the Shaman a vision that they must search for the orrery before a great Astronomical Alignment. A group of humans would be the key to them completing their mission.
Seeing that the goblins for now mean no harm, the group settle around one of the many campfires and the King introduces his many “Daughter-Wives” who put on a bizarre dance with snakes which seems to entertain the goblin crowd. As the dance finishes, the feast is brought forth. No one is eager to try the goblin broth, but Kelnor tries some honeyed mushrooms and Gaerfinas samples the mushroom alcohol. Sensing something odd about the mushrooms, Gaerfinas enquires about the ones he had harvested, most of which turn out to be “magic” in varying degrees…
Rio warns the Goblins that the Zhentarim may also be coming to the fortress. The news of a new set of strangers confuses and worries the King, but the group tentatively offer to help defend them if they are nearby. With nothing more urgent to discuss, the group take up camp in one corner of the room for a long rest, always with a keen watch in case the goblins try anything in the night.
After some time, the group stir to see Ristakki impatiently urging them up, offering them a tour of goblin town. The way ahead involves clambering through the shanty town of tables and furniture which hide the doorway beyond. Moving through a columned hallway, they emerge into a large room that appears to be the old Dwarven foundry. Dozens more goblins are strewn about the place, with various legs protruding from the old furnaces. The goblins have colonized every available space.
Ristakki leads the group up a staircase above the furnaces. Pointing to the northern doorway he explains that the caves beyond is how the goblins first reached this place. Turning away to the South, Ristakki shows them an intricate doorway, with the same fiery motifs as seen on the Egg chest. Beyond the door is a spherical chamber with a lone pedestal at the centre. On the pedestal is a recess that looks very similar to the base of the Black Egg. Ristakki seems pleased, and hopes the party recognize the place…
Experience:
Artus (200)
Gaerfinas (200 + 100) - XP for session log
Kelnor (200)
Rania (200)
Rio (200)
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