Thennek, entry #5

What a difference a day makes. We woke up in the kobold village and went to bed in the goblin village. Sometime during all that, a lot of people died.

The day started simply enough. Meepo led us to goblin territory in this sunless citadel, and we saw empty rooms and doors. Found one of the twin’s signet rings and a dead body. We also found dragon statues, one of which I extracted a vial of liquid for future testing. Vantiss’s rat friend helped us avoid more rats, until we got to the enormous giant infected rat. That went well, actually.

From there we encountered another dragon statue and a blocked door I am certain contains undead. We’d need a cleric just to open the door. I know that because I could read the draconic writing on the wall. Too bad we don’t have one of those…

Next up, we finally reached goblin land and their chokepoint. I love chokepoints, except when we’re on the wrong end of one. A pair of goblins defended a corridor covered in caltrops from their defensive barricade. The bard put them to sleep with but a word, and I swept the caltrops away with an invisible force.

Though we tied them up, one awoke screaming, which attracted more guards. So we had to fight our way through another chokepoint. I am surprised we made it with so few injuries.

Aside from the paladin that is.

After that, we discovered a cell room, with a cage too small for the naked gnome inside. He claimed to have been held there for years. And he was a cleric. Once we found him some rags to wear, he was happy to join our party. How convenient.

Things took a turn when we encountered a cell of a different kind. Frost rimmed the walls and a large bolt and chain in the center led to an overturned table and behind that, a small frost dragon. Meepo rushed into the room crying its name before we could stop him, and the dragon ate him. The kobolds’ idea of caring for a the wymling didn’t align with its own expectation of care. Vantiss managed to have a conversation with it, and the conclusion is we go our way, it goes theirs.

So we did. We ended up going further west in the complex. I can’t believe Crixos bothered asking me which way to go, I am turned around in here. Vantiss knew. Maybe her rat told her. Either way, we arrived at a forty foot wide squat tower. Inside, we met the chief of the goblins on his throne, trusted advisors, and trio of guards. By met, I mean we rushed in and combat ensued. And by rushed in, I mean we took turns getting through the doorway, another chokepoint. This time, some of us had the sense to stay outside and fire past our people to hit theirs.

That worked. The guards fell quickly, but then the bard and Crixos had a devil of a time dealing with his shaman. She had all sorts of nasty spells. The chieftain made a run for it from his throne to a side door, but we managed to stop him with a combination of spells. Soon we had him on his knees and then the screaming began.

Namely, outside the door the chieftain wanted to escape through, his people died. Turned out the wyrmling wasn’t chained up and they went to town on his village. After the noise subsided, we stepped out to find the remnants of a goblin village torn up in the courtyard. 

Figures half frozen, half mutilated sprawled about. The chieftain broken down and cried at our feet.

Which signaled a good time to get back into the tower, rest up and find the last survivor tomorrow. Except for the danger of chokepoints not of our own design, I think we learned a lot today. The party is certainly more capable than when we started. So why do I have a pit in my stomach? A sense that doom and betrayal await us. It might be the gnome. He hates humans. And I am the only one.

---

All Journal Entries