Hobgoblins!

6 November, 595
Part I

The night passes uneventfully, and the room in which they slept is found to hide 2 secret doors. One is opened, leading into a large room dimly lit with glowing braziers. The braziers are carved in the shape of small ovoid creatures, with gaping mouths opened wide at the top, and musky smoke issuing forth. There is also a large statue with black shiny gems for eyes, leaning on a double-handed axe, and looking toward a set of double doors barred shut. The statue is bound with a mass of iron chains, ending in spikes, blades, and sharp hooks. Another set of double doors are seen on the opposite side.

Stepping into the room, Salla is ambushed by a quartet of hobgoblins, each wielding double-handed axes. The group retreats into the previous room, hoping to catch the hobgoblins at a tactical advantage. It doesn't take long to kill off the creatures. At some point, Salla downs the potion in the fungi flask.

Taking a closer look at the statue, Salla believes it to be the likeness of Zenith Splintershield, a legendary dwarf who set off several years back to launch a crusade against the denizens of the Underdark. He has not been heard from since. A debate ensues on which door to explore, the barred door presumed to lead toward this "Underdark", or the opposite door, which Felian reminds the group most likely leads toward their objective, to save the kidnapped children. The unbarred door is chosen.

This leads to a dark room. Baxtor waves his mace noisely around the edge of the door, and an alarm is raised on the other side of the room. A goblin voice shouts "Intruders!" and 2 hobgoblins rush forward, firing arrows into the room with the statue of Zenith. The party rushes forward to engage the hobgoblins, just as 4 more come rushing around the corner to fight. One heads back toward the other side of the room, but Kyladrian bravely charges forward to cut off his escape. It looked like he was going for a lever mounted on the far side of the room. Wave after wave of hobgoblins appear and the group is challenged to kill them at the same rate that they are arriving. During the melee, an axe cleaves through Fario's head, and he is slain. A final quartet of hobbies arrive, this one led by a large one-armed ebon-skinned hobgoblin, barking attack orders to his mates. The battle continues and Baxtor attempts to drag an unconscious Felian into the "Zenith" room, but is cut down by a charging enemy. The party retreats back into the previous room, and attempt to make a last stand against their foes. Serro also goes down to the vicious sowrd of "one-arm" and all that are left are Salla, Karnak, and Kyladrian to match up with 3 opponents. Finally, the trio dispatch of the lackeys and deal "one-arm" several staggering blows. The hobgoblin falls dramatically face first to the ground, spilling blood and teeth at their feet. In the moment that follows there is silence, apart from the heavy breathing of the victors.

The wounded and fallen are dragged into the room, and it is found that only Fario has perished, whereas the rest remain alive but unconscious. In all, they had killed over a score of hobgoblins, but the cost was dear, as one of their greatest warriors had paid the ultimate price.

It is a grim start to the morning.