The Goblins' Lair

9 November , 595
Part II

After healing up at the Temple of Lordly Might, the party returns to the bathhouse. Serro thinks that what they fought were wererats, which leads him to the hunch that this Drakthar bloke could be a supernatural creature, maybe even a vampire. The secret door is opened and they move down a set of stairs into a long corridor. The walls are covered with graffiti and obscene goblin writing. Written on one wall in dried goblin blood are the words: "DRAKTHAR IS DEAD, LONG LIVE DRAKTHAR!"

A square room is explored with small peg holes, from which splintered pieces of wood protrude from. Next the group enters an old dwarven temple, dessecrated by goblin filth and crude drawings. There is a statue of powerful dwarf in front of an altar, but the head has been removed.

The party moves through a room that contains many cots, and into a warehouse filled with boxes and crates. Looking through the aisles of boxes, they are ambushed by pair of goblins, and it is not long before two more goblins join the fight. After the goblins are disposed of, the room is searched and our heros learn that the boxes and crates have all been marked with the emblem of a birdcage. Among the goods are piles of two-handed swords, manacles, food supplies (including ale), costumes, and giant casks of oil.

Moving on, the group is ambushed by a trio of sneaky goblins. Alastriel is able to drop some to a sleep spell, but she is soon marked as a target, as a large spell-casting goblin returns the favor and puts Karnak, Salla, and Alastriel to sleep. Waves of goblins come forth from in front and behind and the group finds itself in quite a spot. Alastriel is revived, only to be dropped again by some acidic arrow spell originating from the spellcaster. The battle rages on and Kyladrian finds himself swarmed by goblins and an attacking wolf. He finally snaps and bursts forth, running for the exit. In the meantime, Salla and Karnak have been dragged away, and Baxtor and Serro find themselves fighting for their lives. The tide turns and the goblin bodies mount up. The ones that are left turn to flee and the pair has enough time to heal Alastriel and get her back on her feet. Fearless, she moves forward in search of her comrades, when a large goblin jumps forward and scorches her with magical flaming hands. Again the elf falls, and Baxtor and Serro get there just in time to see her being dragged into a room. This time it is Baxtor's turn to feel the wrath of the burning hands, and a blow from a spear fells the priest of Kord. All that is left is Serro, up against two of the large goblins. Miraculously, Serro finds the will to perservere, and on the verge of collapse, delivers the final blow to the last goblin adept.

Going in to the room he finds Salla and Karnak tied up and asleep. He wakes them up and together they carry their wounded out of the dungeon. On the way they are ambushed again by a pair of goblins, but these are easily defeated and the group beats a hasty retreat out into the bathhouse.

Meanwhile Kyladrian has escaped to the surface and alerted the guards. They arrive in time to see the party issue forth. The guards run off to tell the captain what has happened.

Back at the temple the group gets some healing, and Baxtor decides to pay off his debt with the priests of Kord (for an earlier service that was given to remove a curse). The party is also met by Captain Skellerang, who is eager to find out what is going on with the invesitgation. Serro tells about the fights and the speculation that they might be going up against a vampire. Skellerang advises them to do some research before they go into battle with such a creature. He has heard that their like cannot be hurt with ordinary weapons. A bag of goblin ears are presented to the captain, and he trades them for gold, as he promised.

Back to the Inn and they decide to turn in for the night.