Rosia Lightfoot's Journal - Part 21

Disaster has struck the party! As we questioned the goblin further, it became apparent that he did not fear us at all, in fact he seemed to think that we were about to die horribly. He kept saying, "Unkulggar is released, the Hammerfists are coming!" In the distance we could hear what sounded like hammers striking anvils, and the deep booming of drums. We thought to parlay with the goblin leader, and we set our captive free with a message that we only sought safe passage through the goblin territory. He ran off into the darkness, and it was not long before we could detect the massing of goblin forces to the south, and to the north and east. We were not too worried, as we still had our secret exit to the west.

A goblin voice rang out in the darkness, apparently the goblin leader, and we tried to bargain with him. However, he demanded that we pay a tribute to him, before he would let us pass. He wanted 5000gp in gems and coin. Perhaps all of our treasure put together might equal this, but we were not about to part with our hard-earned booty. Ran spoke to them, and tried to offer them an alternative deal, but they didn't seem interested in getting their fallen comrades' armour and weapons back as payment...

Whilst this "negotiation" was going on, we tried to formulate an escape plan. Isaak reminded us that he had a scroll that would make us all invisible. I wanted to use this scroll, combined with a simple illusion spell to make it sound like we were still behind the barriers, in order to sneak east, hopefully by-passing the majority of the goblin forces. However, we could not arrive at a consensus, some of the party wanted to go west, and use the secret area as a stronghold. We thought it best to make sure that the secret area was still secure, so I sneaked in and cracked open the secret door to the north-east. In the corridor to the north, I could see goblins moving about quietly, tapping on the walls and clearly searching for concealed doors. They must have worked out how we able to surprise them. It was only a matter of time before they discovered the secret area, and our advantage would be lost.

I reported back, and a heated debate followed. Unfortunately this took so long that the goblins gave up waiting for a reply and attacked us. We had no choice now but to retreat to the secret area. Alas! When we opened the secret door we were confronted by goblins, and also some larger goblinoid creatures with hammer-like devices attached where their hands should be: the Hammerfists had found us!

Now we were stuck in the corridor like the goblins had been when we attacked them: we were caught in our own trap! To make matters worse, a large grey creature appeared from the east. This was Unkulggar, and Isaak told us later that it was a Grey Render. I have drawn a sketch of it here:


It proved a most fearsome foe, and Oren was nearly ripped in half by its powerful arms. Oren and Quercus fought to the east, and Curbag to the west. Ran summoned a host of creatures to aid us, and Isaak used his magic to help Curbag. I tried to move to a position where I might help, but the close quarters we fought in were ill-suited to my type of combat techniques. I cursed the fact that I had not paid more attention to the acrobatic skills, then I might have moved about the battlefield more freely. I vowed to devote myself to them in the future.

The fight did not go well for us, Oren was badly wounded by the Render, and Curbag had taken much damage from the Hammerfists. Ran had used up all his spells, and finally transformed himself into a large bear, and moved to the west to help Curbag clear an escape route for us. Curbag had been so badly wounded that he had to retreat, and the goblins poured in from the west. As he moved back he was struck down by the foul creatures, and I watched in horror as he fell under their blows. Quercus had also been watching, and he lunged forwards with a healing prayer on his lips, he reached out to touch Curbag, but at the last moment a goblin kicked him aside, and the spell was wasted. Even in the heat of battle I could hear Curbag's death rattle, and could do nothing to help him...

We were desperate now, one of our comrades had fallen, and Oren was close to death as well. We pushed to the west, into the secret area, but there were too many goblins, and another Hammerfist as well. Things were looking bad for us, but then we heard the sound of horns blaring out, and the bugbears from the north area joined in the fight. Never have I been so pleased to see these ugly creatures! They had obviously decided that we had softened the goblins enough for them to make a final stand against them. It seems we have changed the balance of power in this part of the dungeon.

So, we are saved, but Curbag lies dead. We carried him to the safe room, and Quercus prepared his body so that it would not decompose. Perhaps we can bring him back even from the very jaws of death itself? I miss Curbag: who will carry my equipment now...?