Entry 12

Kobolds here and there and everywhere. Then, wait for it...wait...wait....aaaaaaaa dragon! Alas poor Veocyn...dragon food. A TPK, almost, if Angus hadn't run from the fight from the beginning...with all the healing potions! Kukla trying to distract the beast flashing a staff pulled from his treasure, but the dragon was busy killing the dwarf and elf (and of course the cleric paying his debt to the long-eared rogue).

Kukla soon caught up with the magus, but Angus had no desire to part with a potion, "They're dead, if not dragon food already. We're on our own." But Kukla was determined, hoping the magic user wrong. And the more he thought of it, he remembered the cleric had a healing potion in his belt pouch. So hours later he slowly crept back to the lair, his own heartbeat pounding loudly in his head. And lo the dragon was sleeping. Veocyn and Garith all but bones, yet Geno and Oleg's bodies undisturbed. Carefully, slowly the gnome crept forward to the cleric, watching the dragon eyelids for any movement. Too focused on the eyes to notice the dragon tail moving toward him.

Kukla lifted the potion from the belt about the same time he was lifted, as the eyes greeted him, "It was so nice of you to bring back my staff and jewelry you stole. And I can't remember when I last feasted on gnome."

If anyone should enter these caverns, beware the mad magus. The feral man fighting for his life and scrap of food within these damn passages owned by kobolds spawning like rabbits. Rich with treasure he'll never be able to spend!

Entry 11

Morning and we continue searching the passages...for a way out? Have to evade the cube, luring it out of a new passage that leads to a new octagon room. 8 new doors. 8 meandering passages, most connected (door 2 leads to door 4, door 3 to 5). A side passage ending in a steam vent that rises to maybe the crevasse we saw in the monastery courtyard days ago. A monitor lizard basking in the heat, a swarm of fire-stinging gnats tasting Geno. A hasty exit before the vent blows.

Upon opening door 6, we can hear the crashing of a waterfall ahead. Phosphorous lichen lights the stream as we walk the shallow river coming upon a kobold outpost. So much for an exit from this hell-hole!

 

Entry 10

As we continue to explore this underground labyrinth of cavernous passages, it becomes obvious other creatures have fallen down the trap chute over the decades. Many feral/starving foe who attack what they see as food. Surprised to question why these creatures don't camp in the octagonal room under the trap-chute awaiting food delivery. Emaciated BugBears, a swarm of large mosquitoes (i.e. Stirges), and a treat for the cleric...frenzied undead hobgoblins. But most alarming and deadly, a strange gelatinous cube that threatens to devour man and his weapons with acid.

 

Entry 9

Recognizing familiar hallways and rooms, Garith led the group to the goblin throne room. A pitched battle against a horde of hobgoblins defending their king. Garith going all out, leaving one fight to charge the king only to be stopped short. Raging power-blows, near exhaustion and death (2 HP) yet still he fought. Slew the king and a few more hobgoblins before he collapsed unconscious (loss of raging HP). A night of rest to then triumphantly carry the king's severed head upon a spear. A show of intimidation. A short-lived show when all lost their footing, sliding down a ramp trap. Into an underground world so far void of goblins and their kin.

Entry 8

It's tough to break contact with the enemy when the gnome keeps blasting away with that loud pistol. Wave after wave of hobgoblin patrols rounded the corners drawn to the sound. It took Veocyn setting fire to a barricade and Angus casting "Obscuring Mist" to give us chance to make a tactical retreat. And what the hell was the dwarf thinking charging into the hobgoblin ranks to begin with?!

Entry 7

More wandering the passages beneath the monastery. More hobgoblin patrols with at least one escaping to continue the alarm of our presence. And then our stumble upon a mad cleric...Moray (as the dwarf names him), who begins to cast.

Our rush to attack him and pummel him to death. No chance to interrogate, to find out the purpose, plans, and leadership of the goblin army somewhere around here.

Maybe that's the purpose behind Angus' roasting torture of a goblin...a ritual sacrifice for a devining spell?

Entry 6

Finally,3 successful pistol shots by the gnome. Although his silencer was a dud. Luck that we rescued a dwarf who knows a thing-or-two about firearms. But I get ahead of myself...

We've cleared the main floor after dealing with another hobgoblin patrol almost caught off-guard. Our stealthy approach foiled by noisy armor. Geno tried to bluff,calling out orders in goblinese but they were not fooled by the unique sounds of Oleg's armor. Archers trading shots over the dieing bodies of Angus and Kukla. Oleg hesitant to channel healing concerned he's raise some foe too. Only when the last foe retreated to the ogre room, did Oleg channel for his allies gathered away from the battle scene. Which gave the foe the chance to come out and escape to raise the alarm.

We made our way to the stairs to begin exploring the lower area. A hobgoblin nest. But a forge when we rescued the dwarven smithy laboring to craft weapons for a growing army. Of course we had to get past the bugbear first!