Goblins everywhere

My head hurts.
 
So does my pride.
 
The day started off auspicious enough. We found the goblin fort from which the raids of merchant caravans have been originating. It's a well run place with well thought out defenses and discipline. Seems a bit beyond the typical goblin brainpower, but I guess we'll see who's behind it before long.
 
I used an invisibility spell to scout the area and made my way around the fort, skirting the woods. Couldn't see inside though, so we were left with a big hole in our ability to plan an assault on the fort itself. I also found a trap, complete with a tripwire, hidden among the trees, so we had to be very careful while sneaking around checking things out. I also was nearly discovered by a scout who barely missed me on his rounds. All in all, successful scouting even though we decided to hold off on an attack.
 
So we followed a party of 12 or so, bugbears and goblins and manticores (oh my). Attacked them just after dusk and I got to employ my web wand to try to control the 2 manticores. That worked ok. I'd hoped for better. And we got pretty hammered by stationary goblins with arrows, held in place by Oisin's spell. I had a hard time focusing for some reason and got knocked out a couple times. Hence the headache and the wounded pride. Gotta keep my head in the game.
 
Eventually we finished the fight, but the party decided to keep one of the goblins alive. And now he won't shut up. Can't tell if the information he's spewing is real or not. Hoping we find some of it useful.
 
Oh, and after talking with the luthier in Rennes, I took the time to gather manticore guts to make special lute strings when I get back there. Very exciting.