Episode Eighty-four - Lair of the Goblin King
General Summary
After clearing out the rest of the goblin warren, the party exited with two prisoners to be greeted by a crowd of onlookers. Asked questions by the village folk whom had gathered, the party answered a few before going to meet the captain of the military unit in the area. Turning over the prisoners, they traded information and established themselves, timeously, as mercenaries for the Army of the Kingdom of Fraellan. With their employment established, Captain Tergenon assured their common information and shared that the goblin boss the party had captured was talking. He also assured the party that they had a common enemy and they shared with him that that enemy's name was Faamdiohl, the Death Tyrant. Their loose organization established, the party went to interrogate the the goblin boss, after learning that kindness was the only thing it would hear. Its new interrogator, Tycondys, handed over the reins and shook Arion's hand in greeting before he left.
After learning that Alzac the Goblin King had five tribes under his rule, they learned that they were called: the Bloody Handz, Crescent Moon, the Yellow Shields, Shlong Shlangers, and Big Boyz who's rank were filled with hobgoblins. Through Sol's use of his new magic necklace, he learned that an attack on the town would likely occur from the north, though none of the party shared that information with anyone aside from themselves.
Returning to the Deep Road Inn and Tavern, the party rested for the evening whilst Raven took the time to have a drink. Having consumed Dragon Poison Ale, Raven blacked out that night and awoke the next morning having robbed Jorg and potentially other patrons for coin, coin which she later learned bought her Gloves of Missile Snaring from an old man who's daughter used them for magic shows. Outside, the party were met by Judge Jorlin whom Sol easily sussed out as being Vecna, controlling yet another body in an attempt to recruit them. Calming the Judge once he awoke, the party spoke with him about an organization known as the Night Sentinels. They learned the group could be found amongst the Witch Hunting Guild and they would have to send a special raven to contact them as entry to the guildhall remained forbidden. Arion did so by way of Durnan, whom hired someone.
Out into the wilderness with the goblin boss at hand for directions, the party marched across a river to the Goblin Warrens. Spending much of the 20th of the Wolf in search of the Lair of the Goblin King, the party encountered a talking buck with a proper accent named Garforfunncul who told men of a tortle and his rival. Pointed in the direction of said tortle, the group recruited him and took him away from his quest to defeat Shelldellîs the Dark. The wise tortle even tried to help in their fight against the guards of the lair but only managed to actually help once the heroes were inside and the goblin boss Greekgor was eaten by rats. Further in, they found a magolang named Gryk and defeated it. Hoping then to defeat Azlac, the party steeled themselves for further battle.
Part Two
After a shared moment of forlorn longing, the heroes looked back within but pushed forward into the dungeon. After a room hiding several goblins, that were released, the heroes passed by a room containing ghosts. In the next room the party found a great hall filled with wrecked tables, a throne, and a statue of Azlac that had a secret passage built in to its base. Heeding caution concerning the lair of the death tyrant, Arion blocked the passage as Annabelle rescued a captive found within the room.
As destiny would have it, the captive was her very own father. Happy to see her, he thanked her for his accidental rescue and admitted that he'd been trying to find her since she left home. After catching up and admitting he'd let her mother get away with far to much horrid treatment, he offered an apology which Annabelle did not respond to.
The shame apparent on him, he declared, "my loving daughter, it was my duty to protect you and low I did try; it was an emotion assault that I failed to fight. Family often blind and love dulls our senses but as I saw you leave, I found realization. I left far to much unanswered and unsaid but the rest of our family and friends are wrong. Your differences are your glory Annabelle, though Seldarine may never accept you as elvenkind you are my blood if nothing else and regardless of your mother's experimentations."
He concluded their talk with, "I made an error and for it I shall never return to good graces in my own mind. I just hope that someday you may forgive me."
As they traveled on, skipping much of the dungeon, he explained "I left home and soon followed rumor to Evereska those years ago. As for many, I found myself unable to find the secretive enclave and soon lost hope. After spending several months in drunken despair, I hatched a plan to meet the god I'd heard you were worshipping and found a way here, to the Outlands. My hope was that I could find a portal that could take me to the Olympian Glades but I have failed in that also. What I did manage to do was survive as a slave, but no one wants a slave who's only skill is survival. Finally, I was traded to some goblins; these goblins in fact, whom I believe intended to sacrifice me to a floating skull for favor. Luckily for me, I wasn't sacrificed as my slavers needed a nap."
As Arion reached a door he believed lead to Azlac, Annabelle's father admitted, "Oh, I should mention your mother has left me. She did so not long after I set out in search of you. She also informed me that she sold my familial home, which has belonged to my family for generations, and all of my possessions and those you left in order to pay for a trip she is going on. She mentioned in her letter that she will be leaving with her new lover; he is some Shadar-Kai fellow and they are heading to the Nether Mountains I think."
"Ah," he added, clinging to a memory, "I remember she said that she is trying to gain favor with his goddess the Raven Queen. It was something to do with a task in the mountains and some secret factoid she wanted."
After a battle with the goblins of the dungeon, which lead two to flee in fear and Azlac's death, the heroes looted the body and recovered a magical axe and helm. With Erith's Claw given to Jorg, the Helm of the Draconic Warlord was stowed away. Eventually, the party made their way to a cell that contained a single goblin, Frog. Arion found his imprisonment suspicious and lead the rest of the party to the same consensus. With no one trusting him, a brutal campaign of questioning began where one was flung after the next. They learned that the goblin would rather be called snake, that he was a cosmically polymorphed tarrasque, that he feared the gods should his true form be show, and that he wanted to join the group and rename them the Tunnel Snakes.
After searching an offering room and speaking to a specter whom told them that an offering could grant them 2 days' resistance to fire, they left and found refuge in the dungeon. Waiting for the death tyrant to make a move against the town, the heroes held up within the dungeon until the 24th of the Wolf. Come the morning of the 24th, they reconsidered their options.
Rewards Granted
Part One 240xp
Part Two 244xp
Missions/Quests Completed
Quest Vecna's Eye Continued, Sidequest Forlorn Founding Completed, Sidequest Lair Within Lair Started
Notes
Notable Party Damage:
- Aldrich has a horrible burn scar on the left side of his neck in front of the ear from an azure fire elemental summoned by Seldra Tylmarande. His armor and shield are extremely claw marked from many Lizardfolk. His shield has a large fist shaped dent in it from when he was crushed by a Sacred Statue.
Noted Effects: Horrible Scar (Neck). You are disfigured to the extent that the wound can't be easily concealed. You have disadvantage on Charisma (Persuasion) checks and advantage on Charisma (Intimidation) checks. Magical healing of 6th level or higher, such as heal and regenerate, removes the scar. Missing. - Annabelle has a hole in her armor and healing wound on her right abdomen from a kobold's arrow. She has a scar on her left abdomen from an attempted assassination.
Noted Effects: Minor Scar (Left Abdomen). The scar doesn’t have any adverse effect. Magical healing of 6th level or higher, such as heal and regenerate, removes the scar. - Arion came from Arda with a scar that won't seem to heal.
Noted Effects: Minor Scar (Head). The scar doesn't have any adverse effect. Magical healing of 6th level or higher, such as heal and regenerate, removes the scar. - Raven is pristine.
Noted Effects: None - Sol has tear marks across the back and chest of his shirt, as well as down the sleeve, from the claws of lizardfolk. He was shot in the stomach by a beholder's enervation ray and it left a burned hole in his clothes. He has a scar across his right jaw from a nail that was shot at him in an explosion.
Noted Effects: Horrible Scar. You are disfigured to the extent that the wound can't be easily concealed. You have disadvantage on Charisma (Persuasion) checks and advantage on Charisma (Intimidation) checks. Magical healing of 6th level or higher, such as heal and regenerate, removes the scar.
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