A Duel for the Tailor

Our plan of attack on the cave was initially a partial success. The Headsmasher's constructs managed to lure the sentries towards us, and we took down the ogre in a somewhat coordinated ambush. However, the trickster Nakor attempted to confuse the goblin by manifesting an illusion of another goblin next to him. Clearly being one of the more intellectual of his kind, the goblin saw through the illusion and ran into the cave. As this was happening, Dormaruk decapitated the ogre, intending to intimidate the warband by showing them the mutilated remains of their compatriot. I was witness to many such barbarous displays with the Grand Company - the centaur raiders of the Khanate believed it would demoralise us - but vengeance for the fallen instills more resolve than any commander. Of course, a goblin warband is not nearly as disciplined as a White Sentinel regiment - Dormaruk's thinking was sound. Soon after the goblin's retreat, a platoon-sized group of ogres, bugbears, and goblins appeared at the entrance. Again, Nakor created an illusion, this time in the form of a female goblin. As to why he has such a knowledge of goblin anatomy, I can only guess. Still, this caused what I can only describe as insubordination - the goblins and bugbears started killing each other , hoping to win the favour of the supposed woman in front of them? When the fighting subsided, their leader came out, we were seen, and thus our element of surprise was gone. Nakor remained unrevealed, since he hid some way from the rest of us. The plan was no longer relevant.
 
Dormaruk went ahead and started negotiating by throwing the ogre's head out in front of the warband. There was some back-and-forth chest-pounding. Ultimately, the warband started laughing at his threats. Considering their vast numerical and tactical advantage over us, this was justified, albeit unprofessional. The leader then offered a bad deal - that I be turned over to them in exchange for Deorgria. I appealed to their obvious pride, and instead asked for a duel against one of their champions, turning myself over if I lost, and us retrieving Deorgria if I won. They accepted, and their champion arrived - a troll! Not a great outlook. But it was the only choice that could lead to us succeeding that day. The battle was more even than I expected, despite one of the ogres going in to attack the troll mid-duel. I can only assume it to be Nakor's doing. Quite reckless, since I suspect they would not have hesitated to attack us all if they discovered that our side was trying to influence the outcome. The troll was clearly not a normal one, making no sounds at all, even upon suffering grievous injury. It perished all the same. I can now add having fought and bested a troll in single combat to my list of experiences. This practical display of martial prowess visibly intimidated the warband - no laughs to be had - and they even held up their end - they brought out Deorgria, unconscious. After confirming that it was her, it was time to leave. Not a moment too soon, since the leader's state of mind reneged on the deal as we set out to depart. So we very hastily left, with the Headsmasher using one of his inventions to delay the warband. When we came upon Trongdong's bridge, Nakor mimicked the tailor's voice, suggesting that the goblins had failed, and that he should exact revenge upon them, which he left to do. We destroyed the bridge afterwards, and set out for the camp we made the day before. The tailor did not wake up during mine or Nakor's shift, only mumbling in her sleep. "Not the ship," and "ship," words that will calm Dormaruk's nerves, assuredly.
 
In the morning we return victorious to Amarley.