HotDK 16: "Hobgoblin Hoedown"

It’s been a few days since the Doppelganger incident. Achreny can’t stop boasting about how he hired the best people because you all took them down so quickly. It’s also been a little over a tenday since you left Baldur’s Gate so you’ve been paid your agreed upon weekly wage. Other than that, it’s been relatively slow. The weather has been very favorable and so the caravan has made extremely good time and is actually a few days ahead of schedule. You’re through the Troll Claw mountains already and only a couple of days from the town of Dragonspear where you’re set to enjoy a couple of days of down time before continuing north.

Near dusk Malice and Brehanna hear noises from around the bend in the road ahead while Pubert is otherwise having a load conversation with Achreny. Eventually Brehanna gets the rest of the convoy’s attention and halted so that she, Malice, and Pubert can scount ahead to determine what’s going on.

They come upon an ambush! A merchant and his three guards are barricaded behind their cart, their pack animals nowhere to be seen other than bloody trails heading off to the north. On the other side of the road is a band of seven hobgoblins shooting an unending stream of arrows. Naturally, the group decides to intervene.

Brehanna and Malice manage to take cover behind a large rock where they can cast spells from a safe distance while Pubert, in typical fashion, rushes forward to confront the Hobgoblins in melee. Between the three and the merchant’s guards throwing spears, the Hobgoblins are eventually vanquished and Malice’s skill at healing keeps a couple of the guards alive.

The merchant is exceedingly grateful for saving his life and his goods as well as getting him a brief spot in the caravan the rest of the way to Dragonspear since his horses were mortally wounded and ran off. He rewards Brehanna, Malice, and Pubert handsomely and let’s them know if they are ever in Dragonspear and need anything to contact him without hesitation.

Upon reaching Dragonspear you’re given a couple days off to rest; naturally your room and board are covered as part of your compensation for your guard duties.