The Hobgoblin Lair
U14 Flamerule, The Year of Twelve Warnings (1494 DR)
Father and son adventurers, Arik and Jon Skaylebane recently came upon a strange magical pillar at the edge of the Misty Forest.
When they investigated the pillar, it summoned random creatures they were forced to fight. After fighting off monsters that nearly cost Jon his life, Arik realized that it might take a wizard to solve the mystery of the pillar.
After recovering at home for a few days and preparing themselves for a journey, the two mounted up on horses and made their way to Daggerford, about a day's ride north along the Trade Way.
Along the way, they stopped for highsun feast at a farm owned by a halfling family Arik knew. Conric Alderleaf and his wife, Idawyn, lived on a small farm along with their three children.
The Skaylebanes had first met the Alderleaf family years before after they had traveled from Daggerford to reclaim Golden Acres from the council of Daggerford who had taken over the land's deed since it was assumed the Skaylebanes were no more. At the time of the Skaylebane's visit, Qelline Alderleaf, the sister-in-law of Corric was visiting with her son Carp. Both were from the village of Phandalin to the north.
Corric said their farm had been raided by a pair of hobgoblins during the past two tendays. So far, only some of the farm's small livestock had been lost. However, the family feared that it could get worse. When asked if the family knew where the hobgoblins were coming from, the eldest son, Devon said he did and would be willing to take Arik and Jon to where he saw the hobgoblins enter a narrow cleft along a dried-up streambed a few miles east of the farm. ***** The entrance to the hobgoblin’s lair was well-hidden with a false rockfall; the carefully placed pile of ivy-smothered stones would have made it difficult to find the entrance had Devon not pointed it out. Urging Devon to return to his family, Arik and Jon entered the lair. They soon emerged in a passage that continued into the earth, sloping gently downwards and steadily widening from five feet to ten feet. Luckily both were half-elves and didn't require any light source knowing that it would easily give them away to whomever--or whatever--was inside the dark lair. Before long, the two heard the sounds of a pair of hobgoblins who were alerted to Arik and Jon's presence in the passage. Two hobgoblins, dressed in worn leather armor and carrying spiked clubs, entered the passage to confront the two adventurers. One of the humanoids pointed its club at Arik and Jon. "You two aren't allowed here! We'll kill you for being here and eat your remains!" The second hobgoblin moved into position. "It's been a while since I had me some elven meat. Luckily, both Arik and Jon spoke goblin. Arik readied his greatsword. "Sorry to disappoint you but we're half-elves, not elves." Arik responded in the goblin language. The lead hobgoblin didn't seem bothered by Arik's revelation. "No matter, fresh meat is fresh meat!" Both hobgoblins charged at the two adventurers, their clubs held high over their heads. After dispatching the two guards, Arik and Jon entered a guardroom. Several old boxes and barrels stored in the chamber contained nothing of value. Searching the hobgoblins revealed they carried a few trinkets but nothing of importance. They examined the wooden door to the north and found it locked from the other side. With weapons ready, Jon rushed the door and broke it down. Beyond lay a corridor that veered east. Jon, always wary of traps examined the floor every five feet. Arik followed closed behind his ranger son. Arik's instincts were right! Halfway down the corridor, Jon discovered a pressure plate carefully painted to match the surrounding floor. Arik looked around the narrow corridor. "Hobgoblins didn't build this place." Jon looked farther down. "Who do you think did, father?" "Dwarves would be my first guess. The stones are well-chiseled and fit evenly together." After jumping over the pressure plate, the two made their way to another locked door. Arik listened at the door then stepped back to Jon. "I hear two hobgoblins in there." Jon readied his bow. "Are they aware of us?" Arik nodded. "I'll break down the door. Be ready to shoot." Arik stepped back and rushed the door. He slammed into the door. It broke free of its hinges and opened into a room. The fighter allowed his momentum to carry him into the room. He felt something slam into his chest as one of two hobgoblins who were standing to either side of the doorway struck him with a club. Arik was quick enough to avoid the other hobgoblin's club. Ignoring the intense pain, Arik turned back to face the two hobgoblins. Both creatures rushed the fighter who avoided nearly having his skull bashed in by wicked spiked clubs. Jon, still standing by the door, aimed and let loose an arrow. The arrow buried itself in the back of the head of one of the hobgoblins fighting Arik. It gave Arik a surprised look and toppled sideways. The last hobgoblin quickly looked behind it to where Jon stood. The ranger was reaching for another arrow from his quiver. Arik took advantage of the distraction. He drove his greatsword into the hobgoblin's stomach, killing it. Jon stepped into the room. He walked up to his father. "Are you alright? You took a good hit." Arik looked at his chest where the hobgoblin's spiked club pierced several links of his chain mail. Blood was seeping through the links. Arik was finding it hard to breathe too. Jon saw the blood and noticed his father's labored breaths. "I'll heal you, father." Arik shook his head. "No, son. Save your healing spell when we need it in battle. I have plenty of healing potions." While Arik busied himself with the potions, Jon searched the room. The room served as the living quarters for the hobgoblins and reeked of sweat and waste. Several straw pallets dotted the room's perimeter. Arik searched the pallets. Barely able to stand the stench, he eventually found 17 gp, 29 sp, and 84 cp. There was a door in the southwest corner of the west wall. The young ranger turned to his father. "You ready?" Arik nodded. Despite the armor being damaged, the healing potions he drank had completely healed him. Jon walked up to the door and carefully searched it for traps. Although he was trained as a rogue, he remembered what Arik taught him. Always be ready for the unexpected. Jon suddenly felt a stabbing pain as his right hand brushed the door near the handle! The ranger threw his hand back and shook hoping to ease the pain. He looked at his palm and noticed a small hole at his palm. He looked back at the door and spotted a small thin needle sticking out of the wood. The fingerless glove he wore wasn't thick enough to stop the needled from pricking his skin. Arik grabbed Jon's hand. "You've been poisoned!" Arik rummaged through his backpack and produced a small vial of potion of healing, one of five he had left. He handed the vial to Arik who downed the syrupy mixture in one swallow. Although the potion had healed the puncture wound, Jon felt his body weaken. The potion had not cured him of the poison coursing through his body. At least the poison didn't kill me outright. Arik finished examining the door. Besides the one needle, he didn't see any more possible traps on the door. Jon felt weak. He looked at Arik who was clearly worried about him. "The poison didn't kill me. I was lucky. It was a mild one, meant to weaken whoever triggered the trap." Arik agreed but was still worried. "That's enough to worry me. We both need to be at full strength to fight whatever else we may encounter in this dungeon." Jon reached for an arrow, his hand shaking with the effort. "I'll be fine, father. Let's keep moving." Arik patted his son's shoulder. He had watched his son grow up to be a skilled ranger, just like his great-grandfather. Yet no matter what, Arik knew he would always do what he could to protect his beloved son.
Corric said their farm had been raided by a pair of hobgoblins during the past two tendays. So far, only some of the farm's small livestock had been lost. However, the family feared that it could get worse. When asked if the family knew where the hobgoblins were coming from, the eldest son, Devon said he did and would be willing to take Arik and Jon to where he saw the hobgoblins enter a narrow cleft along a dried-up streambed a few miles east of the farm. ***** The entrance to the hobgoblin’s lair was well-hidden with a false rockfall; the carefully placed pile of ivy-smothered stones would have made it difficult to find the entrance had Devon not pointed it out. Urging Devon to return to his family, Arik and Jon entered the lair. They soon emerged in a passage that continued into the earth, sloping gently downwards and steadily widening from five feet to ten feet. Luckily both were half-elves and didn't require any light source knowing that it would easily give them away to whomever--or whatever--was inside the dark lair. Before long, the two heard the sounds of a pair of hobgoblins who were alerted to Arik and Jon's presence in the passage. Two hobgoblins, dressed in worn leather armor and carrying spiked clubs, entered the passage to confront the two adventurers. One of the humanoids pointed its club at Arik and Jon. "You two aren't allowed here! We'll kill you for being here and eat your remains!" The second hobgoblin moved into position. "It's been a while since I had me some elven meat. Luckily, both Arik and Jon spoke goblin. Arik readied his greatsword. "Sorry to disappoint you but we're half-elves, not elves." Arik responded in the goblin language. The lead hobgoblin didn't seem bothered by Arik's revelation. "No matter, fresh meat is fresh meat!" Both hobgoblins charged at the two adventurers, their clubs held high over their heads. After dispatching the two guards, Arik and Jon entered a guardroom. Several old boxes and barrels stored in the chamber contained nothing of value. Searching the hobgoblins revealed they carried a few trinkets but nothing of importance. They examined the wooden door to the north and found it locked from the other side. With weapons ready, Jon rushed the door and broke it down. Beyond lay a corridor that veered east. Jon, always wary of traps examined the floor every five feet. Arik followed closed behind his ranger son. Arik's instincts were right! Halfway down the corridor, Jon discovered a pressure plate carefully painted to match the surrounding floor. Arik looked around the narrow corridor. "Hobgoblins didn't build this place." Jon looked farther down. "Who do you think did, father?" "Dwarves would be my first guess. The stones are well-chiseled and fit evenly together." After jumping over the pressure plate, the two made their way to another locked door. Arik listened at the door then stepped back to Jon. "I hear two hobgoblins in there." Jon readied his bow. "Are they aware of us?" Arik nodded. "I'll break down the door. Be ready to shoot." Arik stepped back and rushed the door. He slammed into the door. It broke free of its hinges and opened into a room. The fighter allowed his momentum to carry him into the room. He felt something slam into his chest as one of two hobgoblins who were standing to either side of the doorway struck him with a club. Arik was quick enough to avoid the other hobgoblin's club. Ignoring the intense pain, Arik turned back to face the two hobgoblins. Both creatures rushed the fighter who avoided nearly having his skull bashed in by wicked spiked clubs. Jon, still standing by the door, aimed and let loose an arrow. The arrow buried itself in the back of the head of one of the hobgoblins fighting Arik. It gave Arik a surprised look and toppled sideways. The last hobgoblin quickly looked behind it to where Jon stood. The ranger was reaching for another arrow from his quiver. Arik took advantage of the distraction. He drove his greatsword into the hobgoblin's stomach, killing it. Jon stepped into the room. He walked up to his father. "Are you alright? You took a good hit." Arik looked at his chest where the hobgoblin's spiked club pierced several links of his chain mail. Blood was seeping through the links. Arik was finding it hard to breathe too. Jon saw the blood and noticed his father's labored breaths. "I'll heal you, father." Arik shook his head. "No, son. Save your healing spell when we need it in battle. I have plenty of healing potions." While Arik busied himself with the potions, Jon searched the room. The room served as the living quarters for the hobgoblins and reeked of sweat and waste. Several straw pallets dotted the room's perimeter. Arik searched the pallets. Barely able to stand the stench, he eventually found 17 gp, 29 sp, and 84 cp. There was a door in the southwest corner of the west wall. The young ranger turned to his father. "You ready?" Arik nodded. Despite the armor being damaged, the healing potions he drank had completely healed him. Jon walked up to the door and carefully searched it for traps. Although he was trained as a rogue, he remembered what Arik taught him. Always be ready for the unexpected. Jon suddenly felt a stabbing pain as his right hand brushed the door near the handle! The ranger threw his hand back and shook hoping to ease the pain. He looked at his palm and noticed a small hole at his palm. He looked back at the door and spotted a small thin needle sticking out of the wood. The fingerless glove he wore wasn't thick enough to stop the needled from pricking his skin. Arik grabbed Jon's hand. "You've been poisoned!" Arik rummaged through his backpack and produced a small vial of potion of healing, one of five he had left. He handed the vial to Arik who downed the syrupy mixture in one swallow. Although the potion had healed the puncture wound, Jon felt his body weaken. The potion had not cured him of the poison coursing through his body. At least the poison didn't kill me outright. Arik finished examining the door. Besides the one needle, he didn't see any more possible traps on the door. Jon felt weak. He looked at Arik who was clearly worried about him. "The poison didn't kill me. I was lucky. It was a mild one, meant to weaken whoever triggered the trap." Arik agreed but was still worried. "That's enough to worry me. We both need to be at full strength to fight whatever else we may encounter in this dungeon." Jon reached for an arrow, his hand shaking with the effort. "I'll be fine, father. Let's keep moving." Arik patted his son's shoulder. He had watched his son grow up to be a skilled ranger, just like his great-grandfather. Yet no matter what, Arik knew he would always do what he could to protect his beloved son.
Played on January 19, 2020
Plot type
Chapter
Parent Plot
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