Session III: Gnel's Return Report

General Summary

After clearing the hold of enemies, the adventurers have still not encountered the fat lord of the Hold. As such they return to the dungeons to interrogate the imprisoned goblin Shluk there. He tells them Gnel must have gone hunting then and he'll be back soon. After some debate on how to handle the situation, the adventurers decide to ambush Gnel in the Hold upon his return.

Preparations

The adventurers set up camp in the South-Eastern tower of the hold. To ensure Gnel does not grow suspicious, the adventurers impale the goblin corpses to stand right-up looking like your regular guards. Furthermore, they bring 2 oil barrels from the keep to the front gate and hide these near the gatehouse on the wall. Afterwards they drink a few beers, say their prayers and go to sleep. During the watch, Tristan can see white-feathered birds in the distance, which he identifies as Pearl Birds. Balin goes into the keep and scratches "Balin was here" on the wall. In the morning the adventurers take up defensive positions and Nalan sets up a Snare spell at the gate's entrance. Tristan goes out scouting and spots Gnel's band a mile away from the Hold. He returns to his companions and tells them of the approaching doom.

Gnel's Return

Upon returning the goblins greet the guards at the Hold's entrance in Goblin, to which Oswald responds by using Prestidigation to mimic the goblin sounds. Gnel calls to open the gate, to which Tristan responds and he opens the gate. Two goblins walk through the gate first with the carcasses of a Snapper and a Boar. One of the goblins is caught by the Snare trap and combat ensues. Balin fires a poison arrow at Gnel, taking out almost half of his HP in one hit. Oswald puts a goblin and hobgoblin to sleep and Gnel takes cover under the guard house. Another goblin rushes in to assault the fleeing Tristan. Nalan uses a ladder to go to the exterior of the wall, facing his foes head-on. Before this however, an oil barrel is thrown on the gate entrance, creating an oil surface beneath the Snared goblin. Later this oil surface is lit on fire by Oswald's magic. The goblin finally dies by suffocation from the smoke.
In the end Gnel succeeds in knocking down Tristan and scales the walls where he meets Oswald, who he also downs in one hit with his club. Nalan realizes what is going on, scales his ladder, kicks it down and runs to aid his friends, healing Oswald with lay on hands. Afterwards he takes an Attack of Opportunity from Gnel, bringing him to 1 HP, and heals Tristan. Tristan furious with Gnell shoots an arrow toward Gnel and fells him. Later he makes a headshot on another hobgoblin that scaled the wall. In the end the adventurers are victorious, and put Gnel's head on a spike near the gate entrance.

Venturing to Ban Grond

After some debate the adventurers decide on travelling onward, after taking a Short Rest. On their journey to Ban Grond they encounter an old cave entrance in the hills. Within the cave they find a small altar and quickly realize something is up: 2 young gricks are sliddering and sladdering toward them over the ceiling. The heroes manage to defeat the gricks and loot for treasure. They discover the altar was once dedicated to Beliar with a small statuette of his remaining. Nalan decides to purify it through flames, burning the statuette in the name of Innos. After taking a Long Resting the adventurers feel courageous and ascend to #LEVEL 3.

Entering Ban Grond

Upon nearing Ban Grond the adventurers are met by a hunting party of the Yellow Bones. Shluk quickly explains the situation to the hunting party and the adventurers are brought to the chieftain of the Yellow Bones, Zulk the Wise. Zulk speaks with the adventurers, giving them two options: Either the adventurers leave Ban Grond to never return or they take their chances to be admitted as guests to the tribes in the Council Halls. The adventurers decide upon option 2 and venture to the Council Halls. After interrogation by Azaroth, who votes against admitting them, Aard and Zulk welcome the adventurers as guests to the tribe. The adventurers celebrate at Zulk's Retreat, conversing with Zulk in the process. In the end Zulk asks the Resourceful Ones to aid him in defeating an outcast goblin tribe of evil sorcerers, known as Nilbog. They live in the jungle to the east in their hidden village. Luckily, Shluk was spying on Gnel's troops who traded with the people of the Shire of Sloniz. Before his capture he memorized the road through the jungle, which he will happily guide the adventurers on. The adventurers barter with Zulk and a reward of 300 gp (TOTAL!!!!) is agreed upon, after which the adventurers consider Zulk's offer and call it a day.

Rewards Granted

• Pearl Birds

Campaign

The Island of Runaar

Protagonists

Tristan Zabaleta

Level 5 Human Neutral Ranger (Monster Slayer)
(Innkeeper)

/ 38 HP

Nalan

Oswald Fleetfeet

TN halfling(gnome) (cloistered scholar)
wizard 5

26 / 26 HP

STR
8

DEX
15

CON
13

INT
19

WIS
16

CHA
10

Report Date

19 May 2020

Primary Location

Gnel's Hold

Secondary Location

Ban Grond