Just like Moria...
Father Kurn,
I pray to you, at this dark time to explain why we need your assistance in our lives.
We had overcome the spiritual dragonborn and dwarves that battled endlessly in the temple, taking from them what some believe to be the Gortius Cube… even though it appears to be an orb… and the box of which there was some debate as to whether we should open it our not.
My brother was, unfortunately, less than helpful in the discussion as he was still ‘identifying’ his new mystical instant campsite. ‘Fondling’ is perhaps a more appropriate term. Had I still contact with my compatriots from my misspent youth I might have tried to get him laid… the Holy Family knows he certainly could use it.
No! I must cleanse my mind of such distractions! Back to the issue at hand, oh heavenly Father of us all.
Proceeding onwards deeper into the caverns, we used the egg shell provided to us by the Blue Dragon to guide our path. The area appeared to have once been a well constructed and inhabited part of the Dwarven Hold, but time and violence had apparently done it much injustice. The main path was still well traveled and lit by arcane glow-globes, but when we explored some side tunnels we found them dark and empty. They had been looted and forgotten. We did find an exit to the Chasm, and so marked that point as a place to retreat to if need came around.
Seeing nothing of use in the side tunnels, we proceeded down the main path until we entered a great chamber. Shadows hid the walls so we could not tell the size, but in the darkness off to the left we heard the sound of marching feet. Dousing our light we put our backs to the right hand wall, watching through the darkness as dozens of goblins and hobgoblins came down a grand set of stairs and trooped past us down the way we had just come. If we had been a few minutes later, it would have been disaster!
In the darkness a voice whispered to us, “Are you the ones that freed the workers?” Trusting in your benevolence to reward just actions, Father Kurn, we replaced to the voice, and found it to be an escaped slave. He offered to take us to a Mayor Clearbrook, leader of the escaped slaves and workers. Needing more information about this place, we agreed.
He took us down side tunnels to another chamber where many dwarves, Halflings, and goblin cast-offs lived in squalor. He led to us Mayor Clearbrook, and to our surprise it was a goblin! Oh how Fenor the Son likes to laugh! Turns out Mayor Clearbrook took the name to throw off the hobgoblin masters; who, after all, would expect a Halfling for a Clearbrook.
We spoke at great lengths with the Mayor, learning much about the situation we found ourselves in. The prophet leading our enemies was the Lord of Teeth, who commanded several goblin clans and forcing his new religion that venerated something called the Lord of Chains. No doubt a false god, one held up in blasphemy before your family’s great might, Lord Kurn.
The clans were not a cohesive force, and many grievances still lingered under the surface. Mayor Clearbrook himself worshiped the old goblin gods, and had been cast out because of it. This could serve our purposes, but for immediate need, we had to find where the dragon eggs’ were being held. We asked, in a most convoluted manner, where such items might be kept, but did not receive a definitive answer. Quests must be difficult, in order for your children to grow, Father Kurn.
In the end we retired, with plans to help the runaways by freeing some of their members from the hobgoblin’s harsh mill work. However, before anything could be decided, the hobgoblins attacked the refugee camp! Pandemonium! In the face of such forces, we withdrew, following Mayor Clearbrook’s son. However, after leading us down may paths, we were separated from him, and were forced to take refuge in a hallway in order to escape from a hobgoblin patrol.
At the end of the hall was a storeroom, filled with mining equipment and supplies. Savin found a magic circle, but before it could be examined a hobgoblin patrol came in through a door we had not discovered!
It was a harsh fight, with mighty strikes and fearsome magics being employed by both sides. Eventually however, we triumphed over our foes, slaying them. During our rest, we discovered that the door they had entered through led to a tunnel beside the entry tunnel: with arrow slits and guard rooms. Another check of the magic circle showed it to be a teleport pad.
Examining the guard tunnel, we found it lead to the main room, where a whole host of hobgoblins had assembled! We were trapped in the entry chamber! Quickly we retreated to the chamber, where Savin and Baern were certain they could activate the teleporter, given adequate time.
My brother and I proceeded to fortify the entry way, but I must say, all things considered we did not do a particularly good job of it. Yulia scouted around for a time, and it was during this that our location was discovered by the hobgoblin main force. We were now under siege!
The first wave was repulsed by us, and we inflicted significant losses on their side. However, I doubt it was more than a detachment of their main force.
Behind me, Baern continues his chant, attempting to activate the teleport pad and provide us a method to flee this dead end. In front of us, I can hear them outside the doors, the cries of battle, the sound of weapons, the thunder of many metal-shod feet. Drums beyond our torch-light.
Unless Baern is successful, we can not get out.
We can not get out.
Drums in the darkness.
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