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Message: <blockquote data-quote="TheSword" data-source="post: 8109050" data-attributes="member: 6879661">Chapter One: Session FiveThistletop and the Cliffs.[Spoiler=Session Five]The next day messages arrived from Shelalu Tharask and Sheriff Hemlock. A merchant had been attacked by goblins on the road near Thistletop and was offering a reward if someone would return the thoroughbred warhorse taken by the goblins. 50gp each! Shelalu had already accepted the commission and as the party were intending to investigate Thistletop anyway it made sense to travel together.The journey took about 3 hours and they arrived at the promontory Shelalu described at about lunch time. Scouting around they found the outcropping was topped by thick gorse bushes a dozen feet high and intermingled into a solid mass, backing right up to the wave lashed cliffs. Tharnlas’s sharp eyes spotted a disguised panel woven of wood and matted gorse blocking what appeared to be a secret entrance. Steeling themselves they pushed the passage open with care revealing four feet high tunnels they needed to crouch to enter.The tunnels twisted left and right with several branches. Shelalu led the way followed by Nix and Adysson. Though Tharnlass slipped into the shadows and took an adjoining passage. They soon stumbled into a den of goblins, almost as surprised as they were. It didn’t take them long to recover from their shock as Shelalu took one in the eye with an arrow. The goblins mobbed them, with Adysson bravely stepping in the way taking several vicious wounds from lucky strikes. Nix flung rays of frost at the goblins from behind, while Tharnlass stepped from the shadows and stabbed his blade and dagger into an unsuspecting goblin. Unfortunately he too was targeted almost dropping as the goblins fought tooth and class. Eventually the goblins lost their nerve, first one ran to open another hidden board that led out onto a cliff side ledge. Then the rest broke, fleeing out onto the ledge.Looking out Adysson saw cliffs 70 feet down with a narrow spit of beach at the bottom. Across the estuary they could see a rounded rocky pile rising out of the water 50 feet away with a wooden fort built atop it. A rickety rope bridge let to it from the eastern side of the thicket and two of the goblins were edging along the ledge towards it. Another two had gone left and disappeared out of sight. Taking aim Adysson dropped the first one with a well placed crossbow bolt. The other dodging and cackled as spell after spell missed him and bolts snapped off wood and shield. Luckily Shelalu dropped the creature with another arrow just in front of the gates to the goblin fort.Heading left the party found the goblins - one wounded - at a dead end above a lagoon below, rising and falling as waves swelled. The lagoon was bordered by a steep beach and a cave led from the lagoon into the cliff below. A bolt killed the first and the second jumped screaming into the lagoon - only to miraculously land in the water unharmed. Inspired Tharnlass and Nix both jumped in, though not before another bolt wounded the swimming goblin. Determined to take a more sensible approach Shelalu and the armoured Adysson tied a rope off and climbed down but not before seeing a large shadow pass underwater from the cave to the goblin, silently dragging it under the water, blood pooling in the lagoon.Making it the shingle beach the party resolved to enter the partially submerged cave tunnel. With a rope around his waist - and with strict orders to be pulled back if the rope was tugged - Tharnlass swam into the dark cave. It didn’t take long for the shadow to approach, claws rending Tharnlass’ leg and teeth sinking deep. The others hauled him back as quick as they could, towing the large creature back through the water. A monstrous hybrid of fish and ogre clinging to Tharnlass like a shark to its bait. It let go and started to clamber up onto the beach, rearing into the air at least 10 feet. Nix dragged the wounded elf as from it as she could and healed his wounds. The others attacked the creature which while slower on land was no less fearsome. A furious battle ensued its claws nearly decapitating Nix and Shelalu. Tharnlass jumping back turned the tide though and creature was beaten down finally collapsing on the shingles.A short rest to bandage and take a breather allowed them to recover enough to explore the sea cave which opened into an underwater grotto littered with bones and some treasure - a jeweled scabbard, a leather roll of rune-enscribed bolts, and a green spinel. The party left the lair by climbing up to a hole in the ceiling via a path of iron spikes hammered into the limestone rock.They found themselves back in the thorn lair. A kennel of goblin dogs, scabrous and mangy made a lot of noise even though tied to the walls by choke ropes. Concerned about leaving enemies behind and remembering the attack on First Tower the party killed the dogs, as the snapped and tried to break their rope tethers. Past the dogs kennel the path to the rope bridge was clear but they were tempted south by firelight.An aging goblin shaman was waiting for them, grinning that they were strong to have killed the bowler in the hole and that the goblins they slew were nothing - hangers on from other tribes. The shaman had been displaced by a human heretic and chief Ripnugget had been led away from generation of his ancestors by this false prophet. They presumed this was the much heard of Nualia who had apparently claimed the lower levels of the fort along with her guards and companions. A wizard, a Bugbear hunter and a strong but dumb fighter. Gogmurk would allow them to sleep here if the party would sneak to the lower levels and kill Nualia allowing him to take his place as Ripnugget’s advisor again. He swore that they would stop the attacks on traders and First Tower.Taking him up on his offer, but refusing the suspicious stew he provided, the party rested from their exertions and regained their magic. The next morning they headed towards the bridge and the goblin fort. Deciding to scout the perimeter first the party rounded a corner tower to see four goblin commandos riding goblin dogs and harrying some creature on the ground. Tharnlass observed them from cover and the party prepared to ambush the distracted goblins.[/Spoiler]This was a fun session with an interesting environment. The low thorn roofs and the secret edges, ledges and cliffs let to some interesting encounters.<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The goblins were standard goblins (though three crits in the first fight made them very effective in combat.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Gogmurk was a small Druid changed to goblin.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">His companion was a panther.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The goblin dogs were Mastiffs with a diseased bite.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The runic bolts are +1 bolts. If they hit a creature carrying a non-magical shield or would have hit were it not for the shield they bolt deals damage and shatters the shield.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The spinel was worth 25gp</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The jeweled scabbard was worth 50gp.</li> </ul></blockquote>

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