Keep on the Shadowfell: Part Five

This is part five of a continuing series documenting the deeds (sometimes heroic) of the adventurers (sometimes worthy) that I DM for once a fortnight. It's primarily here so I can remember what the hell was going on in the last session, although usually I've forgotten most of it by the time I come to write it up. See all previous entries here.

Having defeated the first batch of goblins in their guard room at the entrance to the Keep, our party were left with various exits to consider. Passageways and locked doors led to the west and south respectively, and as they were examining their surroundings, Scrindrel the Ranger heard faint screams from the north-west.

Following their previous misfortune with traps, the adventurers approached cautiously and, after passing a storeroom, found a what appeared to be a torture chamber, complete with assorted blood stains, iron maiden*, rack, tables of various implements of torture, and a terrifying hobgoblin eager to use them. Flanked by further goblin warriors, the hobgoblin attempted to bullrush Searos into the iron maiden but was unsuccessful. One of the goblin warriors tried to lure Marroar into a cage in the corner, but just made a fool of himself over a prolonged period of time. Malachi made some critical back stab sneak attacks, Scrindrel showered the enemies with arrows, and Giovana was at hand with divine healing and/or killing rays (depending on your allegiance to Giovana). Again, I'm paraphrasing. I should really write these the next day or something.

Shortly before the end of the battle, Scrindrel and Malachi found a naked beaten goblin in a cell by the name of Splug, who promised to help the adventurers in return for his freedom. Scrindrel was prepared to make such a deal, and Malachi offered Splug interesting new bone configurations to consider should he try to double-cross them. In the meantime however, their alliance was cemented through the process of Malachi using Splug as a human goblin shield.

Once the goblins were defeated along with their hobgoblin leader, Splug dressed himself in the armour of his former torturers, and relayed all the useful information he could about the surrounding environs. He was familiar with various rooms used by the goblins, including an excavation to the east. He also knew that their leader was Balgron the Fat, and that there was a secret passage that led directly to his quarters. He was unable to provide any further useful information, despite encouraging threats of bodily violence from Malachi.

The party decided to investigate the excavation to the east next, and in the approaching corridor found a secret passageway that they assumed led to Balgron's quarters. However, they failed in stealth and, alerted to their presence, the goblins in the excavation attacked, flanked by two guard drakes.

Another fierce battle commenced. The excavation site made it very difficult - the large chamber contained patches of the original floor dotted around like islands between massive trenches where the goblins had dugs to depths of up to 10ft in search of something. Rickety planks connected these ladders, and it was Searos who found out the hard way that these planks simply weren't designed for dwarves who wore heavy armour and had a penchant for carbohydrates.

Finally the battle was won, and the party could regroup before taking Balgron's quarters. Stay tuned! Next time: An increase in story accuracy guaranteed!

* As it was pointed out to me during the game, Iron Maiden's were never actually a real-life middle-ages torture device. Did you know that Dragons aren't real either?