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Gronth, meanwhile, perhaps as a result of accidentally ingesting some carrion crawler meat, was feeling a bit of intestinal distress. He was questioning his ability to finish the adventure when a light appeared in the distance from the direction that they had come. It turned out to be Yancey Figbottom with his hireling Radish in tow. Yancey was concerned because the adventure had lasted longer than the two sessions that he had assumed and was checking on the status of the party. Upon realizing that the party was safe, but hearing of Gronth’s poop issues, Yancey suggested that Gronth returned return to the cave entrance with him while Radish could take on tanking duties.
With a wave of his hand, Yancey dispelled an illusion an and the form of Radish shifted from a rugged, older human to an angry looking, half-orc barbarian named Hurodash. The party decided to continue on with Hurodash while Yancey and Gronth returned to the cavern entrance.
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The newly reconfigured party quickly made their way to the end of the passage where - in stark contrast to the darkness elsewhere - a well-lit, cavernous pit appeared. The pit was approximately 60 feet across and more than 20 feet deep. It was surrounded by rickety wooden scaffolding. Hanging from the ceiling were dozens of chains and ropes, each holding a lantern, torch or brazier, or ending in a huge hook from which a rotting body was suspended. A pulley system with buckets stretched from the upper level to the floor below. Beneath the scaffolding on one side was a small opening in the cavern wall. The floor of the pit was filled with dirty furs, random detritus, and one large wooden throne covered with copper cups, tin plates and small coins that had been nailed to it.
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The party quickly formed an intricate plan that mostly resembled an all-out frontal attack. In his first action, Hurodash took the lead , and with an angry scream made a running leap, hooked the edge of his axe over the pulley rope, and slid down into the pit. At the last moment his foot clipped the edge of one of the buckets and he tumbled the last few feet, landing but landed unscathed on the floor of the pit on his back in the midst of the hobgoblins. His mission was a success, however, as all attention was turned to him.
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In the meantime, Rhagal danced in and out of the footfray, each thrust of his rapier and dagger finding vital organs . Each and each of the guards fell to him. The chieftain himself had gone blind due to a spell from Yornan and was facing the wrong direction and swinging wildly. The goblins looked almost defeated when a half-orc hobgoblin monk leapt from scaffolding above and into the fray. First, he summoned four mangy, bat-winged, miniature pincher-snouted monkeys from the dark hole in the cavern wall. Then, he blinked behind Hurodash and lashed out with his feet and fists, striking four times, twice with crushing blows to the back of his neck and skull.
It was bit a temporary respite for the goblins hobgoblins as a steady succession of blows and spells felled the creatures. The last of monkeys was killed when Rhagal ran up the makeshift throne, leapt from its back to one of the ropes above, swung across the room, landed with balletic grace and skewered it with an improbable thrust. Hurodash charged up the ladder towards the hobgoblin monk (even though it held the high ground) and with a mighty swipe severed both legs at the ankles.
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However, as the explored the shrine, they found a hidden door to a small cell containing a half-dozen dirty, emaciated humanoid miners , chained to the walls. Corliss noted the uncanny resemblance to Gronth and Yancey eventually explained that they were dwarves, a cursed race with dead gods, likely from beyond the Badcrag Mountains. Corliss gave them rations and they went on their way after a quick conversation with Yancey,.
After the conversation, Yancey reached behind and beneath the statue of Maglubiyet and pulled out a casket that contained four large, uncut , rubies and slid them into his pocket.
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Yornan immediately shifted his logical assault. After Yancey admitted that the Martin Shimlock and The Resistance were muscle used by his organization, Yornan lied to Yancey and said that the party had suffered greatly due to the lies and underhanded behavior of Martin. Corliss jumped in with another account where Martin had done the same. Yancey believed the lies and was convinced to tell the party more details.
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Finally, Yancey confirmed that he did worked work in the university in Highbridge and would be happy to provide addtional additional information and support in the future.
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