• Jek
• Sapphira
• Galador - magic sword
• Oswald
• Alexios - magic sword (15' light)
• Fothas
• Reichgard
• Hendrix - Elf Fighter/Thief 1/1, AC 0/3, shield, 9“, Doors 1-2, 14,9,12,17,10,10 hp 1.5, AL CG, 166 yo
• Keisial

We are returning back down the well to continue exploring the Mon-Karag Bastion.

Our travel to the well is uneventful.

There are now multiple holes in the top of the well made by different groups of people that have come up and down. There is one particularly new entry into the well that has caused breaks and cracks in the old well along with some new marks indicating new spikes that have been secured into the stone.

Some insectoid creatures took down Oswald last session and killed him however he was raised afterwards. The creatures was bigger than a man but it was accompanied by two smaller sized ones. They encountered the creatures near the top of the slagged altars.

We discuss how Continual Light items do not have an increased intrinsic value.

Meanwhile, Jek hands the hooded lantern to ALEXIOS and then goes down the passage following Galador and Alexios. We hear a couple of instances of insectoid claterring and chattering but it soon disappears.

Fothas just climbs down the rope as he has his own continual light. As a result of the increased light radius, his encounter distance is increased. Fothas lands but does not see anything in the chamber. He does hear noises…

We then roll for Initiative.

Jek has his sling out as several insects burst into the light, charging into Fothas. Hendrix, Jek and others all fire their missile weapons.

Jek hits for 4 damage with a sling bullet. Fothas does 7 damage but does not kill it. Hendrix hits for 3 damage with an arrow.

The Insects get 3 attacks each and there are 2 big ones. One of their whips grabs Fothas and deals 1 damage, Fothas is now immobilized. Another whip hits Fothas for 2 more damage.

Everyone is engaged in melee the next round with 4 of the smaller creatures. Jek holds back since he can't get a clear shot.

There are 5 of Insect creatures down there.

Fothas takes 10 damage after being crushed by the whip and is also bitten and takes 1 more damage. He then takes another 3 damage from another whip.

Sapphira is attacked and hit…she takes 6 damage but she hits back for 4 damage, which KILLS IT! Her magic sword kills one. Galador also hits and kills the large one that was on Fothas.

Jek drops down from above to backstab the large one. He successfully gets a backstab and succeeds at a Move Silently roll. He does 12 damage and the creature is instantly killed!

Around the Dwarves' heads are some Dwarvish Runes that state the following:

BEHOLD THE HAMMER AND SHIELD OF THE INDOMITABLE BASTION, MON-KARAG, BORN OF KOS-TOR, 
BIRTHRIGHT OF KOPAN-QEL, SEAT OF HIS SONS. IN MON-KARAG, THE BLOOD OF THE EAST FLOWS ETERNAL. 
IN MON-KARAG, WE ARE UNBROKEN BY TIME.

We head to the south west where they previously found Oswald's aid for his class quest. To the north we arrive at some stairs going down to the right. They descend into a chamber. Up ahead are some big double stone doors, the other doors were not made of stone so these stand out.

Jek checks the doors for traps with a 50% probability. He finds no oddities. The stone doors look ornate but there is no writing on them.

We push them open.

Beyond is a large hall full of entirely rotted chairs, lounge tables and some faded paintings. In the center is a 15' tall hooka with 30 attached hoses that has been toppled to one side. There is also a shattered glass container with a lot of glass on the floor. On the wall is a large metal contraption ending in handles. There is a claw like hook in the center of the ceiling directly above the hooka. Some black doors remain open along the wall but there is nothing inside but shelves and there are some stairs going downwards.

Jek inspects the hooka and looks for residues. He can tell that nothing has been smoked in here for quite some time and there are no residual smells.

After searching around, we locate a loose stone on the floor beneath the cabinet but there is nothing inside. The loose stone looks un-trapped. Fothas does not detect any sliding stonework, but it does appear exposed a bit by wear over time. The heavy stone block grinds dully on the stone as we move it. Inside, we find a hidden compartment:

• 3 cylindrical containers with Dwarvish writing.

The writing is in ink and roughly translates to:

1st one: NEB-PAH'S SMOKY PANACEA
Kee a ay from me 

2nd one: NEB-PAH'S CRIMSONBERRY BATTLEJOY

3rd one: NEB-PAH'S OCEAN BREEZE

On the top of the hooka is a compartment that is sized to fit something smaller. The hooka is undamaged and the thing was toppled over, the cage made of glass was broken.

Fothas does not know who Neb-Pah is and hookas are not a Dwarven standard item. We grab the containers.

We opened the door finally which took 1 turn.

Inside is a circular room covered in a mosaic with a field of stars. The domed ceiling is crowned with a great star. However, it looks like the mosaic has been ruined. It looks like someone dragged an axe across the crystal. There is a mountain depicted that is sacred to the Dwarves called “Die-Tor”.

There are some Dwarven Lord statues in here that also look vandalized along with two braziers that are extinguished and have been unused for a while. On the wall to the south is a great fountain. There is a golden eagle image on each side of the door with talons pointing toward each of the doors. The water in the fountain basin is dark and dirty and we can smell moisture in this chamber.

The braziers surround a throne that is carved with the depiction of a great metallic hammer and shield, both made of steel, They are crossed and are 3/4 times greater than the normal sized scale. They are placed over the back of the throne. They are much too big for a Dwarf or a Human. Maybe a Giant could use it however it looks more ornamental and there is no indication that it has been used at all.

The braziers were empty and the door on the right side is wooden with another wooden door on the left side. There is a treatment on the doors and it has a smaller door cut out of it, like a 3' tall Gnome door. There is a third door on the north side.

Hendrix checks the pool and Jek checks for traps on the smaller doors. There were Cave Goblins found near the small doors last time.

Galador and Reichgard could hear them in the walls and such.

Hendrix clears the drain of the western pool manually and the mucky water goes down an inch before stopping again. They clear the pool clog on the right side and then water shoots out from several pipes and tubes that fills the basin back up. The nozzles on the east side are clear.

Fothas sits on the throne…Alexios checks the shield and sees that the shield is stable and attached firmly. They pull the lever again and there is the same hollow noise and then the metallic sound of liquid sputtering which echoes up the drain of the eastern basin.

The walls seem solid behind the throne. Meanwhile, our Paladin does not detect evil.

Jek finds no traps here but smells the metallic scent. It is not likely a benign powder and the glowing sword illuminates the basin a bit. The basin has a hole in it that it kind of clogged with squishy refuse. There are no clear objects in the fountain.

Fothas searches the walls and does not find a shifting wall or anything…however, the hammer and shield appears to be part of a hidden switch behind the throne.

Alexios pulls the hammer. With a click and a thud there is a grinding sound, an echoing sound coming from below our feet. The Thief has a feeling that something is not in place with this device. He tried to pull a trigger but it did not release. There is just an echoing hollow noise.

In the north room are some broken mirrors that adorn the walls. A grand Dwarven mannequin lies battered upon decayed stands and there is a set of 3 drums to the sides that are tied together like war drums. There is a cask that is still standing and a spout that is still standing. In the corner are two rotted arm chairs which seems suited for a dressing chamber.

The drums are 2.5 feet across and are quite heavy for a Dwarf.

Jek searches the walls and floors with his dagger handle, tapping along. The Elf checks western wall as Jek starts on the south. Sapphira guards the door.

There are no secret doors but Jek finds on the floor in the center of the room, an area that sounds hollow. The area moves somehow. At this point, Alexios goes to pull the lever.

Alexios is surrounded by Goblins, dark ones with eyes of solid white. They are positioned around the door and there are 6 of them.

Jek says in the Goblin tongue, “If you value your lives you will leave us alone!”

Oswald casts Hold Person but has to move first to get a visual of the Goblins. Fothas says, “You have chosen death…”

The Goblins are subject to sweep attacks. Jek's words do not impress the Goblins as they move into attack. They have AC 6/6.

Fothas kills 4 of the Deep Goblins and these are considered Evil creatures. The Goblins do not hit any of our Warriors. Hendrix the Elf can move and fire.

We yell in the Common language to lay down their arms. Jek misses when he charged. Alexios and Galador each killed the last two Goblins.

They only have shortswords and spears along with some silver.

• 56 sp

The small door seems to be where they came out from. Jek goes to open the small door with a 10' pole and opens it very, very slowly. He also puts his hooded lantern on the ground next to him.

As he pushes on the small door, pushing out with a wooden pole, the door looks like it will fall. Jek gets closer and uses his dagger and short sword to pull it outward instead.

Beyond the door, he can smell the strong stench of many dead things that have rotted over a long time. Jek can hear chattering noises beyond…and then a sudden shout of surprise. The creatures had been talking in Goblin.

Jek falls back with his sling and says, “We got company!”

Fothas goes through the door and Alexios forms up near the door. There is a great commotion through the Goblin door and the noises of many voices. Suddenly, the door being slammed opened and there is a lot of things happening in the darkness beyond.

We can see a couple Goblins in the room beyond.

• Keisial fires.
• Oswald fires.
• Jek fires a sling bullet and hits for 1 damage.

Oswald and Jek hit one but it does not die. Keisial kills one and Hendrix does 1 damage, which kills another! There are now 2 dead Goblins.

Fothas charges in with a mace and finds that there are 14 Goblins in the room. He hits 4 of them for 6, 10, 10, and 11 damage. There are 4 more dead Goblins!

In this room is a great chandelier about 20' across in the room with doors to the north and west and some stairs to the south leading to another door.

6 Goblins can attack Fothas and he is struck, stabbed for 6 damage. Fothas was healed previously.

One of the Goblins waves their hand and a black orb consumes the light that surrounds Fothas. There is a 15' orb of darkness in the room now. Fothas reveals the Continual Light from the Miner's helmet.

Jek has his sling ready in case something comes out of the darkness. Galador can take a swing but misses.

There is still a group of 10 Goblins! Jek hits one with a sling bullet for 2 damage which KILLS ONE! There are now 9 remaining as 2 more were also hit.

Fothas misses and then there are 6 attacks incoming on Fothas and 2 on Galador. Somehow, the Goblins can see through the magical Darkness! Galador takes 2 damage and Fothas takes 5 damage.

Hold Person is being cast by Oswald as Jek attacks with his shortsword and dagger.

We are encompassed in the darkness at the top of the stairs. Alexios can attack first and does 6 damage. He kills a Goblin!

• There are 2 attacks on Sapphira, both MISSED!
• There are 2 attacks on Jek, one hits and he takes 3 damage.
• Keisial takes 3 damage.
• Oswald is missed.
• Hendrix is hit for 4 damage and is knocked unconscious. Hendrix is Down!
• Alexios is hit and takes 2 damage.
• There are 2 attacks on Galador, both missed!
• There are 6 attacks on Fothas again and they all missed!

We can roll using ”/r 1d20-4“ in Foundry while attacking in the Darkness.

We killed 2 in total so far in this fight. Sapphira attacks a Goblin, hits, and does 5 damage. She kills one! Jek misses and then makes a fighting withdrawal to the east to get out of the darkness.

Sapphira finds Hendrix in the Darkness and he is stabilized by her Lay on Hands.

Jek attacks during his withdrawl but misses. Alexios can do sweep attacks and does. He manages to hit and does 9 damage, which cuts down another one!

There are now 8 attacks on Alexios. Galador and Fothas get attacked by 2 Goblins each. Fothas retaliates and hits 3 times, killing his attackers. They each kill both Goblins on them. Alexios is attacked but they all MISSED!

Jek does another fighting withdrawal to the east. As Jek, Keisial and Oswald emerge out of the darkness, none of the Goblins follow them out. They stay with Sapphira in the bubble.

Sapphira misses with her attacks and there are 8 attacks on Sapphira. She takes 4 damage and then takes 2 damage from another. Alexios is hit and takes 4 damage.

Jek fires a sling bullet into the darkness. There are 7 Goblins at the bottom.

• The 3 attacks on Alexios all missed.
• The 3 attacks on Galador all missed.

Sapphira is surrounded and hit for 1 damage and is hit again and takes 6 damage. Sapphira is down to 2 hp! Oswald retaliates and does 6 damage which kills one!

Jek misses as does Sapphira. Galador takes 8 damage! Alexios uses Lay on Hands on himself as Jek fires his sling again into the darkness.

Fothas does sweep attacks as Sapphira does a fighting withdrawal.

There are 2 more attacks on Alexios and they missed. Fothas has a -5 AC and they can hit on a 20. He is struck and takes 6 damage!

There are now 7 more Goblin attacks on Sapphira. The first one hits and she takes 2 damage, which knocks her out!

Jek does 3 damage with his sling but this does not kill a Goblin. Fothas kills 3 of them. Jek continues to use his sling to attack.

All of the Goblins are missed at the bottom and then Alexios does 9 damage and kills one.

There was a door opened to the south…NEVERMIND, he was killed before using the Knock spell!

As he is dragging Sapphira's body out of the Darkess, they engage Galador. Fothas hits 4 times and 3 Goblins are now dead! Galador is attacked by 4 Goblins and 1 hit! He takes 2 damage. Jek fires at a Goblin and does 5 damage. Galador kills 3 more of them!

Fothas and Alexios come face to face with 6 more Goblins and 3 Bruiser Goblins. Jek charges into the melee with his daggers. Alexios and Fothas can hear a chanting in an unknown tongue.

Jek charges and does 1 damage, which actually KILLS ONE! There are 4 hits from Galador and he kills the last 2 of the ones he hits. Fothas hits 3 of them and kills 2 more Goblins. Alexios hits for 8 which kills one Goblin…NEVERMIND, the chanting saves them!

There are still 2 Goblins and 3 Bruisers. Jek uses his Move Silently to sneak into the room with the chanting. The orb of Darkness remains as the other fighting continues surrounding Alexios and Fothas.

Alexios is hit and takes 7 damage! Fothas attacks and does 6 damage, which does not kill one! Alexios does hit for 6 damage and kills the other Goblin!

Oswald performs a feat of strength as Jek sneaks into the room past the melee. He is now involved in the melee. Jek cannot see yet because he is in the melee and he misses with both attacks.

The old globes of darkness disappear and the only one is in the middle room.

The Goblins must make a Morale Check.

We are outside of the globe of darkness as the magic sword breaks the barrier and some tattered silk emerges. We find a harem of 6 Goblins standing around a Shaman. He begins sputtering words of surrender while sitting upon a crude throne. His Warriors lose their courage as the Bruisers and shaman are joined. The Goblins drop their weapons.

Jek gathers up their weapons.

The stone shrine that was in here is defiled and piled around it are some piles of gold and silver that have been extracted out from the chandelier above. We spot another Dwarven tube sitting against the altar.

Oswald heals Alexios for 1 hitpoint.

Meanwhile, Alexios marches up and kills the Shaman! Behind us, we hear the sound of a commotion and the slamming of doors to the south. The Bruisers look alarmed at Alexios and become angry.

We demand forcefully, “Have you seen the gold cross with a ruby?” They respond that all the treasure is here behind the curtain and they recovered no cross.

Alexios kills one of the other Goblins as Jek backstabs one in the back, killing it. At this point, the Goblins are all dead.

We hear the screaming and crying of the Goblin Harem but Alexios and Fothas dispatch them all.

Jek searches for traps and goes through the room thoroughly. The altar was a shrine to “Lotiel the Silent”, who is the Dwarven aspect of Venha. The shrine had been defiled and broken by the Goblins. We collect the following coins:

• 900 cp
• 230 ep
• 130 gp
• A Dwarven tube

There is a massive pile of gold and silver, including chandelier bits, it is 1,950 coins of weight.

Keisial checks the north door and finds that it smells of tobacco and something else that is foul, like a wet gross smell. It is a great bed chamber beyond with some standing lamps that have been toppled. The bed frame is piled high and there are some unidentifiable liquids that look fresh. We spot a thin rope on the wall that goes into the ceiling. We also notice some loose tobacco and papers lying around.

Alexios checks the south room. There are a bunch of stone bookshelves in here that are toppled over and have been broken down into rubble. Six stone chairs are sitting around the room covered in old furs. On top of the chairs, the cloth is in various states of being wrapped with around with a white paper. It is twisted and tied like rolls, some of which have been opened. There are also some big bricks of the white powder stuff and it looks like someone was putting together containers of powder. The area is like a big den, or it was turned it into a den at some point. We see another door to the east.

Galador checks the north passage.

In this next chamber, he finds some empty bird cages and the bones of a skeleton that are arranged in the shape of a Hippogriff. It is positioned on the roof. We also notice several Goblins in various states of decay.

The bones of the Hippogriff Skeleton shift and crack.

Galador charges it but missed and the Hippogriff attacks back. It hits for 3 damage with a claw and he takes another 4 damage from the bite. It unleashes an unnatural squawking sound, perhaps a sound of a skeletal battlecry.

Jek charges forth and due to Protection from Evil, he makes a successful save!

Fothas hits for 8 damage with a mace. Jek charges but not into melee and then pulls out his sling.

Oswald tries to turn it…he Automatically Turns it!

Fothas continues attacking and hits for 10 damage. The Hippogriff retreats to the back of the room but Fothas keeps up. He hits for another 7 damage and Alexios hits for 4 more damage.

The Turned Skeleton explodes into bird and horse bones.

Jek searches the Hippogriff chamber as do the others. Alexios finds behind the furs a square metal box with a giant snake skin wrapped around the outside. It has a 100 coin weight.

Alexios cant move the latch off of the box. Meanwhile, Jek finds a panel beneath the Skeleteal Hippogriff roost. There are 30 pounds of clippers and brushes stored here along with 4 vials of oils and a small tube with a blue liquid.

• Small bronze tube with twist tube.

From Jonathan's notes:

NOTE: fountains unclogged, water flows freely from east fountain drain to west fountain spouts. 
Water does not flow freely from west fountain drain to east fountain spouts. The east fountain 
spouts are not clogged or obstructed.