Getting to Know these Prisoners
Ubys kept watch and read the gnome's journal cover to cover.
It was written in Gnim — a Gnomish dialect that doesn't sit still on the page. Teppo was inventing a calendar based on old heroes of the realm. He had pages of notes on Alondriel — vanished tyrant — and a fragment about Goldenfelds dumping mithril and adamantium weapons into the Dessarin Valley markets. He had a single line about Kryptgarden that just said Blight and the Children of Vlokgar — too dangerous. He had an entire wing on the Steel Beast — names, route stretches. He had grand plans for the college.
Bree returned to camp before dawn. She'd been gone half the night, gathering herbs. She checked on Ben first.
When the rest of you woke, Lessie offered to help. Moist cast Lesser Restoration with a dash of his pepper juice and Ben glowed red-pepper-bright and the disease let go of him. He sat up. He could speak.
Bree told you the story. Ben is a merchant. They were ambushed at the Carnath Roadhouse. Teppo had been teaching her to be a Druid — about a legendary Druid named Lynx. She wanted to get Ben back to civilization. She knew where the statue of Lynx stood, at the entrance to the Kryptgarden Forest.
Teppo woke up. You worked out a deal: you'd go down and recover his writs from the goblin den; he'd help you deliver Runs with Bitches's remains properly.
You went down.
Marrow-Gnaw's body was still there.
Past it, AC led by torchlight to a door. Beyond the door, a wing of six-foot iron cages — thin, filthy goblins crammed inside, and stolen goods stacked in the corners. Some of those goods bore Ben's signet.
One of the imprisoned goblins gave you his name — Koblob — and after some haggling you handed him a javelin and a hot pepper. In exchange he told you about Queen Bargnot and pointed out a secret door.
AC eased it open.
Beyond: a stage. A throne. Queen Bargnot sitting on it with two warriors at her sides.
She threw her wine across the room. She yelled in Goblin. Koblob, your new javelin-armed friend, said "Uh oh…" and threw his javelin into the air, striking no one.
Moist reached for Heat Metal.
The session ended right there.
Next session: a goblin queen, two goblin warriors, and whatever's behind the throne.