The Execution

10 November, 595

Hiring the children proves to be fruitful, as more graffiti is found. Checking out what they have found reveals the following quips in goblinese:

• "As a wolf, Drakthar hunts"
• "Drakthar has bat ears"

Based on these clues, Plenty thinks that this Drakthar person may be a reference to some kind of shapechanger.

The party attends Keygan's execution, which is held in the Lakeside Pavilion, in the center of town. The crowd awaits anxiously and starts to get restless, until Keygan is brought out in shackles and brought to a chopblock. The executioner's axe flies high in the air, and in a single swing, Keygan is no more. His head is presented to the crowd and they cheer boisterously. Plenty hastily makes her way up to the platform before his corpse is carried off, and asks that care of the body be given to her. She takes Keygan's body to the temple of Wee Jas, and there meets Nodonn, who accepts the body and entrusts it to an acolyte of the church.

Not long after, a young cleric approaches Nodonn's sleeping quarters and introduces herself as Selivia. After a few unintentional innuendos, Nodonn discovers that she was sent by Ike Iverson, a high ranking cleric, to assist him in his godly quest. He welcomes the child and tells her to meet up with him after he has rested.

Selivia is introduced to the group and another foray into the city is planned for the evening. This time, one of the groups strikes paydirt, coming across another graffiti in goblin-speak, which says, "Drakthar is dead! Long live Drakthar!" Bruinor and Throckmorten actually encounter a quartet of goblins, but they elude the pair and disappear into the night.

The Trial

9 November, 595

Some of the group decides to attend Keygan's trial, which is held in the town hall. A great crowd is gathered, and when Keygan is brought out in chains he gets many jeers and hisses. The tribunal consists of the arresting officer, the captain of the guard (Skellerang), and Lord Vhalantru, who is filling in for the Lord Mayor. The officer presents the charges and describes how Keygan is found guilty of abetting kidnappers and slavers. When it comes time for the defense to present his case, Keygan chooses to remain silent, putting himself at the mercy of the tribunal. After a brief adjournment, the tribunal reconvenes and Keygan is found guilty. He is to die by public execution on the morn. Upon hearing this, the crowd eruptions in cheers and applause. "The mob has spoken," mutters Bruinor.

That evening the group ventures out again to search for goblins. They also hire some rapscallions to be on the lookout for goblin graffiti and offer them money for any info they can find out. During the course of the night, Plenty comes across some graffiti which she translates as: "Who builds town in volcano? Stupid humans."

About Town

8 November, 595

The next day Throckmorten awakens and is given a letter of invitation to see Terseon Skellerang, the captain of the town guard. Accompanied by Plenty, he pays a visit to the town hall. The captain is a busy man and gets to the point - Cauldron has been terrorized in recent weeks by bands of goblins that have gone amok. They are robbing citizens and leaving their graffiti in various places about town. Captain Skellerang offers the group 5gp per goblin ear if they can find the goblin lair and eradicate the menace. He asks that they keep him informed of the progress when they discover new information.

Meanwhile, Bruinor gets a bit steamed reading the account of their rescue in the Cauldron Chronicle, and heads off to Izzy Brambleshade's (the reporter) house. Not finding her at home, he leaves a message by carving words into her front door: "We need to talk - Bruinor."

When everyone meets back up at the Drunken Morkoth, Throckmorten is introduced to a wild-looking man who has been asking about him. Over a round of drinks, the stranger introduces himself as Ash, a man of the wilderness, and offers his services to the group. His employment is accepted and he is quickly put to work, but not before the group pays a visit to Skie's Treasury, where she provides the identification of the potions that were left with her the day before. After looking around a bit and gawking at the high prices, Ash and Nodonn decide to stake out Keygan's shop. The pair arrive at Keygan's and find members of the guard present, bricking up the secret entrance to Jzadirune on orders of the captain.

Throck and Plenty pay a visit to Keygan in jail, in an attempt to garner some information about the goblin situation. Keygan is distressed about his upcoming trial, and no sympathy is offered to him from his visitors. Keygan does not recall encountering goblins and the two return to the inn.

That night, the group splits into two and patrols the town, but no trace of any goblins are found.

Sweet Prickles

7 November, 595
Part One

The next day the party is surprised to find two members of the town guard inside Keygan's shop. One of them introduces himself as Skylar Krewis. He explains that Keygan was arrested and taken off to jail, and they were sent to guard the entrance to the underground ruins to make sure nothing else comes out. Certain members of the party take an immediate dislike to Skylar and are offended that he would imply that they need help guarding the shop. But Plenty stands up for him and agrees that he is just doing his job.

Back to the Malachite Fortress, where the group investigates a room containing an iron chest bound in chains, guarded by a pair of fleshy bloblike creatures. The creatures are eerie in that they have human heads and torsos, but an amorphous lower section. As soon as Bruinor enters the room, the creatures move to attack. They are lured outside the room and a melee is fought in the hallway. One of the blobs falls, and the other explodes into a bloody mess after the dwarf's axe carves through it. Plenty and Nodonn are showered in the disgusting bits from the creatures. The trunk is found to be locked, and Bruinor's axe cannot effectively cut through the chains.

The party opens the door to a large chamber containing braziers in the shape of large ovoid creatures with mouths on the top of their bodies. There is also the statue of a dwarven warrior wrapped in a mass of chains, which end in spiked barbs and blades. The statue has a pair of gems for eyes.

After moving through several empty rooms the party comes to a large room occupied by a several suspicious characters. A dark-skinned dwarfish creature appears to be negotiating with a larger hulking figure in black plate armor over the sale of 4 children, 3 of which are chained to a post, and the other is attacked to a chain held by the figure in black. A large catlike creature with nasty looking quills is standing on a raised section of the room, looking menacing.

When the door is opened, the large figure looks over and asks if they are the ones that have been killing off his hobgoblins. Plenty steps into the room and tells him that the "Party of the Bloody Mess" are here to take the children back. She offers to meet the other's offer, and during the conversation, they learn his name is Kazomgen, and his client is Pyllrak. Kazmogen says that considering the damage they have done to him already, he cannot let them go for more than 100 gold appiece. Realizing that the party cannot meet this, Plenty breaks off the negotiations. To that, Kazmogen smiles and turns to the beast on the staircase, telling it, "Prickles... attack!"

Prickles snarls, and comes tumbling into Plenty, ripping at her with its teeth and leaving several quills embedded in her body. The others rush in to join the battle. Pyllrak disappears into thin air, not wanting anything to do with the battle. Kazmogen, though, seems to be enjoying himself, as he swings his large axe around at those who engage him. Both Nodonn and Plenty succomb to Prickles' spiny charges, and Bruinor falls the other's axe blows. In a bind, Throckmorten decides to heal Bruinor, then uses a special monk move on Kazmogen, stunning him long enough for Bruinor to grab his weapon away from him and Lyra performs the finishing blow. Afterwards, the group is able to focus on Prickles and cuts the creature down. To everyone's horror, Kazmogen's wounds start to close up and he rises to his feet. Another blow by Lyra sends him back to the ground and Bruinor uses the creature's own axe to cleave his head off. Kazmogen no longer moves after that. After looking around they see that the set of double doors is ajar and they realize that Pyllrak has escaped. The children are rescued and they learn that there are several others that are being held prisoner in another part of the complex.

It is at that moment when a floating orb with a huge mouth and central eye, and several other eyestalks protruding from its head, materializes out of nowhere and announces that it will take the boy Terrem and return him to the orphanage. Plenty and Lyra stand in the way, but they are both hit with a ray from one of the eyestalks, causing them to move in slow-motion. The monster reaches the boy and they immediately disappear, leaving the others in shock. It is decided to bring the children home before attempting to rescue the remaining prisoners.

Before they leave, Plenty takes an axe to the chest again, this time with success. A few potions are taken from the chest and the group makes their way back up to the surface. Bruinor makes sure to carry the head of Kazmogen with him. Skylar is excited to see that the children have been rescued, and leads everyone in a procession back to the Temple of St. Cuthbert. The group is perturbed by the sergeant's impertinence, and voices their displeasure on many accounts.

At the temple, Jenya welcomes the children back and thanks the group for their effort, giving them the reward, as promised. She speculates that the creature that disappeared with Terrem was a beholder, and Plenty seems to confirm this thought. The bard pays a visit to the Lantern Street Orphanage and finds that Terrem was returned safely, by a mysterious woman in a dark veil. The children are returned to the orphange and the group prepares for another trip to the underground.

The "Bloody Mess" encounter a group of 4 hobgoblins. They are taken aback at first by Bruinor's flaunting of the head of Kazmogen, but regain their senses and attack. 2 are slain and the other 2 disappear behind a door. They move to another room where they encounter another pair of hobgoblins standing guard over an old man bound and slumped over in the corner. During the battle, two more hobgoblins rush through a door, and a large dark-skinned hobgoblin with one arm joins the fray. The party prevails, though Lyra takes a good beating. The man introduces himself as Sulaman, one of the "greatest wizards in Cauldron", and not shy about expressing his desire to leave this place. In the other room a lady named Coryston Pike is removed from a torture chair, and she is also in bad shape. The heroes free 4 others from their holding cells in another room, the most interesting of them being a 20-something human by the name of Krylscar. The former guard ends up getting in a fist-fight with Bruinor and makes a pass at Plenty. Plenty and Throckmorten are quick to put him in his place (with much physical coersion), and keep a close eye on him. Everyone is brought back to the surface and the Temple of St. Cuthbert agrees to tend to the prisoners until they recover.

After a good meal and warm baths, Bruinor sells Kazmogen's axe, and the group heads to Skies' Treasury in the hopes of getting their potions identified. They are introduced to Skie, a friendly female gnome, and former adventurer. She is eager to hear all sorts of stories but offers to identify the lot of potions for 125gp, which would be ready by the next day. She delights in hearing the name of the fledgling group, "The Party of the Bloody Mess."

A Noble Introduction

6 November, 595
Part Two

Sitting in the jail cell, Nodonn and Bruinor are visited by the Captain of the Guard, Terseon Skellerang, and one of the highest profile nobles in Cauldron, Lord Vhalantru. Skellerang asks to hear their side of things and finds out that they are involved in the search for the missing children. He starts to interrogate them about what they have discovered so far, how Keygan was involved, etc., until Vhalantru stops him and suggests that they be freed to continue the search. Terseon seems to soften to this and agrees to let them free as long as 1) they agree not to destroy any more public property, and 2) they agree to meet with him later to hear about a potential task he has in mind. Nodonn and Bruinor agree to this and they are let free. When asked about Fario and Felian, who claimed to be working for the Mayor's office, neither Skellerang nor Vhalantru gives any sign that they have heard of them or have any association with the city officials. Vhalantru thanks them for the work they have done thus far and wishes them good luck.

Meanwhile, the rest of the party is healed at the Temple of Wee Jas. Off to St. Cuthbert where an audience with Jenya is sought. She is asked about the recently deceased half-elves but she has not heard of them either. She finds it very disturbing that some other party may have taken an interest in finding the children. Asked about Vhalantru, she explains that he is one of the main benefactors behind the funding for the search, and much of his money is going toward the reward that is offered. She says that she is not surprised about the lack of help being offered from the city guard; this is why she sought to seek out private groups like them to look for the orphans.

The group decides to rest for the remainder of the day and meet back at Keygan's in the morning.

Hobgoblins!

6 November, 595
Part One

The next morning our heroes meet back at Keygan's shop and continue exploring the malachite dungeon. Plenty's secret door is investigated and it leads to a secret armory, containing a number of weapons, and pieces of armor. Plenty and Fario don new sets of banded mail, and Nodonn claims a set of plate mail, which is hauled up to Keygan's for safe-keeping.

Both the ogre's den and the armory is searched and a secret door is found which leads into a forge. Lyra sneaks into the large room and finds it occupied by 2 halflings and a female dwarf, working as slaves, and a guard consisting of 3 goblins and 4 hobgoblins. Lyra attempts to sneak up on the goblins but gives away her presence. The goblins rush to swarm her and she is soon joined by her comrades. In the ensuing battle several are severely wounded and Felian is slain. After the conflict, Fario grieves for his fallen friend and begs to return to the surface to attend to his corpse. It is agreed and the prisoners are brought to the temple of St. Cuthbert for an interview with Jenya, while Fario goes off with Felian's body.

Jenya questions both the prisoners and the party members about the missing children, and Keyan Gehlve's role in things. She says that Keygan should be dealt with when this is all over, but that he should not be interfered with until after the children are found. Jenya agrees to have the members of the party healed on the condition that they return to the search right away, as time is clearly of the essence.

The group returns to the forge area and decides to investigate one of the doors in the room. The door opens into a hallway, and Lyra sneals out to explore it. She spies two figures around the corner, but can't make out much more in the dark. Bruinor goes to look and confirms 2 hobgoblins standing guard in front of a set of double doors. Throckmorten casts a light spell on one of the guards, momentarily blinding them both. The party then rushes the two while Nodonn and Lyra hang back. One is slain but the other manages to get off two critical actions before he falls. First, he pulls a lever activating a spike pit trap. Lyra is nimble enough to avoid the trap but Nodonn falls gracelessly onto the spikes. The second thing the creature does is bang a warning on the doors. Unfortunately for Lyra she is caught on the other side of the trap when 4 more hobgoblins come springing out of another room. Plenty makes a running jump but misjudges the distance and falls down into the pit with Nodonn. Bruinor thinks quickly and closes the trap door, allowing the hobgoblins to run over the trap, at which point he pulls the lever again, trapping 2 of them down in the pit. Plenty and Nodonn make short work of the unlucky ones. In the meantime more hobgoblins start entering the hallway, overwhelming the party. Their only exit cut off, the group has no option but to fight to the death. Nodonn helps Plenty out of the trap, but he is subdued by javelins thrown by the hobgoblins on the other side. Plenty and Bruinor go down, but Bruinor is revived and plays a key role in the outcome of the battle. Fario is cut down by an axe before the group finally wins out. Checking their losses, the fallen in the group are healed, except for Fario, who is a lost cause.

The bodies are pillaged and the team once again returns to the surface. Throckmorten takes Fario's corpse to the temple of Wee Jas for burial. Nodonn and Bruinor head to the mayor's office to find out who should be notified about the deaths of Fario and Felian. The receptionist is not immediately helpful, telling them that the mayor is not available at this time. Bruinor blows a gasket and uses his axe to turn the administrator's desk into firewood. The scared receptionist calls out for the guard, who immediately come and arrest Bruinor and Nodonn, after a short confrontation. The two are put into a holding cell and left alone...

Descent Into the Malachite Fortress

5 November, 595
Part Two

After disposing of Jimmy's remains, our heroes reequip themselves and prepare for another foray into the ruins. When they arrive at Keygan's shop, they find a pair of half-elves waiting for them. The newcomers introduce themselves as Fario Ellegoth, and Felian Shard, sent by the mayor's office to help in the investigation of the missing children. Fario is an expert with a sword, and Felian is a cleric of Fharlanghn.

Descending the staircase, the group decides to investigate the secret doorways found on one of the landings. Lyra turns a nearby sconce counterclockwise, and the lower stairs collapse into a ramp, sending Nodonn and Felian tumbling down into the mask room. Felian seems a bit bruised but dusts himself off and climbs back up the staircase. Lyra turns the sconce the other way and the door opens into a short corrider. Bruinor inspects the end of the passage and finds another hidden door. As Lyra attempts to open it the floor underneath her gives way, and she jumps back in time to avoid falling into a pit trap filled with bubbling acid, holding onto Bruinor's beard for dear life.

The torch sconce is fiddled with again in the hopes that the pit trap will close, but this has no effect, apart from sending Nodonn hurtling down into the mask room again. Lyra finds that she is able to disable the trap by closing the far door and jamming it shut with a dagger. The second door is opened to reveal an elevator platform populated by a pair of hobgoblins. The foes get off a few javelin tosses, then melee ensues, and the hobgoblin threat is removed. Afterward, another secret door is found to lead to a room featuring a lever in one of the walls. After some experimenting, it is discovered that the lever enables and disables the acid pit trap on the other side of the wall. The group takes up position around the elevator and Plenty pulls the switch, sending them down into the depths of the Malachite Fortress.

They come out into a room with a pair of empty cages and a stone statue from which protrude several tendrils ending in crystalized spikes. Nodonn whacks at the thing and it springs to life, swinging its tendrils about threateningly. The statue is surrounded and defeated fairly quickly. At the same time, a large brutish humanoid emerges from a door shouting "More carrion for my larder!" and joins the fray with his ridiculously large falchion. The creature is surrounded and takes blow after blow from the party, but holds his ground while dropping both Throckmorten and Plenty each with one swing of his sword. Fario also takes a severe beating but remains on his feet. It's Bruinor's axe which slices through his abdomen that fells the foul creature. The fallen party members are revived, and the beast's filthy "larder" is explored. A chest is found which contains a couple of thousand silver pieces, two deep green spinel gems, and a fungi flask containing some kind of magical potion. Plenty finds a secret door which leads down a long passage, but the group decides to head back up to the surface to recover after a hard battle.

The party pays a visit to the temple of Wee Jas, and their wounds are attended to. The members of the party then part ways and rest for the remainder of the night.