The party awoke in the cells and checked that everyone was present. In talking amongst themselves they heard an unfamiliar voice reach out  “Hello, is anyone there?”

The new voice introduced himself as a Gnome prisoner – Pibbnyck Berrydust. Pibbnyck informed the others than his village was ransacked by Goblins and Orcs and he had been captured. Pibbnyck also let the party know that they were in Goblintown under the Misty Mountains.

Pibbnyck also shared the following information:

• The Orcs used these cells to hold Gnomes and Dwarves that are held prisoner until they come and get them for torture or worse. He has been here for about a week and is the lucky or unlucky last person remaining.
• Your weapons are probably in the room to the south of the cells.
• There are three levels in Goblintown with exits on the 1^st level. There are two exits, Back Door to the north and Wolf Gate to the south. Recommend staying away from the Wolf Gate as it is the main entrance and heavily guarded
• Orcs and Goblins are working together – for what purpose I do not know.
• They have enslaved my kin to serve them in Goblintown.
• Orcs do the heavy work on level 3, while the Goblins are on level 1 and 2.

The party tried to pick the locks and force open the cells with no success. Finally, Arbun cast misty step to release himself from the cell. Arbun went south to the storeroom that Pibbnyck mentioned and found their weapons and a ring of keys. Arbun returned with the keys and returned to open all of the cells.

The party cautiously explored the passages and found that they and journeyed in a circle and were back to their cells. The fellowship explored a passage to the east and found a stone bridge that crossed a pit that seemed to have no bottom. The pit had a very dim red glow that pulsed with the sound of drumming from way below. The party dropped a pebble down the pit with no immediate response.

Exploring further the fellowship heard the sound or metal clanging ahead. They decided to move towards the sound and found a band of Fury Orcs practicing combat. The party engaged the Fury Orcs and were able to defeat them after a furious battle with Jesoc sporting some wounds. The party discovered that during the battle Pibbnyck had run off. Aenwyn said that Pibbnyck was behind her and he was gone when she looked next.

The fellowship continued exploring to the north and west and discovered a couple of passages that ended in rubble. Eventually the fellowship explored a passage running southwest and came upon a storage room and a room holding chained Gnome slaves. The party offered to free the Gnomes but they declined as they feared being killed wandering the passages before they could find an exit. The party reluctantly agreed but promised to send help if they could escape.

Upon leaving the room, Hallamir detected the smell of fresh air further to the southwest and the party agreed to follow in that direction.

The party continued to the southwest and came upon a kitchen with four more chained Gnomes. These Gnomes also politely declined being released and the party again pledged to return. The party explored the next room and found that it was an armoury. Although many routine and discarded weapons and armour were there, there was also a locked cage with several uncommon items.

Kifak pushed Arbun over to try and pick the lock. Arbun was able to easily pick the lock and the fellowship discovered that these items were indeed magical and must have been collected from prisoners over the months. The fellowship looked them over and selected the following items for themselves:

• Blood Moon Blade – Jesoc
• Spellfire Bow – Hallamir
• Mistwalker Armour – Hallamir
• Aenwyn – Dress of Defense
• Arbun – Pick and Pocket Daggar
• Arbun – Ring of True Companions
• Arbun – Myceliaweave Armour

 After the items were gathered, Kifak noticed a chest in the corner. Once again Kifak pushed Arbun over to open the locked chest. Arbun was able to again pick the lock and the chest swung open revealing 2,957 gold pieces. The gold looked to have been accumulated over time as some of the gold pieces were tarnished while others were notched or like new. The party split up the gold and moved on.

The party continued to the southwest towards the fresh air and came upon more storerooms and one more room of Gnome slaves. They continued on and eventually came to a roughly hewn stairway that led up. The fellowship decided to send Arbun ahead to scout the second level.

Arbun reported back it was clear and the rest of the fellowship joined him on the second level. The party explored northeast and found another storage room. The fellowship moved on to the next room and found a Gnome healer that was also chained. The healer informed the party that he heals Gnome slaves that have been injured in their duties. The party asked to be healed and he was more than happy to provide healing. The fellowship then asked if he could provide a blessing.

The shaman said he would but first they needed to show they were worthy be answering a riddle:

“What has a golden head, a golden tail, but no body?”

Jesoc was able to reply that it was a coin. The Gnome shaman nodded in acceptance and produced a deck of cards for the fellowship to choose their blessing. The shaman first warned that fortune sometime decreed a blessing could be a somewhat less than a boon.

All members agreed and moved to select a card:

Arbun – Nose for Magic – Smell traces of magic at all times like you are under the effect of a detect magic spell:

• Conjuration – Blueberries
• Necromancy – Seared Meat
• Evocation – Fresh Flowers
• Abjuration – Oiled Metal
• Transmutation – Crackling Ozone
• Divination – Fresh Pine
• Enchantment – Crisp Pear
• Illusion – Smouldering Cedar

Kifak – Gemini’s Gift – Manifest a magical twin within 10 feet of yourself once per long rest for an hour. It shares all your characteristics and can deal the same attacks. The twin can either take one action or one bonus action but not both. Your twin disappears when it loses half of it’s hit points or an hour’s time has elapsed.

Hallamir – Brewer’s Boon – Mastery over potions. You regain the maximum amount of hit points when drinking a healing potion and any potion you drink lasts twice the normal duration. You are also gifted a corked potion bottle that allows you to summon a potion of your choice once a day:

• 1-17 – potion of rare or lesser value
• 18-20 – any potion

Jesoc – Unseen Pursuer – The hair on the back of your neck stands on end and you feel like you are being watched at all times. This can be distracting at times, especially in battle. Sometimes you feel like you can see the pursuer just at your edge of vision, but then he disappears. Constitution check must be made after every long rest to see if you can overcome this distraction.

The fellowship then offered to free the Gnome Healer but he also declined as he felt he needed to stay here to heal his fellow Gnomes. The party took their leave and gave the healer Gnome some food as a gesture of thanks. The fellowship moved north finding more storerooms and another kitchen staffed by female Gnome slaves.

The fellowship again detected fresh air coming from the west and continued in that direction.

The party saw the roughly hewn staircase leading up in the distance with passages to the north and south before it. The party explored the passage to the south and discovered it was guest chambers with a bed, desk, and a wardrobe closet. Although nothing of not could be found in the desk, the wardrobe closet contained multiple women’s garments with the insignia of a red tower on them.

Finding nothing else of note, the party left to explore the passage to the north and heard Orc and Goblin chanting. Kifak led the fellowship in the direction of the chanting and the party saw a sacrificial ceremony with a dwarf being sacrificed on an altar. The fellowship immediately attacked while Kifak raced to the altar. Unfortunately, Kifak was a step too late as the dagger was plunged into the Dwarf’s heart laying on the altar.

In a rage, the fellowship decimated the Goblins. Kifak tried to revive the Dwarf without success. Kifak respectfully removed the Dwarf’s body from the altar.

The fellowship noticed that there were two passages leading west from the ritual chamber and discovered that this cave housed a Goblin Harem led by an Orc Madam. Kifak, still in a rage, touched the Orc Madam on her shoulder with a shocking grasp. The Orc Madam collapsed, and the Goblin Harlots cowered in the corner.

The fellowship left and returned back to the main passage to continue west following the fresh air. Once again they sent Arbun up the roughly hewn steps to explore. Arbun reported back that everything was clear and the fellowship followed Arbun up the stairs to the first level.

The fellowship remembered that the back door exit was north so they continued north through the passages. They soon heard Orc commands being issued from a chamber to the north and cautiously explored two passages leading to a large chamber. The fellowship saw that there seemed to be a meeting being held in this chamber with a battalion of Orcs, Goblins, and a Goblin boss.

The fellowship readied themselves to attack – not even noticing the familiar Gnome reporting to the Goblin boss.