Kobold Cave

The Mysterious Letter points into the woods and after following a second arrow for a little while Arosin spots two hobgoblins and reacts immediately by casting a sleep spell, bringing both of them down. The two are then quickly tied up, waking them, they start to curse in goblin. Since Hanur and Arosin speak goblin, they decide to interrogate the pair.

It's a rocky start but they learn their names are Togot and Beran, the former willing to talk, the latter rather reticent. The hobgoblin claims that they haven't been a problem, as claimed by the party, they haven't attacked any villages or caravans in at least a year, they kill deer and other animals to eat, so what?

The party don't think they should trust him but Arosin remembers the truth serum potion they found under Vresto Mansion. They give the potion to Togot and he again states what he did before, although he doesn't answer any questions of a strategic or tactical nature. The party members each have ideas about what to do next but it's hard to come to an agreement.

In the end they disarm the hobgoblins and tie them up before going down the trail they were coming from. Hanur's wilderness skills aren't perfect though and suddenly they are at the edge of a clearing, a cave some 70 or 80 feet away with a lone hobgoblin guard who spots the monk coming through the underbrush.

The guard retreats into the dark cave and a cautious combat begins. It turns out there is a wooden barricade a little inside the cave from behind which the enemy peppers anyone coming into view with arrows. Some hits are traded back and forth before Arosin proves invaluable with another sleep spell. A thunderwave spell by Regius then destroys the barrier.

The cave leads deeper and the party fails to notice a tripwire which drops a net on Hanur and Arosin. Combat then breaks out again, with not just to 'regular' hobgoblins but also with a hobgoblin wearing some kind of demon mask who is able to make many attacks in a round. A third sleep spell downs two, and the demon masked one is nearly brought low before teleporting away.

Regius hears sounds from back up top and when he rushes over he finds their last adversary dead on the ground. Outside, circling the cave are a group of kobolds. One female kobold, dressed in fineries and carrying a scepter steps forward. "I am Queen Yusdrayl. Thank you, brave adventurers," she exclaims, "you have fulfilled your task admirably, I will be happy to pay you the agreed upon 25 gold pieces."

She's also willing to pay them with roots that will help against poison instead of the money, but the party seems to prefer cold, hard coin. Our friends rest as the kobolds check on the cave that was taken from them by the hobgoblins. The party then say their goodbyes and start their journey back to Korint.