The party unleash their ranged attacks on the Hobgoblin Captain, causing some impactful wounds before the band of hobgoblins are alerted to the intruders.
The party and the hobgoblins quickly close the distance and engage. Tactical maneuvers are made by either side within the corridor. Crom engages the captain and his grunts while Fenris does the same, fighting with several of the hobgoblin troops wrestling for advantageous positions. Artax hurls arrows at the captain, Mornington causes psychic anguish on several hobgoblins with vicious mockery and Edward Eldritch blasts before hurling himself into the frey.
The Melee goes back and forth with large hits absorbed by either side. Crom's last rage of the day soaking up a good portion of damage. With the captain starting to visibly slow Edward utilises his position to cast arms of hadar. Black tendrils erupt from him in every direction lashing out at his enemies. Tendrils wrap around the limbs and face of the hobgoblin captain, and with a surge of necrotic energy his jaw and skull are wrenched in opposing directions and his body stops struggling.
In a few short moments the final hobgoblins are slain and the corridor returns to a relative quiet.
The corridor stretches on ahead and the floor changes from neat flagstone to wooden planks in a 15ft by 15ft area. As the party has seen a hobgoblin fall through the floor when they approached they identify this as a pit trap. Artax takes the body of one of the fallen and hurls it onto the planks, the wooden flooring splits into two halves that pivot down on hinges as the body plummets into a deep pit. A few seconds later machinery and cogs can be heard turning as the pit trap resets and the wooden flooring springs back into position.
Just before the pit trap are two doors on either side of the corridor. The one to the west has been smashed into pieces while the one to the right remains intact. Looking into the western passage a charred body is lying on the floor and the floor and wall is covered in soot. The eastern door is wood with reinforced iron and Fenris attempts to force his way through with his Warhammer but only slightly buckles the handle. Edward attempts to pick the lock and feels like he has it but it's hard to tell with the damage just caused to the door. Fenris tries the handle and as he turns it he feels a sharp prick to his fingers, followed by a warm stinging that surges through his blood. Fenris feels nauseous as the poison takes its toll on his body.
Artax meanwhile searches the remaining bodies and takes the captain's axe which has a brutal but eye catching design. With carvings on the flat of the blade depicting a warrior standing atop a large slain opponent.
To help visibility Mornington retrieves his bullseye lantern and uses a flint and stone to light it. While there are ever burning torches built into the corridors architecture this allows Mornington to see far down the corridor that he can now see has a port cullis at the far end. At this point it catches Mornington's attention that there is a welcome message. Written on a small wall above as the corridor changes elevation just before the doors. It is written in both dwarven and elvish. "Follow your given key to guide you safely forth" is engraved into the stone followed by a symbol that comprises of a figure of eight with a straight line running vertically through its centre and three dots on the figure of eight at it's sides.
The party take a few moments to discuss what they think it means, and settle on the fact that they are going to have to take some risks to find the safe path through. Mornington bravely takes the lead and rushes through the door that had already been smashed down by the hobgoblins. As he enters the scorched corridor a floor tile depresses with a click noise as a huge jet of flame shoots forth from the wall opposite. Mornington dodges to the side, getting singed along the way but remains very much intact.
He peers down another long corridor and knows the puzzle has only just begun...
Next Session 35
Previous Session 33