"I am leader. All of them shall leave upon my orders. All that remains is the lying human who hired us, Pavo Vos. He lurks in his quarters to the west there." She points toward the west wing of the second floor.
The hobgoblin shakes her head. "Vos is a soldier, but one with ambition. His woman, Elessia, is the spellcaster. She disappeared below into the death trap that lurks below this place a few days ago. She told us nothing about any strange dungeon here. We expected to assault an enemy stronghold, not slaughter Vos' own troops. We were lied to. And we're done with this contract. Pay us and we'll be gone, hopefully to a better employer next time, one with honor."
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Ferabras gives Hoshiko a slightly aggrieved look, as if to say 'I wasn't going to hit her!'
He turns to the hobgoblin leader and affirms the deal they've made, "We will each pay our share, as my companion has said. But can you tell us more about the 'death trap' you speak of? What sort of strange dungeon lies below this place?"
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"Here is my share of the five hundred. Can everyone meet theirs? I have a bit extra to cover if not.." Mikail says, counting out coins while listening to Ferabras and the hobgoblin. To them, he adds "So Vos and his woman I imagine will stay. That will leave just two for us to deal with.. and whatever is below this keep. I am glad we were able to come to an agreement, Fethi Ken-Shakkas. This agreement will save lives on both sides of this disagreement."
A collection is taken and the gold handed to the hobgoblin woman. She bows deeply, not bothering to count the gold. "My honor is satisfied." She turns back and gives a quick hand gesture to the hobgoblins in the hall, who quickly unsling their horns and blow a single long note.
"Below this place is some sort of ancient tunnel. I sent two men down there with the Lietuenant's woman, and they perished. I would send no more after that. The entrance lies in the easternmost room, the soldier's mess. Vos holds the key. I do not believe the lieutenant's woman died down there. I think she was seeking that place. If you go down there, be ware and be wary. Terrible things lurk there, things which have awoken." She nods and trots out. In a matter of a minute, you can hear the hobgoblin troops leaving Fangwood Keep.
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Mikail turns to his companions, and lets out a relieved sigh as the Hobgoblin captain finally leaves. "That was close.. and thank you, my friends.. that means a lot to me that you were willing to stand up for me like that!" he shakes his head.. "Damn hobgoblins and their sense of Honor.. anyways.. Shall we deal with this Vos?"
From the room to the west, you hear a man's voice screaming "WHERE THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING?!?" as the hobgoblins troop out. He stands in the doorway looking flustered and angry as his bodyguards leave. Seeing you, he lets out a string of swearwords and slams the door.
Round 1:
Heroes!
Vos
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Mikail follows Ferabras to the door and shrugs his shoulders.. "It worked with the Hobs, maybe it will work again?" he mutters to the tiefling before turning his attention to the door.
"I am sure that we can come to some arrangement here. You must face justice, but wouldn't it be better to live for another day?"
A man's voice comes from inside. "I have nothing to say to you! I claim this Keep as spoils of war!" He sounds petulant.
The door is hauled open to reveal a large room. This large private chamber is vaguely partitioned by beams that span the ceiling east to west. The northern half of the room contains a double bed and easy chair, while a large wardrobe and table with chairs occupy the south. An enormous wool carpet lies in the center of the room. Two sets of double doors allow egress from the quarters: one to the west decorated with carvings of oak leaves and acorns, and a much plainer one to the east.
Vos stands just inside, his sword and shield drawn. "So, this is it, eh? Desserted by hobgoblins and betrayed by my own cowardly troops! And now brigands come to steal what they cannot win by force of arms! Die then! Die and let this Keep be your tomb!" Vos's eyes are wide and there's a note of crazy desperation in them as he attacks!
for damage!
Hoshiko's blade catches Vos and cuts deeply into his side, but Ferabras is not able to get past the man's defenses. Mikail disappears and slides through the room!
Vos steps to the north and slashes at Hoshiko! for damage!
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Squeezing around his companions and hugging the wall to stay out of reach of Vos' sword, Soran nocks and arrow and sighs.
Just like all my other society missions, this one definitely has been strange. Bartering with hobgoblins, and now a military man who's quite clearly gone insane? I think the Venture Captains are doing this on purpose...
Once he has a shot lined up, he fires, launching two arrows at the crazed enemy.
Soran's first arrow misses, but his second hits Vos above the knee, causing him to cry out! Zolarus channels, while Ferabras hits Vos's defenses again and again! Hoshiko swings as well, but catches his shield in the melee.
Mikail stabs at the man, but his thick armor rebuffs your rapier!
Vos snarls, his eyes wide and slightly mad. "I will not tolerate this insubordination!" He steps five feet west and swings at Mikail! for damage!
Mikail withdraws, while Soran's first arrow strikes the man in the thigh again, leaving a trickle of blood oozing from his armor.
Ferabras steps up and swings, catching the lieutenant under his arm and cutting nearly through the man's body. Vos's eyes go wide as blood gushes from his mouth. "Insubordin..." He mutters as he falls, dead.
Quickly you search the body of the fallen leader, and discover 1 potion of cure moderate wounds, masterwork half plate, a +1 bastard sword, heavy steel shield, 42 gp and a key to the door below marked MESS.
You sweep the rest of the tower and discover the following:
- Suit of masterwork full plate armor
- A particularly compelling and unusual volume titled “Masters of the First.” This brief exposition, purchased by one of the keep’s more scholarly commanders from the druids of Acorn’s Rest, describes the realm known as the First World and the powerful beings who supposedly rule that plane. It is one of three known copies left in the Inner Sea region, making it a quite valuable find. A book collector interested in that topic would likely price the volume at 500 gp, though finding such a knowledgeable bibliophile might be a difficult task indeed.
- An assortment of mundane and masterwork arms in a secret compartment on the second floor.
On the first floor, behind the locked door:The flagstone tiles of this room have all been pulled up and lie stacked against the walls. The room has been completely excavated, and picks and shovels still lie scattered about. The digging has unearthed an old circular staircase made of a lighter stone than the rest of the keep. The staircase begins at the bottom of a seven-foot-deep pit accessed by a short ladder, and leads down into darkness.
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Mikail sags as Ferabras finishes the commander. He draws his wand of healing, and turns to Zolarus. "If you don't mind.. Thank you!"
Finished with their search of the top floor, Mikail leads the way to the ladder descending under the keep. He whispers to his team. "I can scout ahead and find any dangers!" He approaches the door, and does a quick sneak and peek.
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Mikail quickly closes the door, then returns to his friends. "There is something really creepy in there.. its singing a really messed up nursery rhyme about a farmer killing his family with a scythe.." he whispers with a shiver. "I couldn't see much in there, but I know that whatever it is, it can't be right in the head."