"Since we've got 'em all scared off, could you fancy a looksee to find a way to open this gate?"
"Yes, flee, curs!"
Vandis laughs, "An excellent battle!" and slaps Dagobert on the back, "You are a mighty magician, dwarf!"
Nearly as battered by Vandis's approval as he was by the hobgoblins, Dagobert smiles shyly and waggles his staff at the wall of light, which disappears.
"Well, that's very nice of you to say so, but "Magician" is a bit strong to my way of thinking."
Blushing a bit at the unexpected attention, he pokes at the portcullis.
Dagobert inspects the portcullis but cannot find any kind of mechanism in the current room to lift it. It seems more like the portcullis has to be lifted and latched back into place. It is then triggered and unlatched from somewhere else nearby. A simple, but effective trap under the right circumstances.
"Vandis, can you lift this? It's a bit beyond me. Although I expect I can get in the way if you like."
Dagobert comes to the conclusion that the only way to raise the portcullis is to raise the portcullis.
Galad gets a firm grip on the portcullis and lifts with all his strength.
Hawkseer attempts to help, but slips on a patch of blood.
As he predicted, Dagobert gets helpfully in the way.
Vandis sheaths his swords and attempts to lift the heavy wooden portcullis. Galad steps forward to help, spiritual energy infusing his muscles with greater strength. Together, they lift the portcullis high until it latches back into place.
"They'll be alerting any others, you know," remarks Dagobert thoughtfully, looking in the direction of the fled hobgoblins.
"It's not good professional practice to let them escape to breed."
"They've got far enough by now -- I confess I could use a breather."
"Deary me. That was thoughtless of me."
An expression of mild concern crosses Dagobert's face.
As soon as the portcullis was raised enough for him to get through, the halfling had carefully stepped around Vandis as he and Galad had labored to unbar their way.
"Now, hopefully nothing'll bring that back down ifin we have to leave in a mighty hurry."
Quietly he makes his way to Orliss' corpse and starts to rifle through the Dragonborn's possessions.
"Wonderin' if you have anythin' that might be useful like, ya overgrown Kobold."
Dannad finds two decent sized rubies stashed away on Orliss. Also, all of his gear is in decent repair and may have some resell value for a few gold. He wielded a well oiled and balanced greatsword and wore a suit of sturdy chainmail. The hobgoblins were armed with medium shields and shortswords. The archers had bows and there are still about 80 arrows left among those that fell.
Dannad holds the rubies up to the light to appraise their worth.
"Looks like there was somethin' o' worth here still, elsewise boots here was overpaid for his services."
He puts the two rubies into his purse before walking over to take a shortsword from one corpse and examine the bow and arrows of another.
"Vandis, what do ya think of his blade?"
"Ach, it is a mighty weapon. Not best suited for how I fight."
"It's a bit on the large side for me."
Dagobert makes a tentative exploration of the rest of the room.
Dagobert's search of the room reveals the peep hole to all those who hadn't spotted it earlier. The hole shows clearly into the next room.
"Err - chaps?"
Dagobert stands on tiptoe and peers through the peephole.
Looking through the peep-hole, or through the open doors, you see what looks like a common room for the goblinoids and other creatures in charge of the slave trade. Worn cots, bedding, and various personal belongings are strewn about. In the center of the room is a heavy wooden table covered with playing cards and a handful of copper coins. A chair has been set up next to the peep hole with the release lever within arms reach.
They had likely been waiting patiently ever since you left, expecting your return after your 2 day long attack on the demesne.
It looks as though the goblins ran through without looking back. Several of the cots and cards look recently used, so they were likely here for some time before their lookout spotted you.
"Looks like time to follow," Hawkseer observes.
Dagobert conveys his thoughts to the others and looks to see if there are any other doors. Just in case.
The room reeks of stale beer, sour wine, and rancid meat.
From the open exit, the sound of rushing water and hurried voices can be clearly heard. The voices have the quality of yapping dogs.
"Sshh"
Dagobert raises a finger to his lips and listens hard.
Alas the sound of running water and his own thumping heart drowns out any chance of overhearing anything useful.
Hawkseer takes advantage of Dagobert's shushing.
Dannad tries his best to hush his breathing as the more perceptive members of the party try to discern what lies ahead.
"Hurry up already. They'll be on us in a second once they get a chance to regroup. You saw how fast those gobbo's were runnin'. These guys are serious," says out of the squealy dog voices. "They killed Orliss is a matter of seconds."
"Well then, Wrix, I suggest you finish fastening those boxes so we can get the hell out of here."
"Quiet, both of you," says the elven accented voice.
Hawkseer tries to pick out parts of the conversation while everyone else keeps quiet. They can hear the murmers, but over the rushing water no one else can make out any details.
Hawkseer holds up a hand for silence, listening intently.
The eladrin then grips his falchion and whispers to the others, "They're trying to bolt. At least three, with a leader. Let's move!"
Dagobert blinks, nods and prepares to follow.
Vandis grins.
It isn't nice.
Dannad coldly smiles and spins his dagger in his hand.
"Should be a easy bunch."
Hawkseer moves swiftly to the wooden ledge overlooking the channel of the underground river. Down below he spies a large boat loaded with boxes and chests. Two tall humanoids with canine faces that mark them as gnolls are busy putting the last few crates in. A hooded figure oversees their work, urging them to hurry.
The sound of rushing water echoes through the cavern, making it difficult to hear with near the water. Droplets cling to the stone walls and fall from the ceiling above. The wooden walkway is slick and precarious with no handrail. An equally slick wooden ladder leads down to the tiny shore.
Dagobert finds himself surprisingly alert, but knowing his own capabilities, advances cautiously.
Dannad's hand closes on the hilt of his dagger as he gets ready to move.
A narrow wooden ledge extends out over a churning river of sewage and rainwater. A rusty iron ladder descends from the ledge to a sandy beach below, where a moored skiff bucks and spins in the whirling eddies.
Below, a pair of enormous dog-headed humanoids rushes to load the skiff with heavy chests and coffers. Aboard the skiff, a thin, robed figure directs the work, holding the skiff’s mooring lines and casting nervous glances all about.
The party catches the crew slightly unaware and gains the upper hand in first moments of the confrontation. They look up, boxes in hand, with nervous looks on their faces.
"Quickly, release the boat!" cries the hooded figure.
Hawkseer
Galad
(W)rix
(R)aiko
Dagobert
Dannad
(V)irmoth
Vandis
"Keep them off of me! The elf is mine!" Hawkseer shouts. With his usual recklessness, Hawkseer evades the gnolls as he speeds into the boat and slashes at the woman.
The spirit dissipates only to reform on the boat, it's spectral blade glinting in the torchlight.
It would seem much to Hawkseer's surprise when his blade finds nothing but cloth armor beneath the hooded figure's robes and draws blood. He may also be surprised to hear a clearly masculine cry of pain from what he now sees is an eladrin male with dirty blonde hair.
Galad moves to a better vantage and his shadowy doppelganger appears behind a very surprised gnoll. His partner Raiko steps in for him, however, and pushes the blow away.
"Hehehe, now you're owin' be one. Now quick, cast off that rope!"
Wrix nods in agreement and cuts the line tying the boat to a nearby anchor. The boat, heavy with the chests and other goods, is slow to go adrift however.
Wrix then snaps at the spirit companion with his whip to no avail.
"No you fool! It is only a conjuration!" shouts the hooded figure, Virmoth. "Focus on the deva if you want it dead! Now get this zealous lout off of me!"
In response, Raiko moves to flank Hawkseer and takes a two-handed swing with his heavy wooden mallet but hits only air as Hawkseer ducks at the last second.
Dagobert
Dannad
(V)irmoth
Vandis
Hawkseer
Galad
(W)rix
(R)aiko