The Cragmaw tribe consists of marauding bands and rival goblinholds scattered throughout the area of the Triboar Trail and the Neverwinter Wood. However, one chieftain is grudgingly recognized by all others as supreme: King Grol of Cragmaw Castle.
Cragmaw Castle is not a goblin construction, nor is that the structure's original name. Raised by a talented wizard-noble of old Phalom, an ancient realm that once controlled much of the North, the stronghold consists of seven overlapping towers; however, its upper levels have long since collapsed to heaps of crumbling masonry. Only the ground floor is still sound enough to be habitable.
The centuries have not been kind to Cragmaw Castle. The goblins have shored up the weakest areas beneath its falling towers with crude timbers, but its only a matter of time before the structure collapses entirely.
Our heroes approached the aging structure carefully, taking their time to search around the exterior of the stone edifice. They were supremely confident the goblins had overlooked some alternate entrance and their confidence was soon rewarded. On the north side of the old castle they found a crumbled curtain which the goblins expertly obscured with a carefully painted canvas facade. This hidden entrance brought the party to the rear portions of the castle where the pressed in to the eastern side of a long, curtain-divided hallway. Through a small alcove they heard angry voices from behind a door and shuffling in the antechamber. Seraphina, brimming with the potential granted by the Comet card,
sweetly requested the opportunity to engage the foes behind the curtain alone. Her party obliged.
Two hobgoblins stood guard in a smallish room and Seraphina leapt quickly to the attack, stabbling Rodron the Knife viciously. The Hobgoblin howled in surprise and his companion, Kraldruk forgot all battle tactics. Kraldruk took up his greatsword and swung wildly at the halfling rogue, missing widely and stabbing Rodrok instead. Rodrok cursed and backhanded his fellow guard looking about wildly for Seraphina before taking an unpracticed swing at her himself. The rogue dodged easily and landed a second blow against the injured hobgoblin, who staggered and fell to a knee. Kraldruk attacked again, dealing a glancing blow before Seraphina caught him in the shoulder with her knife. Rodrok's
ineffectual swings belied his weakened state. Enraged, Kraldruk swung again, not even toward the rogue, all of his frustration coming out in one mighty heave. His blade landed with a satisfying thock, but he turned to find he had slain his own ally as Rodrok slumped to the floor with a gasp. In again came Seraphina, springing around the confused hobgoblin with as a blur, dealing a vicious blow to his neck. Kraldruk made one final attempt, whirling his greatsword in a wide arc, but Seraphina merely ducked past and delivered a swift death to the surprised defender.
Blessed by the comet in her incredible victory, Seraphina's power and expertise grew immediately to new heights. The conversation in the King's chambers died off during the fight, as if the sounds of combat had made their way through the door. The party burst in to challenge King Grol, finding him standing in the center of the room with his pet wolf, Snarl and a Drow female. They had been arguing about payment for a map. On the floor lay a battered and unconscious Gundren Rockseeker, the very dwarf our party had come to save.
An invigorated Seraphina charged to the attack, leaping at the dire wolf, but stumbling in her enthusiasm. King Grol slapped her aside and the Drow, Vyerith, moved to the other adventurers. Count Alistair strode into the room, whirling Klarg's morningstar high above his head and smote the wolf with such a force the animal's spirit was left in its place as its body shot across the room and exploded upon impact with the far wall, sending bone and sinew flying back to embed itself in Grol.
Grol and the drow fought viciously, searching for some tactical advantage as their blows rained ineffectually down upon the stalwart heroes who prevailed in the end, felling both the goblin king and the drow who, as it turned out, was no drow at all but rather a doppleganger mercenary in the employ of The Black Spider.
Healing was quickly applied to Gundren, Vilkas Tractham prevailed upon his compatriots and the newly rescued Gundren to press farther inward through the castle. His god had given him a vision of an altar in need of purification and he would not be satisfied without accomplishing this task.
who summarily refused to leave the room unless his lost map was regained. A thorough search revealed it to be hidden beneath the king's expansive bed. After a well-earned rest, the party was back up and
Back to the antechamber, the group wavered on whether or not to open the mysteriously barred door at the southern end of the room. It was barred from the outside, which bode ill for the party. Yet Seraphina sensed great treasure beyond. After much negotiation, Vilkas again prevailed with his insistence and everyone prepared themselves for the worst. They were rewarded for their diligence as a vicious and angry owlbear burst forth from the room with a hootscreech. Holly found herself in the creature's path and took a swing, but barely grazed its thick hide.
Lo Risten, suddenly inspired to domesticate the abused animal, pulled some meat from her pack and threw it into the room which had for so long been the owlbear's cage. Avina's warhammer crashed down, missing the bear. The owlbear, seeing an open path toward what it knew to be the castle's exit, charged forward, ignoring the attacks of the adventurers. Count Alistair wisely ascertained the creature's intent and stepped aside. Soon the beast was gone, rushing off into the night. Seraphina was indeed correct, however, in that the room was richly furnished with treasure, hidden in a chest on the rotted out second floor. They found electrum and gold, a healing potion, scroll of revivify, and scroll of silence.
Cragmaw Castle is not a goblin construction, nor is that the structure's original name. Raised by a talented wizard-noble of old Phalom, an ancient realm that once controlled much of the North, the stronghold consists of seven overlapping towers; however, its upper levels have long since collapsed to heaps of crumbling masonry. Only the ground floor is still sound enough to be habitable.
The centuries have not been kind to Cragmaw Castle. The goblins have shored up the weakest areas beneath its falling towers with crude timbers, but its only a matter of time before the structure collapses entirely.
Our heroes approached the aging structure carefully, taking their time to search around the exterior of the stone edifice. They were supremely confident the goblins had overlooked some alternate entrance and their confidence was soon rewarded. On the north side of the old castle they found a crumbled curtain which the goblins expertly obscured with a carefully painted canvas facade. This hidden entrance brought the party to the rear portions of the castle where the pressed in to the eastern side of a long, curtain-divided hallway. Through a small alcove they heard angry voices from behind a door and shuffling in the antechamber. Seraphina, brimming with the potential granted by the Comet card,
Two hobgoblins stood guard in a smallish room and Seraphina leapt quickly to the attack, stabbling Rodron the Knife viciously. The Hobgoblin howled in surprise and his companion, Kraldruk forgot all battle tactics. Kraldruk took up his greatsword and swung wildly at the halfling rogue, missing widely and stabbing Rodrok instead. Rodrok cursed and backhanded his fellow guard looking about wildly for Seraphina before taking an unpracticed swing at her himself. The rogue dodged easily and landed a second blow against the injured hobgoblin, who staggered and fell to a knee. Kraldruk attacked again, dealing a glancing blow before Seraphina caught him in the shoulder with her knife. Rodrok's
Blessed by the comet in her incredible victory, Seraphina's power and expertise grew immediately to new heights. The conversation in the King's chambers died off during the fight, as if the sounds of combat had made their way through the door. The party burst in to challenge King Grol, finding him standing in the center of the room with his pet wolf, Snarl and a Drow female. They had been arguing about payment for a map. On the floor lay a battered and unconscious Gundren Rockseeker, the very dwarf our party had come to save.
Grol and the drow fought viciously, searching for some tactical advantage as their blows rained ineffectually down upon the stalwart heroes who prevailed in the end, felling both the goblin king and the drow who, as it turned out, was no drow at all but rather a doppleganger mercenary in the employ of The Black Spider.
Healing was quickly applied to Gundren, Vilkas Tractham prevailed upon his compatriots and the newly rescued Gundren to press farther inward through the castle. His god had given him a vision of an altar in need of purification and he would not be satisfied without accomplishing this task.
Back to the antechamber, the group wavered on whether or not to open the mysteriously barred door at the southern end of the room. It was barred from the outside, which bode ill for the party. Yet Seraphina sensed great treasure beyond. After much negotiation, Vilkas again prevailed with his insistence and everyone prepared themselves for the worst. They were rewarded for their diligence as a vicious and angry owlbear burst forth from the room with a hootscreech. Holly found herself in the creature's path and took a swing, but barely grazed its thick hide.
Lo Risten, suddenly inspired to domesticate the abused animal, pulled some meat from her pack and threw it into the room which had for so long been the owlbear's cage. Avina's warhammer crashed down, missing the bear. The owlbear, seeing an open path toward what it knew to be the castle's exit, charged forward, ignoring the attacks of the adventurers. Count Alistair wisely ascertained the creature's intent and stepped aside. Soon the beast was gone, rushing off into the night. Seraphina was indeed correct, however, in that the room was richly furnished with treasure, hidden in a chest on the rotted out second floor. They found electrum and gold, a healing potion, scroll of revivify, and scroll of silence.
