409 - Aug 14
While resting at the rear FOB early on August the 14th, the party was approached by a Centaur who advised that the Hobgoblins appeared to be in the process of leaving their fort.
The party conferred and decided that most of them would rest until 1300 so the spellcasters were fully revived and the others well rested. Tarryn, as an Elf and not concerned with regaining spells, rested until 0900 and decided to shadow the Hobgoblins. The Centaur said he and his companions were prepared to follow the horde and keep an eye on it but stressed that the Centaurs would not engage the Hobgoblins in combat.
At 0830 the Centaur reappeared and advised that the horde were assembling outside the gate of the fort. They were forming up in a large column about 40' wide and 800 yards long. A wedge of 50 close order Hobgoblins were in the vanguard. The rest of the force were arrayed in ranks 7 wide. Slaves and cattle were interspersed amongst the Hobgoblins presumably to deter fireball casting. Gathorg was in the centre of the column accompanied by his two Ogres. Two Dire wolves were deployed on each flank of the column to act as scouts. There was no sign of a Pit Fiend.
The column moved off at about 0900 and was moving only at a rate of one and a half miles an hour due to the slowness of the slaves.
The rest of the party, being fully rested, moved off at 1300 and soon caught up with the slow column.
The Wizard and Warlock took up an ambush position in front of the column. The Cleric, Rogue, Fighter, Psion and Druid moved up on the column from its left flank while Tarryn moved up on the right.
The Dire Wolves on the left flank noticed movement and loped towards the adventurers. On the right flank the Wolves spotted Tarryn and charged at him.
While all that was happening the column plodded onwards and then was suddenly hit by a Fireball that obliterated all 50 of the Hobgoblins in the wedge formation at the vanguard. The Warlock screened the ambushers by using a Gust of Wind to create a cloud of dust.
Tarryn engaged the two Dire Wolves and slew them in quick fashion.
Aicen paralysed the centre of the column with a well directed Entangle spell followed up by Spike Growth.
The turning point came when Gathorg struggled to the edge of the left side of the column and, using a staff sling, flung a monster summoning gem at Dell. It burst into a flash of light and revealed a Barbed Devil.
The Devil was preparing to unleash its devlish attack but was then hit with a Dispel Magic from the Cleric which disrupted the summoning spell unleashed by the gem and the Devil vanished.
At this point Gathorg, bellowing in frustration surrendered.
The party reached terms with him. The Hobgoblins and Ogres and surviving wolves would be allowed to leave after swearing to cease attacking the Empire, but would leave behind their wagons, the slaves and the cattle.
The party found 8,000gp in Gathorg's wagon plus a rather startling collection of Roman pornography. 143 cattle were captured and 80 slaves liberated.
The party estimated that 89 Hobgoblins and two Dire Wolves had been killed.
The party returned to Trajectum and handed over the slaves and wagons and cattle to the authorities. They were summoned to see Arnulf.
He greeted the party effusively and expressed delight that the Hobgoblins had been vanquished and was very pleased that the slaves had been freed and valuable food supplies (the Hobgoblin wagons were fully of provisions) had been brought to the city.
He said he would ensure that the party's mansion would be furnished for free (but not the laboratory) and said he was not interested in being given the Frankish bell.
Marcus the Wizard was present and was very interested to hear about the Pit Fiend. He commented that such beings would not normally work with Hobgoblins unless a powerful spellcaster compelled them. Scorpius gave Marcus the strands of hair and the impression of the footprint he had collected.
The session ended with the party enjoying a lavish feast.
Session ended at 2200 on August 14th in Arnulf's throne room.
The party conferred and decided that most of them would rest until 1300 so the spellcasters were fully revived and the others well rested. Tarryn, as an Elf and not concerned with regaining spells, rested until 0900 and decided to shadow the Hobgoblins. The Centaur said he and his companions were prepared to follow the horde and keep an eye on it but stressed that the Centaurs would not engage the Hobgoblins in combat.
At 0830 the Centaur reappeared and advised that the horde were assembling outside the gate of the fort. They were forming up in a large column about 40' wide and 800 yards long. A wedge of 50 close order Hobgoblins were in the vanguard. The rest of the force were arrayed in ranks 7 wide. Slaves and cattle were interspersed amongst the Hobgoblins presumably to deter fireball casting. Gathorg was in the centre of the column accompanied by his two Ogres. Two Dire wolves were deployed on each flank of the column to act as scouts. There was no sign of a Pit Fiend.
The column moved off at about 0900 and was moving only at a rate of one and a half miles an hour due to the slowness of the slaves.
The rest of the party, being fully rested, moved off at 1300 and soon caught up with the slow column.
The Wizard and Warlock took up an ambush position in front of the column. The Cleric, Rogue, Fighter, Psion and Druid moved up on the column from its left flank while Tarryn moved up on the right.
The Dire Wolves on the left flank noticed movement and loped towards the adventurers. On the right flank the Wolves spotted Tarryn and charged at him.
While all that was happening the column plodded onwards and then was suddenly hit by a Fireball that obliterated all 50 of the Hobgoblins in the wedge formation at the vanguard. The Warlock screened the ambushers by using a Gust of Wind to create a cloud of dust.
Tarryn engaged the two Dire Wolves and slew them in quick fashion.
Aicen paralysed the centre of the column with a well directed Entangle spell followed up by Spike Growth.
The turning point came when Gathorg struggled to the edge of the left side of the column and, using a staff sling, flung a monster summoning gem at Dell. It burst into a flash of light and revealed a Barbed Devil.
The Devil was preparing to unleash its devlish attack but was then hit with a Dispel Magic from the Cleric which disrupted the summoning spell unleashed by the gem and the Devil vanished.
At this point Gathorg, bellowing in frustration surrendered.
The party reached terms with him. The Hobgoblins and Ogres and surviving wolves would be allowed to leave after swearing to cease attacking the Empire, but would leave behind their wagons, the slaves and the cattle.
The party found 8,000gp in Gathorg's wagon plus a rather startling collection of Roman pornography. 143 cattle were captured and 80 slaves liberated.
The party estimated that 89 Hobgoblins and two Dire Wolves had been killed.
The party returned to Trajectum and handed over the slaves and wagons and cattle to the authorities. They were summoned to see Arnulf.
He greeted the party effusively and expressed delight that the Hobgoblins had been vanquished and was very pleased that the slaves had been freed and valuable food supplies (the Hobgoblin wagons were fully of provisions) had been brought to the city.
He said he would ensure that the party's mansion would be furnished for free (but not the laboratory) and said he was not interested in being given the Frankish bell.
Marcus the Wizard was present and was very interested to hear about the Pit Fiend. He commented that such beings would not normally work with Hobgoblins unless a powerful spellcaster compelled them. Scorpius gave Marcus the strands of hair and the impression of the footprint he had collected.
The session ended with the party enjoying a lavish feast.
Session ended at 2200 on August 14th in Arnulf's throne room.