Session 1: Goblin Ambush

"**Goblin Ambush"** was the first session of Campaign 1. The newly-formed party accepted an escort mission into the swamps of Alagost, and were set upon by vicious goblins from a nearby hideout.

## **The Story So Far...**

> *"Welcome to Alagost. It is a peninsula nation of mountains, swamps and storms, with great forested plateaus sweeping down from the Dragonspine mountains in the north-east to the saltwater marshes in the west. The nation's capital is Sturmenfell, a city on the peninsula's craggy, treacherous southern coast, weathering howling maelstroms from Tempest Bay. It is the seat of the Sacravet Pontificate, an oligarchy of storm priests who worship Borrak, Breaker of Cliffs - god of storms and physical prowess. Ruins litter the landscape, half-swallowed by the rising swamps. The pontiffs and their Lords Deacon exact heavy tithes and taxes upon the towns that do persist, carving a harsh line between wealthy and destitute.*
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> *The five of you met in the Three Badgers tavern in the town of Stonecross, a market town on the edge of the much-dreaded Fenmarrow Forest. Four of you were recruited by a young warrior named Cedric Goodfellow, who required a guard escort for a journey into the swamp-riddled forest: a clerical endeavour, the details of which Goodfellow has yet to reveal to you in full. However, he did promise a handsome prize of 50 gold pieces each - on behalf of the Helian Church - for those who assist him on the journey. You've heard the stories of alligators, trolls and carnivorous flies that reside within the Fenmarrow Forest, but there was no way you'd turn down such a reward.*
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> *Thus, you hired a stagecoach and set off along the trail into the forest, and when we begin, you've been travelling for about 7 hours, following the dirt path along the Ramman River, the cart wheels throwing up greyish mud behind it. The air in the swamp is surprisingly humid, and the scent of putrid mud, stagnant water and general decay pervades the whole region. Rain falls through the dark canopy of thick hardwood trees and gnarled mangroves, looming from the perpetual yellowish-grey mist that hangs in the air."*
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## **Session Notes**

### **Goblin Ambush**

The party, hired by Cedric Goodfellow on an undisclosed clerical mission, began in the back of a cart trundling along the Stumpmarsh Trail in the Fenmarrow Forest. The group was accompanied by Cedric's retainers - Septimus Krane, his fourteen-year-old squire; Godfrey Gilhorn, his half-elven butler; and Mushroom, a gnomish minstrel composing an epic symphony about Cedric's exploits. They introduced themselves, and listened to Arvin the driver regaling them with warnings of alligators - and worse creatures - lurking in the swamp. The cart happened across a second cart blocking the road, the mule slain by black-fletched arrows. Arvin began to exit the cart, but was instantly shot through the neck by an arrow of the same making. Squat, green-skinned, wide-eared creatures emerged from the bushes - goblins.

The goblins hailed arrows on the group - Malaxus took an arrow to the shoulder while Cedric took refuge behind his shield. A dual fire and ice combo by Arashi and Malaxus killed one of the attackers, which another was taken out by Cedric's thrown javelin. After a goblin knocked Malaxus unconscious with a second strike, John rushed up onto the escarpment and snapped its neck with his trunk. Dilern killed the fourth with a bow, while the last was incinerated by Arashi's second *fire bolt.*

The party took a moment to recuperate - Cedric and Arashi combined their healing magic to revive Malaxus, who looted the goblins, finding a wheel of mouldy cheese and six black-fletched arrows. He gave the cheese to John - who ate it whole and promptly regurgitated it - and the arrows to Dilern, who had expended two of his own.

An ear-splitting female scream split the air, prompting Cedric to immediately declare a rescue attempt. Septimus handed him his longsword and his equipment before riding off on a mule with Godfrey, Mushroom and Dilern, heading to secure lodgings in Correnwald - their destination. Meanwhile, the party followed Cedric into the woods. Cedric discovered a well-trodden path betwixt the shrubbery, and managed to identify the goblin-made traps and tripwires placed along it.

The trail persisted for about half a mile, coming to a cave with a river flowing from its mouth, and a guardpost built into the briar thickets on the right-hand side. John and Arashi dealt with the two goblin guards, after which Arashi provided John and Cedric with a rock each - imbued with the *light* cantrip - to provide them with vision in the cave.

### **The Needlefang Cave**

> *"You can see the tunnel leads gradually uphill, studded here and there with large stones that jut above the surface of the stream. The stone walls are daubed with glistening red liquid - little three-clawed handprints and finger-painted spirals across the stone. There are no torches or light sources to speak of, but you can hear the rush of a waterfall further into the tunnel. In the shadows of the ceiling ahead, about forty feet away, you can just make out the dim shape of a rickety bridge of wood and rope spanning the tunnel - evidently, another passage crosses overhead."*
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The interior of the cave was dark, and daubed with red paintings done by its goblin inhabitants. The party glimpsed a snoozing goblin guard sat on the bridge overhead, and surprised him with an attack - John killed him with a dart to the brain stem before he could alert his leader.

They pushed on into the cave, following the stepping stones to a forty-foot waterfall whose rushing fills the cavern with noise. Malaxus searched the rubble at the foot of the waterfall, finding a green cloak wrapped around an Elven-made shortsword that glows green in its scabbard. As he and John discussed ownership of this new treasure, a dark, leathery tentacled creature engulfed Cedric's head, cutting off his airways, as the group spun around to look on in horror.

## **Appearances**

### **The Party**

* Arashi Fulgar
* Cedric Goodfellow
* Dilern Lousseaghymn
* John
* Malaxus

### **New Characters**

* Arvin †
* Godfrey Gilhorn
* Mushroom
* Septimus Krane

### **Deaths**

* Arvin - killed by a shot to the neck by a goblin
* Several goblins - killed by party members

### **New Creatures**

* Darkmantle
* Frog
* Goblin
* Mule