30th day of Tarsakh
We deliberate on our next approach as we hike back to the cave to rest. We decide that the disguise plan was a good one, it was just that I stuffed it up by resorting to violence too quickly. I resist the urge to respond to the criticism by resorting to violence, and agree that we will try the plan again this evening. This time, though, we decide that we will try the main gate. My thoughts are that trying the secret entrance for a fourth time is so obvious that there is no way they could be expecting it, but I get voted down. We decide that we need more intel though, so decide to ambush a patrol and capture a goblin to interrogate.
After resting, we scout around for a patrol and soon find one with two hobgoblins and four goblins. We leap into action, in a slightly haphazard manner. My first arrow goes seriously awry, and Garrett’s incantation only sends two of the goblins into a slumber. We start to get our act together though, and reasonably rapidly dispatch the hobgoblins and one of the goblins. The last goblin scarpers before we can catch him, using an unusual turn of speed.
We tie up the last two goblins and start asking them questions. They are surprisingly co-operative, although maybe seeing the two dead hobgoblins and knowing of our reputation helps them. In return for some food and their freedom they tell us that there are still lots of goblins, but relatively few hobgoblins and bugbears, and that there is no new authority figure to replace the king. Black Spider is continuing to send them orders, but they are just mercenaries working for him. They tell us that the main gate is guarded by sentries, but tell us the password. They also warn us that after the main door there is a pit trap straight ahead, but the door to the north leads to the hobgoblins, and the door to the south to the goblins. Pleased with this information we give them the coppers that we found on their dead comrades and tell them that they are free, but that if their information is wrong, we will hunt them down and kill them.
Having resting during the day, we return to Cragmaw Castle in disguise and with Garrett disguised as a captive. He casts minor illusion to help our faces appear more hobgoblin-like. We approach the main gate and are challenged for the password. I return the phrase the goblins gave us, and we are let in – so far so good. There is a brief exchange with the gate guards about our patrol, which I answer in a guttural snarl and then we proceed through the north door.
Beyond the north door, we find a storage chamber with spoilt food, which is obviously still being eaten. We also find some bloodied chainmail and a sword, which we think might be Sildar’s, so we take it. There is a door in the west wall, which we open. Beyond is a barracks with four hobgoblins. I start a conversation, mindful of the feedback from the rest of the party over the last attempt, and we find that there are very few of the hobgoblins left, very few bugbears, and that the owlbear was their secret weapon, which they are most annoyed that was released early. We try to withdraw, but they are keen that we leave Garrett there, which doesn’t seem like a good idea. The conversation continues in a desultory fashion (although they do mention that Black Spider lives in a cave), until the minor illusion wears off. We see a look of confusion cross the faces of the hobgoblins, so we attack. The fight is bloody, but we are victorious, although not before both Elaina and I take serious wounds from the hobgoblins, who seem to be hitting with much more vigour than before – they seem to have been training which is giving them some sort of martial advantage. When the fight is over, we notice a cage of crows by the arrowslit – we surmise that this might be how Black Spider is communicating with the hobgoblins. Maybe we can release one and follow it to see where it goes? If only we had someone with a flying familiar…