Third Expedition - The Caves of Chaos

[Scott308]

Eglistrum Paharis

Looking in the direction of the voice, the Mage replies. Hmm. Two hobgoblins on guard in the first room, and four in the next. They'll likely become involved when they hear combat. Should we try to draw the two guards out?

[Gelatinous Q]

Lardo looks to Sham and our two captives: "Can we get our friends here to call out the guards in the next room? We'll also need to keep those goblin lasses quiet."

[GreyWolfVT]

Cormac "Perhaps we should have specified for our captives to lead us to the human prisoners not the goblin women."

[KingOfCowards]

Sham snarls at the hobgoblin captives,
In goblin

"You idiots. It's not the goblin prisoners I want, it's the humans.".

He then looks to Lardo to start formulating a plan. "We could grab one of those dead hobgoblins and position the body. Then have one of our prisoners call out for help, and surprise them when they come to investigate. But who knows if they will bring the other four with them."

[Zhym]

"Don't be too quick with this route to ignore," interjects Ampersand Mxyzptlk Kerfuffle Humperdink Wongdoodle Biddleshaft the Third. "Maybe the humans are past that last door."

[GreyWolfVT]

Cormac awaits the hobgoblins to reply before jumping to conclusions. "I'm not here to save goblin women. Do I look like I care about goblins?"

[Spartakos]

When Sham upbraids the hobgoblins, they seem unperturbed. "I know you wanted the humans; this is the way to them."

[badams30]

Brother Henry - Priest

Henry shrugs and tells Sham "Tell them if they guide us to the humans they can have these goblins - they mean nothing to us - and if it can help secure their temporary loyalty, then it's worth it to save the folks we are looking for."

Henry paces about nervously, anxious to get to the captives.

[KingOfCowards]

Sham nods with a snort at the hobgoblins reply, although he holds Henry's statements to himself, not wanting to cut any further deals.

Unless Lardo poses a better plan, he'll move forward trying to get the guards to come out.
He addresses the cooperative hobgoblin.

"Yell out to the guards and tell them there's a fire in the storeroom."

"Everybody except Ampersand getting ready to attack." If there is any way to better position ourselves to surprise hobgoblins coming down the corridor, I'll do so. But I am pretty sure there is too many of us to hide.

[Scott308]

Eglistrum Paharis

Eglistrum will attempt to position himself so he is not immediately adjacent to the door, as he is not a front-line fighter. If he is able to hide behind something he will do so, staff at the ready to smack a hobgoblin.

[GreyWolfVT]

Cormac ax in hand proceeds on wards ready to attack a hobgoblin if need arises.

[Spartakos]

Sorry for the delay, folks.

25th of Shining, 1:50 pm

The party spreads to the walls on either side of the secret door, so as not to be immediately visible. Eglistrum hides behind a stack of crates, and others ready their weapons.

Sham orders the hobgoblin to call to his fellows, telling them there is a fire in the storeroom. He shrugs, and calls down the hallway in hobgoblin, a handful of words. He looks at Sham and says softly, "If I spoke in the goblin tongue, he would wonder why. We use it only to speak to our lessers."

The sound of running boots echoes in the dark secret passage.

Any last minute things? How are people positioned? Tactics when the hobgoblins appear?

[Gelatinous Q]

Lardo is positioned in the shadows to one side of the doorway for a backstab on the last hobgoblin to come through.

[KingOfCowards]

Sham will rush to the front of the line to attack whatever comes down the corridor.

[GreyWolfVT]

Cormac will move to the front to aid if any battle ensues

[badams30]

Brother Henry - Priest

Henry will stand aside with his mace at the ready, waiting to bash anything that gets in front of him.

[Spartakos]

The group hastily moves into position, ready to assault the hobgoblins when they come rushing into the storeroom. But when two hobgoblins burst forth from the hidden passage, they are far from surprised, rounding to either side with readied spears. Even as they attack, jabbing at Sham and Cormac to force them back, another pair moves up into the entrance, raising their loaded crossbows.

Meanwhile, your bound prisoners begin fighting with as much ferocity as they can, considering their bonds. The talkative one tries to kick Kal--who took charge of him when Sham readied for battle--in the crotch, while the other attempts to head-butt Saeros.

Combat map attached, positioning based on what people have posted or my own best guesses. Ampersand does not appear because no one is sure where he is...Zhym, you may position him as you see fit, within reason.



Actions?

[KingOfCowards]

Sham is caught off guard by the sudden rush of hobgoblin foes, making his attack awkward an ill-timed. He curses and yells for Kal to execute the prisoners.
Attack with Broadsword: [1d20+1] = 1+1 = 2, Damage: [1d8+1] = 6+1 = 7

[badams30]

Brother Henry - Cleric

Henry will attack whatever Hob is closest to him, swinging his mace at the thing.

[1d20+1] = 18+1 = 19
[1d6+1] = 3+1 = 4

[Gelatinous Q]

His chance for a backstab lost, Lardo unsheathes his short sword and lunges at HSP2 anyway.

To hit: [1d20+1] = 18+1 = 19
Damage: [1d6+1] = 3+1 = 4