Session 5; October 24, 2006 

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Session 5:  The Secret Forest

Player's map from sessions 1-5: this represents what they have explored thus far in Jzadirune.

This is a map they found of the complex; they have discovered that smaller tunnels, secret doors and traps are not marked on this map.

Celceor The Wise (Elven mage, male); Dave M.
Skylar (Human Duskblade, male); Al G.
We-Zel (Half-Orc Barbarian); Mark M.
Corniel (Dwarf Bard); Brook

At the end of the last session, the players had returned to a door off of the mask room in order to try the key they had found.  The key marked with a "J" rune opened a door marked with a "J" rune and beyond they found a dusty barracks with gnome-size beds.  They were quite happy to discover that they now presumably had a key to help them bypass all doors in Jzadirune marked with a J.  Nick's hand injury was bothering him and Angrod was sneezing from the dusk in the gnome barracks so they went up into Keyvan Ghelve's lock shop up the stairs while the others decided to explore a little more.
They entered the gnome barracks where they had originally encountered the skulks and went into the small tunnel to the south and then explored the branch that went west with We-Zel taking point.  They passed the tunnel that We-Zel had originally entered via and then came to a small, odd shaped room with a few gnome beds and bits of fuerniture pushed up against the wall.  We-Zel stepped cautiously into the room and was stabbed in the side by an invisible attacker.  Badly wounded but mad as hell, the half orc swung his axe wildly and decapitated the skulk who was lurking by the door.
In the room they found the skulk's rapier and crossbow, a tattered black cloak that the skulk had been using as a blanket and a small chest.  The chest contained some tattered robes, three sunrods, two flasks of lamp oil, two tindertwigs, a ceramic mask of a sad looking gnome with rabbit ears, a silver ring shaped like a serpent with small gemstones for eyes and a silver ewer adorned with drads and moss agates.  They gathered up the treasures and Corniel appropriated the black cloak after cutting it shorter with his dagger.  A quick detect magic spell by Celceor showed that none of the tresures were magical.
They retraced their steps east and began to explore the long tunnel that led east.  After about 100 feet and a few twists and turns it ended in a similar tunnel that led north and south.  From the south tunnel they heard voices and so they went down the tunnel, finally coming to a side passage that led into what appeared to be a garden lit by sunlight filtered through the branches of trees.  Since they had thought they were deep underground, this was quite confusing.  In the middle of this garden stood three hobgoblins --- two of them apparently arguing over a wineskin and the third looking on in a bored manner.  Corniel the bard attempted to sneak out and hide behind one of the tress that grew there but the hobgoblins saw him and even though he attempted to convince them that an elven army was on the way, the Hobgoblins looked like they wanted to kill him anyway.  Before they could do that, however, Celceor hit them with a color spray spell and all three dropped to the ground, unconscious.  Two of the hobgoblins were killed and the third was tied up to be interrogated.  The garden proved to be purely illusionary -- the "trees" were illusions of bark and leaves over stone pillars and the grass and flowers were illusionary too.  Audible illusions of birds chirping and the wind in the branches as well as some soret of light spell completed the effect.  One of the hobgoblins was found to be carrying a note written in common that said,

"Dark One;
No more excuses!  I hear those amateurs working for the Cuthberts are still wandering around Jzadirune like they own the place.  I've got an important client coming and don't want to be disturbed.  You, the creepers and the skulks need to take care of this!
---Kazmojen
p.s.: Tip the hobgoblins.  You can put it on your expense report."

When the hobgoblin finally revived, he confessed that Kazmojen was the one who was selling slaves and asked if the players wanted to buy some.  He related that Kazmojen was both ugly and dangerous and that he was "downstairs."  When the players asked him to show them where on the map, he indicated Kazmojen could be found UNDER their map, implying that there was another level under this one.  Asked how to get there, the hobgoblin revealed that a wooden room with chains that raised and lowered was how they could get down there and showed them it's location on the map.  According to the hobgoblin, this room was heavily guarded.

A secret door led to a short hallway that ended in one of the gear doors marked with a D.  This was apparently the room that contained the "elevator" the hoibgoblin was talking about so they bound their prisoner to one of the "trees"  while We-Zel and Skylar stood ready at the door and Corniel sang loudly in order to hopefully lure them out.  Eventually he gear door opened to reveal two hobgoblins in banded mail with axes.  Wezel forced his way into the room while Skylar attempted to wedge the door with a block of stone.  Celceor cast a summon spell and conjured up a dog.  The Hobgoblins countered and more of the party forced their way into the room.  One of the hobgoblins managed to pull the key out of the door and Corniel was able to jump in just as the door slammed shut. 
The hobgoblins put up a stiff fight and even yhough the playerhad numerical advantage, the hobgoblins managed to wound both of the fighters pretty badly before being cut down.  One of the hobgoblins tried to pull a lever on the wall but was cut down by a sword spell cast by Skylar.

The floor of the octagonal room was of wood and there were heavy chains at each orner that wound up and around large spools overhead that appeared to hold 100s of feet of heavy chain.  Other than their weapons, armor and a handful of gold, the hobgoblins had nothing other than the precious 'D' key which the party took possession of.

We ended the session at this point.

Character / Player:
 Race / Class & Level:
 XP at start:
 XP for session:
 XP total:
 Notes:
Bane; Mike D.
 (half-elf / Thief 1)
 450

not present
Celceor The Wise; Dave M. (Elf / Mage 2) 1281 500
 1781
Nakama; Tom S. (Human / Ranger 1) 921

not present
Skylar; Al G. (Human / Duskblade 2) 1181
500
 1681
Angrod Moonstar; Mike M. (Elf / Cleric 2) 1051

not present
Nick; Dave P. (Human / Rogue 2) 1281

not present
Corniel; Brook
 (Dwarf / Bard 1)
 471 500
 971
We-Zel
 (Half-Orc/ Barbarian 1)
 250
 500
 750

.