It sounds like the goblins have brought everybody out to search for the mysterious invaders. A very, very angry woman can be heard giving orders and there are other non-goblin voices too, but just when it seems as though a properly-organised search is going to uncover the party’s hiding place an ululating battle cry is heard and several arrows thwack into the fortress. Someone is attacking Thistletop again and the defenders clearly think that that someone is the party, for after the attacker withdraws (or is defeated) there is no more searching.
After resting up overnight for as long as they dare the group prepares to resume their mission. Brother Bother casts some much-needed healing before Gol’den Chile sneaks up the wall and makes his way carefully across the roof. Guards can be seen on the towers but fortunately the party are coming from the seaward side and the guards are looking landward. They decide to take out the two goblin dogs in the courtyard and sneak back into the fortress that way.
In an efficient silent attack Aric shoots one dog while Gol’den Chile drops down and kills the other. Bother drops into the courtyard and finishes off the wounded dog before it can bark.
Two mouldering goblins with their heads stoved in lie outside the boarded-up stables and there is clearly some kind of creature inside but the group decide to leave this for later and enter the fortress. After Aric spends time investigating a particularly foul-smelling goblin latrine Chile discovers some stairs leading down. These end at a door beyond which can be heard at least two people moving about; Chile throws the door wide to be confronted by a dark-skinned woman who immediately casts a spell and turns into three dark-skinned women. He rushes in to the attack, to see that Tsuto Kaijitsu is also in the room.
Bother and Aric engage the prodigal half-brother while Chile attacks the wizard. Her Sleep spell is ineffective as are Tsuto’s monk attacks and he is quickly brought down by his two attackers. Chile and Aric both manage to hit one of the wizards but their blows only strike illusions; the now singular spellcaster scorches Aric’s backside with a blast of fire before running off down the passageway, cat in tow.
While Bother retrieves a magic ring and flask from the fallen Tsuto, Chile and Aric pursue the mage, passing through a war-room with maps of Sandpoint and another mural room with a giant goblin drawn at the heart of Thistletop. Chile hears a door slam and ends up in a room with five portals to choose from, but on an uncanny hunch listens at the right one and hears frantic whispering with grunting in response. Before Chile can do anything the grunter throws the door open and the monk is facing a ferocious-looking bugbear, the wizard and a harem full of goblin women.
Blows are traded and arrows fired. The wizard’s Magic Missile has no effect on Chile’s Shield spell and the bugbear, spying Aric, barges Chile aside and attacks the half-elf …
Experience: 533 each.
