Episode 03: Goblin Hideaway

General Summary

The Triple B recruits have recovered their beacons, but are stranded for the week in Faerie. They seek another way home.

Recovered Beacons

Having survived their evening among the undead, the party returns from Blackbriar Hill with a branch of spectral fire. They return to Granny Greentoe's hut to discover that Nyoxes and Ryper have been buttered, herbed, and freshly shaven.

Granny says, "I had to be prepared, in case you didn't come back!"

She accepts the branch in exchange for the beacons. They leave with their nervous and relieved beacons in tow. Granny puts the branch under the cauldron and they hear the souls of the slain moaning along with the bubbling of the pot.

Stew's Brew's Tavern

Due to the progression of the days of the week, the gates from Faerie back to the Kirinal Concordance Zone have closed until the next week. Taela knows that there's a possible permanent gate that they can use: Stew's Brews Tavern.

They go to Stews Brews in the Market and meet Stew, a miniature awakened giant Incarnation Moth who brews magic potions. He will allow the Beacon Finders to use his portal back to Erathia on two conditions.

First, Brew wants to make consensual myconid tea using Ryper, who is currently sporing. The process won't harm Ryper, it will be like sitting in a jacuzzi. But Brew will be able to make powerful potions from the tea and offers the party and Ryper a potion that he brews in return.

Secondly, he is missing the portal key and his goblin apprentice Tugbug. The goblin went to investigate the Goblin Queen Wargnuts and hasn't returned. Stew suspects foul play or theorizes that his apprentice has been seduced by the wretched queen.

Wargnuts, the Goblin Queen

Stew gives the party the coordinates of the goblins roadside ambush. As they approach, Taela sposs the warren entrances. Laszlo distracts the sniper with a magical enema and the group sneaks by the distressed guard. Gundar leads them underground and activates his tremorsense, allowing him to feel the presence of everyone touching the ground.

He leads them around pit traps and unsuspecting guards. They do run into a small band of gobbos and defeat them handily. The last survivor, Burry pleasds for his life. He offers to distract the other golins and lead them around the lair.

Burry is as good as his word and engages another group of guards with a game of dice. Tugbug is exactly where Burry said he would be and they free the excited apprentice. Unfortunately, the Queen had taken the portal key from him. There's a giant spider between them and the portal key.

Suddenly Gyrospinx speaks again. "Veoric, I have a message from your warlock patron: Find he who weaves his shroud for those that move, and make sure he moves no more."

They plan to fight the spider in the next cave to get to the Goblin Queen.