If you’ve been following along, then you’ll know that this time I’ll be talking about the hobgoblins and bugbears found in the Caves of Chaos near Drell’s Keep.  This is an update to 4th edition for TSR’s Keep on The Borderlands module B2.

Cave F:

The initial entrance to this cave has been swept clean, except for some obvious blood stains on the ground.  A stout iron-reinforced door is here at the back of the cavern it is DC 20 to break through the door.  Over the door is a sign in goblin and common “Come in for dinner!”  The handwriting is very poor, and it appears to be written in blood.

Terrain: Movement here is normal.  The floors and walls have been worked and are kept clean and neat.  Squares with furniture in them should be considered difficult.

Lighting: Bright light at night time.  Dim light during the day.  The hobgoblins have lanterns spaced evenly to keep all areas lit.  They shutter the lanterns during the day when they sleep.

The hobgoblins have claimed this series of caverns as their own.  They have enslaved the goblins, and view the kobolds and bugbears as nothing more than servants.  In their opinion they already own all of Areas A, D, F and H.  They are aware of the cultists in area K and the gnolls in area J, but are ignoring them for the moment in hopes of conquering the orcs first.

If the PC’s attempt to negotiate with the hobgoblins, they must treat the hobgoblin king as they would any noble.  Derisive remarks or hints that they are not civilized or are less than human will be met with immediate and harsh violence.

A couple of notes on playing the caverns.  The hobgoblin quarters are cramped and crowded with furniture.  Everything is in neat and precise order as a good military installation should be, but the caverns restrict movement.  The PC’s should take this into consideration in thier tactics.  The hobgoblins are used to these quarters and will certainly us it to their advantage.

The PC’s should expect a long, drawn-out slugfest here as the hobgoblins all all fight to the death, attempting to amass as many of them together as possible and surround and cut down the PC’s if possible.

If the PC’s take the time to figure out if Drell can do any mining here they will not find any area that are good prospects.

Area 23: Common room.  This is where off duty hobgoblins rest.  There are females here and young (represented by the hobgoblin grunts) who will take up arms in defense of the king.

Name	Level	Type	XP
8 Hobgolbin Grunts	3	Minion	304
1 Hobgoblin Commander	5	Soldier	200
1 Hobgoblin Archer	3	Artillery	150
encounter Level	2	Total	654

Area 24: Torture Chamber, Storage, Playroom

The hobgoblins here attack on site if they haven’t already been alerted.

Name	Level	Type	XP
2 Hobgoblin Torturers	3	Brute	300
1 Hobgoblin Warchief	5	Soldier	200
encounter Level	1	Total	500

There are six cells here, five of which hold prisoners, and one which is crammed full of food storage.

Cell 1: Flid Havrang a member of the lost patrol.  He is a 1st level fighter and will accompany and fight with the party if asked.  He will scavange weapons and armor from dead hobgoblins.  He will stay with the party until they return to Drell’s Keep.

Cell 2: An Orc.  He is very thin from starvation and more than half crazy.  If released he will immediately scavenge weapons and begin hunting hobgoblins.  He only speaks giant, but will respond only to offers of food, drink, or killing hobgoblins.  When he fights he will mutilate any hobgoblin corpses he finds, often cutting off ears or tongues as souveniers.

Cell 3: Deliria, a young woman.  She was brought here originally by Chant Havelove, and joined the cult of Cyric.  She is a 1st level cleric.  Since her capture by the hobgoblins and their horrible treatment of her, she has decided that she does not wish to remain in the wild lands, and she will kill Chant Havelove if it is the last thing she does.  If asked how she arrived here, she will explain that she is an adventurer and that her two companions were killed.

If somebody’s insight beats her bluff, then she can be confronted.  She will not betray the location of the cult or her involvement, but she will admit that she was brought to the area by Chant Havelove.  If further pressed she will explain that Chant betrayed and lied to her and that she wants him dead.  This could be confusing to the players because she will most likely come off as very deceptive and evil whereas hopefully Chant will not be quite as evil.

Cell 4: Bliss Hardblood a woman-at-arms and companion of Flid and the lost patrol.  She will likewise help out the party until they can get back to the keep.  Bliss is looking for adventure and will ask the party if she can join up with them.

Cell 5: An insane gnoll.  He speaks broken common, and complains constantly about the snow.  The gnolls finally kicked him out a few weeks ago and the hobgoblins captured him.  He is pretty much oblivous to what goes on and will simply go looking for food and a bed if freed.  He is unable to give clear answers to any questions, but can indicate that his brothers are nearby.

Area 25:

Another common living chamber.  See area 23.

Name	Level	Type	XP
8 Hobgolbin Grunts	3	Minion	304
1 Hobgoblin Warchief	5	Soldier	200
1 Hobgoblin Archer	3	Artillery	150
encounter Level	2	Total	654

Area 26: Guard room.

The guards will challenge the PC’s and threaten them.  If the PC’s choose to negotiate they will offer to accompany them before the king.  The PC’s will be taken to area 25 and asked to wait.  A messenger will go and get the king.  The party will be asked to wait in the center of the room while the hobgoblins will surround them.

If the PC’s do not negotiate or show signs of weakness or agression the guards will attack.  The first time one of them is bloodied, one of them will attempt to get away and alert the others.

Name	Level	Type	XP
3 Hobgoblin Soldiers	3	Soldier	450
2 Hobgoblin Archers	3	Artillery	300
1 Hobgoblin Commander	5	Soldier	200
encounter Level	5	Total	950

Area 27: Armory

Anyone entering this area without authorization will be attacked immediately.

Name	Level	Type	XP
3 Hobgoblin Soldiers	3	Soldier	450
encounter Level	1	Total	450

The racks hold 2 suits of chainmail, 5 longswords, 3 small shields, 3 longbows as well as arrows, spare parts for repairs, tools for sharpening, as well as a stock of oil.

Area 28:

This is a store room.  The guards attack all unauthorized visitors.

Name	Level	Type	XP
1 Hobgoblin Soldier	3	Soldier	150
1 Hobgoblin Warchief	5	Soldier	200
3 Hobgoblin Soldiers	3	Soldier	450
encounter Level	3	Total	800

Area 29:

Another guard room.  See area 27.

Name	Level	Type	XP
3 Hobgoblin Soldiers	3	Soldier	450
2 Hobgoblin Archers	3	Artillery	300
encounter Level	3	Total	750

Area 30: King’s chambers.

If he PC’s manage to get here without alerting them the will attack.

If the PC’s attempt to negotiate with the king, the hobgoblins will not agree to leave the caverns, but will rather suggest that Drell “return to the slums of Cormyr and build his huts in safety.”  The hobgoblin king will agree to hire the PC’s to exterminate the orcs, agreeing to pay the sum of 100 gp.  However he will double cross the PC’s after they have completed the task and attempt to take them prisoner or kill them.

If asked about prisoners he will admit that he has three human prisoners from Drell’s keep.  He will demand a ransom of 200gp for each prisoner.  The party should realize that only 2 members of the patrol are unaccounted for, but they may still be unsure.

If they offer to go and get the ransom he will request that they leave one member behind.  A successful diplomacy or bluff check will convince the king that it is an unecessary precaution.  If the party returns with the money, he will simply take the money and then try to kill or capture them.

Name	Level	Type	XP
1 Hobgoblin Hand of Bane	8	Elite Soldier	700
1 Hobgoblin Warcaster	3	Controller	150
1 Hobgoblin Commander	5	Soldier	200
2 Hobgoblin Grunts	3	Minion	72
encounter Level	5	Total	850

Area 31: another guard room

See area 27

Name	Level	Type	XP
3 Hobgoblin Soldiers	3	Soldier	450
2 Hobgoblin Archers	3	Artillery	300
encounter Level	3	Total	750

Cave H: The bugbears.

There are a hodgepodge of signs adorning this entrance in common, goblin, draconic, and giant.  All are very large with very large, neat lettering.  All of them say “Top wages!  Food and money!  Report to the first guard on the left!”

The bugbears can be extremely difficult opponents if brought into combat while the party is still low level.  If this happens the bugbears will attempt to capture them and then ransom them.  They will demand 50gp each, which Drell will pay, but he will then ask that they repay the amount.  If they don’t have the cash they can either complete their task for free or else “volunteer” for his army for 2 years.

The sign on the front door should indicate that these creatures would rather make money than fight.  The bugbears will make no hostile moves, but will rather say “put that away before somebody gets hurt.  I never met a face I couldn’t share a drink with.”

Area 35 Guard Room

The guards here are drinking and gambling.  Despite the party, they are alert for visitors, and will hear anyone approaching who does not pass a DC 19 stealth check.

They will offer the PC’s a drink and then ask their business in the caves.  If the PC’s want to talk to the person in charge the bugbear strangler will take them to see “the boss” in area 36.

If attacked the strangler will go and get the boss and then run and get the guards in areas 38 and 39.

Name	Level	Type	XP
2 Bugbear Warrior	5	Brute	400
1 Bugbear Strangler	6	Lurker	250
encounter Level	2	Total	650

Area 36: The boss

The boss, refers to herself as “Freya the Free Fighter” and will address herself using her name rather than saying I or me, i.e. “Freya thinks that is a bad move.”  She has a gangster mentality and should talk more or less like a mobster.  She is actually part demon and part goblinoid, but is not particularly evil or malicious. I’ve use the stats of an Oni Night Haunter to represent her, but suggest changing the alignment to unaligned.  The bugbear stranglers she keeps around as consorts.  She is hoping to raise her “family” and make them wealthy.

If the PC’s talk with Freya, she will offer them goods and services.  She runs a small store out of room 37, and offers all basic adventuring equipment as well as simple weapons.  In addition, if the PC’s need a place to sleep, she will allow them to sleep in area 38 for 5 cp per night per person, meals are complimentary.

If the PC’s ask about work, she will suggest that the hobgoblins are hiring to raid the orcs and the orcs are hiring to raid the hobgoblins, but will also suggest that the hobgoblins can’t be trusted.

Freya will tell about the “black and red robes” in area K.  She doesn’t know what they are up to, but they have been trading with her and they always pay in coin.  She has only dealt with 3 of them, and doesn’t know how many there are.

Freya knows about the raiders that camp near the keep.  She has dealt with them in the past, but isn’t sure how many there are.  She will freely admit that she would go to work with them if they offered enough money.

The PC’s can hire Freya’s gang for the price of 10gp per day per person, though she will not go herself.  The cash needs to be paid in advance so the party will need to come up with the 10 gold first and then the bugbear will work for the next 24 hours.

If the PC’s ask to look around for areas to mine, Freya will agree for 5 gp.  They will find that areas 40 and 41 are actually old mining starts and probably useful to lord Drell.

If the PC’s explain that Drell wants to mine in the caves, Freya will want to stay put, but will agree to move for 200gp.  If the hobgoblins are dead she will agree to move there for only 50gp.

When the PC’s mention Drell, she will want to speak with him in person and will ask them to take her there so that she can negotiate with him face to face.  Drell will agree to see her.  The PC’s will not be part of the negotiation process after that.  Freya will convince Drell to hire her gang as guardswhile his men start to build a little town near the river and to start construction on a ferry and a lumbermill.  Drell is perfectly willing to risk the bugbears’ lives out in the open.

If the PC’s ask about magic items or the like she will suggest that they explore the abbey across the river.  It is a place of powerful magic.  She will also suggest they find the gnolls and talk to them.  They run a competing trading post and may have what they need.

Name	Level	Type	XP
1 Oni Night Haunter	8	Elite Controller	700
2 Bugbear Strangler	6	Lurker	500
encounter Level	6	Total	1200

Area 37: Store room

Here Freya keeps the goods for her store.  The door is locked and she has the key.  See area 36 for what she has for sale.

Area 38 Bert’s Tavern.

There are signs over the entrance to this area labeled “Bert’s Tavern” in a variety of languages.  Bert, the bugbear warrior outlined below keeps his pets here.  He charges 5cp to stay the night and sells drinks and food.  Food is free with a night’s stay.

Meal 1 cp

Drink 2 cp

The drink is fermented beet whiskey.  It is very strong and tastes horrible.  A character will become drunk very quickly drinking this stuff.  There is also water to drink.  The food is a mixture of vegetables (mostly potatoes and cabbage) and bits of unidentified meat.

Name	Level	Type	XP
1 Bugbear Warrior	5	Brute	200
3 Guard Drake	2	Brute	375
encounter Level	1	Total	575

Area 39 Dirk’s Gambling Joint

This is ostentatiously a guard room to look out for the pens in area 40 and 41, but has recently been converted into a casino of types.

Dirk, the bugbear strangler is dealing blackjack for the two bugbear warriors.  They will suggest to the PC’s that there isn’t much to see here.

Name	Level	Type	XP
2 Bugbear Warrior	5	Brute	400
1 Bugbear Strangler	6	Lurker	250
encounter Level	1	Total	650

Area 40: Holding Cell

If there are prisoners they are kept here.  At the moment they don’t have any.

Area 41 - Bree’s Place

A big sign says Bree’s Place.  It is vacant.  If asked, the bugbears will explain that Bree used to be a prostitute that lived and worked there, but since she found her one true love a week or so ago she moved out and is staying with him.  They are looking for someone to start the business again if any of the PC’s are interested.

Bree is the ogress in cave E.

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