TSR 9291 - DLC1 - Dr.. - Free

Immediately, the caravan
guards begin to shriek and whimper.
The driver of the cage wagon
slumps forward, an arrow bristling
in his neck. Quickly, the guard at
the driver’s side draws his sword
and leaps to the ground; a deadly
arrow whistles into his breast.
Fewmaster Toede gallops from
the rear of the column, screaming
to his troops to draw arms and
face the unseen foe. He barrels
into his gully dwarf servant, and
berates the poor creature with a
volley of curses.
“On your feet, you pitiful worm,
and cover my glorious retreat.
Above all, dog, these prisoners are
not to escape!” Staggering beneath
his weight, Toede’s horse
carries him to the front of the
column, where the sounds of fighting
are the faintest.
The little dwarf climbs to his
feet, muttering under his breath.
He adjusts his oversized helmet
and raises a fist in the direction of
his master. He still grumbles as his
eyes wander to the cage holding
the heroes.
Hoisting his dented battleaxe,
he moves to the locks holding the
cage shut; he shatters them with
two solid blows. As the door
swings open, the little gully dwarf
disappears into the underbrush.
Although freedom lies just beyond
the swinging cage door, the
battle outside is becoming more
violent. Several elven warriors
glide from the darkened woods,
but 20 of the goblin guards have
rushed to the scene as well.
Characters may leave the cage at the
rate of two per round. They can pick
up shortswords in 1d3 rounds: many
of the guards dropped their weapons
when felled by arrows. The 20 goblins
arrive at the rate of two per
round, and all concentrate on the
prisoners from the PCs’ cage.
The three warriors from Solace
refuse to escape, because their families
are imprisoned in Pax Tharkas.
Gilthanas, however, joins the fray.
The elven rescuers free the prisoners,
mostly women and children,
from the other two cages, and escort
them into the forest. If the PCs follow
after dispatching the goblins, they
have no more combat here.
The heroes may try to regain their
possessions from the supply wagon,
which has halted immediately before
them.
If they try to recover their supplies,
they must dispatch a detail of 16
hobgoblins that has rushed back to
the battle. Once they have done this,
they may recover everything and
make an escape into the forest following
Gilthanas. If they choose to
go elsewhere, turn to encounter 84;
though he will urge going into the
forest, Gilthanas accompanies the
party.
Carefully laid elven traps tangle
draconian patrols who might want to
pursue. Soon all sounds of pursuit
grow faint and disappear.
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