**Session 6 recap** Following the aftermath of their ambush on the goblin raiding party, [[Party - Elvensong]] pressed southward towards the [[Location - Goblin Fortress (Malwood)|goblin stronghold]]. As the party trekked through the dense treeline, they discovered a red fabric marker, a sign of the inner goblin territory. Soon, an ancient, crumbling fortress built into a rocky outcrop came into view. Working in loose cooperation with their rivals, the [[Party - White Pine Heroes]], the two groups agreed to split up to infiltrate the fort, maintaining their competition for the most goblin ears. While [[NPC - Richard Ambrose]]'s group headed west, [[Party - Elvensong]] circled to the east, aiming for a side pulley entrance they had learned about from an interrogated goblin. After [[PC - Mannfred Huem]] used Message to distract a pair of sentries, the party dashed across the open ground to the base of the 50-foot walls. Attempting to use the derelict pulley system proved perilous; the rusted winch and frayed ropes nearly sent [[PC - Trinxis Staciadour]] and [[PC - Mannfred Huem|Mannfred]] plummeting when the line snapped just feet from the summit. Through a desperate leap, both managed to catch the ledge and pull themselves up onto the ramparts. Once atop the wall, they found a lone goblin guard fast asleep. While [[PC - Balok Feth]] and [[PC - Aelar Thaelond|Aelar]] were winched up by the others, [[PC - Mannfred Huem|Mannfred]] silently executed the sleeper and claimed his first ear of the fort. From their vantage point, they witnessed a terrifying sight: the central courtyard was an absolute infestation, teeming with upwards of sixty goblins. [[Party - Elvensong]] descended into the fort's interior, discovering a strange, shamanistic room. In the centre stood a font filled with black liquid, surrounded by staffs. [[PC - Mannfred Huem|Mannfred]], under the influence of a small, amphibious goblinoid creature, was briefly charmed and turned his rapier on [[PC - Balok Feth|Balok]]. The threat was swiftly ended when [[PC - Aelar Thaelond|Aelar]] unleashed a pair of Fireballs, incinerating the creature and its kin as they crawled from the black goo. As they moved back into the corridor, the silence of the fort was broken by the sounds of the [[Party - White Pine Heroes]] engaging the enemy elsewhere. In the courtyard, [[PC - Trinxis Staciadour|Trinxis]] used Speak with Animals to befriend a caged Warg and named him [[Creature - Warg (Dave)|Dave]], convincing the creature to turn on its goblin captors in exchange for a feast. The ensuing battle was the largest [[Party - Elvensong]] had ever faced. As dozens of goblins swarmed the courtyard, the party was nearly overwhelmed. [[Creature - Warg (Dave)|Dave the Warg]] was quickly brought down by a sheer number of scimitars. Just as the tide seemed to turn against them, [[PC - Mannfred Huem|Mannfred]] sent out a desperate message spell, and the [[Party - White Pine Heroes]] arrived to join the fray. [[PC - Trinxis Staciadour|Trinxis]] was bought close to death many times, as the sheer number of goblins proved to be an incredible challenge. Through a flurry of steel and spells the goblin horde was finally thinned. [[NPC - Martha Greenroot]] and [[NPC - Richard Ambrose]] provided crucial support, picking off survivors until only a few scattered goblins remained. The battle ended with the final goblin falling before the heroes. As the stood in the blood-soaked courtyard, a gentle rain began to fall. Somewhere far off, the sounds of more goblins could be heard.