Over the course of the past month, I have been including some iconic monsters in my map posts. While giant spiders and green slimes certainly hold a special place in my heart, I suppose you could make a case that the lowly goblin is the quintessential low-level fantasy TTRPG foe.

Considered by many to be no more than cannon fodder, I wanted to put together a mini-adventure that would play out more like an infiltration from an action movie. Sure, the party could likely wipe the floor with any of these encounters. However, if they are not careful, they could bring the whole enclave down on their heads.

If you’ve been following for any time you already know that I try to keep things system agnostic. I would probably suggest this for a party with some experience under their belt (levels 3-4?) but do what works for your game. As previously mentioned, the rooms on their own should be relatively simple but if you play the goblins wisely, there are good chances for things to go sideways.

What the Player’s Know

The party has been hired by the residents of a small village and asked to secure the release of their blacksmith. It seems the poor fellow was carried off by a band of marauding goblins! The goblins are said to live in a simple cave complex outside of town.

Inquiring in town may lead to some rumors about the goblins. Roll a d10 and consult below:

1. Elven Captives: It’s said that the goblins have captured a group of elves and are using them as forced labor. (False)
2. Shaman’s Dark Magic: The goblin shaman wields powerful dark magic, capable of curses and hexes. (True)
3. Hidden Entrance: There’s a hidden entrance to the goblin warren, concealed cleverly to catch intruders off guard. (True)
4. Cursed Shaman: The shaman is rumored to be cursed and can be easily defeated by a simple chant of “Bree Yark, Bree Yark!”. (False…this is a little call out to B2)
5. Dragon Alliance: Rumor has it that the bugbear has formed an alliance with a young dragon lurking in the nearby mountains. (False)
6. Traps: The goblins have set up traps throughout their warren to protect against invaders. (True)
7. Friendly Goblins: Some goblins are friendly and can be persuaded to help intruders if offered bribes. (False)
8. Bugbear’s Brutal Leadership: The bugbear leader is a ruthless brute, known for his immense strength and cunning tactics. (True)
9. Stolen Treasures: The goblins have amassed a hoard of stolen treasures from their raids. (True)
10. Wargs as Mounts: The goblins ride ferocious wargs into battle, using them to terrorize their foes. (True)

The Goblin Warren

1. Guard Post: Two goblins sit outside the main entrance to the warren at all times. They will flee at any sign of trouble. Unless the party can dispatch them quickly, things could get sticky. These fellows are cowards so they will not engage with the party. If they become aware of an assault they will immediately flee to area #3.
2. Guard Room: This is the post for the goblin guards during periods of inclement weather. It is littered with trash and debris.
3. Pit Trap Ambush: This is a trap area. Surviving guards will run along the right wall to avoid the pit trap. Arriving at area #3 they will arm themselves with short bows and wait for the party. Party members will notice the pit trap covered with brush on a roll of 1-3 on a d6 (thieves on a 1-5). Characters falling into the 10’ pit will suffer 1d6 of falling damage and 1d6 of impaling damage. The goblins will rain down arrows on the attackers and scream for help from other areas of the compound.
4. Common Area:  This stinking room is covered in piles of trash and animal pelts. In the evening hours 6 goblins will be slumbering here. If the guards from area #1 have been making noise for more than 2 rounds, they will groggily be arming themselves. By day, there will be 2 goblins here, 2 in area #5, 1 in area #7, and 1 in area #8.
5. Kitchen: This is the kitchen area for the warren. During the day, 2 goblins work here preparing mutton for the denizens of the warren.
6. Larder: This is where the questionable food supplies for the warren are kept.
7. Bathing Area:  During the day, one goblin may be found here, bathing in the spring waters that bubble up.
8. Warg Kennel:  During the day one goblin is stationed here, tending the 5 wargs who are present. The wargs are in cages but will be released in the alarm is sounded and reaches the tender.
9. Shaman Quarters: The goblin shaman dwells here. This cave smells of incense and spices. Unless warned of intruders, there is a 40% chance that the shaman will be taken by surprise.
10. Chieftain’s Lair: A bugbear chieftain presides over the goblins. 3 bodyguards attend him. The blacksmith is caged in this room. At any sign of trouble, the chieftain will flee through the secret door to the north. The captive blacksmith is caged in this room.
11. Rear Guard: A lone goblin guard is stationed here. He is usually dunk or asleep. He “guards” the escape route out of the complex but is unaware of location #12.
12. Treasure Room: This room is only known to the bugbear chieftain and his 3 bodyguards. This is where all the treasure of the goblin warren is stored. 

Wrap Up

That’s all for now. As a little peek behind the curtain, I usually write this part on Sunday evening, fully dreading going back to work on Monday. If you are reading this, you are legitimately helping me to get through the week, so thank you for taking the time to stop by. I hope you have a great week and manage to roll some dice as part of the process.

For more maps & plot hooks, go here.

For some random tables, go here.

Finally, for a bit about me and some general stuff, this is the spot.

Hello. Real life work continues to be a challenge. However, I am stubbornly doing my best to keep my posting schedule regular. This week I am once again going back to the well of classic monsters for inspiration.

My introduction to this hobby was due in no small part to the 1977 animated version of The Hobbit by Rankin/Bass. While many would point to goblins/orcs as being the classic villain of fantasy tabletop role-playing game, I would make a case for giant spiders.

I don’t happen to be an arachnophobe myself but there’s no denying the fact that real world spiders are creepy on their own. The thought of giant versions is particularly terrifying.

What the Party Knows

The party has been hired to deliver a bag of mail and sundries to a lumber camp, about a day’s ride outside of the small town of Galeton.

Arriving at the lumber camp the party will be surprised to find that it appears to have been abandoned. While the party expected to see a bustling scene of people chopping wood and going about their daily chores, there is not a soul in sight. Beyond that, apparently even the beasts of burden are missing. Where did everyone go?

What the Party Doesn’t Know

The workers of the logging camp delved a bit too deep into the ancient forest. While going about their work they uncovered a nest of ancient giant spiders.

The queen of this cluster of spiders is possessed an unnatural intelligence. One by one, they picked off the lumberjacks, learning along the way. The spiders would pull one hapless soul deep into the forest. Realizing that his cries would soon draw others, they adopted the practice of always leaving one of their victims alive.

This process continued until nearly all of the lumbermen and their animals were devoured. By the time the party arrives on the scene, only the foreman clings to life. The spiders are holding him at location #5. However, it has been the better part of the day and no one has arrived to help. The spiders are hungry and ready to feed but then they see the party arrive in the camp.

1. The Camp

The lumber camp is clearly deserted but it doesn’t make sense. While there are no great treasures present, there are enough personal belongings to make it clear that the lumbermen would have never simply left without taking their gear with them.

A careful search will turn up the quartermaster’s tent, which holds the payroll for the whole camp. Surely brigands or even orcs would have ransacked this and taken everything of value.

2. The Work Site

While there are no traces of horses or mules, it’s clear that they had once been at the camp because the tack and saddlery are evident. Downed trees have been readied for transport but lay abandoned where they were left.

3. Pine Creek

A worn path leading up to Pine Creek indicates that members of the camp regularly used this area to bathe and do laundry. Characters approaching this area will hear moans and screams of agony coming from the northeast. If the party crosses the creek when they hear the screams, consider it to be difficult terrain. The stream is fairly shallow here, though the rocks are slippery. The hill on the opposite bank is manageable but fairly steep.

4. The Hill

Arriving at location #4, the party will be able to see the foreman on the ground at location #5. It is at this point that the spiders will attack. Two will attack from the rear on either side. Two are perpendicular to the party in the trees. Once some of the party members are ensnared in webs, the queen will charge from across the clearing.

5. The Foreman

Should the party be victorious they will find the foreman webbed to the ground here. He’ll be in bad shape but will pull through if he receives healing right away.

Wrap Up

If I were to run this one again, I think I’d focus on some custom mechanics for the spiders. How about you? Any thoughts come to mind?

Thanks for taking the time to stop by. The little interactions I have with all of you really do help to get me through the week at work. Have a great week!

For more maps & plot hooks, go here.

For some random tables, go here.

Finally, for a bit about me and some general stuff, this is the spot.