This is the 20th encounter in my 4E conversion of The Sunless Citadel, and the last encounter of the first level of the dungeon. It’s also the hardest encounter to date.

Encounter 20: Hall of the Goblin Chief
Encounter Level 5 (1000 XP)

Overview
The PCs enter the throne room of the goblin chief, a hobgoblin named Durnn. They discover a clue to the fate of the Hucrele scions and a means to access the Twilight Grove below the citadel. This encounter includes the following creatures:

  • 1 Durnn, goblin chief (hobgoblin commander)
  • 1 Grenl (goblin hexer)
  • 1 Twig Blight Thornsprayer
  • 3 hobgoblin soldiers
  • 4 goblin cutters

Area Description
Read the following to the players when they enter the room:

Dim, violet light shines out of a circular shaft that pierces the floor of this 40-foot-diameter, domed chamber. Four lit torches set in the walls augment the sickly glow, allowing you to easily make out the crude throne fashioned from stone that rests against the curve of the northwestern wall. A large goblin sits upon the throne, his feet propped up on an iron chest. He points at you and orders, “Take them alive. Belak wants them for his Twilight Grove.”

The room includes the following features:

  • Illumination: Bright light.
  • Shaft: The shaft is lined with thick, pale vines that serve as scaffolding for climbing up and down (Athletics DC 5). A creature pushed down the shaft has a chance to catch a vine (DC 16). The shaft is 80 feet long.
  • Treasure: The chest contains 231 gp, two onyx gems worth 30 gp each, two potions of antitoxin, a knock ritual scroll, and a potion of cat’s grace. The chest is trapped with a poison needle.
  • Talgen’s signet ring: Durnn wears the signet ring he took from Talgen Hucrele after killing the boy.
Potion of Antitoxin Level 5
As the liquid pours down your throat, you feel the fire in your veins lessen.
Potion 50 gp
Power (Consumable * Healing): Minor Action. Drink this potion and make a saving throw to end an ongoing poison damage effect. You gain a +5 healing bonus to that saving throw.
Potion of Cat’s Grace Level 5
You gulp down the last drop and instantly feel a feline nimbleness in your step.
Potion 300 gp
Power (Consumable): Minor Action. Drink this potion and gain a +4 magic bonus to your Dexterity until the end of the encounter.
Poison Needle Level 1 Lurker
Trap XP 100
A tiny needle, it’s tip glistening with an oily substance, hides inside the keyhole.
Trap: A spring-loaded needle pops out of the keyhole.
Perception
  • DC 21: The character notices the needle in the keyhole.
Trigger
When a creature opens the chest’s lid.
Attack
Standard Action Melee
Target: The creature that triggered the trap
Attack: +0 vs. Fort
Hit: 1d8+2 poison damage and ongoing 5 poison damage (save ends).
Countermeasures
  • A character may disable the spring with a DC 20 Thievery check.

Tactics
The goblin cutters and hobgoblin soldiers rush the PCs. Durnn also joins melee. The twig blight targets controllers. Grenl will cast vexing cloud, followed by stinging hex on a defender and blinding hex on enemies making ranged attacks. When another goblin uses goblin tactics, Grenl will incite bravery to allow the ally to make a free attack.