HOBBiT, HOBGOBLiN, GOBLiN.

• Lookoutsare surprised: DC19
  
• Lookoutsare surprised to be surrounded by three hobbits which everybody knowsis just a smaller, hairier, more primitive version of halfling.
  
• Allthree have their arms outstretched in a universal gesture of begging.
  
• The only words they know in Common is “Goblin eat us help us,please.”
  
• Beyondthis, these hobbits can only speak in an ancient version of halflingwith a basic neutral vocabulary.
  
• Speakers of underhill halfling understandthat these halflings are part of band living in the narrow valleyhidden in the brush above.
  
• Their names are Odo Deerfoot, Tombo Took,and Dyan Honeytoe.
  
• Speakers of either language can advise the restof the party these three are urgently looking for allies against anongoing Goblin incursion. They wish the party to come and meet with“Matoober” immediately.
  
• If the party asks what isin it for them, the hobbits promise to be permanent allies and alsohint that “Matoober” may have some blessings to impart.
  
• If theparty follows the hobbits they are a led through some thick brush toa nearly invisible steep, craggy valley with a steep, seeminglynatural stone staircase leading up through a lush overgrown woods ofhemlock, cedar and redwood
  

Thetrees are very fragrant and sweet smelling. A constant whispering ofwind in treetops is extremely relaxing white noise, almost hypnotic. In a small flattish clearing is circle of 10' tall cairns of riverstone. The stone circle is bout 11 ft in diameter with cairns ofbalanced stones spaced about 3 ft apart. A twelve pointed star ismown into the bright green grass in between the stone. Clearly, thisis a holy place to these hobbits. In the center of the circle standsa 12 ft tall plant.

Theplant looks eerily like a large halfling with twisty rootfingersinstead of hands and a 4 foot tall headdress of giant leaves.

• This is Matoober
  
• Anywizard or elf will recognize the plant as a mandrake except thisplant is about 20 times larger and apparently more alive like ananimal than a typical plant.
  
• Hobbitsbegin to gather and sit cross-legged outside of the circle. Youcount
  
• about twenty hobbits 8 adults and
  
• 12 young hobbits
  
• Two ladyhobbits, one very old and one very young wear gigantic head dressesexactly like the Matoober;
  
• leaves emerging from a peanut-lookingwooden armor fashioned from the hollowed out root of giant mandrakes.
  

• Ifthe party agrees to help, the hobbits offer a a meal of
  
• mashed redavocados with
  
• spring green onions and
  
• oakleaf crunch.
  
• Matoober willsit silently while the village elders Rocky and Bekka Birdsclaw,explain that
  
• a stealthy approach to the caves requires about an hourof climbing up the valley sides off the main path
  
• The plan is  a short shock attack into the cave, hoping to kill a Hobgoblin or possibly freeing some captives and enrage the whole party and try to make them all come after you.
  
• Then run like hell down the steep stairs that run along the stream., drawing the goblin horde after
  
• The party should retreat down the main stairway/pathway and try to draw as manygoblins as possible into the Quell and spell range for Matoober. The scouts have counted 5 hobgoblins who rulea tribe of 20 to 30 goblins.
  
• They emerged from the underdark fournights ago and have attacked each night just after sunset.
  
• Theleaders appear to be a Fat Hobgoblin who swings a fearsome two-handedsword and
  
• a Hobgoblin hedge-witch who rides a white owlbear and fires acruel crossbow as well as magic missiles. Six of the adult hobbitswill arm themselves and accompany the party up to the cave of thesprings.
  

• So far, thehobbits of Quell have lost
  
• 12 adults and
  
• one child to the goblins.
  
• The body of the child and 4 other dead adults have been recovered and buried but
  
• 8 hobbitsare unaccounted for and, judging by the screams, might still be alive in the cave.
  
• Anymagic-users may choose to stay with Matoober in Quell and preparespells.
  
• Matoober has a +10 spellcheck bonus but her spell casting islimited to 
  
• 2xheal 1d8 to everybody touching Matoober within the circle.
  
• Her best utility may be just to commune with other spell casters to give an extraroll and +5 spellcheck to spell casters from the protection of insidethe circle.
  

• The witchwill try magic missiles and crossbows and try to avoid anyspelldowns.
  
• The goblins will fight to death because of thehobgoblins.
  
• The hobgoblins will try to flee as soon as they areobviously losing, or the owlbear dies.
  
• If all the hobgoblins flee,the remaining goblins will surrender and beg for mercy the next turn.
  
• If Matoober invokes healing, any nearby hobgoblins might try DC12to grab a root instead of attack and enjoy the 1d8 heal. When thebattle is done, the surviving hobbits will want to assault the caveimmediately and try to rescue any survivors.
  
• If all hobbits die, Matoober  turns into a non-magic plant.
  
• If Matoober dies, allhobbits run away and are never seen again.
  

• There is also a secret door in the dark backright-hand corner.
  
• The door is not that well concealed behind somemoss- DC 5 to spot, but
  
• consists of one huge 500 lb stone.
  
• To move thestone is DC22 strength check, add an extra roll and strength bonusfor each extra helper up to three.
  
• Even if all fail, you can tryagain in 10 minutes.
  
• Matoober will arrive the following evening andwill move the stone if players have not managed it.