We decide to go back to the cave, by the village we saved for our first quest, to look for any clues. We spread out in each of the caverns, this time bringing torches.
I head to the last cavern by myself, lighting the way with a summoned flame. As soon as I'm in the cavern, I have the fire float to my right and cast another spell.
"Light Sense."
I walk to the closest wall and get started. As the light from the fire passes over the wall, I can feel it flowing into cracks and bumps.
When I reach the back of the room, I pass by a spot where the light reaches further back. I push on the section and as soon as I relieve pressure on it, a rectangular slab pops out.
Excitedly, I remove the slab and reach into the open space. I can feel a piece of parchment and a small metallic object. After grabbing the items and feeling around some more, I put the rock back and check the rest of the room. Finding nothing else, I head back to where everyone else is. Everyone makes a circle to see what I had found.
Carefully, I open the parchment but it's blank. I pull out the trinket and examine it as well. It's a square piece of metal with a red gem in the middle. On the back side lies a snarling wolfs head. There's a faint amount of magic coming off of it, but I can't figure out what it does. Shaking my head, I stand up.
"I think this is it. Let's go back to town and see if we can figure out what these are."
Everyone nods, then we head out. The bickering voices of Alcon and Matt echo off the walls of the cave, drowning out the noise of our footsteps.
We walk out of the cave and into the woods. Everyone goes along care free, happy to have found something rather than having time wasted.
The creak of a branch sends alarms off in my head.
I draw a knife and push Natalia, who was walking next to me, out of the way. My blade slices through the air, aiming for the blurred object I can barely perceive.
Somehow I hit it out of the air, a second arrow slamming into the ground where Natalia had once been.
However, they must have synchronized their shots. A third arrow sticks out of my left thigh.
'There's no mistake, they were aiming for our healer.'
Ignoring the pain, I pull the arrow out and Natalia starts healing me. Bernadette and Alcon make a half circle in front of us as Matt raises his staff.
Six goblin dressed like Generals step out of the woods, but they're quite a bit taller than normal goblins. They also have slightly different skin tones.
'These are hobgoblins! Are they all just as strong as Ghal?!'
One of the hobgoblins steps forwards and holds out his hand.
"Give us the parchment and the trinket, and maybe we will let you live."
In response, I spit at his feet and draw my sword. Alcon and Bernadette stand at the ready too, the three of us making a backwards arrow in front of Natalia and Matt.
"Come and get them!"
With a snarl, the six hobgoblins draw their weapons and pounce.
"Lighting Bolt!"
"Earth Wall!"
Matt shoots lightning at one of the Hobgoblin's approaching Alcon while Natalia puts a wall in front of another approaching Bernadette. That leaves me with two of them.
I side step a sword and stab at the hobgoblin's rib cage. Before my strike can land I have to twist out of the way of a mace then duck under another sword strike. It takes all of my effort to avoid the coordinated attacks of the two hobgoblins.
Everytime one of their weapons grazes my skin I flinch in pain, but keep dodging for the life of me. At this point, I'm covered in cuts and bruises.
"Water Shot!"
The hobgoblin on my left partially blocks Matt's spell with his mace, but still gets launched back.
This gives me some breathing room. I parry the sword and kick the hobgoblin in the gut.
As he doubles over I smash the butt of my sword into the back of his skull, making the monster eat dirt. Right before I can finish him off, his friend comes back at me.
Leaping back, I sheath my sword and take out two knives. As soon as my feet touch the ground I burst forward.
Surprised by my speed, the hobgoblin barely gets the handle of his mace up to block the knife aimed for his throat.
"Second Wind!"
My body feels a lot lighter after Natalia's well timed buff.
Seeing my movements sharpen, the hobgoblin tries to get some distance between us, but I keep on top of him.
'I won't let you get an advantage!'
Doggedly, I keep attacking him and he keeps backing away. I glance back and see how far from the group I am.
Realizing what he's doing, I hit his mace down and kick him in the side of the head. His temple slams into a tree, momentarily stunning him and giving me time to run back to the group.
The goblin that I had hit into the ground was getting up and ready to pounce on Natalia.
'Not so fast!'
Taking out two throwing knives, I hit him in the shoulder and calf before he can jump.
As he turns towards me I hit him in the jaw with a full sprint flying knee, and he goes down.
Hard.
As he lies on the ground, foam bubbles in the corner of his mouth.
I turn back to the mace hobgoblin that's clutching his head as he approaches me. His eyes dart to the left and right, then he grins.
"Kairo!"
I duck. I can feel a fist flying over my head, hitting my hair on its way past.
While I may have dodged the punch, a kick hits my mid back and sends me sprawling to the ground.
Rather than landing on my stomach I twist as much as I can and roll. After two rotations, I push myself to a crouch. Three hobgoblins converge on me, licking their lips hungrily. Seeing my situation, I pick the most logical option. I turn around, and run.
At first they're surprised, then they all chase after me with shrieks of rage.
I take out two knives, making sure the hobgoblins stay close enough to be right behind me but unable to hit me with their weapons.
'I hope this works!'
Steeling my nerves, I change the direction I'm going and run straight towards a tree.
Right as the hobgoblins are about to catch up, I take my first step up the tree, then a second.
And I flip.
Over the hobgoblins and onto the shoulders of the one furthest back.
As I come down my knives sink into his neck.
Instant death.
While the two hobgoblins are trying to figure out what just happened, I jump off their collapsing friend and retreat back to the group.
My legs feel like lead, but I force my muscles to work past their limit.
As I regroup, Alcon slips behind his opponent and ends his bout. Bernadette shatters her opponent's shield, killing him soon after that. The entire party turns towards the remaining hobgoblins. As they approach, I take out the trinket we found in the cave and hold it in the air.
"As far as I can see, we're still alive and have the trinket. Want to keep trying?"
Despite the fact that they must all be dead tired and beaten to a pulp, my party stands at the ready.
The hobgoblins glance at each other, then back at us, and dash into the woods.