2. Phandalin

Alexander Simonnet Natalis de Bertier du Puy had had better days. Specifically, most every day in the brief life of Alexander Simonnet Natalis de Bertier du Puy was better than today. At least, that is what was going through Alex's mind as he was transfixed from both the front AND the rear by the swords of the two hobgoblins. Having seen their body language as he failed to hide himself in the brush, he was able to twist slightly and reduce some of the impact—emphasis on some [Reaction: Defend - reduce damage by 5hp due to armor]. This did not console him that much as he watched literal feet of rusty steel enter and exit his, formerly, interior organs. The night turned from black to gray as he lost consciousness [Wounded & Dying - Alex lost 20hp, which is his normal complement]. Expecting to be visited by some avatar of his patron, Lady Tymora, Alex was surprised to feel a warmth permeate his punctured carcass. Instead of divine judgement, his eyes opened up to the muck and mire of a Savage Coast forest floor. I'm not dead? Why am I not dead?? he thought [Heal 4hp from Boggart; remove Dying].

Alex gingerly peeked at the ongoing fracas. Still dripping blood, pus, and other bodily fluids, he realized that his only hope was to have the hobgoblins lose track of him so that he could wield his blade to the greatest advantage for himself and his party. Thank Tymora that at least one of them was unmoving, face-down in the muck. Alex tried to mimic the dead hobgoblin's careless sprawl and unmoving torso. If they overlook me, I will make them pay for it, he thought.

Redhawk hearing the fallback will move to H3 and mark H1 and then use Incendiary shot with adv on him.

Alex watches in horror as the arrows transfix Boggart. Boggart, speak to me, are you still conscious? [Free Action: Say short phrase].

Igrem assesses the situation, and tries to find the best opportunity to hit and blind hobgoblin menacing Alex and Boggart. Then he magically gives Alex a little more agency for his next moves.

Boggart raises his shield to block an arrow aimed at his neck, the other piercing his side. Despite a moment's grimace from the flash of pain, his signature cheeky grin returns to his face as he whispers to Alex. "Fit as a fiddle, fine fellow."

He whistles, and Puck returns to him, his radiant form dissolving into a stream of golden light and leaves which sink into Boggart. A moment later, the arrow in his side pushes out of his skin, not even a scab remaining where it once was. As his allies harry H1 into what Boggart was sure to be the final sleep, he dashes behind the nearby tree, breaking line of sight with the fleeing archers.

"Do we give chase?" He calls out to his compatriots.

Alex breathes a sigh of relief watching Boggart escape some of the injury and then dash back into cover. Now, he had a mission. Using the cover he was in, he planned on sneaking up on the remaining close hobgoblin (H1), despite being gravely wounded, and repaying the loan of steel that the hobgoblin had extended to him. As he slithered his way through the muddy underbrush, Alex felt that now familiar feeling of drinking the finest espresso in Waterdeep. Tymora bless Igrem, he's given me that energy boost again! [Action 1: Attack with Vicious Opportunist and thus Sneak Attack].

Alex watched with a glee bordering on the manic as once again, he was able to find just the right spot in which to sink his short sword almost to the hilt. As the hobgoblin cried out, Alex figured on discretion being the better part of valor, and headed back into the woods [Action 2: Move to the brush at N7]. Glancing around quickly, Alex realized he would have to contort himself to make a smaller target for those pesky archers [Action 3: Anticipate Danger - Stealth].

Having done what he could to minimize the target surface, he then tried to use the brush to break line of sight and prepare for another guerilla attack, if necessary [Action 4: Hide].As Alex crouched, he was pretty certain that his dagger slipped his sheath and he could see the blade reflecting the campfire. Oh, that's not going to work! Shoving the blade back in the sheath, Alex changed positions just enough to throw off any onlookers—he hoped! [Cheat Free Action: Hide DC15].

As he crouched, his elbow knocked into a particularly sturdy branch, and he could not keep his yelp quite inside. Ouch! he expressed quite involuntarily. So much for being stealthy, he thought morosely. Tymora watch over your devoted son!, he prayed.

As the hobgoblin barks the order to fall back, Redhawk is already moving. The ranger steps through the brush to gain a clear angle, eyes locked onto the fleeing commander. He looses a marked shot, the incendiary shot illuminating the trees in a brief wash of orange light.

At the same instant, Igrem raises a hand and conjures a swirling burst of blinding frost and snow around the hobgoblin. Ice crystals whirl through the air, obscuring vision just as H1 attempts to withdraw. The combined assault is too much. H1 staggers backward a single step, trying stubbornly to stay upright even as its strength fails.

Then Alex arrives. He slips from the brush with desperate precision, using the chaos of fire, snow, and shadow to close the distance. His shortsword drives forward one final time, sinking deep into the weakened hobgoblin’s side almost to the hilt.

H1 is dead.

As the last nearby hobgoblin falls, Boggart dashes behind the nearest tree once more, wisely breaking line of sight with the surviving archers retreating deeper into the forest.

For a brief moment, the woods grow quieter again—save for heavy breathing and the distant sounds of movement as the hobgoblins run into the darkness.

Then Boggart calls out softly:

Redhawk will move to the group"I can track them if we want to give chase."

Alex crawls back to the embers of the campfire. Gasping, he collapses and groans "You all can do what you want but unless those hobgoblins come back, I don't want to move for the next eight hours." Rolling on to his side, he halfheartedly pokes through his pack looking for anything that can serve as a bandage and staunch the various flows of red that ooze from his perforated body.

"I could track them on my own while you all rest and heal up. Nice to know where they went and if they might come back. We bloodied them pretty good and two aren't returning so they will probably leave us be. It is up to the group.

Alex groans "someone should check those hobgoblins for valuables."

"After we tend to those wounds," Boggart says. He helps Alex back to camp and sets about treating injuries. He places a hand over a wound and closes his eyes.

"Mielikki, Lady of the Forest, ease the suffering of those harmed in your realm. Your faithful follower beseeches."

A gentle night wind swirls around Alex, kicking up golden leaves.

Redhawk will disappear into the forest to track the fleeing Hobs.

Redhawk, you slip quietly into the darkness after the fleeing hobgoblins. To most, the fleeing enemies would already be swallowed by the night.

But not to you.

You pick up their trail quickly.

The surviving hobgoblins are moving north, retreating fast. But even wounded and under pressure, they maintain discipline. You notice how they alternate positions while moving—one covering while the other advances—military habits drilled deep.

They are hurt, though. One even leaves a steady blood trail along the undergrowth.

You shadow them for roughly twenty minutes through increasingly dense woods. Eventually, the hobgoblins slow. The pair has stopped beside a narrow creek cutting through the forest floor. One kneels to drink while the other keeps watch, breathing hard.

---

Meanwhile, back at camp, Boggart’s magic and careful tending begin easing the worst of Alex’s wounds as the exhausted rogue lies near the smoldering embers.Two dead hobgoblins lie nearby in the darkness, and Redhawk has vanished into the woods after the survivors.

For the moment, you have a chance to breathe...

Igrem has no time to warn Redhawk before he is on the tails of the fleeing hobgoblins. "Well, so much for that. I hope he is more successful finding his way than we were earlier..." he simply says, before he inquires on his companions' health and helps them search the dead hobgoblins' corpses.

Alex releases a heartfelt sigh as he feels the warm, numbing magic of Boggart's spell infuse his body, removing the sharpest pains and closing up many wounds. "My heartfelt thanks, Master Boggart. 'twas a fortunate day when we met in the caverns of Nott the Notionally Nuptial." Slowly sitting up, he continues, including Igrem in his question "What think you? Will the woodsman be away for hours, or should we prepare to head out as soon as it is light and retrieve the coster's goods?"