"Madam." Dren did a half bow toward Garnet. "Well... I feel it is in all our interests I stay with the group. No matter my skill, I would be vanquished were I to encounter too strong of resistance." Dren explained himself further. He lied slightly, of course. In reality he wanted nothing more than to get back to civilization and return to his normal life... but fact was, he couldn't survive alone in these woods. He'd have to stick with these people... plus, as doubtful as that offer of a job was to him... it was still tantalizing, a golden fruit hanging in his horizon. 

And then a Hobgoblin was rudely interrupting their conversation. Well, this just drove his mental point home all the more, didn't it? He hesitated before he made any moves... Hobgoblin armour would protect well against his usual ice spells and he doubted the special payload he carried would do much either... no, this would require something a little bit unorthadox. Something he'd been keeping quiet about... well, everyone probably knew, at least of its presence, but not it's form. He wasn't particularly proud... but, desperate times and all that.

"Royal rat vanguard!" Dren removed his hat and pointed the mouth to face the creature. "Go my furry friend!" From the hat, a rat, about the size of a man's foot, leapt out, having been hiding out in there all this time, dark matted fur and a sharp tuft of red fur on its spine, landing on the grass before the Hobgoblin. Dren's cloak became a little more brown and ragged in nature, tearing at the hem, his cane taking on the form of a brown bamboo-like blowpipe with a silver rat head at the top. On his command, the rat ran at the beast. One rat became two, two became four, before long, an entire mobile force of furry pests were charging the beast, crawling up its legs and scurrying over its body, going for the gaps in its armour, sinking their sharp little fangs in. They would do little damage, but their combined efforts would hopefully poison the beast. Once their task was complete, the rats faded from being and their leader retreated to the safe haven of his master's hat.

"Good show little one, good show." Dren applauded it's efforts as he replaced his hat upon his head.