Sylvia listened to Muriel as she spoke about the mountain goat. She wondered if the monsters flourishing was because of the dragon's return. She didn't say anything about that thought, and listened as Muriel mentioned the dangers ahead. She answered Muriel's warning contemplatively, "I see. Hopefully we can give their hideout a wide berth..." She then spoke to Muriel, "Thank you, Muriel. Now that we know what to expect, we'll be better prepared, should we have to fight them,"

When she finished her breakfast (along with everyone else in the group), she stood up and thanked Muriel once again, "Thank you again, Muriel. For letting us stay for the night, and for the breakfast. We appreciate it. I think it's time for us to continue on our way,"

"Not a problem dear. If you ever come by, simply knock and I shall be there." Muriel waved the party goodbye as they departed. Buddy pulled the cart behind the wagon, and both vehicles had chains on their wheels to provide them extra traction in the mud. It worked swimmingly; though it was a bit bumpy at times, they were able to easily traverse the uneven and dredge terrain. The only issue was that as they went down hill, they'd need to be very careful about their speed as to not let the vehicles over take their engines, or in other words, not to go so fast that they'd flip. Thus it was an equally slow descent as it was heading up. Thankfully since you all had a full meal in your bellies, you had plenty of energy to spare.

As per usual, Shortfang sent Syfr out ahead to scout for dangers, spotting a few harpies in the distance by they seemed to be distracted at eating a mountain goat they managed to hunt. However about four hours into the journey Shortfang alerts the party of something up ahead. "Shortfang see goblins, live ones. Just six, but they looking for something. Scouts." Shortfang waited a few more minutes to allow Syfr to look around more, and suddenly he sucked his breath in sharply. "... Big horde. Lotta goblins. One... Two... Five... Lotta goblins. Two... No, three hobs. Shaman. And... Ogre." Shortfang gulped. "They got lotta dead animals. Big hunting party. Dunno where they goin, but they on path down." Hearing this made Pylia look grim. "T-Thirty of them? If it were ten or so then... Then we could take them, maybe with some help, but that many all at once..."

Sylvia also grew grim at the sound of what was coming. She finished Pylia’s thought, “There’s no way we’d be able to handle all of them at once. We have to hide or find another path to avoid them,” She looked to the wagon, cart, and Buddy. They were going to be tough to hide if they decide to do so. She asked Shortfang, “Is there another path?”

Shortfang continued to concentrate through his familiar, trying to see whatever it is he sees before he responds. "Not one cart can take. Have to climb down cliffs. Not easy. But..." Shortfang paused a few more seconds as Syfr was investigating. "I see... See barrel. Syfr smell smoky barrels." That's when Ferric chimed in, having stopped the cart when he heard the talk about goblins. "You know before they abandoned this pass, as most of the military were human, they had oil barrels in order to fuel their lanterns and braziers. I bet if you could set a spark off on those, you could create a sizable explosion! Goblins might be strong in numbers, but no matter how many there are, a well placed bomb ought to take them out!"

Sylvia thought about what the others said, and she added, “I do have Alchemist’s Fires. Maybe I could use that to set off the explosion. I’ll have to get over there, and you guys may need to get some distance away from here,” She looked to Shortfang and she asked, “Can you have Syfr lead me to the barrels?”

Shortfang seemed worried. "No go alone! Goblin near barrels, five small, one hob. Go together, kill quick, then we use barrel, yeah?" Pylia nodded with Shortfang as she strapped her shield on. "I agree, no way we're letting you go in there alone. If what Shortfang said is right, they've already sent a scouting party up ahead, and if any of them get away we'll lose the element of surprise. As long as we don't make too much noise, we ought to be able to take out the scouts, which will give us time to set up the oil barrels so we can use them to our maximum ability. When we're this severely outnumbered, we need to cooperate with each other more than ever."

Sylvia listened to Pylia and Shortfang made their case to go with her. She had to admit that they made a good case. She answered them, “Okay. We’ll go together and handle the scouting party. But...” She looked to Buddy and she commented, “I think Buddy should stay and guard the caravan. Sorry Buddy,” She figured Buddy wasn’t the stealthiest. So, for this mission, it was better to have Buddy guard everyone.

Sylvia nodded to Shortfang and Pylia before saying, “Let’s get going. There might not be a lot of time,” She got into the Satyr Stance and head towards the scouting party, trying to make as little noise as possible and be well hidden.

Buddy looked at you intently, however he soon nods. Seemed that he agreed with you. He took out his axe and stood defensively by the wagon as Ferric and Andras got their crossbows out. "Don't worry about us, we'll take care of ourselves if it comes to it. Just be safe." Ferric said to you. "And if you're going to use those oil barrels, here. I was saving this for myself but you'll need it more than I would." He handed you another flask of Alchemist Fire. Once everyone was ready they moved forward towards the goblin scouting party.

Everyone was doing a decent job being hidden, though Shortfang made a little bit of noise as he loaded his crossbow. The mechanical sounds of his weapon echoed lightly in the canyon, however it doesn't seem like anyone else noticed it. Eventually the party, or most of it at least, would find a convenient rock to hide behind as they watch the goblin scouts. Sure enough there was six of them and it seemed like they were making or found a camp. There was an old moldy table that two goblins were in the process of breaking down with their swords, while two more were rumaging around the bedrolls on the ground. Another goblin was looking through a pile of rocks. Lastly, likely the leader of this band, there was a tall hobgoblin that looked similar to the one you faced before, however he had a shield and an axe. It looked like he was using his axe to chop some branches off the tree, and near the tree were a few sacks and two barrels, likely the oil barrels that Shortfang told you about. Additionally Syfr was also nearby in the tree, his owl form so far unnoticed by the goblins below.

"Doesn't seem like they spotted us yet. How do you want to do this Sylvia? We'll follow your lead." Pylia says as she has her warclub at the ready. Shortfang had his light crossbow out as well, one of the steel tipped bandit bolts loaded into it.

Sylvia accepted the Alchemist's Fire from Ferric and she nodded to him, "We'll be careful. Thank you, Ferric. You guys stay safe as well. We'll be back soon,"

Soon enough, she and her friends were hidden behind a rock. After Pylia asked her how she wanted to do this, Sylvia took a quick peek out from behind the rock and checked the scouting party. After she figured out who had a means of calling for help, she ducked back behind the rock again and she whispered to her friends, "Aim for the hobgoblin first. He's got a horn, he's the one who can alert the larger hunting party from here. If you can't aim for him, then aim for any of the goblins who try to run away,"

She took in a deep breath, bracing herself for what was to come. She whispered, "I have to get in closer. Get ready, guys!" She then darts out from behind the rock, running straight ahead until she has the hobgoblin in her sights. Noticing that he wasn't close enough for melee, but close enough for a radiant bolt or two, she raises her hand and fires off one bolt, before tapping her ki to fire another bolt. Only, instead of just one bolt, she got two more bolts! That surprised her, but she focused back on the task at hand. They needed to take down the hobgoblin, quickly!

You rushed out from behind the rock just as all three of your sun bolts landed square into the hobgoblin’s chest, searing a fist shaped hole through him before he could even yell. The other goblins gawked at the sudden sight, confused as to what was happening. Pylia ran in close behind, grasping her holy symbol as she said a prayer. ^Bless is who shall face the odds, and may you give us your favor!^ Suddenly you, Shortfang, and Pylia would feel some divine energy flow through your body as if there was a magical force guiding your hands and offering you strength. Shortfang then commanded Syfr to fly in and distract an enemy as he fired his bolt right to the goblin’s head. Unfortunately for him Shortfang shot the goblin square in the helmet instead of the face, causing some serious but ultimately not a lethal wound.

By now the goblins realized they were under attack and without the hobgoblin leader, they were in a panic. Pylia wasn’t going to let this opportunity go to waste as she started up another spell. ^Oh lord Defiance, cast down your blade so that the enemy may taste a bite of your silver!^ Pylia aimed her warclub at one of the goblins as from the heavens a large silver sword descended from above, skewering the goblin through the chest. Then, despite no one holding it, the sword slashed upwards, cleaving the goblin in half and floating there menacingly. As the goblins were practically wetting themselves Pylia went to go smash one in the face, however the goblin was at least lucid enough to avoid Pylia’s attack. “Cut them down.” She says coldly, he floating magic sword poised to follow her command.

Dang! She seared a hole right in the hobgoblin! She didn’t really expect that result...
She noticed the goblins were all gawking just as Pylia and Shortfang entered the fray. One goblin had joined the hobgoblin in death thanks to the floating sword Pylia summoned.

She snapped out of her thoughts and focused on the battle once more. She headed for the closest goblin and attacked with her Quarterstaff and then an kick to the goblin.

You went to the goblin Pylia was fighting, striking him in the back of the neck before snapping it with a solid kick. The goblin didn't even get to take out his sword. Meanwhile Shortfang ran out from cover to try and distract the enemy, loading and shooting his crossbow in one movement. Syfr flew in just in time to distract the goblin and let Shortfang sink a bolt into the goblin's neck, causing him to foolishly try and take the bolt out and bleed to death.

The last two surviving goblins were desperate. In a blind panic one of the goblins charged at Shortfang, figuring that he couldn't fight back if he had his crossbow out. However as he was charging towards the kobold Syfr tugged on his helmet, causing him to stumble as he swung and allowed Shortfang to easily avoid the clumsy slash. The other goblin by the rocks ran to the table, knocking it over to hide from the others.

Seeing the goblins split up Pylia glanced over to you. "You take care of the one by the table, I'll help Shortfang." She says in a calm and quiet voice as she rushed the goblin, smashing her warclub into his helmet from his blindspot. The blow itself wasn't enough to kill the goblin, however when Pylia's flying sword skewered it through the chest, that alone was enough to put him down for the count.

Sylvia nodded to Pylia at her plan, and she answered "You got it!" She then darted towards the goblin that hid behind the table, and when she reached said goblin, she struck the goblin with her quarterstaff. She then utilized more of her ki to send two unarmed strikes her way. One or two of the attacks may have missed and after noticing that, she called to Shortfang, "Get ready, Shortfang!" She had a feeling that the goblin might try to run for it. Hopefully, Shortfang can finish him off since she may not have been able to.

As you turned around the corner to reach the goblin, he lunged out with his shortsword and nearly cut you. However you were quick enough to smack away the blow with your quarterstaff, though at the cost of foiling your staff strike due to how suddenly it came. You follow it with two unarmed strikes, one which lands square in the goblin's chest and does a considerably amount of damage to it's tiny frame, however the force of said strike also ended up making it just barely out of reach for your follow up strike. But right on cue, Shortfang fired a bolt right underneath the damaged table, right through the goblin's unarmored chest. The steel-tipped bolt stuck out of the goblin's body like a cruel horn and the creature fell to the ground with a spasm and cough of blood.

There was no time to rest on the victory however. Shortfang went over to you and looked urgent. "Syfr says big goblin mob just reach path bellow. We gotta hurry!" Pylia herself quickly found the aged oil barrels that Shortfang had found, as well as something else among the bags underneath the tree. Some sort of clay jar filled with a foul smelling ooze, but Pylia knew what it was precisely thanks to it's scent. "It's pine tar. Used to laminate wood. More importantly, it makes for a good glue." Pylia began to spread the black ichor over the barrels. "Sylvia, stick the alchemist fire to these so that way when we throw them down there, the explosion from the alchemist fire can trigger the oil barrels. Do you think you can call Buddy here? We'll need his strength!"

It wasn't long before Shortfang finished off the last goblin. At the mention that the hunting part would be here soon, Sylvia swore and hurried to help Pylia and Shortfang. When Pylia mentioned that there was pine tar that can be used as glue, Sylvia nodded at her request and put the Alchemist's Fire on the glue, effectively sticking it to the barrels. When she asked about Buddy, Sylvia answered "I think I can, but it may give us away. I'm not sure," She then decided to try and raise the ring and simply call for Buddy, raising the ring to her mouth like it was a cell phone, trying not to give their position away, "Buddy! We need you over here now,"

Precious seconds passed as the party prepared the oil barrels, but soon Buddy arrived. He wasn't very quiet, but he was there. Shortfang kept an eye on the goblin hunting party as it was passing through the pass below, and by the time Buddy arrived the first group was already about to turn the bend. They had their weapons and shield out ready for danger, however they haven't seemed to notice the party yet. "The seconds are counting down. Alright Sylvia, it's the moment of truth." Pylia looked towards the large boulder next to her. "In fact, do you think you could help me roll this boulder down the slope? That ought to help crush those goblins down there, then we can have Buddy toss the oil barrels below. My magic should still be active for a few more seconds, so let's make every second count!"

The sight of the crowd down below made Sylvia somewhat nervous. But she managed to keep herself composed as Pylia spoke. She did wince a bit when Buddy arrived, but thankfully the large hunting party didn't seem to notice them. Sylvia nodded and answered Pylia, "Yeah. Let's do this!" Before she helped Pylia, she told Buddy, "You heard Pylia, Buddy. Get ready to throw that oil," She hurried over to where Pylia was and she helped Pylia send the boulder rolling down the slope.

Everyone got into position. Hearts racing, hands sweaty, everyone did their best. Buddy set his axe down next to him as he lifted the barrel up easily in both arms, ready to chuck it. Shortfang loaded one of his barbed bone arrows into the crossbow and got ready to shoot any survivors. Soon you and Pylia stood side-by-side, and together you pushed the boulder down the hill. Or tried. For a few seconds you and Pylia pushed and pushed, but despite the two of you working together, even with magical assistance, neither of you managed to get the half-ton boulder to budge. "Keep... Pushing! I think it's moving..."

Both Buddy and Shortfang just looked at the two of you incredulously. Shortfang seemed amused, knowing that he of all people couldn't help you due to his small statue. Buddy just looked at you and you got the feeling that he wanted to say something along the lines of "This is why you need me" before he turned towards the pass below and hurled the barrel among the goblins gathered below. Only one even saw Buddy, and before he could scream out a warning the barrel and alchemist fire both crashed into the ground and created a booming explosion that shook the mountain itself. In a flash of fire, eight goblins and three hobgoblins were flash fried into black and red charred crisps. This certainly caught the surprise and fright of the goblins closer to the pass as the smaller ones were in a panic, and even the larger hobgoblin was fearful seeing more than half of his allies killed in just a second. Shortfang took this opportunity to take a potshot at said hobgoblin, however perhaps out of reaction the hob had raised his shield to protect himself from the shrapnel of the explosion, which incidentally blocked Shortfang's shot too. There was a deep and bellowing roar from behind, which made the nervous goblins turn to face the adventurers up top.

"Well shit. I guess we'll just have to do this the old fashion way!" Pylia commanded her silver sword to move down the slope towards the goblins, causing it to fly lazily towards the horde while Pylia went to the edge of the ridge, summoning a ball of fire to hurl at a goblin before retreating next to the tree. This time however the goblins, despite being startled, were able to better defend themselves and managed to block the firebolt with their shield. Even though it left a deep scorch on the rawhide, it kept the goblins safe.

Sylvia pushed with all of her might, however she couldn't feel the boulder move. At first she tried just using her hands, but she soon put her back against the boulder and tried pushing, only to have her feet slipping and digging into the ground and she had to keep repositioning her feet. That left clear marks in the ground. She answered Pylia, struggling to push, "I'm...trying! Hrrgggh! I shouldn't...have skipped arm day...!"

She took a moment from pushing to see Shortfang and Buddy's reactions. Her face rose in a slight blush from embarrassment, she could tell what he wanted to say, and she muttered a quiet exasperated "Oh shush," towards him. She watched as Buddy just decided to throw the barrel at the large hunting party. The explosion took out more than Sylvia expected.

Of course, this meant that got the hunting party's attention. Shortfang and Pylia made their attacks, which were blocked by the shield. She noticed that there is one more barrel nearby, and she told Buddy, "Throw the barrel when the ogre appears, Bud!" She then moved a little closer to the slope, but not going down it, and she got into the Satyr Stance before firing another Sun Bolt at the closest opponent. All of her frustration from not being able to push the boulder was put into that one Sun Bolt.

Chaos would soon erupt. Despite the fear and shock from the previous fireball, the hobgoblin shouted something in his foul goblin language that caused the other goblins to gather their wits and fight back. The hobgoblin himself took the lead, climbing up the steep slope to grab the oil barrel, knowing that it's a dangerous weapon against them. You try to smack him down as he runs off with the barrel, but his shield foils your attack. Buddy, seeing the goblin grab the barrel, goes to try and grab him, however once more the hobgoblin is nimble and manages to avoid the robot's grapple. He at least tries to stay near you as the other goblins begin their approach.

"Shortfang got this! Go go Syfr!" The kobold loads a steel bolt into his bowgun, firing it right into the back of the hobgoblin. However he was just a few inches away from the goblin's heart and the monster man was still standing, though at the same time Syfr flew into the hobgoblin's face to distract him. However that was when the other goblins began to rush up the slope yelling vicious warcries as they ran and climbed up. Three of them move to surround you while another two goes towards Buddy, who even managed to climb fast enough to try and cut him. His blade slashed right across Buddy's shoulder. On a normal human, that would've been a dangerous blow. But for Buddy? he didn't even notice. One more goblin rushed Pylia, figuring her to be an easy target since she was alone. He would soon be proven wrong.

But not before the ogre and goblin shaman come into play. The smaller, but smarter gremin clambered on top of the ogre, commanding him to move forward. The lumbering hulk did as commanded, pushing pass a large boulder as he saw the goblins fight Buddy. Together both ogre and goblin attacked Buddy, the ogre throwing a huge javelin (More of a spear really) while the goblin shaman fired off bolts of magic. Buddy saw these attacks coming and braced himself. The javelin he cut right out of the air, splitting it in half in front of him. However he couldn't do the same for the magic missiles which all collided into his body and created notable dents in his armor.

"Dammit! We got to kill that goblin!" Pylia commanded her Sword of Defiance to attack the distracted hobgoblin, and sure enough thanks to Shortfang's efforts the silver sword sliced right into the neck of the hobgoblin, causing his body to slump to the ground, the barrel tucked underneath his arm and preventing the whole thing from just rolling down hill. Pylia them slammed her warclub into the goblin next to her, crushing his bones but he was still standing. Pylia looked over to you with a look of desperation. "Sylvia, grab the barrel and throw it! Those goblins won't hesitate to kill their allies with it!"