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[h2][color=6ecff6][i][b]Hugh Caphazath[/b][/i][/color][/h2][i][b][color=6ecff6]Half-Elf, Monk (Way of Shadow), Level 3[/color][/b][/i]
[color=6ecff6][i][b]HP:[/b][/i][/color] 24/24	[color=6ecff6][i][b]Armor Class:[/b][/i][/color] 17	[color=6ecff6][i][b]Conditions:[/b][/i][/color] Pass Without Trace
[color=6ecff6][i][b]Location:[/b][/i][/color] Investigating the Goblin Camp
[color=6ecff6][i][b]Action:[/b][/i][/color] N/A
[color=6ecff6][i][b]Bonus Action:[/b][/i][/color] N/A
[color=6ecff6][i][b]Reaction:[/b][/i][/color] N/A
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[right][img]https://i.imgur.com/4a0uP44.png[/img][/right]
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Hugh snorted at the Bard’s anger. Not a single word of that was an excuse. [color=6ecff6]“Yes, because the solution to the frontline being slightly inconvenienced is for the spellslinger to hurl themselves out into the open. Flawless logic. Truly. The fact that there were more archers aside, as far as we knew, we had the momentum. Not a single one of the initial opponents got the chance to attack at all. We absolutely dominated that exchange, and even without Kathryn helping her, Marita would have been in no danger whatsoever… Again, ignoring the archers.”[/color] Shrugging, he shook his head. [color=6ecff6]“This isn’t a difficult concept. She has armor. You don’t. That’s all there is to it. Comradery is one thing, but all that did was put you in unnecessary danger.”[/color]

His expression was dry. [color=6ecff6]“Personal feelings aside, you are my comrade in arms. I don’t [i]actually[/i] want you to die, and that was a rookie mistake.”[/color] He sighed. [color=6ecff6]“I’m not even joking. Maybe it’s the pain or you being too close to the issue to take notice, but from my position in the back, it was plain to see that Kathryn did her job and established the frontline just fine. Your injuries are entirely on you for ignoring that line in the heat of the moment.”[/color]

Hugh pinched the bridge of his nose. [color=6ecff6] “We had a plan, [i]yes[/i]. The plan changed, [i]also yes[/i]. The core of the plan was splitting up two assumedly ranged spellcasters for a crossfire. The only reasonable assumption to make about you agreeing to accompany me in the initial plan was that you had ranged magic, [i]which you did[/i]. So, if you were unable or unwilling to perform the role that any reasonable person would assume you were taking, why in the world would you not say so directly? Why would you jump into melee?[/color] Glowering, he scowled. [color=6ecff6] “Let’s not mince words, this was your screw up from start to finish, and luckily, you [i]only[/i] got bloodied from it. But I’m not going to hear any nonsense about foisting responsibility off on others. That goes for everyone. If I make a mistake that hurts our efforts, I expect to be criticized and advised, and I will be doing the same in turn.”[/color]

Turning to Kathryn, he rolled his jaw and hummed. [color=6ecff6]“Your guess is about as good as mine. I’m fairly new to the region as it is, so I only have suspicions. As far as I could tell when I inspected them, there were no identifying markings, and they seen new-ish, well-forged and uniform. They could be a gift… but who’s to say one way or the other? My gut instinct here is that they certainly didn’t get these weapons from the unwilling, but all I can say for sure is that something doesn’t sit right with me about how well-armed a bunch of common raiders were.”[/color]

That said, Hugh stepped away from the group to do a bit of investigation. Doing a circle of the camp,eventually, he stumbled across what seemed to be tracks. It was a bit difficult to tell, given the size, light weight and stealth of goblins, but he did appear to have found their prior trail. Striding away from the campsite, he followed the tracks, an ambling pace set in a general north-eastern direction. Humming, Hugh drew out his map, sitting down and unrolling it across his folded legs so he could trail a finger up the main trade road.

His finger pausing over the group’s approximate position, he made some educated guesstimates and nodded to himself. Returning the map to its case, he jogged back to the camp to find the sight of the bodies being gathered and… Kathryn handling a pair of oxen, which could be… useful perhaps.

At Marita’s presentation of options for moving forward, Hugh cleared his throat and interjected. [color=6ecff6] “The direction the goblin was choosing to flee honestly has no real bearing, considering that they were only running West because every other direction lead towards us. That aside, I did actually look around for their trail, and the goblins appear to come here from the northeast, practically the exact opposite direction. My map indicates other lesser trade roads in that direction that head towards more northern countries. Getting to those routes is… Well, frankly a day or two off traveling overland… not in any way time we have to spare.”[/color] Clapping his hands, he concluded. [color=6ecff6]“That aside, this does indicate that these particular goblins aren’t local, more-so than normal. What we can do with that information currently I really couldn’t say, but I’ll toss it in the pile of potential leads.”[/color]