Chapter 17 - The Forest

It is the dead of night and we just entered the forest. The canopy covers the sky allows only small rats of moonlight to touch the ground. It was the first time I was so entering the forest past the edge. It was strangely calm. Only the sound of rustling leaves and small twigs snapping under our feet can be heard. It was very odd since there were so many goblins just moments ago scurrying across the forest floor. I see Oscar crouch looking intently at the ground.

"This way, it seems like they were retreating. Not too sure of the number of goblins running away but in the group of footprints I can clearly see a larger footprint. It looks to be twice the size of a goblin. Did one of them evolve into a hobgoblin?"

"What is a hobgoblin?"

Luke asks the question on my mind softly. The only information I knew about hobgoblins was from other games. Usually, they were just larger versions of the goblins and are slightly smarter and stronger compared to their counterpart.

"I only know from what mum told me but hobgoblins are an evolved species of goblins. There are 3 versions of them and it usually correlates with their strengths. She told me that they can specialize in strength, agility and magic."

"Magic? As in like magic like fireballs and stuff?"

It was the first mention of magic in the game and it also proved that magic existed in this world. Although I had my suspicions that magic existed there was no information that it as confirmed.

"Yes, fireballs and stuff but I don't know what a hobgoblin that knows magic can do or what they would look like."

"Hmm, I think we are not dealing with a mage. There is a higher chance of strength or agility-based goblin because of what happened at the wall. There was no magic used instead, it was a simple bow and arrow. It means the hobgoblin is proficient in archery which might lean it towards agility-based. Let's keep moving forward Oscar."

Oscar nods towards me and starts to move forward again only this time more slowly. He looks around the ground in front of him more often constantly checking broken branches or areas in the trees before advancing. I don't rush him and I calmly wait for his judgment before following him. Luke follows me closely behind trying his best to make as little noise as well.

After walking deeper into the forest we finally arrived at the area where Oscar first say goblin prints.

"Okay, there are two sets of footprints here. From my memory the goblin prints I saw before leading towards the left but from what I see right now I see more footprints towards the right. I cannot see the hobgoblin prints for some reason though. Did it wander off from the group or did it get covered by the number of goblins..?"

"Wait, Oscar did you just say there are no hobgoblin prints?"

"Yea, why?"

"Shit, MOVE!"

I rush from where I was standing and pushed the confused Oscar. The place where he was just standing was suddenly pierced with an arrow from above. I look up to see a goblin twice the size of a normal one. It was crouching on top of a thick branch holding onto a bow and slung on its back was a quiver. It had slightly smaller ears than other goblins and its nose was smaller. It wore something similar to a red beanie and dirty brown rags around its waist. At the same time, it had a disgusted expression and soon it turned away and jumped from branch to branch. It disappeared from the tree and into the darkness.

Oscar was breathing hard while he was on the ground. I can only imagine what was going through his mind right now. I stand up and grab his arm pulling him up I pat his back, dusting the dirt and dead leaves off his back.

"Are you ok?"

I look at his face carefully looking at his expression. Oscar opened his mouth but couldn't say anything. He looked around a bit not knowing what to say until he saw Luke. He saw Luke, standing still looking in the direction of the archer hobgoblin.

"I'm fine. Let's keep moving, we should follow the footprints to the right. There are more goblins that way but it is most likely where they are staying."

Oscar looked different. He still had a worried expression but it looked more calm and ready.

"Okay, lead the way."

Oscar nods his head slightly while moving towards the right and we follow him onwards deeper into the forest. We follow the footprints for a little bit more until we get to a clearing. There were small wooden tents huddled around a large fire. Loud yells and the clanking of rocks fill the air. There was a large rock near the fire and on top of the rocks was a single hobgoblin. It was the same one from before and it was shouting at the goblins below him.

"We got to the encampment but now what?"

Oscar nervously asks me as he observes the encampment in front of him.

"We need to look for an opening or somewhere to attack from but we need to make sure we have a retreat path."

"Ian, what if the form of attack was the golden wolf appearing?"

"Hmm, I think that idea is perfect Luke. Now come here let me talk to u about how we are going to do this."