Phandalin Five Escapes Ambush by Goblin Guerrillas

The Phandalin Five were making their way through Neverwinter Wood in search of Melarue Keep. Along the way, they met two suspicious elves preparing traps. Seems they are battling the Cragmaw Tribe of Goblins and had been raided by several hunting parties, killing several of their comrades. When Jangle asked about Melarue Keep, they indicated that it was still several miles ahead of them, West along the forest line. However, they warned that it had been overrun by the Cragmaws and that it was well-guarded. At this news, Jangle pulled out his Cragmaw royal amulet and put it around his neck.

Several miles later, Droop was grazed by an arrow that barely missed his head. The party looked into the forest and saw a Goblin archer darting back into the trees. Thinking quickly, Jangle flashed his amulet and asked Cade to translate into Goblin, "Your king returns!" Cade did as instructed, gesturing toward Jangle as he showed off his amulet.

Immediately a volley of arrows from every direction felled Jangle to the ground, fatally wounded with multiple arrows.

The goblins dashed from tree to tree, firing arrows before hiding in another grove of trees. Droop fell next, with a powerful goblin shot knocking him off his feet. He lie motionless on the ground.

A long battle ensued. As the party split to pursue the individual goblin ambushers, a goblin spotted his a chance to steal the king's amulet. He dashed to the body, yanked off the amulet, and made to speed away. Droop seized his chance. As the thief turned to run, Droop ran his shortsword straight through the goblin's gut, killing him.

Heartened by Droop's ploy, the party began to rally. Qili stole over to her prone teammates and healed them with a divine word. Cade snatched a goblin arrow from mid-air and hurled the missile back to it's host, hitting its bow arm and doing considerable damage.

Then the croaking started. Droop, realizing the danger of the unpredictable frog statue, pulled it from Jangle's body and hurled the glowing trinket toward a nearby cluster of Goblins. It ejected a hemisphere of green light but no effect was noticed as no creatures were touched by its mysterious light.

As Link engaged two goblins with his magic longsword, Talon, Wolfie tracked and dispatched a goblin with a viscous shake, hurling it straight into a tree trunk. Jangle regained his feet only to be pierced again by another fatally wounding goblin arrow. Qili returned the favor with a spirtually summoned anvil dropped and crushing the attacker's skull. Cade dashed to the nearest goblin, exposing his cover and piercing his eye with a fiercely launched dart.

With that, the battle had turned. The goblins began to retreat. As they dashed across the battle field, most were dispatched. One was tripped by a hiding Droop, with his leg extending from a tree just as a fleeing goblin ran past. Bloodied and prone, he was deftly knocked unconscious and bound by Cade. Droop and Cade glanced at each other, Droop in his now-typical admiration of Cade, and Cade with a spark of respect for Droop quickly hidden behind his stoic demeanor.

One goblin made a dash for the curious (but seemingly valuable) frog, grabbing it before dashing back into the woods. Pursued and slowed by Link, Qili was able to make an expert crossbow shot, severing the goblin's Achilles tendon. On the verge of death, the goblin made a desperate attempt to hobble away before a healed, but clearly hurting Jangle put the miserable creature out of its misery with a whisper.

The last goblin raced Westward with Wolfie snapping at his heels. Link, sensing his wolf was in danger, called him back, leaving the goblin to fight another day.

The party, victorious but battered, now seeks rest before continuing on to the mysterious keep that must now be very close.

Goblin image by Paul Abrams (https://www.deviantart.com/paulabrams/art/Goblin-Archer-194793392)