"Well, shit. I'll wager a guess there's no paycheck in this if Gundren isn't there to give it to us."

Crane quickly gathers up the coin into her satchel - it's more than she's seen at one time before - and then plucks the arrows, giving them to Trick for use with his shortbow. (6) 

Seeing the two goblins she had been chasing down fall to the forest floor, Wracoria returns back to the group, letting out a sigh of relief when seeing that nobody had fallen this time.  Her relief quickly turns back to worry when hearing Clarion and Crane's discovery that Gundren and Salidar were among the ambushed. 

"If they were taken by surprise here, they cannot be the only ones that have been.  It may be for the best that we drive these goblins out."

"Indeed Wracoria, living in a time of goblin's is never to be taken lightly.  Like rats they defy extermination attempts and just continue to harass our peoples."  Clarion begins his study of the surrounding area to find out which way they went and how strong their group is.

"Well, there have been several dozen goblins infesting this area which means we need to be very careful here.  I can see where they pulled two bodies over the ground about here, can you see this?  One is large, like a human, and one is smaller like a dwarf.  Since these horses belong to Gundren and Siladar it only makes sense that they have them captive, assuming they are still alive of course."  Clarion thinks hard on how to proceed and needs input from the party.  "We have a choice to make here.  I can help us track these brutes into the forest or we can continue on our journey and deliver the goods, even though it looks like the organizers of this whole adventure, and the people with the money, have been captured by goblins.  What do you think?"

Crane follows Clarion as he shows the group what he's found, though she doesn't see what he's seeing. She pretends to, however, and nods sagely. "Well, there's little point in bringing these goods if our paycheck is in some goblin swillhole. Considering they went down so easily I'd imagine we can manage - though I wouldn't mind taking a quick breather to bandage the few wounds they managed to give us."

"A rest would do me good as well, but it would be bad if the trail went cold or if the other goblins realized something happened and covered their tracks.  Still, if we tried to travel, this arrow could prove quite troublesome."  Wracoria gestures to the remnants of an arrow shaft sticking out of one the weak spots in her armor.  "Perhaps one or two of us could go ahead aways and return with what they find?"

"Trick, you seem to have the ability to travel quietly, come with me and let's look at the direction of the trail and follow it for a bit.  We wont leave the rest of you for long I just want to get a feel for the trail while it is still warm.  Wracoria, Crane, Callista, you wait here and guard the wagon and horses.  Get a rest if you can."  Clarion looks to Trick to see if he is following and then starts after the trail.  He wants to gain as much information as he can before the trail is cold.  He could use a rest just like the others but feels he owes Grunden and Salidar at least this much.  He starts out and makes sure he is careful as he follows the trail.

Trick stows the arrows Crane gave him and nods silently, following after Clarion.

Clarion returns to the place where he originally saw where the bodies had be dragged into the forest and renews his investigations.

Clarion on Trick begin searching in the forest, Clarion taking a moment to sort out the Goblin tracks he begins heading off one way, then a few moments later realizes these were old tracks and takes the duo off another way into the forest. The duo can notice multiple game trails as they move through that seem to be rather inactive at the moment.

With a sigh, Crane hops up onto the cart and tends to the slashing wound she received, taking time in Trick and Clarion's absence to rest a little.

"I suppose I should have guessed that it wouldn't be as easy as going from Point A to Point B, huh?"

Wracoria takes a seat on the ground, propping herself against the cart.  She then begins to slowly remove the crude arrow from where it hit, taking great care to not cause any more damage than it already has.  Luckily the armor seemed to have stopped it from going too deep, and by the time Wracoria had finished caring for the wound, it already felt noticeably better.

Regretting already the death of the last goblin, Callista leaned against the side of the cart, her arms spread out and her elbows digging on the boxes nearby. Idly, her fingers stroked the rough wood gently. "Nothing ever is." 

This whole enterprise was more trouble than it was worth, but she had given her word. "If they don't find anything then ladies, we'll be quite screwed." 

Heading along the path, Clarion is able to keep track of the Goblin movements. Abruptly he stops, Trick running into his back, and Clarion points down at a snare trap. It's crude, and it can only be assumed built by the goblins. They travel along the path for 30 minutes, tracks still prominent.

Clarion stops.  "These tracks are clear, there are approximately 20 goblins and we could continue tracking if we had time but we need to get back to the others like we promised.  Let's go back and see what they want to do."  The urge to continue the hunt is strong and Clarion is torn but knows they are obligated in other ways.

Clarion and Trick make their way back to the road and the other guardians of the wagon.  "Halluuu there." Clarion hollers as they approach the group.  He gets back to the wagon and sits down to take a bit of a rest of his own.  "We were able to track them into the forest for a while and the tracks are fresh so they could lead us to the destination if we chose to follow.  There are about 20 goblins along with supplies and part of that is presumably our two friends.  The other option is to deliver the wagon as we were hired to do.  I am of mixed feelings considering our employer has apparently been dragged into the wilderness by a pack of goblins bent on who knows what.  I put it to the group.  What is your preference?"  Clarion leans back on the canvas of the wagon, heaves a big sigh and closes his eyes.  He is waiting for the others to comment. 

Crane sighs, "There's no pay for bringing this in without the boss. If you ask me, he'd be plenty understanding - and even moreso, grateful - if we save his hide, even if it meant losing some of this crap. What use is it to him with his head on a goblin pike? I say we get this thing hidden in the trees, hide it as best we can, and then go hunting after our employer."