A sharp agony pierces Syzygy's skull but does not break his concentration. con: 17

[edit: hold that thought...Jurgen's turn first]

He fans out an hand and flurry of magic missiles launch from his fingertips all directed for the for the goblins eye.

Action magic missile 2nd level: 3,5,4,2, (14)force damage

"Come Jurgen, we'll be back for the others soon." Syzygy says with hurry, disappointment and guilt before hightailing it. 

Jurgen fires his crossbow at the goblin boss on the top of the stairs (17 to hit with 7 damage). He manages to catch his pursuer in a seam of its thick chain shirt. It is badly wounded, but still upright.

Syzygy, reeling from an arrow hit in the face, downs the little creature in a hail of arcane bolts. Boss #5 is dead, the last of their immediate foes.

Combat is paused. Everyone may act.

Drained of all but, and with an arrow protruding between a bit of bone and muscle just under an eye swollen closed, Syzygy moves to frisk the goblin boss. 

syzygy looks for Keys or any unusual (non-goblin junk things), he also plucks a whisker for his components pouch. 

Investigation:  5

“we must act quickly, where’s Quinn?”

“Last I saw was they were heading out the door”

Syzygy finds nothing of interest, value, or use on the dead goblin boss on the stairwell. It does have plenty of whiskers, however.

Nor does Syzygy nor Jurgen see Quinn anywhere. Quinn must have disappeared into the woods somewhere, with that single hobgoblin in pursuit.

Kimberley and Bryony remain captive inside, together with Gundren. The drow has vanished.

“I wish I could heal up fast but that fight used up all my tricks and gadgets. We need to go rescue Kimberly and Bryant before something happens to them or reinforcements come. What do you think?” Jurgen asks

Syzygy, feeling sure the arrow has not caused to serious damage, unwedges it. He looks at Jurgen in admiration of his persistence. “If you think we must, but I do not like our chances. I think we best take an hour or two, regroup, plus there is an unknown player, a drow working for the spider. She crushed a goblins skull with her bare hands. Plus King Krol, and one nasty looking big Wolf. 

The wound is painful, but Syzygy's sight is spared.

Before the conversation continues any further, Syzygy and Jurgen both hear the quiet crunching of underbrush not far to the south. There is somebody or something hiding about 50 feet from where you stand, attempting to move stealthily to the west. The scrub is thick; you can see nothing.

Jurgen will stand back up ready a weapon and take the dodge action and move towards the sound. 

Whatever it is moves westward as quickly as Jurgen can approach it. It remains about 50 feet from Jurgen, still unseen, heading due west. It sounds bipedal, and Medium in size.

Jurgen, hoping it is one of his missing party members, shouts to them. “It’s me Jurgen. “ Just in case he continues to dodge. 

Whoever it is doesn't respond, but rather recedes quietly into the woods to the west and soon goes silent. Soon Syzygy and Jurgen are again alone in the quiet clearing south of the ruined castle. Birds cry and wheel in the distance beyond the far side of the ruins; otherwise, nothing stirs.

...Until something does. A new crunching sound of underbrush to the south. There is a second bipedal creature approaching, again about 50 feet from where you stand, attempting to move stealthily – but this time not west, but straight toward you. The scrub is thick; you can see nothing.

Jurgen will again announce himself and stay ready with a dodge action. 

The approaching creature goes dead silent.

But then you hear distant running as the first mystery creature starts to run loudly, far to the west. 

Quinn hobbles out of the wood, now merely 20 ft from Jurgen and Syzygy, as if he were an apparition. From this distance one would easily see his blood soaked hide armor.

”You all gotta be more aware of your surroundings. I got pretty close to ya.”

He coughs and a mix of blood and spittle drips down into his beard. 

“That dammed hobgoblin ran off to the west. I hit ‘em with my arrow, but his bloody mail armor saved his arse.”

He coughs again and winces. 

“Good to see you my friends. Where’s the others?”

Looking a little ashamed and frustrated “my plan to get us in with Gundren didn’t quite go to plan…” because you stubborn fools. The last part Syzygy does not say aloud. “Kimberley and Byrony are tired up in King Grols chambers. And there is another player, a strange drow woman working for the spider. But her alliance with the cragmaw goblins is weak.” 

Jurgen runs up to Quinn. "It is good to see you my friend. You, Syzygy and I are all that are free; as far as I know. We need to rescue them, but I think we need to rest a bit and bind our wounds."

"I...I don't have the strength to save Bryony and Kimberly. We must go somewhere safe and regroup."

Quinn turns and scans the area.

"Come. Let's get hide in the trees and find someplace to go."

DM: Is there any high ground nearby that we can retreat to so we can rest?

The woods to the south and southeast – where Quinn just emerged from – features modest hills and is thick with underbrush, even as it clearly showed evidence of goblin foraging. 

If he chooses to set back out in that direction, Quinn may make a Survival check to try to find a good hiding spot.

Jurgen will 'Help' Quinn find a good hiding spot.