“Come. Let’s get outta here.”

Quinn leads Jurgen and Syzygy into the woods where he emerged so they can get out of sight and then he huddles them up. 

“We move quick, but careful. There’s signs of goblins everywhere in this neck of the woods. We can’t stay here. Let’s push further in and find somewhere to hide.”

Survival check: 15 (w/adv)

Quinn leads the (diminished) party back into the scrub-filled woods to the southeast, past where he hid from the hobgoblin, up a modest slope and slightly over it. He finds a depression in the forest floor, a shallow cleft against a large boulder, perhaps left from an ancient construction project or a quirk of geology. It's not ideal cover, but it's pretty good.

Unless you have further immediate business, you rest, and tend to your wounds. The woods remains quiet, other than the call of birds and the leaves rustling in the breeze. A slight breeze and overcast skies keep the temperature comfortably cool. It is mid-afternoon.

You may receive the benefits of a Short Rest.

Presuming Syzygy shares his observations from his tour of the castle with Quinn and Jurgen, here is the map of the known layout of the ruined fortress:

[yes, Syzygy would relay the information and with the outlander background be pretty good at conveying information. also, still in the other DM (in case I need to retrieve info about the conversation) but haven't looked since I left Grol's chambers, ]

Syzygy takes time  during the short break to look over those scrolls yet to be identified.

Arcana: 6

[ooc: @SirRods'Honour, I think Quinn may have had two unidentified scrolls? Do we have anymore? Did I take them and forget to write down?  Did we have some Elven boots too? We should give them to Byron at some point but maybe one of us attune to them now? can you tell I'm panicking ha.]

"Oh, and another thing, to the south east of the castle is a boarded up section that apparently contains some kind of nefarious spirit/shadow creature. I can't recall exactly what they described it as."

(I believe Bryony had the two magical scrolls that belonged to Glasstaff? Or did Quinn keep them? And remind me where you found boots?)

Quote from cbaer8 >>

(I believe Bryony had the two magical scrolls that belonged to Glasstaff? Or did Quinn keep them? And remind me where you found boots?)

(Boots are likely a figment of my imagination; unsure who has scrolls; thanks cbaer8 for easing none of the panic (still in a fun way)/doing your job real good.]

(You guys are great! Very much enjoy playing with you. Keep panicking!)

(I'll leave it up to Quinn and Bryony to decide who has the scrolls. And if you remember any more details of the phantom boots, let me know!)

OOC: I believe Bryony has the scrolls. I took a peep at their inventory and they do have a spell scroll listed. I’m usually pretty good at keeping tabs of my inventory.

And I believe the elven boots that Syzygy speaks of is actually the fancy leather armor that Quinn found on the dead elf in Thundertree. Quinn has that armor in his pack. 

UPDATE: 

Bryony has both the spell scrolls and the fancy leather armor. 

Syzygy, Quinn, and Jurgen, safely in hiding in the woods south of the ruined goblin castle, may complete their Short Rest if they haven't already.

Each of them may act. Although you can't see the castle from where you are hidden, all remains quiet.

"Did either of you see where they took the others or where they might be being held at?" Jurgen asks

“And where is this King and this giant wolf located? And did you actually see Gundren imprisoned somewhere?”

Quinn pauses for a spell, allowing Syzygy to answer.

”That spirt you speak of is interesting. I wonder if it really is some evil spirit, or just a ploy to keep the goblin underlings away from something?

Syzygy, now in his home shadarkai shape, tells the others “NE corner is Grols, chambers, Gundren was beat up on the floor. That’s where the others were taken. I presume the adjacent door to Grol’s would be a cell of sorts. As for the spirit, perhaps, it was an underling that told me, as I asked if there were any traps in the vicinity. If we had a lot of gold our friends may be bought, 1000 pieces and more. However, I have little left in me for further spells of deception.  Another  issue is the Drow. She has retreated back behind a curtain. She may remain in the castle.”

"How many enemy's would you say are left?" Jurgen asks, trying to get a feel for the battle ahead. "I am out of spells, but my wounds are good and I am ready."

“At least 4-6 goblins and hobgoblins; an enormous wolf; King Grol a bugbear; drow…”

He pauses, searching for a plan.

”…all we can do is, pick them off one by one.” 

As the three of you rest and strategize in the thick woods to the south, the afternoon grows longer. The ruined castle remains quiet.
What do you do next? Syzygy, Jurgen, and Quinn may all act.

“If we can hold out,” Syzygy pauses between a deep breath of meditation, “another few hours, I can restore my depleted magics. It may give us enough burst to make a difference.”

(Are you thinking long rest? if so< i will also get a few things back like spells and my Steel Defender)

Ooc: that might be our best chance. We’ll all get some spell slots back. We can take turns standing watch. No need to wait until night, we can start now and try to sneak in under the cover of darkness. 

( Damian_Mays backup account-  My account is currently buggered like quite a few others and when I post or PM I get this-  " You can only make 1 post every 1 sec.")  I have reported and will try and muddle through until they can fix)

The afternoon grows later. If you wish to make this a long rest, who's taking watch first? Second? Presumably, you will remain in your same hiding spot a few hundred yards south of the castle? Any other precautions or actions you three want to take before settling in to attempt to get a Long Rest?

(How's everyone's accounts? The notifications are still frozen. How the Damian_May account?)