The group retreated outside of the cave to come up with a plan on how to defeat Klarg and save Sildar. Hugh wanted to do what he could to put an end to the goblin threat but he wasn't sure what the group could do. Scrag was still unconscious with Garyn out of divine power to heal him and Belrik was insistent that if they were going to have any chance of taking down. Until then, the others could only wait. Mazira tended to the group's injuries through practical and non magical means while Jesslyn studied from her spell tome. She wasn't too eager for combat but was going to prepare however she could for the coming fight.
Hugh had heard of a bugbear before when spending time in taverns listening to the stories of others but never saw one himself. He heard that bugbears were similar to goblins but larger, stronger and more prone to outright violence. They were often found leading goblin raiders and proved to be a threat to people living on the outskirts of Waterdeep. Rumor was that the Xanathar Guild also employed bugbears as enforcers. If no one dealt with Klarg, it meant that the goblins in the cave could be a threat to travelers trying to get to Phandalin. Hugh wasn't sure if he and his friends could defeat Klarg but they had to try.
The sun was starting to set and Hugh thought about the wagon they had to escort to Phandalin. Belrik told the others that it was unlikely any traveler would come across the wagon since they left the High Road, and while there were goblins in the area, they would have to come to the cave with any stolen loot. It helped that Mazira found tracks, and based on the number of tracks, didn't believe there were any other goblins in the area. Still, Garyn said that they would need to send someone back to tend to the horses and keep watch, even if it meant leaving Sildar to the goblins.
After some time, Scrag regained consciousness and groaned in pain. Garyn helped the bard recover, giving him water from his flask to drink from. Scrag set up with a frown and slowly shook his head.
"So, we're all still alive," Scrag commented after taking another drink from the flask. "What did I miss?"
"One of the goblins has Sildar as a hostage," Hugh answered. "He wants us to kill a bugbear called Klarg."
"What about Gundren?" Scrag asked.
"We don't know about him," Belrik said with a frown. "As much as I'd like to cut our losses and make it to Phandalin, I know Garyn wouldn't let me forget about abandoning a job."
"It won't be easy," Garn nodded. "A bugbear isn't an easy foe to face and there's no telling how many goblins are left between us and Klarg. I'm down to my weakest spells."
"Most of my bardic spells aren't meant for combat," Scrag told the group. "Jesslyn, how about you?"
"I still have some magic power left but not much," Jesslyn informed the group. "It won't be enough to turn the tide of battle."
"I could be of assistance," Mazira said. "This may be a goblin's hideout but it was a cave of the natural world first. I haven't cast a single spell yet."
"That could exactly be what we need," Hugh said, smiling. "As for me, I don't need any tricks when I have my warpick."
"Aye," Belrik said, patting the hilt of one of his swords. "I doubt any of the goblins here have magic and they got by so far so it may come down to their blades against ours. Weapons out, everyone. We're going back in."
"Any final advice you have to share?" Hugh asked.
Belrik looked down at the ground in thought. "We should heed Sildar's warning. The goblin holding him hostage might not hold up his end of his negotiation. If we kill Klarg and he doesn't give Sildar up, follow my lead."
"No time to waste," Scrag said, lighting up another torch. "Those goblins knocked me down once already. I need to show them that they got lucky by beating their leader."
With Scrag's torch to light the way and their weapons out, the group made their way back into the cave. Although Belrik was worried about the other goblins, Hugh wasn't too concerned. They defeated a handful of goblins and didn't think they had set up their crashing water trap again. The wolves were still confined to their pen when the group walked past the passage and stuck to the trail. They walked under the bridge and climbed up carved steps where the deafening sound of water falling down to the stone ground came from.
Four goblins stood guard in a cavern where a waterfall was, forming the stream. Hugh could see the remnants of a stone dam which he figured was how the goblins were able to send that much water at them at once. There was another passage from the direction they came from with Hugh believing that it led to the bridge. The only way further in was a passage to the south with one of the goblins running that way.
"Stop them!" Belrik called out, grabbing his longbow.
The dwarf shot down the first fleeing goblin with an arrow to the warrior's skull but the others were making their way deeper into the cave. Hugh wasn't sure if they could stop all of the goblins before they could get away and sound the alarm. He wasn't expecting for Mazira to chant a quick spell with vines shooting out from the floor and walls. The vines were enough to restrain two of the goblins although a third was able to roll away from danger and escaped out of sight. Hugh was impressed with Mazira's skill and was confident that her druidic magic would be enough to take down Klarg.
One of the entrapped goblins managed to cut his way free of the vines and Hugh advanced onto the goblin. While the goblin rolled away from the swing of his warpick, the maneuver left him exposed for Jesslyn's fiery spell and Garyn's crossbow bolt to strike him in the chest, ending his life. Scrag decapitated the final goblin, who wasn't able to escape in time. Belrik tossed his longbow to the ground and unsheathed his two swords.
"Keep moving!" Belrik told the others, speaking loudly to be heard over the waterfall.
"Klarg knows we're coming!" Hugh grunted.
"He won't have time to prepare even with the goblin's warning," Garyn assured the others and reloaded his crossbow. "If Klarg's in the next cavern over, the waterfall likely hid our sounds of combat. He might be getting prepared for battle as we speak."
"Then let's not keep him waiting," Scrag said, stepping after the fleeing goblin.
Hugh followed after Scrag with the other adventurers heading up into the next cavern, which was filled with sacks and crates. The room was lit by a large fire in the middle of the cavern, revealing that aside from the goblin that ran, there were two more goblin bandits and a wolf that growled loudly. Hugh's attention fell upon a fierce creature that towered over him and Scrag trying to hide behind some of the crates along with the goblin. The large warrior wore thick leather armor and carried a rough shield and a giant club in his hands. He saw that the being had features similar to a goblin and realized that this was Klarg the bugbear. Hugh hesitated to fight, starting to understand why Belrik and Garyn were worried about such a foe.
"There's nowhere to run, Klarg!" Scrag said, throwing his torch into the firepit to hold his sword with both hands.
"You dare to defy Klarg!" the bugbear growled. "Klarg will kill you all!"
"No, I don't think you will," Jesslyn said, already holding out a hand to cast a spell.
Three arcane missiles slammed against Klarg and the bugbear roared in pain. Mazira followed up on Jesslyn's attack with a similar chant, bringing forth more vines that restrained Klarg despite his immense strength. The vines spread throughout the cavern, grabbing onto two of the goblins and the wolf, leaving a lone goblin able to defend for himself. Hugh stepped forward, blocking the goblin's scimitar with his shield held lower to accommodate the height difference. One of the goblins and the wolf were already tearing their way out of the vines, but despite his best efforts, Klarg wasn't able to get out of the vines.
"Get her!" Klarg ordered his goblins.
"This spell requires a lot of effort to maintain," Mazira muttered, her voice strained and her eyes closed.
"Protect Mazira!" Garyn shouted, firing his crossbow only to miss the goblin that freed himself.
"Belrik, with me!" Scrag charged forward with a grin. "We'll take Klarg down together!"
Belrik followed behind Scrag as the wolf leaped to be between them and Klarg in a protective manner. Scrag stabbed into the beast's back with his longsword with Belrik finishing it off by cutting its throat with one of his swords. With the two adventurers advancing toward Klarg, Hugh thought it would be best to hold his ground to protect Jesslyn and Mazira. He swung at the goblin fighting him with his warpick but the small warrior was able to dart away from his strike with ease. Jesslyn focused on Klarg, striking him with another bolt of fire that burned his skin.
Hugh tried his best to keep the two goblins at bay but they were crafty creatures and quick on their feet. When he moved to block one from charging at Mazira, the other ran through the space in his legs and kept charging toward Mazira. The goblin leapt up at the druid and slashed his scimitar across her chest. With a scream, Mazira fell down to the ground and the vines restraining Klarg and the remaining goblin wilted away. Hugh looked at Mazira, his eyes wide with horror.
"You killed Ripper!" Klarg exclaimed, looking at the dead wolf. "Klarg will tear your heads off!"
The bugbear charged at Scrag, who protected himself from the vicious club by deflecting it with his longsword. The half-orc chuckled, lunged forward with his longsword, and ran Klarg through with his blade. The bugbear collapsed onto the ground and the goblins squealed in horror to see their leader fall. With one threat dealt with, Hugh could focus on Mazira. Garyn was already fighting the goblin that struck her with his mace but wasn't having much luck in close combat.
Belrik rolled to the goblin that Hugh fought and ran one of his blades through his back. With his foe dead, Hugh ran toward the goblin that struck Mazira down and slammed his warpick down on the back of his neck, ending the warrior's life. With the immediate threat dead, Garyn dropped down to his knees to tend to the druid. The remaining goblin charged forward, knowing there isn't much chance for escape, only for Jesslyn to burn his face with a well-aimed fire bolt.
"That bugbear wasn't much of a threat," Scrag said, chuckling. "One attack was all it took."
"It took two spells for me to kill him, not to mention Mazira restrained him," Jesslyn said, correcting Scrag, who shrugged.
"Is Mazira still alive?" Hugh asked, worried for the druid.
"She still draws breath," Garyn sighed in relief. "I should be able to stop her from bleeding out. She'll need rest like Scrag but she'll live."
"I'm glad to hear that," Hugh nodded. "I should have done more to protect her."
"You did what you could," Garyn said, not looking up to Hugh and instead focused on patching Mazira up. "She'll understand."
"Scrag, you stay here with Garyn and keep watch," Belrik instructed, walking towards Klarg's corpse. "Tathels, you're with me. Let's make sure that the last goblin holds up his end of the deal."
Hugh and Jesslyn looked away when Belrik cut off Klarg's head with a swing of his sword. It was one thing for it to happen in battle but it was sickening to see when he didn't have adrenaline to keep him fighting. Belrik whistled quietly, grabbed the severed head, and walked toward the passage. Hugh nodded to Jesslyn and the two followed after the dwarf, coming upon the passage that connected with the bridge.
It didn't take the trio too long to find themselves in the same cavern where the tall goblin made his demand. The goblin hadn't bothered cleaning up the room of his fallen warriors, who remained scattered across the room. The fire from the cooking pit had died and the room was lit up by a blue light thanks to Jesslyn's magic. The spell was enough to alert the tall goblin, who dragged Sildar over to the ledge he stood atop of and held his dagger to the man's throat. Belrik casually raised Klarg's head up for the goblin to see.
"You killed Klarg?!" the goblin gasped.
"Sure did," Belrik tossed the head into the cooking pit. "We keep our end of the deal. Now it's your turn."
The tall goblin was silent for a few seconds before snarling. "You give gold for him now! All of it!"
"We had a deal!" Hugh reminded the goblin, not hiding his anger.
"New deal!" the goblin cackled.
"No deal," Belrik said.
Hugh was amazed at the speed Belrik drew his bow and nocked an arrow on it. The tall goblin was likewise surprised as he didn't have enough time to cut Sildar's throat before an arrow embedded itself in his forearm. He squealed in pain and dropped his dagger, and Hugh, recalling what Belrik said before, followed in the dwarf's example. He pulled out his crossbow, and with Sildar leaning out of the goblin, shot him through the chest with a bolt. Jesslyn finished the goblin off with a firebolt that struck him in the skull, sending him flying backwards.
Slowly, Sildar rose to his knees and smiled faintly at the trio.
"You have my thanks, heroes," Sildar said, sighing in relief. "Help me down. We have much to talk about."
A/N: And with that, the opening dungeon of Lost Mines is completed. I'm looking forward to next chapter or two as a chance to focus on the various character interactions of the cast.
Until next time.