After another twenty or so feet, Nolan was finally able to make out a figure that was running between the trees as one of Arden’s [Radiant Bolt] spells hit it and lit it up for a moment. The humanoid stood over six feet tall and was yelling out orders in goblin. Nolan angled his approach to come in from the side of this leader and was able to get the first strike. But, unlike the goblins, this new enemy could actually fight and managed to deflect Nolan’s second strike and draw his sword.

“Try not to kill him. I’d like to interrogate him.” Arden spoke into his mind.

“That may not be possible,” Nolan thought back while trying to keep from being cut. “He’s a far better fighter than the goblins.”

Nolan continued to dance around the sword strikes that were coming at him without taking any fatal blows, but it was a close thing. After a few minutes Arden sent another [message].

“How can I help?”

“More light! The trees here are blocking both of our light spells from earlier. I’ve nearly tripped several times on the roots while trying to dodge.”

A moment later, several balls of light appeared about fifteen feet above Nolan and this mysterious leader, forming a circle around them. This helped tilt things in Nolan’s favor a bit. Nolan could now clearly see his enemy was taller than he was and had orange skin and sharp teeth. He wore leather armor and was pretty good with the sword he was using. He definitely looked related to the goblins but was not a goblin. When Nolan used his [Identify] skill on the creature he learned that he was fighting a hobgoblin but not his level.

A few minutes later, Nolan’s opponent glanced back toward the tree Arden was in and yelled in Common, “Get out of my head you coward!”

Nolan used this opportunity to slip in and land a punch in the solar plexus in an attempt to knock the wind out of his opponent. While it did hurt the hobgoblin, it did not have the effect he wanted.

Before he could withdraw, the hobgoblin lunged at Nolan with his sword out and activated a skill that caused his fist and sword to glow red for a moment. Nolan attempted to redirect the attack but wasn’t able to do so. The sword pierced his stomach, staggering him. Nolan grabbed the hobgoblin’s sword hand to try and keep him from pulling the sword back out while he started to cast a spell. The hobgoblin threw out a left hook which rocked Nolan’s head and caused him to let go of the sword arm, but didn’t break his focus on his spell. A moment later he finished casting [Shocking Hand] and reached forward and grabbed the hobgoblin.

As electricity coursed through the hobgoblin, causing his body to seize up, Nolan noticed a bear coming up behind his electrified foe. It stood and raised a huge paw. Nolan quickly stopped his spell and stepped back as the bear’s paw slammed down on the hobgoblin’s head, knocking it out. Before Nolan could say anything, a hand rested on his shoulder from behind and healing power poured into him as Arden walked up beside him.

“Well… we found some goblins,” quipped Arden.

⚷

In short order they had the hobgoblin tied up to a tree with Nolan watching him, waiting on him to regain consciousness. Arden and Hazel were dragging goblins toward a pit that Willow was digging. Arlo laid nearby, physically healed by Arden but with the memory of the pain still lingering.

When the hobgoblin started to stir, Nolan called Arden over and they got ready to start the interrogation. As soon as the hobgoblin opened his eyes and saw the humans, he started to struggle at his bonds attempting to free himself. No one said anything, they let him continue to try until he finally had to stop and rest.

Arden approached and asked, “Now will you tell me your name?”

“Kozack”

“How did you find us?”

“Lucky. We were walking north and one of the scouts smelled you.”

Nolan cut in, “Kozack, why are your people attacking the town of Wildemill?”

“Chief said to.”

“That’s it? Chief said to go get yourself killed so you do it?”

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

“It is an honor to die for one’s clan. Something you humans know nothing of.”

“He’s got us there, bro,” Arden said with a grin. “We don’t know anything about dying.”

Nolan chuffed at Arden’s attempt at a joke before continuing on, “I do not know much about your people but it’s my understanding that you have a caste system. How many are in your warrior caste?”

“The goblins have a caste system. All hobgoblins are warriors.”

“And there are how many hobgoblins?”

“That I will not tell you. I will not betray my people. Do your worst.”

“Woah, hold up there,” Arden cut in. “Before he starts cutting parts off of you, can you at least tell me the the name of your chief?”

“My chief is Dronkazol the Loud.”

“Thank you Kozack. Now, would you be willing to tell me how long he’s been chief over the goblins to the south of here?”

“Chief Dronkazol saved this settlement about six months ago.”

“Saved from whom?”

“The previous goblin chief was weak. He had few warriors and never grew his territory. Chief Dronkazol will teach them the ways of battle and bring glory to these worthless goblins.”

Arden nodded his head as he turned and walked over to a log and sat down. Nolan followed him and the two discussed their next steps before Nolan walked back to Kozack.

The hobgoblin meet Nolan’s eyes, “I’m ready. Begin your torture.”

“No,” Nolan replied. “You been mostly straight with us. The only lie you told was that you were coming from the south when you found us by smell. We know from the tracks you left that you were coming from the north. We know many of the goblins you were leading were carrying shovels so we have to assume you’re digging something. Tell us what you were doing to the north, what you’re digging for and I’ll offer you a clean death. Refuse and I’ll chop off all your limbs, remove your eyes and ears, and heal the wounds so that you don’t bleed out. We’ll stuff cloth in your ears and put a gag in your mouth. You’ll spend your remaining days alone in your own mind until a wild animal finds you and eats you.”

For the first time Kozack showed some indecisiveness before finally nodding. “We were sent to look for a dungeon.”

“Like, basement of a castle, where the prisoners are held? That kind of dungeon?”

Arden hurried over, “Did he just say dungeon?” Looking to Kozack, “Tell me more about dungeons!”

“We believe there is a dungeon to the north of here. We’re trying to find it.”

“Yeah, got that part. Listen, I’m not from around here. Can you tell me how dungeons work?”

Kozack looked confused, “Sometimes mana will collect in an area. If there’s enough of it there’s a chance it will form an elemental. But sometimes, instead of an elemental it’ll form a dungeon.”

“Awesome!” Arden said, clearly excited. “Now, do dungeons have themes. For example, could a dungeon form and be full of nothing but goblins and hobgoblins?”

This clearly offended Kozack, “We are intelligent beings, not monsters!”

“Woah there hoss, I wasn’t trying to upset you. So, evidently dungeons don’t have intelligent beings in them. Back to my question though. Would a dungeon have nothing but a single type of beast, or nothing but traps, or some theme like that?”

“You humans always think you’re so smart but have such a poor education if you don’t even know this. I am your captive, not your teacher. I’ve answered your questions. Now either let me go or give me my death.” Kozack then lifted his chin, exposing his neck to Nolan and Arden

A moment later Nolan was cleaning the blood off his sword while Arden stood there in shock. “You really couldn’t have let me ask him more questions?”

“No. It would be too easy for him to feed us false information.”

“Dude, I had [Dome of Truth] up. He’s been feeding us false information since you threatened him.”

“When did you cast that?”

“Before I ever asked for his name.”

“Then how did he lie about how they found us? I thought the spell preventing people from lying?”

“About that. If you level it at bit then you have an option on how you want it to work. I just unlocked the option last night that lets me cast it so that it would just tell me if anyone lied. Less noticeable that way, no body stops breathing.”

Nolan stared at Arden for a moment, clearly upset. Finally he answers, “Good to know. But my point remains. We can go back to town and ask Helen or Christi about dungeons and know the information is reliable,” Nolan stated as he untied the ropes holding Kozack to the tree.

“You’re right about that, we’re totally going to talk with the mayor. But his lies were revealing information as well. I could have learned more from him.”

Nolan shrugged, “Well, next time let me know what’s going on. I can’t be expected to make the correct decisions when I don’t have all the information.”

With that Nolan motioned for Arden to grab the body and the two lifted Kozack and carried him to the pit where Hazel and Willow already had a fire going burning the goblin bodies.

Once all the bodies had burned down and their camp was cleaned up, Willow used her [Mould Earth] and [Plant Growth] spells to cover up the area where the remains of the goblin party were buried. Arden took this chance to cast [Mending] on his clothes to patch the holes from all the arrows and spears he was hit with during the battle. After he finished with his own clothes he mended everyone else’s. By this point there was less than an hour until sunrise.

“No sense trying to go back to sleep,” Nolan announced. “Let’s go ahead and start running back.”