You cannot contain your curiosity about this camp but you know you should keep your distance and be careful.  They are likely hostile after all.  You remember that you are out in the open now so the sun will remove any advantage that the shadows had given you in the caves.  You decide to wait until nightfall, then slink in closer to the camp.  There is minimal rock cover but you manage to find a decent place from which to observe their camp.  They are goblins, armed with schimitars and polearms which you assume must be the work of the Craxil. 

 
Even outside the Craxil's domain, goblins are known for their hostility towards humans so approaching them would be stupid.  However, unlike the powerful humunculi you've had to deal with so far, goblins are a weaker enemy you feel confident you could stand against (provided you don't get yourself overwhelmed).  There are about 30 of the foul creatures wandering about the camp, but the one that catches your interest is the shaman.  Decked out in fancy garb and occupying a large tent in the center of the camp, it is clear this one is the leader.  It occurs to you that if they are working for the Craxil then this one might be able to provide you with some much needed leads as to where you can find him.

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
You are confident in your ability to handle a single goblin or perhaps even two if your life depended on it but certainly not the entire camp.  You're just a sneaky swineherd after all.  You wait until midnight, when most of the goblins have retired to sleep.  There are still a handful of night watchmen goblins though, and they will need to be dealt with before you can hope to reach the shaman's tent.  You also shudder at the thought of the shaman unleashing horrid magicks upon you.  Once again, you will have to use the element of surprise to make up for your lack of fighting experience but then... as a sneaky bastard that is your specialty.

 
The first concern is the single goblin standing at the closest entrance to the camp.  He is holding a polearm and needs to be removed before you can get into the camp.  As stated before, you are confident you can take him, but you need to be careful not to wake the rest of the camp in the process.  One idea is to sneak up on him and stab him through the back with your sword before he can react.  Another idea is to try and hit him with an arrow from a distance, then move on to the next target.  Either way, he needs to be removed.

You put An Arrow In Him

You are concerned that if you were to get to close to him or the camp before he is taken out then you will be detected so it is best to deal with the problem from afar.  You pull an arrow back in your bow and wait until the goblin stops fidgeting around.  You were successful with this thing the last time you used it against that one humunculus, but you know that was just luck.  Besides, you aren't going to get a second chance this time.

 
You carefully aim at the goblins chest because that is the broadest target on his body and an arrow that lands there is likely to still prove fatal.  You wait for the wind to die down, pull the drawstring as far back as you possibly can, perfect your aim, and....................RELEASE!

 
The arrow sails through the air but fails to hit its target.  Actually, you overshot and the arrow tore through one of the peripheral tents.  You ready another arrow, but the goblin guard is aware now and so is the inhabitant of that tent you shot.  You manage to blow out the guards knee with the second shot (despite still aiming for the chest) but its no use as the camp is now stirring and the goblins are now being roused.  You pull back towards the humunculus caves you emerged from, hoping to find someplace to hide before they get their shit together.  You duck behind a large rock just outside the passageway you exitted from when you first arrived on this plateau.  The goblins have explored the area between you and the camp and they are drawing closer. 

 
The shaman leads them into the passageway you came from and for a moment you think you're going to be safe...until one of the footsolder goblins detects your presence.  He lifts his spear above his head leaving you no choice but to thrust your sword through his abdomin.  Of course, now the other goblins are aware of your presence.  Reasoning your longer legs should enable you to outrun the goblins you take off and it looks like you might get away.  At least, that's what you thought until the shaman lands a fireball against you. 

 
THE END