Out of Character: KN, I take it my Energy Ray at the black flying creature missed. I didn't read where you said one way or the other.
In Character: Seeing the last hobgoblin trying to flee and my companions going after it, I carefully aim a Fire Energy Ray at it, Stopping it in it's tracks.
I shake my head at Grant, "Honestly, I don't know. But I think that it would at least make us more like a swarm of wasps that are painful to deal with than ants to be crushed."
"Killing it probably isn't on the table of possible outcomes today, even if we were really prepared for such, we have nothing that would prevent it from just flying off. But if we can make it want to back off… "
Calling out to the others, I try to lay out a strategy, "If we are seen by this thing, focus your fire and scatter away from each other. If it is so much as glancing in your direction, take cover. Meanwhile those who do not have its attention keep firing at its flanks.
When we get to the clearing, I breathe a sigh of relief at not seeing the half melted corpse of my friend. Perhaps she had gotten away, "Ghost? Where's Rachel?"
Travis, is relieved that the Hobgoblins had been dealt with.
But feels a little uneasy, seeing trees broken, and a clear spot of destruction.
"How much more of that dragon bane infusion do you have Jason,"? He asks.
"Could it help, with a light crossbow also,"? He adds.
Studying the scene carefully, I try to determine if there are any signs that can lead us to Rachel or her remains. “If she got away, she may have headed back to where we were. Of all of us, she’s probably the best survivalist now, with her magic. “.
I shake my head at Travis' question, "It would indeed help, but I am sorry, applying Bane on anyone else's weapon is a second or higher valence infusion. Between the goblin bane ones I did before and these, I'm all tapped out of those. Here, if you don't have any spells that would help in the heat of the moment, take one of the Ray of Enfeeblement stones. Just will it to activate and target the thing when it gets close."
I nod at Grant's suggestion, "I'd have expected Ghost to notice if we passed near to her on the way here, but if she took a roundabout route… Hopefully she left a trail we can follow."
Out of Character: Somehow I failed to notice Darkbolt was beyond what I can manage, sorry. Ignore that, I'll make four things of Ray of Enfeeblement instead. Ranged touch attack, 35' range, on a hit imposes a penalty to Strength of 1d6+2 for five minutes, no save. No limitations on multiple hits stacking, but it cannot reduce strength below 1. Get multiple hits like that in, and the physical threat the dragon represents is considerably reduced. Actually, at that point come to think of it, if someone jumps onto the thing and holds on, it won't be able to fly away, being unable to carry the weight… Hmm. Maybe we could do this after all…
Examining the area indicated by Ghost, I look about, seeing if there was any disturbances in the soil or other evidence of her being injured or possibly taken underground. "I recall a spell in Runequest called Path Tale that would track someone. Does anyone have something like that here?"