-----Whisper’s foot successfully connected with the man’s groin and a second later, his dagger pierced the man’s throat. Blood flew everywhere! In the darkness, Whisper could feel it splatter onto him. The man opened his mouth in a silent scream and Whisper could tell that his dagger had done more than just usual damage. The man fell to his knees; his hands grasping his throat as the elf withdrew his weapon.
-----Whisper quickly turned back to the first man slamming his dagger into the man’s chest. This time it drew forth an anguished but angry response. This man, even though he was on his knees, tried to hit at Whisper with his fists. Though he missed, he was beginning to grunt and moan loudly. Whisper quickly struck the man across his face, but it did not daze the man.
-----Whisper now found that both opponents, though they were greatly injured, grabbed at him and threatened to overpower him in their desperate movements. Suddenly, Whisper thought he heard sounds of movement perhaps from a room off this one.
-----His brow briefly contracted into a frown as a flash of annoyance arrowed through his mind. Subtlety and surprise were about to be lost because of the resilience these two humans retained under his assault. But then, no one had said that this would be even remotely easy.
-----So, he doubled his effort. At the very least, he might be able to salvage the initiative if he managed to silence and kill the guard making the increasingly louder moans of pain. Resuming a hammer grip on his dagger, Whisper lashed out at the throat of his groaning opponent.
-----Whisper slashed across the man’s throat which seemed to take one of his opponents by surprise. Very quickly Whisper sliced him again and the man collapsed but seemed to still be breathing. The other guard continued to clutch at Whisper with one hand while his other hand vainly tried to still the blood flowing from his neck.
-----Just then Whisper heard a man’s haughty voice from the other room call, “What’s going on out there?”
-----Whisper turned, pivoting on the hand still grasping him, and stepped towards the guard, almost embracing him as his dagger dove towards the midriff.
-----A new plan was forming in his mind. Time to even the odds.
-----The man collapsed from Whisper and the elf could see him easing toward the floor. Whisper’s dagger had spilled a lot of blood from the man’s belly and he would be in excruciating pain.
-----Swiftly, Whisper turned and took up the discarded lamp. Moving as silently as possible, while maintaining a modicum of speed, he opened the lamps' reservoir, and spilled some of it over the two incapacitated guards as well as the floor in front of the door with a trail leading to the bodies. For good measure, the Elf also drizzled some on nearby furniture and wooden beams bracing the walls and ceiling, while quietly whispering "Vengeance is served." in Elven.
-----Mindful of the fact that he was likely about to get company, he crouched down, placing the empty lamp on the floor and out of the way.
-----Suddenly a man enters the room from a door to Whisper’s left. “What is the meaning of this?” he growls just before he sees the dark forms of his two downed men.
-----By this time Whisper is concealed by the shadows and easily makes his way toward the stairs. Coolly he sheaths his dagger and draws forth his bow. The man scrambles around looking for a lamp or some source of light. Whisper can tell that there are urgent almost panicked movements in his motion.
-----Beyond the window Whisper suddenly sees another cautious hobgoblin guard come into view. The wood elf draws an arrow and takes careful aim. Also along his line of sight, Whisper suddenly sees the man catch a glimpse of him and let out a gasp. Whisper lets fly with the arrow and it sails through the window solidly striking the humanoid guard.
-----As the man continues to stare at Whisper, Whisper watches the hobgoblin stumble and roar out in pain. Very quickly other guards rush to it as Whisper races up the stairs.
-----By the time he reaches the window, he sees below him the guards rushing toward the house; some with torches in hand. Quickly he leaves and gains the roof. As he does, a close blast of lightning is heard amid a bright flash.
-----As Whisper stands atop the roof, he notices two things. First, the lightning blast must have come down toward the center of the village. Second, smoke is beginning to pour out of the door below him. The house is on fire!
-----Now, Whisper would need to move with speed. The lightning strike could bode ill or well, depending on how his other companions had succeeded at their tasks. The fact that the Hobgoblins were piling in on the Helatorites seemed a good omen, but much rode chance.
-----Stealthily, he began to move along the roof, reaching for the flask of combustible oil, heading for the facing of the house where the door is. Time to finish his task here, and then act on what he found when he explored the village.