(Fallen lowers his arrow, in kicks it and puts it back in his quiver. Feeling a bit sheepish. He takes a few steps closer to the goblin)

"Do you have a leader?"

The goblin tenses as Galben steps closer and stutters, "Our...our...our leader 'ere is a bugbear named Klarg, but 'e answers to King Grol, 'e does, chief of the Cragmaw tribe, who dwells in Cragmaw Castle. It’s abou' twenty miles northeast of 'ere, in Neverwinter Wood."

 Pokes the goblin with the javelin, "That all?"

Quivering, the goblin responds further: "Look, Klarg received a messenger from King Grol a few days ago. Walked right past our post here, 'e did. From what I 'eard, the messenger told Klarg that someone named the Black Spider was paying us to watch out for some dwarf named Gundren Rockseeker, to capture him, and to sen' him and anything 'e was carryin' back to King Grol. And, Klarg followed 'is orders. We ambushed Gundren and took him along with 'is personal effects, including a map. Both that dwarf and 'is map were delivered to King Grol, as instructed. The dwarf’s human companion is being 'eld in there (motions toward cave entrance), in the 'eating alcove'. But please, 'at's all I know, sir."

 

 Narrowing his eyes at the goblin, sneering slightly at hearing Gundren's fate, "Anything else anyone want to know?" Looks at the rest of the party.

(Galben looks at the goblin)

"How deep does the cave go?"

Jake turns to the group.  "If this foul creature speaks truth, we must enter the cave to free Gundren's companion. We have valuable supplies in the wagon to the south. We should rescue our lost man, return to the wagon, and proceed as a group up to Cragmaw Castle.  I doubt we can assault the keep, but maybe the wagon has enough supplies to barter for Gundren's release."

The goblin looks at Galben sheepishly, "I've only been 'ere a few days and 'aven't seen much of the cave. I know there are several rooms, the firs' one in 'ere has our pets, 3 wolf. But they's chained up, they are - can't get to you unless you go in the room. Jus' wouldn't goad them on though. The 'eating alcove is in to the left, but there's a very steep dangerous passage up to it from the main path, wouldn't try it unless you're light on your feet. You can follow the path up to the right and use the bridge, but there are most certainly more of us along the path. Klarg is likely at the end of the main path in a corner room further along from where you get on the bridge. 

I stand, still pointing my javelin at the goblin, "Jake is right. We must rescue Gundren's companion and continue to ascertain the fate of our mutual friend." Looking back to the goblin, "Thank you for your coorperation; however, your usefulness has expired." I plunge my javelin through the goblin's heart, killing the weakened creature as cries in pain one final time. I proceed to recover my rope and stow it back in my inventory.

"Well, it appears the only thing to do is establish a marching order to enter the cave and to see what adventures await us inside. Do we want Thallan or me to lead or do we want one of our stealthier companions to take point, scouting the path ahead for us?"

(Galben collects the 2 short bows, qivers (2) and arrows (40) and stores them in the brush on the far side of the stream near. We can bring these with us on our way back to the wagon he thought.)

(Galben walks back to the group, finally fully recovered from his brief sprint) 

"Our original plan was for me to scout ahead, I am still willing to lead unless you all feel an alternate group order is better."

(Galben adjusts his light armor and walks over to the steam to put his hands in the water)

OldMan thinks the plan we had  for entering the cave was a good one.  "Galben lead the way.  One of you beefy lads follow him to provide armored support.  I will hang in the middle since these robes provide little protection from blades and arrows."

Here is the marching order: Galben in the lead, followed by Thallan, OldMan, Jake, Bearkiller, and Regula. As the party steps inside the cave mouth, a few uneven stone steps lead up to a small, dank chamber on the east side of the passage. The cave narrows to a steep fissure at the far end, and is filled with the stench of animals. Savage snarls and the sounds of rattling chains greet your ears where three wolves are chained up just inside the opening. Each wolf’s chain leads to an iron rod driven into the base of a stalagmite. As the goblin said, they cannot reach you but lingering in the entrance will goad them into a frenzy. What would you like to do?

OldMan wispers to Galben what if we feed them the dead goblins to befriend them?

(Galben turns towards the Wolves and nocks an arrow and draws back)

"They can't attack us from here and the Goblins are probably use to them making noise and snarling at each other."

(Galben takes aim at the nearest wolf, he lets got of the arrow. The arrow travels through the entrance of the cave room and strikes the wolf in the gut. Once the arrow is shot Galben grabs another arrow from his quiver and nocks it.)

(Attack roll: 17+5=22) (5+3=8 piercing damage)

OldMan wonders "What if the quietness of them being dead will alarm anyone else in the cave?"  "Maybe leave one alive to make noise."

"Or maybe one of the oafs in armor can grunt and bark like an animal, he mutters to himself."

All 3 wolves turn and rush toward the party in the cave opening, Galben's arrow piercing wolf 1 causing 8 points of damage, and driving all of them into a frenzy of snarling and growling. In their frenzied state, you see wolf 2 strain against its chain and the rod to which it is attached loosen dramatically. They are unable to reach you while chained as the goblin had said.

Each party member may now take an action in whatever order you wish. You are still out of the reach of the wolves unless you enter the room up the steps. You are not in melee range. The wolves will take their turn once all have posted.

OldMan is only 10-15 feet from the dead goblins so he quickly runs back to the carcasses and using his dagger he quickly cuts off an arm at the shoulder and brings it back to the cave mouth hollering throw this to the mongrels to keep them from pulling the chains out of  the brackets.

@OldMan, make an Animal Handling check.

Also, there was a typo in my last post that said "party members may not take an action", it meant to read "may now take an action". You can take an action in whatever order you like and when all have acted, the wolves will respond.

(With his bow nocked Galben draws back, taking aim at the closest wolf again. Shooting the arrow it flies through the dark and hits the back wall of the room)

(attack roll 4+5=9) "How could I miss"

(Galben then steps into the water and moves out of the cave, ending on the bank outside the cave next to Regula)

"I'll let you boys have a turn at them if you want, no sense for me to have all the fun"

OldMan rolls a (11+4=15) on his animal handling roll. 

While he brings the arm up to the cave opening he is rehearsing in his head a cantrip to possibly cast if the mongrels don't like goblin meat (who would blame them.