The goblin wakes up sputtering and cursing. It attempts to bite Nephira, but it's easily avoided. It wriggles and writhes for a solid ten seconds before noticing Caledon's bloody maul and the dark stains leading into the thicket where his companion once stood. 

[Absolutely no intimidation check necessary, but insight checks will be useful once you get some answers.]

It's attitude changes immediately to one of groveling.

"Please don't be hurtin' me, oh great... em... warriors. I is just a watcher at the front door! Never hurt ya 'fore. Ask ya questions and then... and then... em... lemme go?" He grins in what he hopes is a sweet smile, but with the large chiseled teeth it looks mildly frightening.

Nephira grins back at the goblin. "Good. Look. You're smiling. I'm smiling." She looks to the others, a stupid, forced grin on her face. "Let's keep smiling. I like smiling. It's good to smile. Just, please, don't make me frown though...  Because when I frown, it really upsets my friend Caledon over there, and the only thing that makes him feel better is to start squishing goblin heads... Savvy?"

She takes a seat next to the goblin, getting real cozy and familiar as she gestures towards the cave. "Now, let's talk about this lovely little hole you and your friends live in... I don't suppose you've pulled in a couple guests against their will lately, have you? They'd be two males. A dwarf and a human. Victims of an ambush along the Triboar Trail." She lets her smile waver slightly as she points a warning finger toward the goblin. "Speak quick, but be honest... because lies, well... They just make me very very sad." She threatens to allow the forced smile to slip from her face for a moment, then springs it back into place, waiting for the goblin's answer.

The goblin hisses through their horrible teeth.

"No, no, you say wrong. No guests here. Only Cragmaw, Klarg, and bad man we keeps in the Eating Cave."

His eyes dart to Caledon.

"We... We seen dwarf though. Bad dwarf. Rockseeker dwarf."

The goblin squints, trying to get a complicated thought out. "So... so there was a black spider, right? Few days back, this spider told King Grol what told Klarg that Rockseeker would be coming down the Triboar. The spider wanted Rockseeker... or, no, em... wanted Rockseeker and all his stuff. No spoiling. Klarg make us watch for Rockseeker. We watch. We catch. We take Rockseeker and bad man back to front door. Cragmaw kin from Cragmaw Castle come and take Rockseeker away. See? See? No guests. Rockseeker is gone away to meet the King and the bad man will be gone soon too."

The goblin is sweating from the mental exertion. He looks up at you all hopefully.

"You go now, yes? You got Cragmaw promise we won't rob ya or hunt ya for fun for... for... at least a day."

Listening to the Goblin talk of a spider, a king, and a bad man makes his ears droop. He looks at the others to see what they're feeling.

The when the Goblin says he won't hunt them for fun for at least a day, he scowls and looks over to Caledon, then back to the Goblin, and angry responds, "Won't hunt us for fun?! For a day?! You're mad!!" Settling down a bit, he grows curious. "The Cragmaw must be very strong to hold this wonderful cave, how many follow King Grol?" 

The goblin seems creeped out by Cressel, presumably having never seen a harengon before. 

"Many, many follow the King. Cragmaw is bestest tribe."

He looks at the cave. 

"Hideout only for... for..." He holds out his fingers and toes. "This many." (Roughly 20 or fewer)

Speaking slower, "How... Many...?"

The goblin whimpers and draws back from Cressel. 

"I just guard the front door!" he whines. "Goblin good. Wolf good. Klarg best, stand straight and salute. I no count how many!"

[Insight Check]

Cressel - [The goblin is telling the truth. He does not know how many follow King Grol or live at Cragmaw Castle. He truly believes there are around 20 goblins living in this cave hideout, along with their local boss named Klarg.]

[However, he seems to be raising his voice in order to alert his companions in the cave]

He says to the others quickly and slightly hushed, "He's going to alert the others with his whining, I don't think he knows anything else."

Insight check from Nephira about the goblin's story regarding Rockseeker, particularly the claim that he's no longer here.

Nephira places a gentle but authoritative hand on the goblin's chest and says... "Ah, ah, ah... Let's keep our voice down. Loud noises make me very very sad... Now, final question from me. Tell me, real quick, about the bad man in the 'eating cave'. Did you bring him in at the same time as the Rockseeker Dwarf? And where does one find this 'eating cave'? Tell me that, and whatever my friends want to know and you get to live."

Nephira - [He seems to be telling the truth about Rockseeker being moved to another location, likely to "Cragmaw Castle". You also get the sense from his choice of words that 'Rockseeker' is particularly hated by the tribe.]

The goblin hisses in displeasure, but does it quietly. 

"Bad man is old man warrior. He came to hideout same time as Rockseeker. Klarg has old grudge with old man. Likes to tickle him with pointy stick. Old man don't dance though. Tough one. Scary bad man." 

He gestures with his manacled hands in a looping motion. 

"Eating Cave at end of path. Gotta walk inna cave, follow stream to pool, go around that way (points right), cross bridge, follow lights. Find Eating Cave."

Nephira, still smiling, grips the goblin by the shoulder as she looks back toward the others. "Well, I don't know about you folks, but I'm coming out of this conversation feeling quite happy. Quite happy indeed. What about you lot? Any more questions before we leave our fine new friend here to his troubles?"

Insight directions (was a 6)

“I’m not real happy.  This bugger tried alerting his mates.  He only wants to give us a day pass, and his leader Klarg is poking holes in our friend Sildar.  None of that makes me happy.  And where is Cragmaw Castle, who or what is this Spider, what are they doing with Gunderen.  No sorry not happy.”

Latimer looks concerned about the only obvious next step.

"But maybe this one has more to offer.  First, is there another way to the eating place?  Perhaps a secret entrance? And second, what else lives in the cave?  Anything nasty in the water? " 

Nephira - The goblin has been honest in word, if not exactly cooperative in intentions. You have no reason to doubt the path he explained is the most common path to the Eating Cave.

The goblin gives you another awful smile. "Yes, yes, we all happy now, yes? You go now? Bye, bye."

Caledon - You have no reason to doubt the goblins directions will get you to the Eating Cave.

The goblin squirms uneasily. "I... I don't know them things. Been to Castle, but Klarg walked us to this hideout. Klarg knows where the Castle is. Might know 'spider', might not. I just follow, not make map in head. Not map goblin." 

He gives your maul a wary look and adds, "I helpful goblin, yes?"

Latimer - "Em... there is 'nother path, just inside and that way (left), but... it not good path for big folk. Lots of wobbly rocks. Fun slide, bad climb."

"Only goblins, wolves, and Klarg live here. Nothing live in the water anymore (except little pinchy, crunchy snacks, but they ain't dangerous). We pile up rocks and catch all the fish. Klarg's idea."

Nephira turns to survey the others as she starts tearing off a piece of fabric from her tunic to use as a gag, "Good questions... Let's not push our luck though, eh? I think this one's given us enough to work with... and don't wanna risk being around here when the shift change arrives, if you know what I mean."

He looks at the others and makes a motion to pull away from the Goblin for a moment.

In a whisper, "Perhaps we bring this one with us to trade for Sildar? Not very comfortable leaving them at our backs."

“I think the goblins will attack as soon as they see us.  What if this one captured me and brought me to Klarg, and then I kill Klarg?”  Caledon isn’t really thinking clearly his emotions are clouding his ability to make a good plan, but in his mind he sees Sildar beaten, tied up, starving... and Gundren with a ‘spider’.

"Not too sure he is worth much in trade.  Goblins aren't known for loyalty.  But if he is secured and gagged, it might be best to bring him along.  If it comes down to it, it's worth a try."

"If things get hairy, I can summon some fog to give us cover, but I doubt it would do much to our benefit other than aid escape.  But if anyone sees a good way to make it work to our advantage, just give me a signal."

Latimer than picks up a rock, and casts a white light on it.  "So, we are going in then?  Any last preparations? "