2. The First Delve

Ricard hesitates before the turn, weary of dark corridors in general. Spear in hand, paying extra attention to the floor, he calls for the lantern to be brought closer to dispel the darkness...

Pickles moves up along side Ricard and peers down the hall, "looks like a great place for an ambush don’t you think" He says with a small smile.

Gabbro looks around; what can he see to the north and through the portcullis to the west? Do the passages just continue straight out of sight?

Luther will whispers to Ricard as they are lifting the gate. "What if we get our people through the gate first then just let it down keeping the goblins on that side?"

Chamber of the Sea
The holes are definitely not part of the original architecture. They are rough-looking and irregular. How they originated is impossible to say. Each hole is approximately 6-9 inches tall and wide, and there are three holes in total, irregularly spaced.
"So long as there are no stinking orcs, it safe. Nearly at Wolf Gang territory."
To the north, a corridor continues for at least 30’ into darkness. To the west, through the portcullis, a corridor continues for 10’ before arriving at a north-south T-intersection.
To clarify, you’re already through the first portcullis on the eastern side of the chamber, and it appears the goblins are not planning to take you through the western portcullis - they are suggesting you head south. There are no portcullises on the north and south exits - they are just open arches.

---
Day 3, 11:30 am
Fenwick, Elf 1: 5/5
Gabbro, Elf 1: 4/7
Jessica, Cleric 1: 5/5
Luther, Cleric 2: 9/9 (Lantern)
Pickles, Halfling 2: 10/10
Ricard, Fighter 2: 12/14

Link to Gabbro's mega-maps ...

Gabbro takes Ricard and Fenwick aside to talk for a moment."I'm prepared to honor our agreement with the goblins, but it occurs to me that they might get tempted to try to alter the deal once we've got them back home. Do you think some of us should hang back with our portion of the money, ready to rush in as reinforcements if there's a double-cross?"

"Well I don't like the idea of splitting up very much... But it makes sense at least to split the coin now and have it done."

Jessica looks over the map. "I'm betting there is a pit down the north corridor. And it wouldn't surprise me if the room beyond were hexagonal."

"I also don't like the idea of splitting up, " says Fenwick with a nod at Ricard. "Let's stick together."

She makes a mental note to give a wide berth to the wall she examined. Those holes don't necessarily look evenly placed enough to be part of a trap, but something dug them out.

"Yes, splitting up is never a good idea."Looking at Fenwick"Do those holes look dug out or maybe made by acid?"

"They look like a trap to me, anyone want to check it out or should we find another way? Maybe let the goblins go first?"

"Eh, I'd guess snakes, worms, or some other burrowing creature." Gabbro sniffs, still speaking in a low voice to the others. "So, we give them their money now, and let the goblins go first?"

Looks to Gabbro and nods"Sounds like a plan to me. We have a meeting to get to."

Gabbro nods then turns back to the group and addresses the goblins loud enough for them to hear. "We'll give you your money now, and then you can lead us the rest of the way to your home." He counts out 10 SP and 2 GP for each of the five goblins. "Lead on, but don't get too far ahead - we want to be able to protect you, after all."

As Gabbro makes his speech and hands out coins, Pickles fades a few steps back looking to make space if things go wrong. Hands twitching near bow and arrow.

Chamber of the Sea
The goblins crowd around Gabbro in the manner of greedy children hoping for candy. They have the vague suspicion that this isn’t quite the 50-50 split they’d originally demanded, but they are most impressed by the way Gabbro counts it out, coin-by-coin, into their grubby hands, so it must be correct.

As soon as the final goblin has been given his coins, they collectively run away southwards into the darkness shrieking and giggling (unless you attempt to stop them).

---
Day 3, 11:40 am
Fenwick, Elf 1: 5/5
Gabbro, Elf 1: 4/7
Jessica, Cleric 1: 5/5
Luther, Cleric 2: 9/9 (Lantern)
Pickles, Halfling 2: 10/10
Ricard, Fighter 2: 12/14

Link to Gabbro's mega-maps ...

Ricard makes no move to follow the fleeing goblins,

"Better this way. Let's leave them to their scurrying, we have a meeting to catch."

Ricard examines the sword he took from the treasure hoard carefully, giving it a few test swings to see if he notices anything unusual...

As the Goblins disappear in the dark Pickles shrugs to himself, it would have been fun if they resisted. He gives a smile taking his share of the coins from Ricard with a grateful nod. It was nice to have some coin again.

"Let’s get ourselves back for this meeting then? Later we should return he a search this area properly."

Jessica takes her share, secretly happy that the goblins did not come to blows. She falls into line with the others.

Luther will take his coin with a thanks and a nod. Mover into his place with lantern in hand.