The Goblin Cave

Once the "kennel" was cleared and swept, then yes -- they'd backtrack to the split in the path and continue forward. Decklan in the lead, maintaining some distance ahead of the others.

Alex was conflicted. On the one hand, he worked better from the shadows, and the blond wizard was making sure that there were very few of those anywhere near the rest of the party. So being with the group had its shortcomings. On the other, he was not a good tracker, more prone to get caught up thinking of new doggerel or of beautiful women than in paying attention to his surroundings. Oh, yes, once aware, he could sneak along with the best of them. Most of the time, at least, he thought as he remembered his recent attempt at "stealth". So being up ahead was not necessarily optimal either. On the third hand (if he was a xorn, that is), were he to drop back behind the party, he would effectively be removing himself from the opportunity to help Decklan. Given Surge's return to civilization, for better or for worse, he felt he had to carry his weight martially.

I need a fourth hand to figure this out, but I'd rather not sell my soul and become a glabrezu. Oh, what to do!. Deciding that he owed the party protection, Alex moved up to Decklan and Raven. Raven, you clearly track better than the rest of us. Stay a bit back in the light. Decklan and I are going to be just in the shadows; whisper if you find anything. Decklan, I think you search better than I do, so please look for traps as well. If you find them, I can handle them. As for monsters, if either of you are in engagement range, I can take advantage of their concentration on you to be a little more effective.

Alex moves up just in the shadows, takes a moment to adjust his clothes and posture to further sink into the gloom, draws his weapons, and then starts ahead slowly, trailing Decklan a bit.

Tatiana considers the distance between the group's members and the potential threat of danger in this small cave. She transfers her magical Light to her signet ring, and twists the band so that the Grifstone crest can be cupped in her palm to narrow the light's focus, attempting to treat her magic like a hooded lantern.

"When we get out of this," she whispers to Ammos, "remind me to buy an actual hooded lantern."

The main passage from the cave mouth climbs steeply upward, the stream plunging and splashing down its west side. Traveling a short distance from the kennel's turn off, everyone is able to see in the shadows across the stream, a side passage leads west.

Decklan with your Devil Sight you see into the shadows of the ceiling to the north. You can just make out the dim shape of a rickety bridge of wood and rope crossing over the passage ahead of you. The bridge connects where a second passage intersects above this one, twenty feet above the floor.

Raven, the strange human that no one believed was a farmer, looked around for tracks at the crossing to see if there were any hints as to which direction their friends might have been taken or which direction was more heavily travelled.

Raven it does not seem that any tracks or wetness has been drugged up through the river, so it is doubtful that anyone has crossed here.

Raven comes back to the group, "Doesn't look like they cross here, so lets keep following the river."

The stream passage continues up beyond another set of uneven steps ahead, bending eastward as it goes. A waterfall sounds out from a larger cavern somewhere ahead of you.

Those without darkvision now see a rickety bridge that spans the passage, connecting two tunnels that are 20 feet above the stream.

In response to Tatiana's whisper, Ammos replies with a gentle nod and a whispered "Noted."

Ammos looks up to examine the bridge, assuming that the party continues under it he will linger beneath it for a moment trying to determine how sturdy it is and its origin (if it is goblin-made, or maybe some remnant from previous residents even before the goblins). Either way, he will follow the party at the rear.

Raven saw Ammos pause to look up at the bridge, he looked at it for a moment also, but continues up the passage looking for anything which indicates their friends were brought this way. The rocky path had not been forthcoming in details, but seemed to be the only way to go for now.

Alex awaits, somewhere impatiently, for the party to make up its mind where to go. He remains—he thinks—cloaked in the shadows whilst the Raven lad searches the ground.

Tatiana proceeds as the group does, step for step as Decklan and Raven advance.

Decklan keeps moving once Raven confirms the path to take.

Before anymore progress is made the passage is suddenly filled with a mighty roar, as a huge title wave of rushing water pours down from the darkness farther up the tunnel!

Everyone make strength saving throws

Alex struggles to stay on his feet.

Tatiana cannot help but cry out in surprise as the wave of water crashes into her.