With Joop tending the unconscious Gyp, the party is in a dead-end, roughly ten feet wide and twenty feet deep from the passage where the goblins were walking and that you followed from the cave entrance.  What is the next step in the plan?

A little nauseous after watching the grizzly deed performed by his companions, Faldal proposes to get out of the caves for now.

"Maybe it's better to leave this place for now, so that we can at least save one?"

"Agreed. I am for leaving with all due haste, albeit with due care to Gyp."

With a consensus quickly forming, Joop and Wort improvise a litter using spears and cloaks and prepare to carry Gyp out.  Once ready they hoist him up and look to the others for guidance.

---

What is the plan?  Marching order and where are you going?

"Then let us retreat and try to save Gyp. Keep your guard up, my friends," says Falco, "I will be rear guard as we do. Let us head back through the forest and down the road to the Keep to hire a healer."

Falco keeps his shield up and spear at the ready as he guards while the others see to Gyp and start with withdrawal out of the cave. He steps backwards, looking behind him towards the others periodically to make sure he is keeping pace and to avoid tripping over anything as they do.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:20, Tue 26 Apr 2022.

Faldal walks at the front, scouting slightly ahead to warn everybody if anything dangerous appears.

The group quickly retraces their footsteps and exits the cave into the ravine and then through the underbrush South until they strike the road.  On the road it is about four hours to the Keep.  Fortunately, there is not much traffic on the road - hostile or friendly - today and they arrive back at the Keep just before sundown.

Faldal leads Gyp and his hirelings to those he knows will be able to help him in the keep's temple immediately after the party arrives.

Leozaren follows along, thinking it better that they show togetherness right now.

Falco accompanies the others to see to Gyp's healing.

Although he feels the Fool is an odd sort of fellow, Gyp has shared the dangers equally, and thus, equally deserves their aid. Let none say Falco doesn't stand by his allies in their time of need.

Simon accompanies the others.

Having spent so much time in the safety of his teacher's library, the apprentice finds himself now realizing the outside world is more dangerous than his books implied. Hopefully, the healer will be able to mend Gyp's wounds without any complications.

The party is admitted into the Keep without delay and heads directly to the Chapel.  Thei former companion, Thorona opens the door when they knock and looks at Gyp gravely.  "Well, bring him through and to the back, we'll see what we can do," she says and leads the way into the back rooms.  The other acolytes clear a small cot for Gyp and retrieve some water in a basin and bandages.  "Best leave him with us tonight," Thorona says.  "I will speak with Abercrombie."

"Let's leave Abercrombie and the chapel personnel do what they have to do. Let's have a talk about our future plans somewhere else." proposes Faldal, intent not to disturb further the people around.

"To the inn then. A hearty meal and something to slake our thirst would be most welcome."

Leozaren leads the way.

Faldal nods and follows Leozaren... from a distance.

With Gyp seen to, Falco likewise sets off for the inn.

Once there, he orders up some grub and beer and enjoys a meal.

Gyp slept peacefully in the chapel, his dreams of taverns, beer and song.

OOC Gyp will after 24 hours regain 2hp so will be on 0hp, which under the house rules is conscious and moving about but strenuous activity will push it back to -1hp.
07:39, Today: Gyp Toogood rolled 2 using 1d3.  Healing

The group is welcomed to the inn with the usual cheeriness.  Wilf, the innkeeper, asks "how'd it go?" and listens with concern when/if they recount the story of the goblin battle.  His daughter Ebb and the serving girl Jess, also listen until the Mrs. shoos them back to work.

Wort and Joop return to their duties with a promise to be available when Gyp recovers.

Faldal makes sure to make an honest tale of the encounter in the cave, before sipping his ale and eating some food when it arrives.

Once the party is left alone, he asks: "What is our next move? Should we go back the same way, or try to find somewhere else to enter the caves?"

"I would say another means of entry might be best. I believe the humanoids are on the lookout where we have already ventured, so a change may be advisable."

"But do we know of any other mean of entry?" puzzles the cleric.

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---

It takes most of the day to travel back to the ravine of the Caves of Chaos; the party arrives in the late afternoon.  The place is just as dismal and foreboding as it was a few days earlier, but the party reinforced and twice as large, prepares to enter the goblin cave again.

---

We can pick up again here.

Map 1 shows the progress mapped before, the short dead-end on the right side is where you battled the goblins before.

Dorn surveys the outside of the cave tunnels. He paces back and forth gripping the haft of his axe.
"I'm ready to lop heads, me lads. Just point the way to the goblins."

The motley dressed jester waved Dorn toward the goblin's cave whilst he lit one of his torches and chivvied Wort and Joop to follow the dwarf into the darkness.

Flanked by Wort and Joop, Dorn enters the cave, ready to crack some skulls.