I can think of many reasons, but I don’t know that they are so good as to override the reasons for going after him.
By all means we should go after him. We still have firepower aplenty.
“I think cutting off the head of the snake is a wise idea. Let us hope he is where the map says he is.”
So what is the plan then? Is it?
*Start with the next two rooms down containing the bunks (2 & 3) and cut through the secret door to the larger chambers in the south.
The second is to double back and go for the chief’s chambers (42) to the north to see if we can capture him.*
Bitur suggests that since we are close to the Bunkrooms, we might want to investigate them anyway since the first room was full of goblins. If the chief was going to run, he would have done so by now anyway. So while the sooner we get to the chief (if he’s around) the better, it’s probably wiser to make sure we don’t get blindsided by two rooms worth of goblins if we can still get the jump on them like we did in the first room. Though, those in room 2 appear to have an alternate way out, so we should keep that in mind.
Agreed.
While there’s a quiet moment, Thoroncir will speak privately to Princess Gilraen and ask if she is all right and ready to proceed.
Ok, here we go.
I have already checked the doors to the two lower rooms. Both sounded empty and are unlocked. Given the space in the corridor and the number of fighters we have, we should be able to look at both of them at the same time. Don’t forget that no-one appeared when we cleared out the first bunk room.
So I suggest Bitur and Gwaelur lead on the South Room, Thoroncir and Hraedsig lead on the North Room, Missile support as necessary from those who can.
Clear them out, check the secret door in the South room and then head back for the Orc Chief chambers.
Sound good?
Ghân is grateful to Mulligan for the planning.
He expects that the Scout’s expertise will open all doors, but offers a Stone Shape for an alternative entrance through a wall. 
Bitur agrees that Mulligan’s plan is good, but adds that we should prepared to retreat down the hallway and form up the four person wide shield wall should we be flanked from both rooms by large numbers. It’s unlikely to happen, but we should ready for it just in case.
Gilraen is fine and ready to go. She does counsel speed in our actions. The remaining orcs have already had plenty of time to organize or retreat now.
Elfstan verified Mulligan’s findings on the doors. Both rooms are found empty. The secret door is not hard to open and leads down to the large chamber. Mulligan scouts ahead and overhears a loud discussion in orc. There must be 7 or more speakers. She rushes back quickly to relay her findings.
Thoroncir settles his helm more securely on his head, hefts his Numenorean longsword in his gloved hand, and cries, “Come, my friends, come, let us attack!”
Once more into the breach…
So, a bit of missile fire to winnow the ranks down, then the Fighters to clear up.
The only question is, do you want me to tell them to put down their weapons or else? We really should give them a chance to surrender.
Gilraen agrees with Mulligan.
Brin, “Now how are we going to safely escort dozens of goblins out of here and where are we escorting them to? Do we even have the time?”
Deor agrees with Brin. We simply don’t have the resources to escort goblins out of here en masse; to try to do so would take up hours of our time or split our forces, neither of which is acceptable. Let’s remember that while we can’t simply murder them out of hand, to try to be too conciliatory would endanger the hundreds of brave dwarves and elves who are depending on us to keep this Gate secure.
Ghân is puzzled by this. We’re not supposed to murder them, nor spend time accepting their surrender.
What is your alternative?
As for ‘not having the time’, that’s just a guess. We are already clearing our bit successfully.
If we insist on fighting opponents who wish to surrender, we may take casualties or lose out on valuable information.
I mean that while we may not be able to avoid killing them in order to accomplish our mission, it’s probably still unethical to execute any who do surrender. That said, I don’t think that we’re obligated to give up the element of surprise in attacking them in order to ask for a surrender. Shouting “Surrender!” as we charge in as about all they can ask for.
And we don’t have the hours and hours it will take to escort a group of prisoners to the surface after every fight. Even if it’s only a few minutes to the surface, it’ll add up quickly and we’ll allow the enemy too much time to pin us down, especially if we have to split our forces to transport prisoners.
Ghân is all for surprising enemies and shouting ‘surrender or die!’. As I recall, we’ve never done it any other way.
But what if they do surrender en masse? From your statements above, we mustn’t kill them, but can’t afford to escort them out. 
A couple of things to remember.
We did not have to go in this far, we could have stayed by the gate at the top. So anything else we do is a bonus.
We know where to send them after the fight is over, the issue is what to do with any captives until that time.
At the start of a fight, a call to surrender or else is fine.
For any who do surrender, I would suggest disarming them and locking them in one of the bunk rooms close to the stairs and posting a guard.
That is, of course, if we do have any willing to lay down arms.
“Why are we standing here chattering like a field of crickets? Mulligan said there are ORCS ahead! Let’s go!”
Hraedsig unsheathes his sword and marches toward the large chamber with the orcs. Thoroncir has indicated readiness, so he presumes the sea-knight at least will join him. But if he has to kill the orcs by himself, so be it.
Thoroncir also moves forward, longsword at the ready, and urges the others to come along.