Gwaelur grumbles to himself about how Hraedsig doesn’t seem to pull his own weight and might be more trouble than he is worth to the party. They are going to have to have a talk later.
He then offers, out loud, to carry the sack Hraedsig would have been responsible for, if it won’t slow him down too much.
Random loot 
There is no such thing as random loot, just hard earned treasure to be distributed to those who need it.
Would you leave behind items that could benefit those more needy than yourself?
I certainly have no objection to carrying either a sack, a spear (provided Hraedsig’s inherent Detect Evil has nothing to say on the matter), or a sack on the end of a spear ported over my shoulder, Dick Whittington style. It’ll be the work of a moment to drop it if I need an arrow in a hurry.
All due haste and no bickering, everyone. 
Gilraen will carry a smaller sack.
Elfstan finds the remaining sacks a bit large to handle but will take a spear.
Gwaelur can handle two with ease.
The party sets out with Hraedsig leading and Bitur in the back.
"Of course not, but apparently there is no time to look in these sacks, and we must leave now. I believe it would be better for the party if my hands are free to defend against any attacks as we withdraw, rather than carrying an unknown sack of what could be dirty goblin laundry, for all we know.
If there is identified useful stuff to carry, I am more than happy to do so if the party wishes."
Ok, let’s see if we can make it back without further incident and why does Gil-Gandel have an even more jaunty than usual look in his eye. 
The party makes it back to Miron. They’ve had few problems. One assault by 10 goblins that ran away after suffering a few losses. The party did pass a dead goblin on the way back.
Miron, “Do we make a full retreat and just cover the outside?”
(I’ll need a new marching order on the way out.)
Remember Miron has the 2 Humans, 2 Dwarves and 3 Elves each with elven bows.
Ghân needs an uninterrupted nights sleep (followed by a short meditation) to recover his spells, so he suggests we do retreat outside.
Thoroncir prefers to call it a withdrawal rather than a retreat, but agrees that overall it would be best to go entirely outside. He suggests the party return to its original marching order from when it entered Goblin Gate this morning, handing the sacks to Miron’s party and having them in the middle… unless he intended to hold his position overnight?
Let’s retreat to the entrance and fortify ourselves against attacks, both from the outside and inside. Maybe our worthy hobbits can set up a few nasty surprises for any goblins that might try to follow us?
We should also set watches for the evening. We probably want at least one elf or dwarf per shift due to being able to see better in the dark. Bitur has no preference for shift.
The marching order did not include the extra seven in the morning. The two men, two Dwarves and three Elves.
Once you get outside there are more elves to share the watch. There also might be other needs for some of the party. Don’t plan too far in advance. This is one extended battle in a war of conquest.
What time is it now anyway? When last we checked in it was about noon, surely it is too soon to be planning night watches.
So the situation as I see it.
We have made good attack through the Grave Door, have defeated what undead were in there and fought off several goblin attacks.
There are a couple of single points to the outside that, I think, should be fortified and held. At least this will give advance warning of anything bigger coming.
I think retiring to the outside and setting up camp is a good idea. The magic users need to rest to regain their spells. Others of us can help support here and fortify the area. We also have two goblins to question and some “random loot” to look at, not to mention a strongbox to open.
Although I would not suggest making the camp too far from the Grave Door, as it gives us somewhere to run to in case of emergency.
Let’s hold what we have and repel attacks for now.
The problem is that the party is nearly out of cures and offensive spells.
Whilst our fighters are tough and brave, they can still be worn down by incessant attacks with no healing.
And a party that decides to retreat from enemy territory should do so while it can still cope with battles on the way out…
The party has been moving quick, I don’t think more than 15-20 minutes have passed since the last check. So the time is still around 12:30.
Gilraen, “I think my services as a healer may well be needed elsewhere if we are done here for now. I understand wanting to hold some part of these tunnels but I myself would feel better if my friends were safely outside where retreat is simpler and conditions favor us.”
Miron, “For some of us the day has just begun. I think they could use the help of many of us elsewhere if this job is done.”
12:30…
12:30…
Hold on it’s lunch time!!!
Right, definitely time to camp outside.
I have a feeling we might all be useful somewhere else after that.
Can’t go running around on an empty stomach, can we? 
I am not saying that we shouldn’t rest, I am just saying that there is probably activity outside the cave still, since it is only just past noon, and I don’t think we are going to be *able *to go to sleep anytime soon. We are still safer out of the cave, but I think nightwatches are premature. Lunch watches maybe, but not night watches.
Marching order to leave please?
How about Gwaelur in back as part of the rearguard along with Mirion and his companions (dwarves with Gwaelur then the humans in front of them then the elves with Mirion leading the rear guard) then (working back to front) Brin then Ghan then Deor then Gilraen then Thoroncir, Bitur, Hraedsig, and Elfstan, Mulligan, and Gil-Gandel lead the way? Did I leave anyone out?