Rüdan says, “This is what we were expecting. The have a hardened position with ballistas and dart throwers. We knew they would never expect a large attack from their rear. Who could or would try to get through a wraith to get them?” He chuckles at the end.
Thoroncir also laughs. He claps Rüdan on the shoulder. “I just hope they won’t mind if we come for a little visit through the back door rather than the front. Goblins are not terribly particular when it comes to etiquette, from all I’ve seen.”
If it’s Goblins, then Ghân can offer a Summon Insects (he’s quite relieved to find an opponent it works on).
Have to say, this is making me pretty nervous. Sure, that defensive wall is facing away from us- but we still don’t know what’s on the other side of it. Could be twenty Uruk-Hai ready to jump over the wall as soon as we attack. We also don’t know what they’re arguing about. They might be arguing about whether to run, maybe, but is that because they’re cut off from their commanders or because they’re being used as bait? Let’s not get cocky.
That said, Sleep should work admirably on these goblins, so at least I know how I can help.
Well, on the off chance I understand what they’re saying… And either way, I like having plenty of targets on this side of the wall. 
Let’s both go and have a listen, then.
Gwaelur smiles to himself. There is nothing to take him out of the action this time, he is all healed up and ready to go. He gets out his axe and prepairs himself to follow Gil-Gandel’s horn call.
Gil-Gandel makes out that they are arguing over many issues.
• Should they stay or should they go?
• Should they wait for others?
• Where are the others?
• How come we have to stay on watch and the trolls and leaders get to rest?
• Hungry!
• Who hates Dwarves the most?
• Where they should go if they run, Moria or Gundabad?
Elfstan joins the front pair with Sting willed off. They make out about 40 goblins on watch with one very distracter goblin in the rear. He is oblivious to the treasure finders in their elven cloaks. The goblin area is well lit but they are in the shadows.
What is the plan? Normal arrows and missiles? When do you use what spells? Should Gilraen start singing another song?
Stealth seems to be the order of the day for the moment doesn’t it? Is their any way we can take out all 40 of them quickly and quietly enough that they don’t raise the alarm of the Trolls and leaders that are obviously nearby and we can keep the element of surprise?
If Deor can get close enough to use cantrips to draw the goblin on watch away, he’ll do so, then use Sleep to start dropping Goblins within the cluster.
Ghân reckons a Sleep could take out about 10 goblins (plus we have a few stealthy missile lads), but the alarm will be raised by the rest.
Where would the leaders be sleeping?
Can we get close enough with the Dwarves in clanky armour?
Thoroncir agrees with Ghan; it seems very unlikely that we could quietly kill or subdue all 40. Does the corridor widen at all where the goblins are, or would we still be limited to four abreast?
The goblins have barricaded an area only 4 wide but they are in a large natural cave with higher ceilings and up to 60’ wide from what Gil-Gandel can see.
The leaders are probably in one of the many small tunnels leading off the large cavern.
Rüdan, “On the other hand charging 40 goblins with archer support will be short work and then we can deal with just the leaders and trolls potentially.”
Deor grins. “If we can take out these goblins and let one raise the alarm, we can hold their own defensive fortifications against them! I claim a ballista!”
Ghân carefully mentions to Deor that:
- since the leaders are probably in tunnels leading off the cavern, they are on the same side of the barricade as us
- Deor’s spells are wonderfully useful: his Ballista skills … not so much
Let me have a look around and see if I can work out where the leaders are.
A lock on a door might be far more effective in keeping them at bay, otherwise some snares and tripwires might have to do.
By all means; thanks. Be careful!
It is a large room better have Elfstan take the other wall.
I’ll have a map up tonight at some point.
Brin suggest that he and Miron quietly move up to support in case of problems. They are both stealthy Ranger Archers.
Yes, certainly. So the hobbits are going to arrange to keep the enemies in, whereupon we open hostilities with a round or two of arrows from the darkness, and when the confusion and panic starts we hit them with a mass charge from our heavies. We can probably save the serious magic for emergencies, but if Gilraen and Ghan would like to oblige with a few party-improvers, so much the better. I will not give more detailed orders - everyone knows his own work well enough.
No need for a horn, the orcish screaming and yelling should be cue enough. 
Well both Mulligan and Elfstan have sets of lock/unlock implements and several lengths of rope, just in case.
Time to go to work. 
Ghân doesn’t have the same ‘party benefit’ spells as Gilraen, but is happy to offer:
- Faerie Fire (to light up 7 opponents, giving a bonus to hit)
- Summon Insects* (automatic damage for several rounds on one opponent)
Both these effects would be better used on leaders, so Ghân will hang back at first, curing and protecting Deor and Gilraen.
Once the leaders appear, he’ll cast.
*Does Ghân remember if this spell works on Trolls? He doesn’t think so, but perhaps it will work on orc leaders…