OK, can we have Elfstan crouching at the front; Deor behind ready to use Knock; Ghân just behind Deor ready to slip past him to block, heal or absorb electricity and Thoroncir ready to step in when possible…
::grumble:: Stupid goblins and their tiny passage…
Deor Knocks the door, an audible click is heard and the sound of an iron bar dropping to the ground. The door is not open though. Elfstan goes to reach for the handle …
Elfstan, stop! Isn’t that why we have Ghan up there? Stop taking unnecessary risks, lad. You are going to get yourself killed.
Elfstan pulls back his arm like a snake was poised to strike. He moves to the side so Ghân can get past.
Can Ghân open the door** and **stand behind it?
(That both protects him a bit and allows others access…)
Yes he can, at least enough to let the Hobbits past. Elfstan takes a quick look and is back fast with a report.
Behind the small door is a tall stack of wooden crates climbing close to the ceiling. Elfstan sees the room is lit and using all his stealth creeps along behind the crates till he gets to a small gap. It is a narrow squeeze but fine for a Hobbit or smaller goblin. He peers out into a large chamber that runs 50’ south and 30’ to the west. The door was in the north east corner. His eyes are drawn immediately to the brightly glowing stalactite hanging over a small pond. The light is slightly greenish as is the pond.
The entire room is loaded with crates, stacked mostly against the walls. He sees beyond the pond a raised stone platform about 30’ south of him. It is 3’ high and 15’ by 15’ square. On the platform are four stone work tables. On them are a series of arcane devices and smoky braziers, caldrons, alembics, large and small flasks, several large hourglasses, bowls, mortar & pestles and more. Hanging from a suspended rack are small sacks, pouches, bottles and flasks. There is a smallish goblin wearing a wolf’s pelt working at the western table. He is holding a staff of deer antlers and appears to be chanting. There are also 6 larger goblins armored and armed with vicious looking crossbows.
**The passage behind the crate wall will be impassable to any of the wider armored party members. That means the Dwarves and front line fighters. ** The Elves, Spellcasters, Brin and Hobbits can all squeeze through. The Dwarves and Fighters **would need to push the crates out of the way. **
"Hrm. This is tactically difficult. Perhaps we can get some smaller, range folks to sneak behind the crates (like Elfstan did) and wait. Then us fighters can start clearing crates out of the way back here by the door. When their attention is drawn to us, the ranged fighters can step out and shoot the spellcaster.
It’s not my favorite plan of all time, but I don’t know that the situation allows for a better one."
Sounds about right. Go to it!
Curse my manly broad shoulders! 
Ghân can cast Summon Insects on the opposing caster, which should stop him casting for 6 rounds.
We need to know how long it will take to move these crates - which could be a while if they are stacked to the ceiling…
I agree with Hraedsig- if we can sneak a large group of ranged fighters (maybe Gil-Gandel, both hobbits, Brin, and maybe Ghan) through the crates and have them hide well away from the door, we might allow ourselves the chance to surround the enemy as they rush to stop our melee troops from crashing through the door. That way, as the enemy sees our fighters crashing through the door, our troops will already be close enough to confuse them. In particular, if the hobbits can get around behind the enemy, they ought to be able to dispatch several enemies with backstabs.
Alternatively, I can try to Sleep the lot of them.
Huh, that plan sounds just crazy enough to work. Ok, I’ll throw my weight behind it.
“Excellent - we’ll need it to knock over those crates!” 
“HA! HA! Indeed. You have my axe behind it too in that case!” Gwaelur thinks that he is very funny, he frequently is the only one who thinks so.
Thoroncir smiles inside his helmet, but no one can see it. (He is almost always amused by Gwaelur).
The smaller members of the party sneak into the chamber and hide behind the crates. Gwaelur comes up next and starts pushing hard on the crates in front of the door. He topples the stack forward into the room with a great crash moving the base crate about 18” forward. Hraedsig and Thoroncir push past him and scramble over the crates as Bitur comes up to help Gwaelur up onto the crate.
Ghân casts Summon Insects on the opposing caster and Deor casts Sleep dropping 3 of the 6 guards. They must be tough ones.
Gil-Gandel’s bow twangs rapidly followed by mere seconds by Miron and Brin. Sling bullets whistle through the air. One guard goes down in the first volley of arrows and another looks injured badly as both sling bullets hit. He shoots his crossbow at the charging Hraedsig and misses. The healthy one targets Gil-Gandel and hits for 7 points.
The goblin caster is distracted by the stinging, biting insects. A second volley of arrows strikes the healthy one. He is hit by Gil-Gandel and Brin and keeps his feet. Elfstan’s bullet misses but Mulligan’s hits. Hraedsig lunges at full charge at the bullet buffeted one and just missed as the goblin ducks and pulls out his Short sword. Thoroncir runs through the other. Gil-Gandel takes his final shot at the caster and his missile goes mysteriously wide. Miron’s arrow goes wide of the caster.
Gilraen runs to Gil-Gandel’s side to check on him. She withdraws the arrow and quickly packs the wound and has him eat 4 good berries .
Hraedsig strikes with both Sword and Shield and his guard dies.
Gwaelur has scrambled over the crates and Bitur is just behind him. They are charging the platform following Thoroncir. Elfstan heads to the far doors to check on them and possible lock them. Ghân assists Gilraen.
Miron and Brin cross the room more cautiously. Brin stops to kill the sleepers.
Thoroncir scrambles onto the platform but the spell caster knocks over a brazier and many flasks and Thoroncir is forces to leap away from the smoky explosion. He lands poorly and but will be fine shortly. Gwaelur goes to the left of the platform and Bitur to the right.
Thoroncir climbs back up to his feet as quickly as he can, and charges the mage again, longsword held high. Elendil!
Mulligan will manouvre around for a backstab attempt on the caster.
Bitur will lend a hand against the caster if it’s needed, but for now will hold his position to both help prevent the caster from escaping and to keep an eye out for any goblin reinforcements.
The spellcaster come down on Bitur’s side and finds Bitur nearby and the goblin is still being bitten by insects.