As we Woses say ‘If staying together isn’t broken, don’t fix it.’
The party keeps up their steady march. The goblin generally pulls away but Rory can keep the trail. After a good distance of at least 2000’ and 3 turns including stairs up about 40’ the party comes to a place where the goblin went through a wall. Bitur quickly determines it is a secret door and how to open it. The Party is about 10 minutes behind the goblin.
What does the party do?
Ghân points out that the goblins seem to be spread out (we are having difficulty finding them) so suggests we keep following this one.
He offers to help the Scouts with a Detect Magic on the door if they want.
Bitur says that as long as we have no difficulties tracking the goblin, there is no real reason to try to catchup. They already know we’re here, after all, and better for them to worry about when we actually show up then to know exactly where we are. Also, by moving slower, we can keep a better eye out for hidden dangers.
No need to rush, but let’s proceed carefully through the secret door. The goblins may not think that we can follow them through their own tunnels; let’s let our scouts further ahead, so as to keep that advantage.
Through the secret door with our customary precautions, I suggest.
Ok, you lot open it, take care and don’t trigger anything.
I’m going to take up position a bit further down the corridor to pre-empt anything coming this way. We don’t want to get caught in between, now do we?
Whistle me when you’re ready to move on.
Um, Mulligan, have you checked this door for traps?
Mulligan finds no traps and the door is reasy to open. It opens in. Who opens the door and who is nearby?
Thoroncir will open the door if none of the Dwarves care to.
How wide is the door?
How many of us can enter at one time?
Is Thoroncir fully recovered from his Ballista wound?
Ghân steps down the corridor a little, out of the direct line of fire.
It is a small goblin door. Only 2½’ wide and 4½ tall. So only one at a time and not quickly for many.
Have Thoroncir open the door, then, and the dwarves stand by in case of ambush.
Thoroncir makes a short bow to his Elf-captain and, after the Dwarves have gotten into position, opens the door.
Neat trick down a Goblin tunnel, but I have a long bow already. 
Which, by the way, is ready for action should it be needed…
Thoroncir throws open the door and drops back. A single goblin is on the other side and fires a crossbow bolt but not it time.
Gil-Gandel steps over and fires and arrow through the goblin and point blank range and the goblin dies.
The passage beyond is nearly as small as the door.
Hmm. Perhaps one of our redoubtable Hobbits, or indomitable Dwarves, would like to look further?
Well, while I would be happy to give it a shot, we still have Mulligan who is invisible and quiet. I would give up any chance we have at surprise.
Was it the same goblin? Is there any way to tell?
I’ll take a look down the passageway.
Being invisble and near silent always helps. 