In the aftermath of the battle, there is much debate over what to do next. They are in need of rest, and they consider retreating to find a safe place for the night, but are reluctant to give up their hard-fought gains. As they discuss various options, they can faintly hear the muffled sound of far-off raised voices. Realizing that the hobgoblins will eventually regroup, they decide they should find a place to hide where they won’t lose ground. They hit upon a risky idea. They will lower themselves back down into the hole, and let the webbing support them as they rest. 

One by one, they carefully descend to the webbed section of the chasm. Davros will be the last to go. His job will be to untie the rope from the top bridge support and instead tie it to the the dangling end of the severed bridge, where it is unlikely to be seen or draw suspicion. However, by the time the rest of the party is out of sight, and Davros is left alone on the ledge, the door on the far side opens and a pair of hobgoblins emerge. They fire arrows at Davros, who returns fire. He is able to kill them both. He then descends into the depths as well.

The group successfully rests amid the hobgoblin bodies shrouded in the spider’s webbing. After a time there is the sound of activity above. Davros is able to translate the words he hears. The hobgoblins are rebuilding the rope bridge. They have thrown a grappling hook, snagging the dangling bridge and pulling it back to the far side, where they reattach it to the supports with lengths of fresh rope. One of the hobgoblins notices the adventurers’ rope hanging down into the depths and pulls it back up, leaving the group stranded. They have no choice but to wait it out in the dark chasm.

Eventually, all sound of activity ceases. Wondering how they are going to climb back out, Sartan remembers the Emergency Escape Balloon that he has worn on his back since purchasing it from Frandlehoobin the Gnome in the spring. He pulls the rip cord… and nothing happens. At least not immediately. There is a pause for a few seconds, and then the balloon quickly inflates to an enormous size. Then, rather than simply lifting Sartan into the air, it releases its air in a flatulent gust, rocketing him upwards with the sound of a resounding fart. He lands safe and sound on solid ground. But the noise has attracted attention. A pair of hobgoblin sentries standing watch in the adjacent room rush in and Sartan again is forced to do battle. He prevails, and quickly lowers a rope so that the rest of the group can ascend before more foes can arrive.

They decide to move more deeply into the lair. They cross the newly repaired rope bridge and traverse a corridor, arriving in a natural cavern strewn with rough bedding and what appears to be boxes, bins, and barrels of items looted from the countryside. Several other passages lead away from this cavern, and from one of them they hear the sound of a woman calling for help. Investigating, they find a human couple imprisoned in a makeshift cell. Branches have been lashed together with rope and leather to form a barred gate, behind which this half-starved and battered couple has been left to languish.  Nestled between them, Cycek is overjoyed to find Fuzzidong! Questioning the couple, they learn that their names are Geradil and Courana. They were kidnapped from Shadowfurst weeks, or maybe even months ago. The abductors seem to have specifically targeted Geradil. He works for the Shadowfurst sewer service and they took a map from him, which detailed the Shadowfurst sewer system.

Davros picks the lock and releases them. They are overwhelmed with relief and implore the party to take them home. The party declines, but offer to take them with as they continue their quest in Khundrukkar. Wicklow, however, steps up and volunteers to escort them back to Blasingdell. He offers an emotional farewell to the party. He tells them that this has been an adventure of a lifetime for him, but also by far the most frightening experience of his life. He has to admit that this is not the right direction for his life, and that he has been more of a burden than a help to the party. He gives Sartan the Durgeddin blade that he carries, and takes a bandit scimitar in its stead. The party sees Wicklow and the Shadowfurst couple safely over the bridge and out to the Mountain Door. Then they return to the explorations in Khundrukkar.