DM
Following the goblins' trail, you come across a large cave in a hillside five miles from the scene of the ambush. A shallow stream flows out of the cave mouth, which is screened by dense briar thickets. A narrow dry path leads into the cave on the right hand side of the stream.
Note: All PCs get 75 EXP's!! This includes the ambush battle. 
<Bern>
When they found what was clearly the entrance to their lair, he signaled Lingo. "We should get back to the others and plan our entry."
Lingo
He nods in agreement and heads back with Bern.
DM
Bern and Lingo return to the group to share what they've found. I will presume you are just off the map to the south, on the west side of the stream, so you can talk without being seen from the cave.
<Bern>
"So can anyone else here swim well", he asked after laying out the situation. "It might let us get some surprise on them."
(OOC - You did not test it, but the stream did not seem to be very deep. You could easily see the bottom. Likely not more than a couple of feet deep, very wade-able.
Oh, and I know it is hard, but please attempt to refrain from Meta-gaming <g>)
Balthazar
"I am afraid not. My master didn't give me a lot of time off to go swimming." he said, shrugging.
ooc: about that metagaming thing, since I know the module, you will all need to "suggest" actions to Lingo as a thief. Let's make that a general guideline. Anyone with an idea that requires thieving should state it and I'll follow up with the action.
Ryssa
"No, I am afraid I never had the chance to learn to swim."
[[ Just curious, Zeim, which part was metagaming? ]]
<Berm>
"Well it was an idea. Anyone else have any suggestions on how best to do this?"
None. It was a preemptive comment. It had nothing to do with any actions on anyone's part. It just occurred to me that since Bern and Lingo had chosen to take the precaution of scouting ahead, whereas no one in the other group had done that, that the encounter had the potential of running along different tracks.
[[ Ahhhh ... got it ... I think <chuckle> Thanks. Just wanted to be sure I hadn't done something. ]]
(OOC - OK, team, what are you doing? Bern and Lingo have returned to the group. You are several dozen yards back down the trail where you can talk. Need some discussion and actions.)
Ryssa
"I have had no training in tactics such as we need here," the cleric said as she looked from one to another of her companions, "but don't we need more... information about this cave before we start making decisions?"
Luminmorn
"Subtlety has never been one of my strong suits. I do understand its utility though.
"We could scout for another way in. Then we could block this one and either use smoke to drive them to us or we could just sneak in and assault. "
The large dragonborn shrugged.
<Bern>
"As much as I like your ideas Luminmorn, I worry that time is as much our foe as those within the cave ... if we are to save our employer."
He considered for a moment before continuing. "Perhaps something along the lines of what we just tried. Lingo and I go ahead, you follow. That will give us a chance to get into a position where we can surprise them when they hear you. Anyone have any changes or improvements?
Luminmorn
"That does have the advantage of a distraction. It seems fine as a plan to me." He has no improvements in mind though others might.
Ryssa
Ryssa nodded in agreement to the ranger's suggestion but she did not say anything as she felt the others were almost certainly more knowledgeable than her in this area.
She checked her short bow and her quiver of arrows to make sure she was as ready as possible for whatever was about to happen.
GMThe party comes up with a plan for Bern and Lingo to try to sneak into a position where they can gain surprise on anyone who might come out of the cave to attack the rest of the party as they approach the cavemouth.
(OOC - OK, using the map coordinates below I need Bern and Lingo to tell me where they want to try to sneak to and to make Stealth rolls. Then the rest of the party will approach and we'll see. Note, IF Bern and Lingo fail their stealth rolls and it triggers an encounter, they will be on their own for round 1. The rest of the group will arrive on round 2.)
<Bern>
"OK, so give Lingo and I a few minutes to get into place and then you can follow."
He turned to his 'partner' in this infiltration.
"How do you feel about a watery entrance", he asked Lingo. "The water is not particularly deep, so we can probably walk much of the way, but we can get some additional cover if we go under water for part of the distance."
"Any questions or suggestions?"
Balthazar
He ran through his spells in his mind, considering combinations to use them for and then moves out with Ryssa when it is their time.
Luminmorn
He pulls the worn great sword and waits.
<Bern>
Apparently everyone was good with the plan. He nodded for Lingo to follow him into the water and then up towards the cave entrance.
He decided to start the water part back a bit so that he and Lingo would have a chance to get a feel for the water flow and what the bottom and the footing there were like before they got to the place where it really counted.
(OOC - OK, assuming you move up the stream starting from off the map, tell me the coordinates of the squares you plan to end in when the others appear. Also both you and Neptune need to make Stealth rolls.)
Lingo
"Halflings aren't afraid of puddles. It's what's in the puddles that matters. Let's flank the entrance but let's be quiet," he whispered. The halfling stepped into the stream and started to walk up through it. He was hoping that he sound of the water would stifle sounds of his footsteps. He was trying to use the thickets both as cover from any attack and he was trying to be stealthy.
ooc: I was thinking that we go to F2 and H2. Lingo will follow the stream and end up at H2. He has his range weapons out. Zeim, I think you know, Lingo is going to stealth always.
Lingo stealth (if you grant me advantage use 2nd roll)
Neptune rolled 1d20+7,1d20+7 and got 10, 23
<Bern>
"If you guys can keep an eye on us, once we get into the cave mouth, you can start moving up. If you can sneak in too, all the better."
He followed Lingo into the water with a smile at the little guy's enthusiasm.
"We should stay low in the water to minimize the chance of being seen as we approach", he said quietly to his companion. He stayed to the side away from the path. That should help them stay hidden as well.
Bow out as well
Bern stealth in the water MikeD rolled d20+5,d20+5 and got 18, 24
So 18 if normal, 24 if we get advantage
GMLingo and Bern slip into the stream and swim/crawl through the water to the edge of the cave mouth. A short time later Lumimorn, Ryssa, and Balthazar appear on the trail.
Three Goblins, who were supposed to be keeping watch on the trail from a small opening in the brush, but who were bored and dozing instead are suddenly alerted by the arrival of Lumimorn, Balthazar, and Ryssa. Bern and Lingo, keeping watch on the arrival of the others suddenly see the three Goblins stand up and grab their bows.
(OOC - OK, to move things along here is what we will do. Lingo and Bern have surprise on the three Goblins, however those three Goblins see Lumimorn, Ryssa, and Balthazar. Normally those three Goblins would have surprise on Lumimorn, Balthazar, and Ryssa, however Bern and Lingo's attacks will give away to the rest of the party that there are enemies in the brush across the stream. So here is how it will go:
1 - Lingo and Bern may attack with surprise. That will end round 1.
2 - Everyone will then roll initiative normally and we will begin round 2
I have placed everyone on the map. When it is your turn, if you choose to move please give me the coordinates of where you will end up. Note that the brush squares are impassable. The water squares are difficult terrain so cost 5 extra feet of movement per water square. If you try to fire through the brush at the Goblins they have 75% cover and thus their AC is +5. To begin the encounter the Goblins are all armed with bows and are AC-13. They also have Swords and Shields at hand.)
Lingo
The buggers were sneaky but so is Lingo, he thinks. His bow in hand, lingo lets loose a shot at one of the goblins but misses it. He moved back into the stream and hid behind the thickets.
Lingo Surprise attack, damage, sneak damage Neptune rolled 1d20+5,1d6+3,1d6 and got 11, 5, 4
Lingo Initiative Neptune rolled 1d20+3 and got 10
He'll move to F4
<Bern>
Well it could have been worse. He stood, fired and G1, then, as he moved across the water (to H3), tossed his bow onto the shore and pulled his rapier.
Bern Bow shot @ G1 MikeD rolled d20+5,d20+5 and got 19, 12
Bern Ooopps Got the dam dice wrong MikeD rolled d8+5 and got 13
Bern Initiative for Goblin Cave Entrance MikeD rolled d20+3 and got 9
Luminmorn
The large dragonborn howls and charges up along the river and the across to the same spot his companion has chosen.
OOC: Move to H3. This brings up an interesting question about sharing squares or not. As I count it, Luminmorn doesn't have any more squares of movement to get beyond H3. So...
Initiative 14
Balthazar
The attacks of their forward scouts alerts him to where the enemy is located and so he will cast a sleep spell for the area behind the bushes when he is able.
Initiative = 4 (So if his team mates are already in the bush, he will defer to movement only to D3)
Ryssa
Short bow with nocked arrow at the ready, the cleric moved up and alongside the more fragile Balthazar and tried to get an open shot at the goblin she glimpsed. She was sure she'd missed, but hoped at least to make the goblin keep his head down.
Ryssa moves to E3
Fires at G3: 1d20+4,1d6+3 = 13,8
Initiative: 1d20+2 = 9
DMLingo and Bern attack with surprise. Lingo's attack misses, but Bern's strikes true, driving his arrow through the throat of Goblin #1.
Lingo then moves out into the stream and Bern moves directly at the remaining Goblins.
Initiative order:
Lumimorn - 14
Lingo - 10
Bern/Ryssa - 9
Goblins - 7
Balthazar - 4Everyone can now act. It would be better, generally, when I call for an Initiative roll to simply make that die roll and hold off on posting any actions until you see where you go in the turn. To save reposting.
So, here is the new map. Everyone can now act, starting with Lumimorn. Note that Bern is now in square H3 so you will need to choose a different spot. Please repost your actions, even if they haven't changed.
Note: Also, the Goblins have 1/2 cover if you fire at them thru the brush and the brush is not impassable, rather it is difficult terrain, so each square costs an extra 5 feet of movement (my error due to traveling and not having easy access to the materials).
Goblin Initiative
Zeim rolled d20+2 and got 7 
Luminmorn
The dragonborn charges across the stream and through the foliage.
Move to G6. Attack G2. 11 to hit (whiff) 13 damage.
OOC: Since I learned that the woods were not impassable and that two PCs can't occupy the same square. The earlier message was good. Either way there would have been corrections.
DMNew map - Lingo is up.
Lingo
He moves behind Bern and tries to hide behind him as he attacks with his bow.
Lingo attacks G3
Neptune rolled 1d20+5,1d6+3,1d6 and got 6, 5, 3
CRAP! I rolled a 1. That sucks....but wait!
Lingo Automatic reroll of 1's - Halfling feature: Lucky
Neptune rolled 1d20+5 and got 22
Now let's hide behind the dwarf...
Lingo Stealth - hide behind Bern
Neptune rolled 1d20+7 and got 27
(OOC - all cool. I will resolve later. Just a note, Bern is human <g>)
<Bern>
It was a target rich environment. The first had fallen, there was another before him. He attacked with his rapier.
Bern attack next goblin MikeD rolled d20+5,d8+5 and got 19, 12
Ryssa
Short bow with nocked arrow at the ready, the cleric moved up and alongside the more fragile Balthazar and tried to get an open shot at the goblin she glimpsed. She was sure she'd missed, but hoped at least to make the goblin keep his head down.
Ryssa moves to E3
Fires at G3: 1d20+4,1d6+3 = 13,8
Initiative: 1d20+2 = 9
DMOK, taking a few liberties.
Lingo moves up behind Bern and fires an arrow at the nearby Goblin. It appears as if the arrow is about to go wide when the Goblin stumbles as it tries to drop it's bow and draw it's sword and it moves right into the arrow's path.
A moment later, Bern, seeing the Goblin in front of him drop, steps straight ahead and attacks the one behind it. His rapier pierces it straight through the heart.
All the Goblins are dead. A fairly easy battle for the group, especially compared to the previous one.
What next?
Luminmorn
"Well that wasn't bad. Of course it was just the sentries. Think we have been heard? Shall we go straight in?" He obviously thinks they have been heard especially with his crashing through the woods.
<Bern>
"Good planning helps", he said as he cleaned his rapier and retrieved his bow.
"Lets see if we can come up with another great plan", he said with a grin. "We could do something similar with the cave, but if someone else has an idea, I would like to hear it. I am tired of being wet", he said with a wink.
Ryssa
She smiled at the ranger, pleased this encounter had passed without blood - their blood at least - being spilled.
"Maybe this time you could walk beside the stream instead of in it."
<Bern>
"Well, =in= the river could give us a bit of an edge in that they might not be expecting that ... just like here", he finished with grin.
Balthazar
"If they are going to have any traps, they will likely be on the dry ground rather than in the water."
Lingo
"Yeah. Just sentries. If they got the drop on us it would be different. We better watch ourselves. How do you want to handle the cave? I can't see in the dark."
Balthazar
"Light spell or torches." he suggested.
Ryssa
"Unless you can manage the light spell, it'll have to be torches," the cleric replied with a frown.
<Bern>
"Torches have the benefit that they can be used as a weapon, can set things on fire and the like", he said, "so I am happy to go with that."