Oberon sits up slowly. His skin normally ruddy from hours in front of the forge is now pale. "Thank you my friends. The trip string makes sense now. I'll bet the hobgoblins bullied the kobolds and the trip wire was to help them defend themselves."
Grunting he lifts himself to his feet. "Even with the blessings of Heironious I am going to need some time to rest and heal before we go any deeper. Do we camp out of sight of the caves or do we head back to town?"
Rethal says, "If we leave and come back we may need to double check the progress we have made. Do we rest here in the cave allow people to heal some more and keep watch? We can use some of the stuff blocking the door to help alert us if someone tries coming up the steps."
Aseneth says, "We could probably pull some of that rubble from off the back wall and use it to barricade the front door. Though I wouldn't want to pull too much lest whatever it is that Hobgoblins are afraid of, get in." Then Jess adds, "And I can watch the front door in case something tries to get in. We should be fine. Right?" She looks eagerly at each of you for agreement.
"If we are going to stay here perhaps we should go back to the kobolds space. That way we have the cave exit if we need it. But first what to we do with our friends?" Oberon shrugs as he gestures at the captives. "Wake one to see if they will talk or grant them a swift return to the pit that spawned them?"
Aseneth and Jess agree with Rethal.
You all settle in for an eight hour rest and make yourselves comfortable. During that time, nothing unexpected happens. Aseneth and Gervase are both able to regain their used spells and when Gervase is ready, he casts another Cure Light Wounds on both himself and Oberon bringing them both up to full HP.
At some point early in the eight hour rest period, the Hobgoblins wake up from their magically induced slumber. Seeing their dire situation, they begin to weep and cry for mercy.
The lead Hobgoblin replies in a guttural, halting common, "There are more goblins than hobgoblins... Many more. Behind the door are people that don't die. Well, they die, but then they get back up again. Mostly it's our dead brothers... Or not dead brothers."
Then, with a look of confusion he cries out, "I DON'T KNOW!"