That sound effect at the bottom is 'camaraderie'. I wanted to make it small, but it was hard doing that and making it readable. So if you couldn't make it out, there it is.
Sometimes a battle is decided by good initiative rolls. Or in the goblins' case, bad ones. If a party can steal in a barbarian sneak attack, that's often game over, especially at low levels. I suppose the goblin could have kept fighting, but since his allies were both defeated before he could even react, I think it's fair to say he had no fight left in him.
Also, for those curious, the hobgoblin is wearing studded leather armour. These fearsome polka dot vestments often make appearances at low levels before chain shirts and mithril armour become available to light armour classes. Vrogdish is supposed to be wearing some too, but I felt it took away from his toga sporting gladiator look. Plus his vambraces, pauldron, and title belt (Vrogdish Golo, professional wrestler) probably afford as much protection as studded leather actually does.
