Spoils of Victory

Among the detritus uncovered inside the hobgoblin caves, you are able to locate several crates of goods obviously stolen from Prudence at the toll cabin. There are probably eight or nine partial crates, although most have been rummaged. The remaining goods could be packed into three of the crates, or distributed among a party of five or six with relative ease.
The hobgoblin warlord has a large battle axe. Most of the rest of their gear is nondescript. They have short swords, the hobgoblins have chain mail and shields, the captains have half plate and shields, and the warlord plate mail and shield. The goblins have short bows and spears.
I feel like there should be more here. I like this encounter as a springboard for further action. Something I mentioned early in this process was connected to being followed or targeted. The neckless is meant to attract monsters.
Its also something that has been bugging me about this adventure so far, that it is stuck on the river. If the first attack on the cult stirred some pointed animosity toward the party, coupled with an urge to recover the artifact, it would be expected that the cult leaders would gather a recovery party to send after them. They would know the mountains, and would probably use paths through and across them to cut off the bend in the river, getting to the upriver location in time to set an ambush.
That would have been an interesting detail to use as backstory for this hobgoblin location and encounter. Its possible this is an advance group, more likely an ancillary one hired to watch the toll station and pass along notice to the cult when the party arrives. Their attack and defeat has prevented the information from being passed along.
That means there is evidence of some connection inside the cave or on the body of the warlord, but what? There could be some token of affiliation with the cult in his possession, but for that to be effective, it would need to have been referenced earlier in the story, either at the outpost or shrine. Another option might be to give him a map to their location. That could work, especially if there is an accompanying note in draconic with instructions, terms, or directions to the cult's current location.
Time to think about what the cult is up to...