The Dink Network

Thank you for your reply, Skull. I was taking your advice to take a break from the Goblin caves and pursue another side quest. However, I've spent so much time in the caves that I don't even remember the storyline and forgot that the side quest in the mine can't be completed until I finish the quest I'm stuck on. As for inadvertently exiting the cave, I have found that I get hopelessly lost and don't know what screen I'm in. All I know is that I'm at least moving somewhere. I get to one screen where if I go down, I'm suddenly at the top of the screen and vice-versa. I also constantly run into thorns or whatever which cause damage to Dink. I don't even know how many screens I have to make my way through to get to the crystal. It's encouraging to hear that many people get through the caves with no trouble, but hearing that makes me feel even more of a moron who has spent seven hours trying to do what others have done in 15 minutes.