The search - part 3

[Eclecticon]

Cool, thanks.

[tomcat]

no urgency here, but I just wanted to make sure you guys have everything you need from me to make a decision on actions.

If not, let me know.

[Eclecticon]

Paul, I will bring your Natural Watchfulness success into the story shortly.

I can't speak for anyone else, but I was waiting for you.  If it's something that you were planning on bringing in later on, then that's cool - just a misunderstanding. 

[Eclecticon]

Upon hearing Bandy's report, Arbogast's expression hardens.  "I will fetch the others.  If we are to act, it must be at once." 

[tomcat]

Yes, that success will be called into play shortly. The narrative that Bandy witnessed would not have been anything that Arbogast would have witnessed, unless he moved closer with the Hobbit. If so, I need you to also give me a stealth roll.

I am going to allow you guys to include the narrative of you all re-gathering and how/what you plan to do.

[Telcontar]

My bad I'll type up a bandy backbrief.

[Eclecticon]

No need, mate.  I'll carry this one. 

[Eclecticon]

Arbogast brings Rorin and Grimbeorn - visibly pained, but stoic - to the impromptu lookout, where Bandy and Esgalwen continue to observe.  He quickly points out the troll hut, and the indistinct shapes of the four prisoners.  The five Viglundings are clearly visible, and require little explanation, but he does not see the scarred orc, and hopes that Bandy's eyes are keener than his own. 

"Bandy has crept close enough to hear an exchange take place.  The Viglundings are supplying captives to the forces of Gundabad, though the orcs mislike what they are receiving.  One such - a boy, Bandy says - has been taken by the troll into the hut, and greatly do I fear for him an we act tardily.  Yet both parties at once may overmatch us, wounded as some of us are, and we have yet to catch the captors of Ruthiel." 

He takes the Warden's Axe forth.  "Not willingly will I leave any child to suffer such a fate as awaits him in the hut.  But I would not give the Men cause to turn about.  Can we take the emissaries of Gundabad by stealth and overcome them quickly?"

[disench4nted]

Rorin's knuckles turned white as his grip tightened the handle of his hammer. "Vile creatures", he spat, "Come! Let us make quick work of the men that we may find these orcs!"

[Eclecticon]

I think we may be pulling in different tactical directions here, but whatever.  Let's see what the others think. 

[Telcontar]

The Hobbit appeared among them. He was mostly soaked from the spray of the river and the dampness of the rocks.

"The men folk have departed south soon the sound of the river will drown any sounds of conflict. But that is not our only problem. When we free the captives surely we can bot release them into the wild and nor can we take them with us. They also have a troll. Open combat may not be the wisest course for us, but when night falls perhaps we can cross the river and free the captives. A ruse perhaps to make them think the men folk are straling the captives back?"

[GandalfOfBorg]

"You are correct, Bandy, we don't know what to do with them.  Leaving them with the orcs is certain death, while setting them free isn't so.  We must give them the chance to live.  We can send them to my people by a different route so as to avoid those slavers."

[tomcat]

Esgalwen whispered a reply, "Aye, we must free this people. No man, woman or child should be offered up as thralls. It is a vile practice - one that I thought limited to the harsh men of the south and east. I cannot believe that Men of the Vale would participate so. As for waiting until nightfall, I believe this to be folly. The sun is bright above us. The troll might rant and rave, but he cannot leave his shelter, lest he be turned back to stone.

"We will only need deal with the orcs until the sun has fallen - and these...Viglundings, should they hear us," Esgalwen's words dripped with contempt. "Perhaps our Dwarf friend can discern a weakness to the crude shelter and we can bring it down around the beast, and thus reveal him to the sun ourselves."

Her face a cruel smile, the Ranger looked at each of her friends for their thoughts.

[GandalfOfBorg]

Grimbeorn picked up the ancestral axe that hasn't used to great effect in some time.  Holding it gave him a measure of courage thinking of the fathers before him.  At the reminder of the troll's weakness, he thumbed the ever-sharp edge and shared the same grin on Esgalwen's lips.  "Our axes aren't so keen to taste trunk and bough, but I think they wouldn't mind this time, Rorin, to fell the poles that shroud that dark creature?"

[Telcontar]

"Then let Esgalwen, Rorin, and I be ropped lightly together. Crossing the ford with Grimbeorn in the lead the Orcs will think us just another string of slaves. In this manner we may cross the stream and not be harried with arrows as we go."