Quiet night...

[tomcat]

"Wait!" whispered Dirnhael when he saw movement in the mirror. "Keep looking where you are, Edrahil."

The Elf looked at the far off town and tried to see what it was that the Dunadan was observing, but the darkness was to thick. In the mirror, Dirnhael and Fengel marvelled as the form of a man - Durgil - suddenly came into view, as he slipped from shadow to shadow moving towards the center of the village. He was followed moments later by Seriand. Edrahil then shifted his vision to the campfire and the two Men and Dwarf saw that whomever had occupied the campsite was now gone, only their refuse was left behind.

The view Durgil witnessed was no different, though it was more tangible. He moved into the light, constantly looking left and right with his ears peeled for any unnatural sounds. Around the campfire was strewn the waste of a meal and the Dunadan wondered to what the bones had belonged. The fire was huge, made from the broken posts of wood that used to enclose the paddock of the barn close by. It was very disordered and Durgil made the assumption that there could only be one type of creature that would live in this manner... orcs.

His assumption was confirmed as Seriand looked at the ground not far away, speaking thus, "Warg prints in the soft earth."

It was then that Durgil noticed the head. It was impaled on a stake that stood in the middle of the main thoroughfare that entered the town... perhaps as a warning. The skin was blackened by the sun and the facial features sagged due to no muscle control and so he could not discern if it be man or woman, only that it was once human.

[Wiseman]

Seeing the fire still raging and the cmap clear of all signs of activity Seriand's mind began to race.  He whispered softly to Durgil.  "We must return, the orcs are hunting, possibly already watching our comrades."  Without awaiting a response the elven scout turned and retreated on their previous tracks returning at a run towards the camp, always wary and on the look for the enemy.

Observe (Spot): Roll(2d6)+10: 5,1,+10 Total:16

[GandalfOfBorg]

Durgil kept still and surveyed the scene to make sure there were no surprises from any hidden enemies before coming out into the open.

Observe (Spot) - (6+2)+3+2=13

- - - - -

Durgil nodded and followed in response to Seriand.  So... his suspicion had been correct -- evil was afoot along this path and it was soon to waylay them.  Well, Durgil mentally shrugged, the fewer orcs, the better.

Stealth (Move Silently) - (5+5)+3+2=15
Stealth (Hide) - (5+4)+3+2-14

[sdrotar]

"Orcs," Dirnhael whispered. "Make ready."
He quietly pulled Vorandur from it's scabbard, the blade feeling light and perfectly balanced in his hand.

Thinking for a moment, he thought of the woodsy Elf and the young archer that were returning to the camp after seeing them through Edrahil's eyes, and realized that the Orcs didn't likely know their number.

When Durgil and Seriand could come close enough see him, he waved for them to get down - to conceal themselves - and move to more defensible ground.

The Orcs were surely coming... but Dirnhael hoped that the two stealthy scouts could flank them and catch them unawares while Dirnhael and the rest of the Company had their attention... in the way he knew best.

[Stefan]

At the mention of the creatures Nain stood and moved back toward the canter of the camp.

"How many?"

[sdrotar]

At the mention of the creatures Nain stood and moved back toward the canter of the camp.

"How many?"

"I do not know; I could not - rather, Edrahil could not - see them directly," said Dirnhael. "But their markings were clear, and the fire still burns. They are present in the area, and have likely caught our scent upon the wind."