Utilizing what cover there is I make my way towards the S. group of boulders,pausing to listen a few times. Planning to skirt as close to the incline of the center hill as possible while staying hidden amongst the boulders untill reaching an area that affords a view beyond the hills.

Roll: 12
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/search/784097/

I fumble. 1.

As Arnould creeps around the center hill to the west side, Sterling and Vithar creep around to the east side of the hill.  Both groups make their way slowly northward and use the boulders and scrub as cover for their movements.  The noises are louder now and coming from the ravine directly north of their position.  The ravine separates this line of hills from the next ridge, and there's a battle going on down on the ravine floor.  It looks like a dozen goblins and half a dozen orcs are going at it pretty fiercely.  The goblins are armed with bows and spears, while the orcs are armed with axes and polearms.  Most of the fighters don't have any sort of armor, except for one orc, but all of them have cloaks.  

About fifty feet behind the line of orcs there is someone lying on the ground.  It looks like a human man; a white-bearded old man wearing tattered robes.  He's lying down, twisted over to watch the fight, and his arms are behind his back and it looks as though they've been tied.



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OOC: Vithar's d20 check =12.

Map Key:
-- Purple = Anould's position.
-- Green = Sterling's position.
-- Blue = Vithar's position.
-- Orange = Goblins' front line.
-- Olive = Orcs' front line.
-- Red = Group's position (Jon, Kelvan, Poricus, Jono, Koli, Melisana, and Hafkris).

Quote from: Cargoman;441010Kelvan will take a guarding position near the center of the valley , waiting to see what the "scouts" discover .

Until I know what's going on , continue to "gaurd" the main body of the party .

"Eh, why haven't they come back with news yet?" - Porcius grumbles. "Maybe they got in some trouble. I'll go check on them."

He starts descending the slope. "Lad, maybe they found some hogs and don't know what to do with 'em. They'd really be needing my help, heh..." - he chuckles quietly, trying to dissolve his own tension.

Arnould tries to assess the situation further. He particularly pays attention to any orc or goblin that might keep an eye on the old man, and whether the old man is under a direct threat right now.

turning to Vithar..."One of us should go back and tell the others right away!" looking for any way to proceed towards the old man while maintaining cover.
concerned as I ponder 'what is Arnould doing...?!'

Jon watches in the direction the others went anxiously.

Jono watches Hafkris anxiously...

Sterling and Vithar

The sandy-blond haired young man looks at Sterling, back at the ravine and fight, and then nods to the halfling.

"I'll go back and tell the others.  Stay down and low, my friend," Vithar whispers low and in a hushed tone just for Sterling to hear.

He turns and starts slinking back southward on his belly to the lip of the plateau.  He shuffles over the edge and disappears from Sterling's sight.

The Main Group

Waiting anxiously, the group sees Vithar tumble over the edge of the rise about thirty feet up and then roll onto his legs and starts jogging down the hill.  He hustles over to the group and motions for them all to gather in close.

Once everyone is clustered together, he says, "there are several small hills on top of that rise.  Arnould sneaked off to the west around the center hill while Sterling and I went to the east and the right of the center hill.  There is a ravine on the other side and there is a battle going on between a group of goblins and a group of orcs.  Sterling is waiting at our position and I don't know what Arnould is doing right now."

Arnould and Sterling (separately)

Spying from their separate vantage points, both Arnould and Sterling see that a line of three orcs is fighting a line of five goblins in the center of the ravine.  There are three goblins standing behind the front line waiting to fill in any hole that might develop.  There are two goblins archers stationed on the ravine slopes a few feet up on each slope.  Two orcs are hanging back and throwing rocks and knives at the goblin archers, and are also ready to step into the their front line of a hole occurs.  One orc stands directly behind the front line and is grunting what sounds like orders to the rest.  

The goblins behind the front line are carrying spears and have daggers at their belts.  The goblins on the slopes have bows, quivers, and daggers as well.  The orcs on the front line have battle axes, and the orcs on the flanks have bardiches but have leaned them across boulders and are fighting with thrown daggers and rocks.  The orc giving orders has padded armor and a bardiche.  The old man is on the ground behind the orcs and they are all facing away from him.  The goblins seems to be engaged with the orcs only and none of them are targeting the old man on the ground.



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OOC: This constitutes about 2 rounds of game time.  What do you do next?

Sterling pulls his gaze from the wild melee and looks for a path with ample cover towards the bound figure from this vantage point.
He will then crawl a bit through the boulders and behind the hill to make off for Arnoulds side of the hill, staying to cover and utilizing shadows....murmmering to himself "Stay calm now, as my ol' Gammer used ta say 'Like as not,the hasty foot's ill palced'!"

Arnould doesn't like this situation at all.

In one sense, waiting for the orcs and goblins to just get rid of one another seems to be the most logical course of action, especially if the old man is not targeted by anybody. On the other hand, who knows what's going to unfold next, if or when they will turn against him?

Arnould then spots Sterling making his way towards him. He will stay under cover and wait for him, checking the old man out to try and determine whether he is wounded, or alive at all.

OOC: What is the old man's condition right now? Does he seem to be mortally wounded, dying, or anything of the sort?
Is he moving at all?

[OOC: Am I already there, with the advance party?]