Quote from: Benoist;443975OOC: 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?

Quote from: Drohem;442603About 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.

OOC:  He's alive and conscious.  He doesn't appear to be wounded that you can see.  He trying to watch the fight from his position on the ground.

Quote from: Drohem;443518The 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."

After a brief discussion, it was clear that the others waiting down in the gully wanted to see the battle as well.  Poricus in particular wanted see what was going on once he heard that it was a battle between goblin and orc forces.

"You'd better keep your mouth shut!" Koli says menacingly in a harsh whisper to Hafkris as they start moving, "or I'll skewer you on your own sword."

Once everyone was ready, Vithar nods to his companions and whispers, "follow me."

He turns and leads them quietly and carefully up the rise and onto the plateau with the three hills.  Vithar slowly leads to the west side of the middle hill and spots both Arnould and Sterling in their hiding place.  

The rest of the group slowly and cautiously makes their way on their bellies to the other side and look down into the ravine.  They see a battle line formed between a small group of goblins on the west and a small group of orcs on the east.  They also spot the tied and bound old human man behind the orc lines.

================================

Quote from: Premier;444007[OOC: Am I already there, with the advance party?]

OOC: Yes, everyone is now on the top of the plateau and looking down into the ravine with the battle.

What do you do now?

"I think we we should nab that man while these buggers are buggering each other" - Porcius whispers to the others. "I can see two ways of doing this. One, I go in there and nab him, and if any of them buggers sees me, y'all cover me. Two, someone else goes to nab him, and we cover him. I'm fine with either. Any better ideas? Real quick?"

Quote from: Premier;447729"I think we we should nab that man while these buggers are buggering each other" - Porcius whispers to the others. "I can see two ways of doing this. One, I go in there and nab him, and if any of them buggers sees me, y'all cover me. Two, someone else goes to nab him, and we cover him. I'm fine with either. Any better ideas? Real quick?"

Looking to the others with concern I whisper in reply..."What shall we cover you with, sticks and rocks? We are uarmed and threadbare. If we can't sneak down there safe like I say we leave the man for now! Maybe we could wait till this row is over and follow the victors back to their lair or maybe glean some weapons from the fallen?" turning back to watch the contest thinking, feeling for the plight of the captive but... we need food and shelter not more trouble.

Quote from: Premier;447729"I think we we should nab that man while these buggers are buggering each other" - Porcius whispers to the others. "I can see two ways of doing this. One, I go in there and nab him, and if any of them buggers sees me, y'all cover me. Two, someone else goes to nab him, and we cover him. I'm fine with either. Any better ideas? Real quick?"

Arnould frowns. "I do not think this is a good idea either. I would wait a little while longer until just a few of the creatures remain, since the old man doesn't seem to be in immediate danger, but it sounds like you made up your mind." He sighs. "If you want to take the risk, it has to be on you. You can go and we'll cover you however we can - but try to stay away from them as much as you possibly can! Maybe, per chance, they will not notice you."

" Do what You think is right . I'll use this (patting the crossbow) as best I can , if You are noticed ."
Kelvan looks for some cover , with a good view of the battle area .

Jon whispers a prayer to the Sea Captain and then watches the battle quietly.

The wind drove chilling winds across the top of the plateau, and bits of dust and sand stung their exposed skin as they decided what to do in hushed whispers on their bellies.  Hafkris remained silent and alert, and Koli was practically a shadow to the sobering pirate and watched him like a hawk.  The dark haired young man still had anger burning in his soul from his abduction and enslavement, and was looking for any excuse to unleash that fury on Hafkris.  

Melisanna just laid there with the rest of the group quietly while a plan was whispered between the others.  The young woman instantly felt empathy with the bound elderly man in rags and she felt a wave of emotions wash over her as he tried to cope with this seemingly surreal moment.

Finally, she whispers her opinion, "we just can't leave him there, can we?  Should we wait for the outcome of the fight, or try at stealth and surprise as Poricus puts forth?"

Vithar also listened to everyone voice their word on the matter, and then the blonde haired young man whispers in a determined tone, "Poricus, I mean no disrespect, but maybe I should go.  I can run faster if needed.  Or if your mind is set on this course of action, then I will go with you."

"Sure you're faster with your long legs," - Porcius whispers to Vithar - "but are you sure you got the muscle to haul him back quick enough?"

"If you think so, you're free to have  go at it. If any of these buggers spots you and goes after you, try to lure it towards those rocks over there." - he points at a spot that looks like a decent, nearby ambush site. "Me, and maybe some others, will be there to jump whoever gives chase. But if it looks like there are several of 'em going after you, just drop the old man and leg it - I don't think we could take on too many."

Vithar listens carefully to Poricus' words as he speaks, and nods when he points out the ambush site.  Everyone laid on the ground in the cold wind and light rain while the decision was made about the captive old man.  There was a moment of silence among the huddled group, and the sounds of the battle unfolding below rose up on the winds to meet their ears.

"I will do it," Vithar whispers as he nods to Poricus, "just be ready to flee the area and not think about me."

Quickly, the young man turns and slithers away from the group and around to the east, and behind the center hill.  He starts to make his way across the landscape toward the rear of the orc battle line.  Fairly shortly, Vithar is completely out of view and cannot be heard at all.  The group turns their attention to the battle below in the ravine between the line of orcs and goblins.  Although, the group also kept an eye toward the old man and so that they could see Vithar's progress.  However, it just seemed like the blonde-haired young man just disappeared altogether once he left the sight of his comrades on the ridge above the ravine.

The battle continued below and the lines exchanged fierce blow while deadly missiles were fired or hurled from behind both front lines.  A couple of minutes after Vithar left, the group watches as the orc on the right flank is killed by several arrow strikes to his chest.  About another couple minutes later, the group suddenly spots Vithar within several yards of the bound old man on the ground.  The orcs were still not concerned with the old man and kept their attention focused forward on the battle line, and the goblin archers didn't appear to notice him there as well.  A split-second after they noticed Vithar nearby the old man, he quickly moved to the old man's side and knelt next to him while he covered the old man's mouth.  The old man struggled for a moment, but then quickly stopped resisting and tried to stand up.  Vithar quickly helped him to his feet and moved him back and to the ravine's side.

Just as Vithar and the old man moved away from the orc leader, the goblin archer on the right flank is killed by several dagger strikes to his chest.  Unbelievably, the goblins and orcs both don't notice Vithar and the old man back away, and then climb up the ravine slope further down to the south.  The two disappeared from the group's view for several more minutes, and during that time they watched one of the goblin's on the front line get his face cleaved by an axe blow and fall.  In quick order, one of the goblin's in the second line steps forward and takes his fallen comrade's place on the front line of battle.  

In another minute or so, the group is alerted to Vithar's presence suddenly as he and the old man come into view crawling on their bellies toward the group's position on the ridge.  The old man appears to be a scarecrow of a man.  He is bald, has a matted dirty beard that would be white if washed, a sallow complexion, and wide eyes.  Although, he does appear to be alert in the eyes and ready to survive just like the rest of the group on the ridge.

==========================================================

OOC: Vithar rolled 07% on his sneak roll.  Roughly ten minutes have passed while the group discussed the plan, and Vithar effected the rescue of the old man.  What do you do now?

"Thank the Captain of the Waves.", Jon whispers with a grin.

Watching with trepidation as Vithar moves off...glancing twixt the battle and the bound form, holding my breath in anticipation as I see Vithar and the old man make good thier escape!

As Vithar and the old man come back to the group I smile and raise a clenched fist towards them...

They are sure to miss the old man when the battle is done. If they weaken each other enough , We might be able to take the survivors . But if we don't kill them all that would alert their camp or village or whatever , of our presence . We could definitely use some of that gear .
In a hushed tone to the nearest person ,"What now ? We should leave a rear guard at the very least .".

"Disagree" - Porcius mutters back. "Rear guard just means they'll have someone to find and kill. I say we better get out of here right now. Whichever side wins will believe that the other had some lurkers about and they took him. Let's go through some rocky terrain and cross some stream on the way, and there's no way they'll follow us, even if it does ccur to them to suspect a third party. At least, that's what I think."

He scratches his beard.

"Unless, that is, you all want to attack the winning side. But all I'm saying is that it's risky. They might have more than one guy left standing, they'll be armed, and we might not be able to make a quiet getaway then."

Whispering quickly "You are brave Vithar! I think Porcius has the way of it. I have no quarrel with those folk (as I indicate the humanoids) and we are unarmed and hungry. Lets away from here posthaste and look for a more defensible location!"