"As the paladin of Tyr, I must act as the bait.  Coz, I clank and make bad noises that best attracts hidden blood-thirsty guards.  Nuff said."  Alister tried to smile at his attempt to get hurt.  But it was his stupid idea, so he has to see it through.

"But as a monk of Ilmater I must insist that I go and not you.  Why don't you take off your armor until you get close and then have Lysande, Tuar, and Joseph help you suit up again while I act as the bait?" Aelynia asked, still not willing to give up and, it would appear if not for the sweet smile she tossed Joseph (even though she didn't agree with his words for she would not let Alister go), ignoring the words of her dearest friend.

"I clank bad even with armor."  Alister sighs as he admits that he can't be sneaky.  Alister wonders why is she being persistent.  He is not good reasoning with his half-baked plans, but he can also be stubborn.  "I'm better being the bait because I will only get in their way, than be of a help."

"But I cannot let you be in danger or possibly hurt.  It is my responsibility, and I already look the part anyway.  Maybe you should just stay back until the noise would make no matter," Aelynia again argued.  She still spoke just as softly and sweetly as before, but there was no mistaking how firmly she believed that if anyone were to suffer it had to be her.  It appeared that nothing could change her mind for she was stubborn as well at times.  "Please," she asked, her voice dropping to almost a whisper, "Let it be me.  I couldn't live with myself if anything happened to you that I could have prevented by being in your place."

Lysande folded her arms before her chest in annoyance "You will both be bait. - Now let us finish our preparation or we will still stand here when the sun is at its highest."

Alister stops for a moment.

"Okay.  That's better.  Do I have to get captured or are we going to punish all these hidden bandits on our way to their fort?"

Aelynia looks about a little helplessly for a moment but finally falls silent.  She respects both Joseph and Lysande's opinions, and she couldn't seem to sway Alister.

"I do not think they want to take prisoners." Lysande said calmly but it sounded grim. The raiders had killed anyone who crossed their path, why they had taken the elf maiden as prisoner was a mystery, one she hoped to solve soon. The sun elf secured her pack on Mourn's and wondered if they would be successful.

Aluvendar takes off on his mission as the group makes their plans.  The skinny Zhentarim asks, more than a trace of concern in his voice, What shall we do then? We are no sneaks, and I won't be bait for anyone!"

"If you do not want to be bait, you can wait here for the owner of the cave." Lysande said, nodding in the direction of the bones they found.

"The only alternative will be to follow us at a distance, out of sight. We shall leave you a sign where to find the entrance." she told them, caring little for then Zhentish.

Glim folds his arms over his chest and waits with a scowl fixed firmly upon his face.

The Zhent scribe tugs nervously at his robes before making his decision, "We will follow behind at a distance, but remember, if we are not alive to make the accounting, your contract may be forfeit!"  His voice rises in pitch as he finishes, then he and the guard begin pulling their things together to depart.

Once everyone is ready, you exit the cave to begin following the winding ravine toward the supected location of the bandit lair.  It is still before dawn, but those of you with good night vision can see Lysande's raven familiar occasionally swoop near as he patrols the skies above.


OOC: Can someone describe your formation? The bottom of the streambed/ravine is about 60 to 80 feet below the top,

ooc: Formation, I would suggest Lysande and Glim at the front, Tuar and Joseph next, Aelynia and Alister last as they are going to be 'bait'.

But that's just my opinion.

Tuar nodded, "I will take the middle, on the left side."

He moved toward the position he'd been given, checking to see that his blade rode easily in its scabbard.

"I will lead the column, or share the duty with another.  I prefer the right side."  Glim fastens his bow onto his pack and loosens his sword from its scabbard.

As you move slowly up the streambed, the sky begins to lighten with the dawn.  When Aluvendar circles back on his latest patrol, he darts straight to Lysande, speaking urgently in her ear.

Tuar watched for trouble, waiting for Lysande to interpret Aluvendar's report.

Aelynia, just in case they were already being watched, played the part of a prisoner easily.  She carried nothing but her sack and wore only her clothes and robe, shuffling along behind the others with her head down and a pretend disheartened look on her face as they walked.

Lysande listened to Aluvendar's words intently before speaking "It is time. About a mile ahead he saw two dark figures lying in wait. There may be more so we must be careful." She looked at the companions who were about to help her eliminate the raiders "We should leave our mounts with Aelynia and Alister, perhaps our bedrolls can be arranged to look like dead bodies? That would add to the image of a group of battered individuals. - The rest of us will sneak ahead." the sun elf looked at the assembled people, waiting for comments or objections.

"We're stilll going to be bait right?  Best be without mounts knowing that the sand-storm had taken them from us."  Alister was fully armed, and was wearing a travel-worn heavy cloak to hide his armor from sight.

"Do I look haggard enough?"

OOC:  Just so I am clear, is everyone staying at the bottom of the ravine?     From your post, I will assume so if I don't hear from you soon.  I would like Hide checks from the 'scouts' (not the 'bait') if you are trying to be stealthy.

Sorry again for the wait.

PM

"I suggest the stealthy of us walk above, while those who pose as bait walk on through the ravine. - Ha'laam, will you take the horses and hide with them until we have eliminated the guards?"

"Time to work then..."  Alister dismisses his mount and awaited for his partner to get ready.

Aelynia had nothing to do other than offer Joseph a reassuring smile, somehow guessing that he might be a bit worried unable to stay beside her.  But she could more than take care of herself, so she left her sack with the camel after stuffing some herbs from it into a pocket on the inside of her robe.  "I am ready," she said quietly, closing her eyes in a quick prayer for their success.