The "light"-Orcs are battling and following the "dark"-Orcs.
The fight is going on, while the "dark"-Orcs try to get away but are not able to break the engagement with the "light"-Orcs that are following them.
The "tribal"-Orcs seem to have all been with the "dark"-Orcs at first, and the few surviving ones just finished changing sides.

Orodil nods at Galars words follows as the orcs move away, watching from a distance. He motions for the others to follow.

Vidar studies the orcs carefully as they fight.  His face stern as he observes them.


09:34, Today: Vidar son of Flar rolled a total of 11 (8 if weary): a failure using the The One Ring with a target of 14 with rolls of 3 (Feat Die), 3, 5.  Orc lore .

In reply to Orodil (msg # 407):

Galar follows Orodil in the wake of the fight.

Orodil and Galar start moving along, following the movement of the Orcs, striving to remain hidden and at a distance, with Vidar coming along as he tries to observe the Orcs.
It is a bit hard for Vidar, as the high grass and the distance hinders his observations-- he is able to confirm what was seen before.
He can see that the "light"-Orcs, the ones in the new silvery shiny armor, have arms and gears that are much closer to Mannish-make. Vidar is quite sure that never an Orc army has used such items as a whole - because these are not raiders who have salvaged a few pieces from fallen enemies.

Homnir remains to the back, motioning that he will keep the ponies safe.

Mip is still close to the fire, and glances at Aredhel: what to do? Remain back with Homnir, or move out with the other three?

As you follow and watch, remaining at a safe distance in order to keep hidden in the high grass of the plains to the West of the Greenway, you witness the slow massacre of the "dark"-Orcs, the ones in the black armour.
The "light"-Orcs, with the "tribal"-Orcs on their side, slaughter the "dark"-Orcs one by one, and, within an hour, the fight comes to an end.
The last "dark"-Orc that fell, wounded, is killed by a final blow.

As the quiet returns to the plains you count a dozen remaining "light-white" Orcs, and probably no more four "tribal" Orcs.

As the Orc battle ends, what does the Company do?
Do Mip and Aredhel remain back with the fire, the ponies and Homnir?

Orodil turn to the others and speaks softly. "We need to follow the orcs, or at least see where they are heading. We should also search through the bodies of the fallen orcs. Could one of you go and tell the others"?

OOC: Which way are the orcs heading now? How far from the road are they/we?

The fight over, the victorious "light"-Orcs, and the few "tribal"-Orcs that changed sides, are setting up to rest for a bit, or maybe camp?-- on the spot.
They are looking around the corpses and gathering things.

You are a little off the road, to the West.
A mere 15 minutes away if you walk openly at a steady pace.

"Could you just put down a trail marker so they can follow us?  Do you think we can ambush a few of them?"

OOC
I'm not sure, who is back at camp?

OOC - I'm not sure, who is back at camp?
Homnir (NPC-ed) is guarding the ponies.
Mip was remaining to the back, near the fire & breakfast (I believe).
No news from Aredhel so I am counting him as with Mip / Homnir for now.

Galar, Orodil, Vidar-- follows the Orcs.

Orodil looks at Galar and nods thoughtfully. "That is a good idea, Galar. I could lay down some tracks for some of them to find. We waylay them, catch one and maybe we can get some answers".

Does Orodil move to set some sort of trap-- or do any companions have something to say about this?

Vidar nods approvingly at Galars' idea, a grin smile creasing his face for a moment.

Galar nods to his comrades, "Okay let's go."

OOC
Suspect setting up an ambush will be a hunting or a battle roll...hopefully somebody has a good roll there (and Galar will spend a hope to aid).

Aredhel nods, but frowns. "While I think setting a trap is a good idea, I wonder if they would catch on to our plans."

As Dwarf, Ranger and Elf back the Bree-man's plan, you set about implementing the trap--
You can tell me/describe what exactly you do.
I would say:
• one Stealth roll to do be able to do things close enough to have them triggered by the Orcs, without being detected, as Aredhel said (that can get Aid - like by making distracting animal calls or whatever?)
• and, as Galar said, one roll of something to make the tracks themselves: Hunting, Battle... any other idea that fits
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:40, Tue 01 Mar 2022.

Mip who is WITH his companions all the time hesitates. To engage a whole orcish army is none of the talking points on his wish list.

Seeing some Elves, yes.
Get a good meal at the inn in Bree, check.

Fighting a dozen orcs in shiny armor, no way.

"Friends, I am not sure, when the trap fails it could end us all. Is it really necessary to catch one of these? We could follow, we could watch but surely nothing else."

He doesn't want to be the coward but he is no fighter.


ooc: please consider my last post, I am with the group, not really observing but looking at the sky which is beautiful by the way ...

As all five of you have gathered up at a safe distance from the Orcs, but close enough to observe them - only leaving Homnir behind guarding the beasts of burden - you make up your mind as to what to do--

--if Galar wishes, you can go with:
• one Stealth roll to do be able to do things close enough to have them triggered by the Orcs, without being detected, as Aredhel said (that can get Aid - like by making distracting animal calls or whatever?)
• and, as Galar said, one roll of something to make the tracks themselves: Hunting, Battle... any other idea that fits
You can get +1 die from getting Aid for each roll, either someone will speak up and spend Hope to help you, or else you can take from the Fellowship Pool for that (to keep things moving).

Orodil looks at Mip and nods gravely. "I am afraid also but something is stirring, something sinister. Remember what Haleth said? This is most assuredly related. We might also find clues to our missing dwarven merchants".

Orodil goes ahead, crouching in the tall grass, taking cover where possible in folds, behind bushes and trees. Starting as close as he can without being detected he then proceeds to lay down false tracks leading away from the main orc force, leading through places that could be easily used in ambushes.

OOC: I'll take a success with woe on the stealth roll, or if I can use one of the 6's from the Hunting roll?

07:59, Today: Orodil rolled a total of 31: a great success (same result if weary) using the The One Ring with a target of 12 with rolls of 10 (Feat Die), 6, 3, 5, 2, 5.  Hunting. Hope (+Secretive) and assistance.
07:58, Today: Orodil rolled a total of 15 (8 if weary): a failure using the The One Ring with a target of 16 with rolls of 4 (Feat Die), 2, 4, 1, 2, 2.  Stealth. Hope (+ Secretive feature) + Aid.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:10, Thu 03 Mar 2022.

From a crouch, Galar readies his axe while he waits to see what Orodil can draw off.

Orodil moves in discreetly through the tall grass, but starts making too much noise as the wind stops and he makes the grass move--
Failure
--but he manages to hunker down, and gets in close enough--
--seemingly undetected...
Since the Stealth roll comes first, I will take your success with woe (the 6's from the Hunting roll coming after).

Then Orodil moves back out, putting down fake-tracks, and taking them through various places where he feels the Company could get the jump on the Orcs.
I used one of the Fellowship Points for your getting Aid--
(normally someone has to aid, but since it can take a fews days here to say who, in this case I'll go with that: spending a point that would have been used by someone to replenish their Hope)
--so, someone with a dot in Hunting can narrate helping Orodil in the ambush, and someone with a dot in Stealth can do so re. trying to help w. Stealth-- but not succeeding.

Orodil comes back to the group.
How does the Company wish to set up?
Any preparations, some plan?
With the Great Success I will give you an advantage, meaning the Orcs will have -1 die on their Awareness to spot being ambushed-- if they follow the trail!

OOC
Posted Galar was helping with hunting/battle and subtracted hope.

Galar sets up in the little gulch Orodil 'breadcrumbs' a trail to and waits.

Orodil consults with the others to position themselves at some advantageous spot along the ambush path. Then he moves back towards the orcs and try to lure one or as few as possible towards the ambush, throwing pebbles to direct their attention to the false tracks.

OOC: If there is an orc by the outskirts of the group, patrolling the perimeter or something I will focus on them.

Galar sets up in the little advantageous gulch, and organizes the others to set up around him, spreading out to ambush the incoming Orcs-- as all consulted with Orodil.

Orodil who moved out and tossed rocks-- not in a pond, but at a small Orc army-band!
Well, at one who had moved off to the side to relieve himself.
08:43, Today: The Loremaster, on behalf of Orodil, rolled a total of 5 (5 if weary): a failure using the The One Ring with a target of 14 ((5 (Feat Die))).
Rolled to see how many: an Eye for a lot, a Gandalf for one...

The Orc looked around, and, spotting the source of the sound as being in a-- track!
It called out to another Orc-- that came on over.
The two set off to check the track-- and were soon moving along towards the potential ambush site.
Which, I imagine is a bit far from the resting Orcs, to be out of ear shot?

Orodil moves back to the ambush site--right?
--and all hide.

EVERYONE must roll for either Stealth to simply hide, Hunting to use the terrain to hide, or Battle to think of where the Orcs will arrive from and hide from that place.
All players participating in an ambush must succeed in their roll for the surprise attack to succeed.