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[The gem looks like a common semiprecious stone; probably a topaz. It's likely worth a few gold, but not much more than that]

Van will pocket it and the vial for a little detect magic later

"Thoreau, is Garroth responding? Is there anything you can do for him?"

Van will look over the area. Is this a camp or an ambush site? Is there a path through the woods that would indicate which way these orcs came from?

"Rest or a Preist." Thoreau replies in eleven, then sniffs the wounds.. "He is strong.."

Boyd continues his pursuit, pausing from time to time to listen for sounds of movement. Perhaps if the orc is running full-tilt, he's making enough noise to follow him that way rather than relying solely on the scent trail.

Boyd keeps his ears open as Salem continues to track the orc. He faintly hears Eariel calling out to Van back at the camp [when she called out asking what happened]. He also hears something crashing through the forest far to the Northwest. It is either the orc, or something large like a spooked deer...


Vanidur inspects the area, it is clear this is an orcish camp to prepare for ambushing travelers on the road. It is far enough not to be the site an ambush is launched from, but close enough that help could easily be sent if the ambush goes wrong. Eariel begins to look around concernedly. We need to get everyone together. If the Drow can heal Garroth, we can make our way to town... I don't want to spend any longer out here than necessary.

Boyd continues his pursuit, but angles to the right so as not to go straight at the source in case there is an ambush lurking. He's not going to let this one orc get away.

[I'll shift Boyd to his private thread for now as he is some distance from the camp.]

"Agreed... But I'm not too keen on leaving my friend- would you stay with him and keep watch? Maybe I can locate the others and regroup."

Van will make a go of it if Eariel will stay put with Gar.

Eariel begins to answer, but stops as the sound of something coming through the forest from the east interrupts. It sounds much like something walking noisily towards them, still at a distance. She hefts her weapon and looks to the elf to see how he will react.

Thoreau crouches down behind Garroth’s unconscious form. Not good… he says quietly.

Van will cast Phantasmal Force and create an illusion of a knight in field plate with mace and shield. All the gear will be dirtied to make it look likevhe just got done fighting. He'll place that image just ahead of him andelf; between them and the approaching steps. The knight will face the direction of the new comer with mace raised and shield ready. If Van has time, he will flare his staff with light to make himself appear more menacing as well.

"Who goes there?!" he booms out.

[sweet]

Just as the illusion of the knight appears, two orcs step into the clearing, dragging something that looks like a body. They seem shocked to see the fighter, and Eariel, and that the Elf is still alive.

One of them looks at his companion, then sees that all the other orcs have fled or died. Dropping his half of the body, the bandit tears off through the woods! The second orc, still partly stunned, drops his half too and slowly backs away...


===
Vanidur casts Phantasmal Force to create the illusion of an armored Knight

Orc morale check [1d20] = 15
Fail

"Nice job!" says Eariel and give Van a pat of congratulation on the back.

Weapon at the ready, she advances to check out if the drow elf is dead.

The dropped body is indeed that of Linar. Eariel determines that he took one too many axes to the back. The Drow seems to be currently unconscious but stable, having been crudely bandaged by the orcs; perhaps in preparation for slavery.

Eariel checks out the bandaging, redoing it if necessary. "Hey can you do this any better than I am?" she addresses Van. ""If not, keep a good look out, please."

While any re-bandaging is going on, the half elf states, "We could do with getting both the drow and the the big chap back on their feet. What healing do you have?"