Love Thy Slaver -- 03

[TheZebraShakes™]

The group find themselves reluctant to make a definite decision as to whether to take the path above ground or below until Ana has had a chance to check out any tracks which may be in the area.

After a night of relative peace camping out against one of the high wall-like stone formations which allows them to remain partially unseen while simultaneously buffeting the winds, all awaken and begin to hunt down some tracks around the caverns in the area.

Most are unable to make much of the rock and dirt which make up the ground's surface, but Ana does manage to spot a few clusters of tracks, or what she assumes to be tracks, here and there.

Most she thinks, might be animal tracks but her knowledge on the basics of tracking is still in the fine tuning process and she finds it difficult to follow any trails which may have been left.

Moving along to examine the handful of caverns in the vicinity, Ana immediately notices that the earth in front of one cave in particular is especially worn from travel in comparison to the rest of the ground. A good sign that a lot of creatures have been venturing to and from this cave.

Ana is probably not going to be capable of following the trail very effectively once she steps inside of the cave, but the sight of the worn earth could be a good sign, or a bad one, all things considered.

[TheUdjat]

Ana looks at the mouth of the cave with a frown on her face, her expression pensive. "Well, something has passed through here a lot. Or more likely, many somethings. Can't say for sure whether it's orcs or not for sure, but I guess we'll have to see." She gestures vaguely at the cavern. "I say we check it out. I won't be able to follow the tracks once we're inside, but hopefully we've narrowed down our options." At any rate, a vague idea of where to go is better than none at all.

[Any word on those oil lanterns? They'll last a lot better than torches or candle lanterns.]

[TheZebraShakes™]

(You can have lanterns. Caves were mentioned in the beginning as being potential routes, so it's no big deal)

[Wicksy]

We have candle lanterns anyways in the BAG.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

{Finnius hads little to add. He's happy to go on in and find some orcs}

"I say! Let's go then! There's orcs to be slain!"

[similar]

"Lets not tarry then lads. If there are good deeds to be done in these caves lets venture forth" Avaros declares with slightly exaggerated enthusiasm.

Looking to the dwarves, "After yourselves good sirs if you will." he suggests with a slight bow.

Avaros unlimbers his magical sword. "I think my bow may be a bit unwieldy down there. Especially if I can not really see them" he adds with a laugh, "You point me at them and I will do my best to slice and dice"

[TheUdjat]

Anaqualia also suggests the dwarves take the lead. "Stealthy or not, you'll see far better than the rest of us. We'll follow a little further back, the lantern dim so it's not an instant giveaway." There are several handy aspects to oil lamps--adjustable settings, for instance, and greater duration of light. Especially keeping the flame low, as discreet as they can manage.

If the dwarves have major protests against this plan, Anaqualia doesn't mind taking the lead, though it will eliminate any covert aspect to their advance.

[at]

Garor peered into the cave and considered sending Ballan back to the academy, unsure if the caves would be suitable for an animal of his size.

He nodded as the others suggested the dwarves lead, "will we not muddle the tracks though with our footfalls?"6

[TheUdjat]

Ana shrugs. "A couple of dwarves versus a troop of orcs and slaves isn't going to make a significant impact on whether I can track them. If I get a good patch, I'll be able to make them out, but with the stone floors, I doubt I'll get anything anyway." She pats her dog's head and scratches his ears. "I think Shadow's more likely to smell them than I am to see them."

[tork8342]

"I shall lead the way then. Let us be on our way, we have orcs to find." Noic says taking the lead "and if no others have any objections we shall get moving."

[glow=blue,2,300]

SPOILER: Click to show

marching order would probably help shakes, I'll take lead and maybe it wouldn't be bad to have the other Dwarf at the back to watch for anything from the rear??

[/glow]