Malon distractly listens to the conversation, not showing signs of disagreement when offered to join the party on their way to the Torkens, but neither voicing anything about it. Although he would like to ask them more about what they seek there, it appears they have more pressing business. When Alabaster wanders off and Thea asks him and Nico about it, he purses his lips. His voice gets even lower.

"He knows how to handle himself, but just in case I would stay ready for anything."

Eyes towards where his companion went, he grabs his bow and an arrow, hoping he doesn't forget that the telepathic link breaks should he venture too far.

 "Did you notice anything strange on your way here ? The potentially dangerous kind ?"

Noting Alabaster stand and then stealthily move off as he heard something, Erbert puts his journal away again and readies himself, nodding to Nico and Malon with a smile, friendly but alert.  He stands at the edge of the camp site crouched down, trying to spot Alabaster and watch for signs of trouble in case he needs to provide backup.  He sends Hoppy his owl to fly ahead and look from above at the scene ahead and to spot Alabaster.

Perception :  4 

While the various introductions and conversations were going on around the campfire, the last member of adventuring quartet finally began to stir.  Up until a few moments ago, she had been wrapped up in her bedroll and out cold, dreaming peacefully to herself with only the occasional mumble or fidget to distinguish herself from the surrounding foliage.  Slowly coming to as the two groups conversed, she lifted up groggily from her makeshift bed as she rubbed eyes before saying to no one in particular, "(Yawn) What's... what's going on?  Is it my turn to (Yawn) take watch already?  It feels like I've only been asleep for an hour."  As her vision began to focus, she realized that what she had originally taken to being doubles due to her bleary vision were actually two new people! (she just missed Alabaster)  "Wait!" she exclaimed, suddenly full of energy as she jumped up to her feet, "Who are you?"  Seeing Nico, the larger of the two and remembering the description they were given of a certain man they were to find, she paused for a second before adding, "You're Aster aren't you?  Miko sent us to find you.  She told us you'd be in the Torken but I guess we got lucky finding you on your way out of there!" 

It's clear that the excitable woman has no idea in the slightest (Nat 1 perception) what's going on.

For all those at the campfire, they would find a young (early-mid 20's) attractive and very tall (almost 6') dark skinned woman with brown eyes and long black curls that reached just past her shoulders (though at the moment, she was suffering from a slight case of bed head!).  She wore black pants and boots with a hooded & sleeveless black leather vest highlighted with gold trim and embroidery.  She wore gold jewelry on her neck, wrist and fingers - though whether it was real or costume jewelry was impossible to say - and a royal blue and gold sash across her waist.   Besides her bedroll on the ground was her neatly organized pack and her sheathed twin shortswords, one with a hilt of gold and the other a royal blue . 

Alabaster, recognizing the sounds coming from further down the road, slinks into the underbrush and shadow cast by the forest in the evening light. Alabaster notices a slightly plump, if jittery, owl circling his head nearby - Hoppy, much like the familiar's master, seems to preoccupied noticing everything aside from what it should be focusing on. Hoppy apparently seems too curious about the rodents scuttling around the forest to keep an accurate watch. 

Alabaster, the arguing you heard coalesces into actual words. Up ahead, you see a small platoon of around a dozen soldiers clad in yellow-painted, poorly-maintained armor indicative of Imperial grunt soldiers; judging by the state of their equipment, posture, and general attitude, they have been in the wilderness for a while. Most carry spears, while a more imperious-looking officer with somewhat higher quality armor wields a traditional halberd. A few of the spear tips - and definitely the edge of the officer's halberd - seem covered in fresh blood, as evident by the handful of bodies scattered along the road, wearing tattered clothing scrapped together - and in even worse condition than the Imperial soldiers. 

An emaciated man with bronze-colored skin - likely a Wood Elf - with a bruised face and split lips is being held by several Imperial soldiers at spearpoint. The rest uneasily stare down at another handful of individuals in the same clothing as the dead ones on the ground. These seem to be carrying makeshift bows and daggers. 

"Let him go," a pale, human woman from the non-Imperial side calls. "The Imperium sent a message saying we wanted to meet. We didn't expect an ambush."
The officer rolls his eyes and gestures in a shooing motion towards the group. "I'm only following orders. Gaz is a terrorist and I've been ordered to find and bring him back to our camp. Move along."
To this, the elf's eyes widen and he begins to protest, but a spear brandished to his throat makes him think twice about speaking.

Alabaster hides his tall figure behind the underbrush to observe the confrontation unfolding, his fur overcoat hiding him perfectly in the shadows. The pupils of his keen brown eyes dilated as he listens intently to their conversation, the tip of his tongue slowly licking over his sharp canines.

His eyes dart to the captured wood elf, and to the Imperium soldiers holding him at bay, he reaches for his telepathic link with Malon. Imperium soldiers ambush, twelve, armed (How many are on the other side?). They arrested an elf. He adds, we have to help them.

Erbert whispers to Malon and everyone standing around him as his eyes roll back into focus, "I've got nothing.  The bastard wanted to go hunting for rats.  Fine.  Don't help me you friggin hungry owl.  Do you see anything?"

Malon slightly startles when he hears a new voice. He turns over to see a towering woman with rich adornments. He lowers his bow, and replies to the woman's enquiries in a hushed voice.

"Did not see you there, we should have been careful about your sleep ... if it's Alabaster you mean, he's over there. Oh, and I am Malon."

He then gets his attention to Erbert, kneeling down to hear him whispering.

"Perhaps then there is noth..."

He suddenly stops, looking distracted, as he hears the telepathic message. He opens his mouth, about to say something ... and fails to see how he could explain this. Instead, he adresses the whole group of people.

"I have the feeling he will need some help. But you don't need to bother if you don't wish so."

Malon puts his hood on, and carefully ventures in the forest towards where Alabaster left, hoping Nico, who has travelled a little with them, has learned to trust Malon's "sixth sense". Twelve people seems like a rash action but he dismisses the notion of convincing his friend otherwise.

"I'll join you shortly."

Stealth : 12

Thea watches Malon disappear, before she shrugs and gets on her feet as well. A smile crosses her face. "Definitely not letting both of you run off alone just like that..."  She mutters, as she begins to sneak after Malon.

Stealth: 4

"What's an Alabaster?"  Herrena began before seeing the red-haired man suddenly raise his hood and vanish into the woods, Thea close behind.  "Erbert.  Iver.  What's going on?" she asked her comrades as she rose and began collecting her things.  It didn't seem like sleep was in the cards for her on this night way things were going...

Erbert whispers out of the side of his mouth to Herrena "Shhh.  Follow, we need you.  Trouble afoot."  He readies himself and makes himself small-er and quiet, sneaking after Malon and Thea.

Stealth :  13 

"Fine, though I'll eventually need to know what's going on..." she replied back quietly as she finished grabbing her items and followed the gnome into the woods

• Stealth: 21  

"Alright. Let's go then."

Stealth:15

Iver follows after the others quietly, making sure to stay close to them at all times. Close enough to sense where they are even in this darkness. He's alert, with his hands on his weapons, wondering if the strangers really need help, and if they do, what kind of situation requires their help anyhow.

Stealth: 24.

Malon turns over to spot the woman with curious violet eyes as he hears noise behind him. He resists the urge to wince and instead nods at her, appreciating the reinforcement. Assuming it is indeed reinforcement, but none of those people really stroke him as having the Imperium type. Not being one to cast strangers into peril, he eyes the woman gravely with his gentle gaze and whispers to her.

"Don't ask me how I know, but it will be dangerous."

In fact, it seems all the people at the campfire are now getting into motion. Despite feeling a bit guilty to send them into something they have had no time to evaluate, he concludes that further talking would put them all even more in danger. He is one instant tempted to reveal his secret, but should he try to open communication with her, he would lose the link with Alabaster. Resuming his swift pacing, Malon nods his thanks once again, this time to the rest of them, and keeps going, hoping to find Alabaster before the Imperium soldiers do.

Erbert touches his robe and says a few words before they head off, casting mage armor in preparation, then heads as quietly as he can ahead.  

There are four figures on the non-Imperial side. It's difficult to make out their specifics.

The remainder of the party shifts closer, one way or another utilizing the plentiful underbrush and shadows cast by the tall trees nearby to obscure their approach. The standoff continues; the Imperial soldiers slowly begin dragging the elf - you heard named Gaz - in the direction of the trail leading to the Zavas. The Imperials begin to retreat in a practiced formation as the other four Wilderlings watch, a mix of fury, despair, and anger in their eyes. 

Until Thea, perhaps to the amusement of any onlooker - and certainly anyone hearing the story told by Herrena's novel, makes the stereotypical mistake of stepping on a twig. With a loud crunch, all eyes swivel towards Thea's location in the brush. 

And, at that point, several things happen at once. First, Gaz elbows the face of one of the guard holding him and drives his knee into the other. Secondly, the Imperial soldiers reach for their weapons as the commander calls for the troops to investigate the noise. Third, the remaining Wilderlings jump to action - either drawing swords or leaping to the corpses of the fallen and scavenging any possible available weaponry. 

It seems a fight is likely to break out without any intervention. If you would like to join into combat, roll initiative.

Feeling the twig break her under foot, Thea winces, almost cursing out loud at her own incapability. She glanced back to her companions with an apologetic expression. "Let me try talking to them first" she whispered, "I hope you'll have my back if things go sideways." Then, she snuck off to the side, moving away from the group.

Halting for a moment, Thea closed her eyes trying to shake of the exasperation at herself, then exhaled deeply in an attempt to steel her resolve. Now that everyone had heard her coming, it was time for a different approach. Thea began pushing her way through the last bits and pieces of vegetation separating her and the clearing. As she advanced, her entire body language underwent a visible change. The creeping posture and the previous curious if somewhat cautions look on her face vanished. Instead she marched onward, her shoulders squared, her chin raised defiantly. Now that her cover was blown anyway, her advance became significantly more audible. Just before splitting the last bits of scrub in front of her, she used a Minor Illusion to further increase the unyielding aura she tried to construct around her. Flaring up like a swarm of fireflies, violet orbs of light sprang into existence, dancing through the air around her as they seemingly arose from the same-colored shimmer now covering her hands. With that, Thea pushed herself out and onto the clearing.

She took a stand right at the edge of the clearing, some distance away from both groups, yet standing on a line between them. She raised her arms to the side, letting everyone see the purple glow her hands kept emitting. Then, with a stern look on her face, she seized up both the Wilderlings as well as the Imperial soldiers. "Cease this nonsense!" Thea called out to them, her voice whipping through the air, as she tried to imitate the way her mother spoke when giving commands. "What is the meaning of this?" she said with a demanding tone, addressing the Imperials commander. Although her attitude had first been a facade, an attempt to bolster her own courage, Thea could unintentionally feel herself grow more and more into it. With every second she'd been pushing towards the clearing, she'd seen more and more of the battlefield in front of her, giving her time to size up the bodies. It had lit a spark inside of her, something she'd tried to bury deep within her, but with the fresh images of Imperial violence in her mind it became increasingly more difficult to control herself, and the spark was slowly but surely flaring up into a wildfire. Thea did not know how long she could keep up the stone-faced glare she'd directed at the commander before the first signs of fury would seep through.

In case you'd like an Intimidation roll: 13

Iver has his hands on his scimitars, ready to jump into action if anyone attacks Thea. If the situation doesn't escalate, though, he'll remain where he is. Whispering to Malon near him, he asks: "I don't see the tall Human among those. What kind of help did you say he needed?"

Initiative, in case matters get worse: 7.

Malon's eyes, usually pretty wide, go even wider as he hears the creak of a twig behind him, and helplessy watches the two groups getting rough on each other. He winces as the rush of extreme emotions around him has his head spinning, but he can't afford to lose focus just now. It takes him a few seconds to notice the Halfling talking to him. As his eyes desperately scan the penumbra of the forest outskirts, he realizes he has lost his telepathic link and comes to the conclusion that Alabaster is too well hidden.

Dammit friend, did you even have a plan ?

"He, well ... is not exactly on the Imperium's side ..." he mutters with a sheepish smile as a response, gambling on the fact that this group did not seem, well, Human enough to have friendship with said Imperium. "Again, you don't need to get involved."

Looking for cover, he watches, incredulous, the woman with pointy ears step into the fray and attempting to calm everyone damn. Forced to recognize she does make quite a show, Malon is not quite sure this will be enough of an attempt. Trying to stay out of sight, he moves around, bow in hand, trying to prepare for a diversion ... and spot sign of Alabaster.

And what about you ?  he internally asks himself. Would you kill Imperium soldiers in cold blood ? He shakes his head. Surely Roxan would be proud of him if he did but, if possible, he'd rather avoid the fight altogether to happen, as he tries to flank both parties.

Stealth : 23
Initiative : 5

Herrena, unsure of what exactly she's gotten herself into, stayed quiet and waited to see how the groups reacted to Thea's display.  Should things go sour, she was ready jump into the fray and help her friends out.

• Initiative: 9  (If it goes that way)