"I do not speak gnoll, but with your help translating, I am sure we can come to a peaceful solution," Kairynna says as she releases the gnoll from the trap. "Come, take us to your leader. We shall end this peacefully and quickly."

Thoradin - As far as you can tell the gnoll deceiving you, though it certainly doesn't seem trustworthy. Its intent is a little unclear but it appears that it came to you as a last resort.

Rocky - You see the same wrecked cart (with the flames starting to die down). As you travel east, make a survival check to track and a stealth check.

Kairynna and the group at the field - The gnoll scowls, then clarifies: "Old leader is bad, he not devoted to gnoll-lord. Kill him, no peace with him." As it speaks, anyone with a passive insight of 14 or over notices that it seems irritated by the idea coming to peaceful resolutions with its former leader. Also, anyone who is proficient can make a religion check on the term it is repeatedly using (gnoll-lord).

Varis gives Kairynna a thin smile “Well, it appears you have found a way to win the creature's heart after all.”  He turns to Braci and Uraim. “I will accompany you and send my owl to scout ahead of us.  I agree that we do not want to trail to turn cold”  He pauses “Something doesn’t seem right, there was no attack on the fields, no rampage.” he points to the scrawny gnoll “what was in the boxes that interested them so much, and why leave the fields untouched?”

He sends his Owl to scout ahead of them to the east, looking for any movement or threats, and goes to follow the others to pick up the trail. 

Owl perception 16

Owl stealth 18

Varis stealth 9

Varis survival 10

"It did not appear to be much. Some general good which were destroyed the rest was taken away. Maybe food? There is no way to know so I am guessing." He shrugs as he addresses Varis. "I am also concerned we have not seen the attack Vara was worried about. There are those in town that are questioning her leadership perhaps they have reason..."

Braci pulls his hood back up and starts stalking through the brush and tries his best to remain hidden as he follows Rocky's lead. Watching the dwarf he is very impressed by how well he he moves along the trail but still remains silent. He is quite good at this. 

Stealth 16

Sigi remains seated on a fieldstone, contemplating the events of the evening.  

Splitting up the group fills him with unease, but despite his prayers to Sothel he is not offered any guidance as to which path is the true path.  Our duty is to defend the field... but what if a greater threat lurks elsewhere?  He is loathe to abandon their post guarding the field without some assurance the fields are safe.  Yet... Braci, Varis and Silverstone have a point that cannot be denied.  There lies a fresh trail, and a fresh victim.  Perhaps the best defense is offense?   He pulls out a strip of white cloth and says a prayer over the three of them before they leave, casting aid for 5 temp HP.  (OOC: Varis may already have this from prior casting by Thoradin... don't think it stacks?)  I must stay behind, but perhaps this can help if you run into trouble....

Regarding the gnoll... Sigi sighs at the irony.  They sought a peaceful solution... and now have a quasi-friendly gnoll prisoner/ally who wants us to commit murder on his behalf.  Be careful what you wish for... he thinks to himself.  Gnoll-Lord?  Does that sound familiar?  Religion 7

Tayvello watches as more and more of the others leave the field ideally flourishing his blades every now and then at his sides. Seeing Seigried keeping to the field Tayvello makes his way over to him, still keeping wary of any possible attack.

"So what are your thoughts," Tayvello asks the dwarf. "We were hired to guard this field, we all leave it could burn, but if we go we could be stopping it that from happening." 

Tayvello casts his eyes to the gnoll, "Could be a trap to draw us away while the main force attacks, or could be some actually infighting within...what would you call it a pack or a band...whatever it is there could be a new leader that not everyone wants to follow causing a split. Thought this would be a simple job, why do they never turn out that way."

At Tayvello's questions, Seigfried looks from Kairynna and the gnoll to the departing trio, his unease palpable.

"I am uncertain.  I'm a healer and a patron of trademen and artisans.  Though I have seen combat, I am accustomed to knights and paladins setting the strategy, not puzzling it out on my own.  Your concerns are my own.  If we leave the field to hunt the gnolls, and they double back on us or another force strikes the field... the townfolk may starve.  But as you say... if this isn't a trap or a feint, then the smart move would seem to be joining Braci and the others in tracking the gnolls back their lair."

"The entire wagon incident vexes me.  Was this just some unlucky traveler, who happened into the gnoll's path on their way to our field?  Or was the wagon the gnoll's target tonight all along, and the field wasn't in their plans this evening?  And what was it carrying?  Vara did not tell us they were expecting any shipments... though we did not ask, either."

"And the prisoner... it wishes us to kill the "new leader" that has pushed the gnolls to attack Aoswell.  Or so it claims."  He adds, "I can pray for a spell in the morning that would let us all understand everything the gnoll says in plain common... but that is cold comfort to us tonight when the conversation could actually be useful."

He sighs.  "I confess, my commitment to remaining here to guard the field is less about my duty and perseverance, and more about my indecision about any other course of action."

Listening to Seigfried's concerns Tayvello stands tapping the flats of his blades against his shoulders, "Its why when I can I choose to be a blade not a commander, don't have to be the one to make the important decisions. My opinion we take it in steps, first we guard the field, then at daybreak we follow our new friend hopefully to stop any further attacks from occurring again. That is at least what I feel is the right path, but who knows if its the right thing to do."

Tayvello takes a step away and goes back to flourishing his blades watching for any more enemies.

Nevaeh smiles at Kairynna. "I am following you, Kairynna, where'er thou dost be needing me to go."

To Thoradin the decision seemed easy. "We're here to guard this field. If we leave, or even just get too distracted, it might burn and then where will the townsfolk get food? If the gnolls take the opportunity to attack the town, the guards will meet them but at least this field will be safe. This gnoll here may be opposed to the others of his kind, and will not threaten the town, but that does not preclude the rest of his bad from doing so. Quite the opposite actually... Somebody, can you please free his leg from the trap? If we're going to talk, let us demonstrate our good will."

At the discussion of protecting the field, Kairynna pauses. "Thank you, I was hasty. We should defend the village." She turns towards the gnoll, "I shall follow you to your leader tomorrow." She reaches down to the gnoll's leg and says, "Make sure he doesn't run." She then attempts to open the trap. 

Nevaeh casts guidance on Rynna again, just in case!

The gnoll takes its leg away from the trap as soon as it isn't clamped anymore. It doesn't try to run but it stands tall (about 6 feet, which is short for a gnoll). It glances down at Kairynna and then looks around at all of you. "Bigger gnoll parties attack soon. Need help in stopping them? Help for help."

The group that is sneaking East from the burned cart - Led by Rocky, who never loses the tracks and stays in perfect cover despite travelling next to a road you all head East. About half a mile that direction from the cart the tracks lead off the road to the right. There are some low-hanging broken branches that you can begin to follow in addition to the tracks to stay on the path that the gnolls took. Another quarter mile into the trees Rocky hears yipping and speech in a language you don't understand in a clearing 50 feet away. The owl swooping overhead sees a few gnolls standing there speaking with one another.

Varis whispers to Braci and Uraim “Well it appears that we have found them, there are several in the clearing ahead.  Now what?  Shall we attack, or go back to warn the others?”

"I will try to get a closer look, please watch me while I look through the senses of my owl."  His eyes roll to the back of his head as he looks through his familiar, trying to get a better sense of the number of gnolls in the clearing and how they are arranged.

Owl perception 7

Owl stealth 9

Seeing Rocky advance towards the cave he subtly extends his index finger toward him casting Message saying, "Careful my friend I suspect they outnumber us rather handily. I will leave this line open you can respond once if you need."

Concerned he whispers towards Varis, "I am not sure we can take an entire gnoll encampment just the three of us but perhaps we can draw some out and take out a few. It might set them back a bit before we go get reinforcements. Has your bird found how many we are up against or how deep the cave goes?"

Varis - (OOC: It doesn't matter right now because the check you are making is fairly easy but in the future remember that the owl has advantage on sight and hearing based perception checks.) As the owl swoops down to a lower branch and Rocky approaches the clearing they both get a view of the gnolls. This doesn't actually look like their encampment because it is just a place where they are discussing something and there are no signs that they live there, but there are 6 gnolls (one of which is wearing far better armor and has a vicious looking glaive that is barking orders to the others). Two of the lesser gnolls have three hyenas each on a leash (it is up to each of you if you know what those are).

Nevaeh nods to the gnoll. "I am being grateful for thine offer of 'help for help.' and am being inclined to accept. I am Nevaeh the Lost Light. What 'tis thy name, oh furred one?"