‘Wait a moment while I send Glimmer on to take a closer look….’ Melchor says quietly. Glimmer will do a fly-by to see what extra details she can see - livery etc…

A small, carefully banked cooking fire smolders in the middle of this haphazard encampment. Half a dozen battered old tents and crates of provisions are scattered around, along with racks on which pieces of smoked fish are curing. Two fierce-looking human warriors are hunkered down in front of their tents, keeping guard while the rest sleep

Olaerys kneels down after word is brought back.  “Options?  Was there any kind of uniform or markings that they were wearing?”

Quote from Twombley >>

Olaerys kneels down after word is brought back.  “Options?  Was there any kind of uniform or markings that they were wearing?”

"That's the question, isn't it?  Are these more cultists?  Maybe worshipers of elemental smoked fish?"  He pauses to laugh at his own joke.  "Or are they like the knights?  More outside parties drawn into hunt these cultist punks?"

Whatever the answer may be, Randall does a bit of stretching to limber up in case combat lies around the next corner.

2 of the warriors have serrated swords and crab shell shields like you saw at Riverside Keep

‘River Keep bandits, by the look of it. I suggest we hit them fast and hard.I don’t want to chance another genteel overcharging, or worse…’

“Ok, so how should we approach them?  I think we should take them out as well.  Thus far, I’ve not been doing so well bluffing my way through such situations, but I’d be willing to try again.  I think a different stratagem might work better however….”  Olaerys stops and scratches his head, considering the options.

"Want Shrek ta just walk into camp and make distraction when youse guyses sneak around other side and surprise?" Shrek helpfully adds.

“Package delivery?  One claw for you, expedited mail?” Olaerys offers with a grin.

"'Exactly!" Shrek responds, also with a grin.

"Me act like delivering mail, and in their confusion, you guyses bop them in the heads.  Or worse."

OOC: Move us along?  Shall I have Shrek walk into camp and distract them, whilst you all flank the encampment and attack from all sides?

OOC: Sounds good to me 

Randall tries to do some quick tactical math.  "Six tents.  Probably one per tent... no more than two per tent.  Only two on watch.  If the rest are asleep, we should have time to subdue the guards before they can get up and armed."

"Best case scenario, we have even numbers and most of them are unarmed and asleep.  Worst case scenario, they might have us two to one and the animals sleep in their armor with swords in their bloody palms and we have a real problem."

"I'm game for hitting them hard from all sides and going for a little 'shock and awe' to either overwhelm them or force a surrender."

He adds, almost as an afterthought, "Have we got anything to get their tents burning?  Maybe force the sleepers to flee in their skivvies rather than arm up?"

While Randall is monologuing, Shrek has already started towards the tents, waving at the man on guard and holding up a package.

The guard spots him about 100 feet away and starts to scratch his head, clearly confused.

Shrek, in a normal and non-threatening tone of voice, calmly calls out "Hello friends!  Mail carrier on official duty of United Parcels of the Sword Coast.  Just passing through...mind if me warms up by your toasty fire before heading onwards?"

Olaerys takes the opportunity to move in from the other side, taking cover where he can and motioning everyone up to support Shrek.

Ankita is unsure what to think of the situation and is about to hide until Olaerys motions then to support Shrek.  She shrugs and heads into the middle of the tents. A bit wary of the situation.  She starts smiling and waving at the one on guard, hopefully helping to disarm them.

Melchor hangs back a little (around 80feet away from the action), ready for trouble, as Glimmers circles above the camp...

Randall blinks.  Shrek is striding into the camp, hailing the enemy.  Olaerys is slipping into the trees to maintain cover.  Ankita is… joining Shrek by walking openly into the camp.  He kicks dirt over the battle plan he had been scratching into the forest floor and clucks his tongue quietly as he tries to figure out if he is supposed to be sneaking or not.

He shrugs and moves into the trees on the opposite side from where Olaerys went, trying to get within 60 feet of the camp without making his presence known.

Olaerys observes the approach and holds his breath, but hopes that the confusion will throw their enemies off as well.   He will inch closer as far as cover will allow, if he sees any hostile movement he will rush forward and hurl a javelin at their foes.