"So was it ogres we heard, or what's left of the bugbears after taking out this ogre? Jaq, you able to track them? Jaq?"

"Ogres?  Would they be so quiet?"

"Maybe they're cold and the snow's just muffling things."

Seeing no immediate danger Cladmir will look around at all the confusing tracks and try to divine which is most recent and in what direction it went.

Investigation: 8

A number of things hit Cladmir, in a figurative sense.

He can feel that there is still a little warmth left in the bodies, mostly the ogre's. As cold as it is, he is able to figure they couldn't have died more than an hour or so ago.

He then moves around the edges of the clearing and can see that the ogres, who's large feet and deep tracks give them away, all came from the west and appear to have done so at a run. There are smaller tracks over the ogre tracks that are harder to place.

The tracks in the trails leading away from the clearing also indicate people were running but split up into several groups rather than running individually. The ogres followed two of the of the trails out, clear from their steps covering the lighter, smaller steps of whomever ran that way first.

Taking it all in, Cladmir would guess that rather than having been ambushed here, the group they are trying to find passed through this clearing quickly and purposefully split up. The three non-ogre bodies were maybe trying to slow down the ogres? Or were maybe too slow and got caught here?

Jaq will nod and say, "I can track, but which trail should we follow?  There are lots of trails leading away?"

"Were there more ogres? There had to have been more bugbears, right? Maybe they are in danger and need our help?"

((Track wherever the larger group of ogres seem to have gone?))

Cladmir would have noted that more ogre tracks went to a South east trail. He can't really tell if this is the biggest group of other tracks under the ogres'. He is able to see other tracks on top of the ogre tracks, several someones appear to have been behind the ogres as well.

Cladmir emphasize the last point about the smaller tracks on top. 

"The ogres may or may not work for the dragon, but it is likely that between them and whoever this smaller tracks belong to someone could be.  We might get some answers if we follow this trail (indicating the SE trail)... And if I have to guess more orgre tracks should mean more bugbears being chased."

Cladmir did not like the idea of "more" orgres though.

Listening to the ongoing concerns, Has then asks, “I can start tracking that way (SE) If that’s what we want.  Is that What we want?”

"I think so... should be easy to follow, but want to know when we're getting close, so we don't stumble into ogres."

((If nothing else here, can I get a perception roll from Jaq and stealth from everyone.

How fast are you moving? You're presumably at least an hour behind them.))

Stealth: 19

(( Cladmir's pace will really depend on Kroshav. ))

Stealth:  31

Perception: 17

((This is a trail that is different from whatever Ealu heard, yes?))

Kroshav Stealth: 8

Ealu Stealth: 14

((Kroshav's pace would likewise be determined by the pace Jaq is setting/requesting of him.))

((@Spider, it certainly seems like it is moving more south than would result in the one Ealu heard, but the thing about trails is they can change direction depending on those making them!

@All, I will assume you are moving at a faster pace to try and catch up?))

Ernos Stealth: 3

((Ernos is expecting to move a bit fast, since they have ground to cover and any trail they make now is going to be blended with the one they follow))

The party crunch after Jaq as he moves quietly ahead of the group. It is likely easier going to follow the trail made by the ogres et al. than it was to make the trail and they feel like they are making good time.

Jaq hears the sound of yelling as he slips ahead so it comes as a bit of a shock for the elf as he slips between some trees and finds himself standing in a loose group of goblins spread around the main trail that are mostly looking ahead at something. Jaq has unfortunately slide passed a few of the goblins before he notices them. For their part, the goblins also don't seem to be expecting to see an elf. The two Jaq passed, who are both squinting back down the path to see what is making all the noise, look over at the elf in bewilderment.

((Jaq can see eight goblins spread out behind trees. Not in combat yet. Oh and Row, can you give me a flat intelligence check.))

Intelligence:  14

(going to wait what this does before posting action)

One of the two goblins looking at Jaq looks very familiar and after a tick going through the few goblins Jaq has met out here he recalls - this is the guy he sold his 'special' gentlemen's helper potions to.

The goblin also appears to recognize Jaq, which looks to cause even more confusion as his mouth starts to open before closing again.