((@Twoo - good point. Landrae decidedly fails at that attempt then :p))

If the gnome decides to help, Duncan will start to ask about the Ogre, as well as the cave. Getting any information he can about what type of loot there is, what's guarding it, traps, etc.

The half-orc bandit is prepared to go down fighting. He turns and hacks at Jack with his scimitar. Attack: 20 Damage: 7 (I'm kind of lost as to initiative order, so let me know if I went out of turn.)

"There's an ogre a half m-m-mile down the t-t-trail," He stutters, pointing south, "And t-t-two patrols of f-f-four or five men still out in the forest. The c-c-cave isn't trapped. Inside is all of the l-l-loot we've gathered in the past few m-m-months from traveling merchants."

The gnome is perfectly willing to answer any and all questions.

Kai scimitar in hand follows Jack..

Init: 7

Should combat start:

Scimitar Attack: 23 Damage: 8

Duncan will continue "Two patrols total? When are they expected back?" ((we've taken care of one is why I'm asking this... we could set a trap for the next...))

Elber lets lose an arrow at the halforc but aims high to avoid hitting his friends, so it goes wide and far into the forest canopy.

Attack: 18 Damage: 11

Kai finishes the half-orc, and Elber's arrow thuds into its lifeless corpse.

"The eastern p-p-patrol was supposed to have returned an hour ago. The second p-p-patrol isn't expected back until m-m-midnight."

((and about what time is it? Just past darkish?))

"Very good little man. Now about the ogre. He's the guard to the stash yeah? How much trouble will he give us?" Duncan will ask

((what do the rest of you think? Ambush for the next group?))

((Ogre first, then ambush. It's not much more than an hour after sundown now, so we have time.))

The gnome chuckles, even though he shivers with fear. "Old Socrates can't tell one end of a club from another. He's the only one we could spare to guard the treasure, and besides, to get to the cave you have to pass through the camp anyways." He looks at Duncan anxiously. "Are you going to kill me?"

((two.. you're saying go get the ogre, then come back for the ambush? are we in a rush?))

"Though I'll fell anyone standing up to me in battle, I have no need to wet my blade with you. You've been helpful. That doesn't mean you'll be free to go of course." Duncan will reply

((we could use the gnome as bait for the ambush. him sitting up at the fire when the approach, then when in camp some shoot from the trees, some come out of the tents. Duncan would like to spare him if possible; more so if he helps))

((It is the closest enemy, we should deal with it before the patrol returns.))

"All ogres be dumb as mud. It be their strength of giant blood that kills men."

Jack, taking another arrow is flat pissed. He starts kicking at the bandit corpse, “You stupid greened skin ass, You should have just surrendered. But, nooo! You had to be braaave and put another hole in me.” Jack collects himself, pulls the arrow out and throws it on the ground. He searches the half orc for anything of value and then starts on the rest of the bandits and camp.

”My opinion is to clean up this camp, and wait for the patrol. Rest a bit and eat something. Then at daylight we head to the cave. I don’t think the ogre is going anywhere.”

Jack finds a pouch containing 16 silver coins and a winged centipede preserved in amber.

"I'm inclined to agree with Jack, we have no great if the ogre is only guarding the stash... and I somehow doubt that it would be savvy enough to carry the goods off into the night such that we can never find them. If we get in a fight with the ogre now, we are in a much worse position to set the ambush. We can use the time before the other patrol is due back to gather the cart, make this area more secure, and end this bandit menace entirely."

((We don't have all that much healing magic available, so a fight with an ogre and a short rest before another bandit encounter sounds worse than a short rest, fight with bandits, long rest, and fight with ogre. the only thing we lose that way is some time on the next day...)) 

"We should not have left the other bandits if we be staying here. Something in the woods scared away the wildlife, and they are helplessly bound to a tree by our hands." 

((We find none of whatever poison the Scorpion was using?))

If you search the Scorpion's body you find a small vial of poison. (You may coat a weapon with the poison for an object interaction. For the next five attacks you deal an additional 1d6 poison damage whenever you hit with a weapon coated in the poison. In addition, on a hit, the target must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution Save or be poisoned for 1 minute.)

((So searching the camp and bandits we find just 16 silver, Amber centipede and a vial of poison?))

“Tell is about the other party returning at midnight, this amber piece, and where anything is hidden in this camp.” Jack asks the gnome

(My bad, I just re-read your post. I thought you were only searching the half-orc bandit.)

Jack also finds 11 gold pieces, 8 electrum pieces, and 16 copper pieces, in addition to a small mirror, an iron gauntlet engraved with the image of a mountain beneath six runes, and a silver candlestick bearing the royal emblem of a distant kingdom. In the Scorpion's rusted armor is a Potion of Healing. The tents contain some pots and weapons but you find nothing of real value until you look in the Scorpion's tent. On the bed rests a Moon-Touched Sword (greatsword).

((Anyone want to be our treasurer? Seems unlikely you would want the thief to be it. Totals from here and last group of bandits are 11 gp, 8 ep, 16 sp, and 31cp and an ornate silver candlestick))

Jack hands the greatsword to Elber, “Way too big for me”. He hands the metal gauntlet to Duncan, the flying centipede amber to Kai, and the potion of healing to Landrae. He will keep the vial of poison, and mirror for himself. “I figure we all could use something, does anyone want to suggest something different?”