A smile grows over Jack’s face as he is watching all this chaos. He can’t help but feel like he may have had some part in this debacle happening. He keeps quiet though so that the dwarf does not know he is present.

"Aye, as a matter of fact I did. In fact, it's were that chap Ordan took his leave. " Rinarv says. He hops up onto his wagon. "I'll be taking my leave. Good luck catching your bandits and scorpions. " He cracks his whip and begins to whistle a jaunty tune as his wagon rattles down the road.

((before you just have him run away back on your railroad... Did Elber catch anything when he was talking?))

(As far as any of you can tell by your ridiculously high Insight checks, the dwarf has remained honest throughout the encounter.)

Watching him leave Duncan will say "Well that's certainly odd. I'm sure we'll run into him again. But let us be on our way to complete our task."

Elber nods and takes quick look around to see if his arrow is recoverable.

Kai hops back on the wagon, puzzled by the encounter, "I am becoming distrustful," he says to himself.  After a time, he turns his thoughts to his newfound abilities.

"Aye, the warm and welcoming Thithladroth be rubbing off on us."

"I don't know, there are some good points about having made the trek there. Let's make our way on to this signpost, and then we can stow the cart, let Jack out for air, and make our way on foot to the camp Ordan described."

You continue on your way, and within the hour you have arrived at the signpost, marked 'Thithladroth', which points back the way you came. The sun begins to sink on the horizon, and the shadows cast by the trees begin to lengthen.

Elber signals to be careful and lowers his voice. "Ordan planned to be back before sundown and knew the weight of their mark, so the camp must be very close. This be our chance to keep the surprise, but we must move swiftly together and stay ready for the fight. If we dally, they will also be prepared."

Kai looks at the gathering night, "Perhaps we need to make camp for the night and set up a guard."

"No, to camp this close if they are expecting a patrol to return would be unwise in my opinion... I say we let Elber lead an evening hunt."

"If I take lead, you spread and follow at the same distance as the trees be growing. If I hold my arm out behind me, I see something unexpected. If I lift my bow to shoot, I see threats. All else you will see yourself as you safely follow."

Kai shifts his staff to his left hand and draws his scimitar, moving off a bit to the left flank...

You proceed into the forbidding forest, following Elber as he darts through the thick foliage. After a mile or so of walking, you emerge on the edge of a grassy clearing. A fire in the center of the clearing raves to the star-studded sky, and the dark shadows of hide tents are pitched on the perimeter of the clearing. You count four bandits in the clearing engaged in various activities. A fifth figure emerges from a tent. It is a battle-scarred goblin, and in place of it's right hand is a jagged blade. "When's that stew gonna be ready?" He snarls, kicking a sniveling gnome bandit in the rear. " I'm bloody starvin'! " And where's that fool Ordan? He should have been back an hour ago!"

((Could you give us some idea of distances? Are we far enough back to skull around a treeline, are the bandits in the centre clustered, or spread out a bit? How wide is the clearing?))

Landrae lives up behind Elber, careful not to startle him, "If we pick off the edges, maybe Kai can entangle those in the middle? Reduce the number we have to fight at once?"

Elber is nothing but true to his words, so when he sees the bandit camp he raises his bow to attack but gives his comrades a split second to assume firing position before he releases his arrow at the scarred goblin. Even if the others are still beyond their shorter bows preferred range and behind some cover, the bandit camp has not yet seen them and he is not giving away that element of surprise easily.

((Initiative 7

Sharpshooter Attack on the scarred goblin: 16 Damage: 21 I'm assuming advantage because they are unaware of us.))

Jack isn’t really fond of the immediate attack, but he uses the warning Elber gives to prepare. Using his action, he takes shot at the goblin as well, hoping for a sneak attack.

Attack with advantage: Attack: 16 Damage: 7

Sneak Attack damage: 4

Jack will then use his bonus action to attempt to hide: 26

Lastly, initiative: 14

(The bandits ring the fire in the center of the camp, about thirty feet away.)

The Scorpion, for indeed this is he, raises his shield to deflect Elber's arrow. This in turn leaves him vulnerable to Jack's bolt, which embeds itself in his ribs. (Wounds: 13)

Duncan, Landrae, and Kai, you may all make surprise attacks with advantage. Roll initiative for the next round as well.

You all have half cover from your vantage point in the forest underbrush.