The Scimitar's are standard issue. The trail heads south beyond 100 yards, upon inspection it appears that the this path has been used many times. 

Not sure if this is the main trail heading towards the mine as per the map. If we would in know this then happy to do a roll to see if we can follow a map. 

"Neega, I think we've gone far enough without the rest. Let's get back together and we can come straight back, we were told all number of dangerous things are in this forest so better we face them together." 

Kaemar starts back down the trail towards the rest of the party.

After separating the plate armor from the orog, sometimes rather crudely (an inspection of it makes it obvious that it will need mending, especially the straps cut to save time), Louis makes his way down the path Neega and Kaemar went down, sticking to the treeline, trying to blend in. 

Stealth 4

// guess that extra metal is making me extra clunky... Lol//

Heading back to the party, since whoever/whatever was dragged away is gone.

Neega will hold onto that Greataxe for now, but not wield it (unless we encounter something with resistance to non-magic weapons). When the group finds a place to rest/camp (preferably not near orc and horse carcasses), she will read the journal and papers to the group.

Merrick continues along the trail, scouting ahead as before. The halfling, when he is not talking, is actually extremely quiet and it is not long before his companions lose sight and sound of him entirely.

If we are marching in our "standard formation" then Kaemar should be close enough to know where Merrick is, if not she starts casting  message pointing in slightly different directions each time saying "Merrick? Where are you? Are you ok?"

"Are we moving on? Or finding a convenient (safe) spot for one of you to use Light and I can check on these papers?"

"Where's Merrick? Did he continue down the path? Down the path we go then - don't want to lose sight of him." 

As he walks down the path, Louis attempts to make sense of the path and attempt to discern Merrick's path and footsteps versus that of others.

Survival: 20

Merrick makes his way down the path. Louis is able to follow his trail, but just barely. The remainder of the group follows along. After an hour the sun starts to rise over the horizon and lighten the sky but the woods remain dark. 

"Something is wrong, Merrick wouldn't just run off like this, I don't know what it is but I don't like this. Everyone should keep their eyes open."

Kaemar tries to be as stealthy and vigilant as possible 

Stealth 8

Perception 7

"This is what it feels like to be walking into a trap. That damn halfling had better be confundused or I'll be pissed."

//  Stealth 12

// Perception 8

// Survival 17

Merrick, about once an hour, circles back to the group to notify the coast is clear. He then continues scouting and reporting.

After Merrick comes and goes a couple of times, Louis says, "I'm very confused as to what's going on... Are we going down the right path? I know Merrick has a map, but so do you Kaemar... Where are we headed?" 

i did ask a few of my posts back whether or not we were following the highlighted path on Kav's map, can I get an answer, we have a map, Louis and I would be looking at it, Louis has put some survival rolls up and I'm going to do one for the two of us working together to see where we are.

Survival11

Kaemar removes the map from her pack, and beckons to Louis.

 "Louis come over here and help me with this, Merrick is freaking me out a bit I'm not sure I trust him at the moment."

After several hours of checking in about once an hour, Merrick returns to the group. "Big group up ahead!" he whispers excitedly. "It seems like a camp, or outpost possibly. They are cooking and setting up encampent. I didn't get a look, I was able to tell by smells and tracks. It's most likely too many for us to take in combat. Well, unless one of you has a fireball. Do you have fireball? Whoooo BOOSH!"

"Before then, could we find a secluded spot, to check the journals of those orcs? Maybe there are references to that camp in those papers."

"Sounds like a good idea Neega, shall we move then, how about over there?" Kaemar says pointing to what looks like a more suitable spot "and sorry no fireballs Merrick, someday hopefully but not until I get a lot stronger!" 

"Agreed, we check the journal then observe and report on the group."

Merrick nods, interested in the journal's contents as well.

Orim Hammerfist's Journal is a loose collection of thoughts, orcish poems, and record of events. Recent entries read:

Back north for the first time in a long time. Years it's been since I've been to this wretched forrest. But orders are orders. We're working closely with a band of humans and Ogres for some shaddowy man in a black robe. Work is work but he seems the sort to burn his troops for his own ends. This is dark work. I don't mind the dark but there doesn't feel like any honor here.

---

Told to head out on the road and ambush travellers. Told them there shouldn't be many travellers though here. They said shut up and do it.

---

Every few days a convoy of loggers or miners comes through. We take them down. Keep their gear. Strip their bodies and take them to the marked spot. Never see anyone come. for the bodies but they're gone when the next load is ready.
---

Back at camp for a rest. No one seems pleased with this assignment but the Chief has signed us to this dark figure. Asked Chief what we're doing here and he just said getting on the right side of the storm.

---

Starting to suspect some dark magic. Told Agggerd to hang by the spot to see who comes for the bodies. Agggerd never came back. What has our chief gotten us into?