Through Darkness, Light ("the plethora of prospective permutations")

[Isida Kep'Tukari]

Kelsis the Bright-Eyed, Female Sibeccai Akashic 1

"A quick look around to make sure we're not walking into an ambush is fine. Let's do that then try to follow the bandits' tracks to their hideout, if possible."

 

[Macbeth]

Aernoeth moves around the outskirts of the ambush area (most of the ambush area is under the trees), scouring the scene for any information, and finds some deep tracks, easily distinguishable as giant's feet, and the remnants of a broken sword. The number of combatents seems unclear: there are to many tracks to distinguish individual combatents or even get a solid count. The broken sword bears an oddly familiar mark on it. With a second's contemplation, the place where it was last seen springs to mind: the same mark was proudly displayed above the crowded gates, and on the gaurds' armor. Why a sword with this mark on it would be the ambush zone is not so easy to descern: the old women did not mention the city gaurd being involved.

Aernoeth, Kel and Kelsis move away from the rest of you, making slow progress into the edges of the forest. Aernoeth is easily the most adept, almost completely disappering in the outlaying trees. The two sibeccai also take to stealth naturaly, but neither reaches the level of silent movement that Aernoeth seemingly effortlessly acheives. The three scouts stay within sight of each other, and move towards the center of the ambush site, which is just within the forest. Even from this vantage point, no bandits are apparent. Kel, Aernoeth and Kelsis can all easily see into the tree tops, but the only creatures present are a number of small birds. From this point of view it is clear to Kel, Kelsis and Aernoeth that there are no bandits here now, but they were here some time ago. With the safety of the sight confirmed, searching the heart of the ambush area should be easy for any who wish to.

With the ambush sight cleared it seems the next question is: Where did the bandits go?

[OOC: Please keep in mind that Only Kelsis, Aernoeth and Kel have seen that the bandits are not there, everybody else still has no idea.]

 

[Erekose13]

Chenroeth, male litorian mage blade 1

While the others decide whether we should proceed into the forest to prepare an ambush, Chenroeth will atleast make an effort to hide himself out here. He moves behind the first tree, not really entering the forest. Atleast he will be out of sight should the bandits come out. He then draws his throwing axe ready for battle.

 

[Arador]

Maedril, Sibeccai Champion of Death 1

Maedril unsheaths his sword, and crouches down, prepared to summon his shield at a moments notice, waiting for the scouts to reappear. He is quiet, and attentive to everything around him.

 

[Isida Kep'Tukari]

Kelsis the Bright-Eyed, Female Sibeccai Akashic 1

*Kelsis will quickly go back to the road so the others can see her, indicate that there's no ambush in the offering, then sneak back so she can continue trying to find the bandits' lair with the two other party members.*

 

[Murphy's Law]

Kel, Sibeccai Snake Totem Warrior

Kel, (who, by the way, is a sibbecai) moves slowly from the cover of the trees, and into the heart of the ambush area, searching for clues. He's still not entirely sure that the bandits are gone, so he moves with his bolas at the ready. In particular, he will look for anything else bearing the mark of the city.

 

[Macbeth]

Kel moves from the cover of the trees without any suprise attacks, further proof that the bandits have moved on, and begins to look over the center of the ambush ground. He finds a number of arrows stuck in the ground, evidence of bows fired from the trees. There is also evidence of fire, and a mostly burnt piece of parchment bearing the seal of the city. The tracks here are even more jumbled, and it proves impossible to estimate the number of combatants.
Chenroeth slides behind one of the trees furthest from the forest, hiding himself almost completely from view.
Maedril ducks down and prepares for battle, only to see Kelsis return from the crowded jumble of trees. Kelsis makes several exagerated arm motions, clearly conveying that the bandits have deserted the ambush zone, and that the rest of the party is clear to advance.

 

[Liminal Syzygy]

Aoe-Narara, Giant Warmain 1

From her position near the treeline, Aoe-Narara continues to watch her surroundings closely, hand resting on the pommel of her longsword.

She patiently waits for the return of the scouting party, ears pealed for any signs they are in trouble.

 

[dead_radish]

Seeing the Sibeccai waving, Aelin nods to himself, and sets Ostragoth into motion. "It appears our foes are in patir facilli, as they say in the East. We should approach the source and scour for evidentiary insights."

 

[Murphy's Law]

Kel, Sibeccai Snake Totem Warrior

Kel stares intently at the parchment with the cities seal on it. Can he make out any details as to what was written on it?
After looking over the parchment, Kel returns to the other scouts (who were coming out of hiding?) and summarizes what he saw in the ambush zone. Once he has told Aernoeth and kelsis that the ambush zone is clear, he will go back to the ambush zone and look carefully at the footprints. The footprints in the ambush zone were obviously to garbled to make sense of, but is there a clear set moving away from the zone? Did the bandits leave in a group, leaving a clear group of footprints?