Morwenn mutters to herself, "the Stones...the stones...yes, that must be it!" she hisses, snapping her fingers.
She inclines her head to Arnold, "You've been a great help, Arnold." then motions the other to follow her some distance away from prying ears.
Lowly she says, "There are the foundations of an old manor in Chetwood...the woodsmen call it 'The Old Stones'. It has been some time since I passed that way but I know it's northeast of a nearby logging camp. "
Calahdrel gave a small bow to the man. "I am sorry to hear of your loss. No one deserves to know the pain of losing loved ones. You have my sympathy."
He turned to Morwenn as she got excited, eyebrows rising up as he watched her and listened to what she had to say. He frowned slightly. "That...doesn't sound like talking stones, but a lead is better than nothing. I shall accompany you."
Waylon nods to the man, "Thank you for your help Mr. Arnold."
He then turns to start following the others. "He never said the stone talked. He just said they got orders from it. If there is a location that is close and referred to as the stones it is almost certainly the right spot. I would also be happy to join you and find out why this attack took place if you would accept my aid."
Without waiting if the others were in agreement, Morwenn nods and says, "Follow me..." and sets off at a rapid pace back around the scorched remains of Combe.
Once past the smoudlering ruins of the town, she takes the group between fields and through copses of trees, using game trails and sometime no discernable trail to their destination.
She stops atop a small rise, below the woodcamp sat, a small man-made dent in the dense Chetwood.
She looks at each of the men, and hobbit, "The Chetwood's an old forest, be on your guard. " She doesn't think the elf. Calahdrel, needs such a warning.
The logging camp is, for now, abandoned by the villagers who once used it to cut firewood and building material from the small but old forest.
Looking northwest, the party spies a thin wisp of smoke curling up amidst the trees about a mile away, a sure sign that someone has a fire going deeper in the woods.
Awareness
Explore
Waylon moves quickly and quietly to follow Morwenn through the forest.
Seeing that the others were ready, Morwenn led them to the edge of the wood, stepping from the bright sunshine into the cool, dimness under the old trees, knocking an arrow as she does so...
As she navigates through the trees and underbrush, she keeps the sight of the tendril of smoke in her mind...
Calahdrel followed along behind Morwenn, letting her lead the way. He gave her a small nod to her words of warning, a small smile gracing his face for the briefest of moments. Then he harkens back to his early years in forests, stepping lightly and keeping his senses attuned to his surroundings.
Primrose trots along with the big people as fast as she can. When they arrive at the edge of the logging camp she's surprised to see the overgrown forest in front of her. "It looks dark."
You enter the Chetwood and range through its trees. This small wood was much traveled in older days, but has since grown wild and pathless. A tiny remnant of the vast primeval forest of the Elder Days, it has begun to reclaim what was once its own. The tracks of so many brigands are easy to follow, and they lead straight into the woods.
Waylon and Calahdrel step lightly, gliding through the forest like shadows, but Lister, Morwenn and Primrose are less subtle, rustling leaves and talking a little too loud.
The elf, the ranger and the woodman spot trouble first and stop the others from advancing. A portion of the road ahead looks suspicious and Waylon recognizes it as a disguised pit, the sort used to trap wild boars or bears. Covered in leaves and twigs it would suddenly give way beneath their feet if any were to step on it, even little Primrose.
Waylon motions towards the pit trap and quietly notes "They seem wary of unexpected guests. We should be wary of more such traps to catch the unwary. Do you think we are close Morwenn?"
Calahdrel was used to traveling in forests, so doing so quietly was not a new thing for him. He was not, however, used to traveling with companions that were not as quiet as he was. In fact, when traveling among other Elves, he had been the noisy one often as he was younger and less experienced than they.
He paused and tilted his head as he thought he spied something up ahead. Something that didn't belong but was made to look like it did. Waylon confirmed it a moment later as he spoke up quietly about a trap. The elf gave a small nod. So that was what he'd sort of seen. Since it had already been pointed out, and the question he might have asked was asked, so he saw no need to break the silence of the forest.
Morwenn nods at Waylon's question, motioning him to keep quiet. She indicates they should go around the hidden pit, and to slow down their progress through this bit of the forest, both to stay undetected and to more easily find other traps.
Primrose shakes her head in frustration as she kicks over a rock and it rolls down the hill making noise. She carefully moves past the pit watching her step as she moves along.
Lister looks at the pit trap, and shakes his head. I must really be tired. My mind is wondering. Good thing that I've got these experienced guides leading the way.
Waylon motions to go around and follow the path as several of his new companions seem less stealthy then those he grew up with in the woods.
Waylon continues looking for more possible snares or traps.
Still a bit chagrined at her noisiness in the woods, Morwenn nods at Waylon's common-sense approach and picks a side of the path, eyes scanning the ground and surrounding foliage/ground.
Awareness
Lister follows along, trying to be more aware and getting a second wind.
Primrose carefully looks around for anything that might be hunting them. She moves carefully through the woods.
Having already been faced with a trap, Calahdrel attempted to redouble his effort at keeping an eye out for any more hidden dangers or hazards as the group traveled on.
The team moves through the old Chetwood as quietly as it can. At one point the naturally soft-footed Primrose stops Waylon just before the experienced woodman places would have hit a low line of hempen twine set at ankle level between two trees. Everyone steps carefully over this and moves further into the woods.
Up ahead you can hear the sound of voices. And indeed you can now see a few of them, men in leather jerkins or soft doeskin shirts, prowling about the edges of a fallen wall of ancient cut stones.
From within the ancient ruin comes a babble of many voices indicating numerous people encamped there.
Primrose gestures the group gather around. She speaks quietly. "That's a lot of big people. My Ma used to say never walk up on a wolf you'll get bit. Go stealthy, and you have a chance. Perhaps we can capture one of the men alone, and ask him our questions without alerting the others."
Waylon nods and whispers, "If we can get someone away from the others it may provide us with all we need for now. But the question is
will we have such a fortunate chance."
Morwenn watches the pickets as Primrose and Waylon discuss the situation, then turn back and says quietly, "Let us observe the watchers, see if they betray a pattern we can exploit and remove one for our use."
She then settles in and observes the movement of the pickets, trying to glean any bad habits one may have, perhaps venturing a bit too far on one leg of his patrol...
Waylon nods and settles down to watch as we well.
Primrose studies the movements of the men carefully.
Ma said watch your prey, and see where they are weakest. She meant the deer herds, but it should work with men.
__________________________________________________________
The team watches the Stones and sees little visible activity until nearly an hour later when someone comes to relieve one of the guards. The man so released from duty makes his way into the woods to relieve himself in another way, and seems to go quite a distance from the ruins in search of some privacy. There's your chance!
Waylon nods to the others and moves to follow the man out. As he goes he looks for a rock or something similar about the size of his fist to pick up and use to club the man if needed.
Primrose follows Waylon. Stepping carefully as she goes.
Waylon easily finds a rock (though he also has weapons) and he and Primrose sneak up on the lone brigand just as he is turning back towards the Old Stones. He does not suspect an ambush and is merely humming to himself as he ambles back towards his fellows.
Primrose rises out of the bush right in front of him as he turns back. She smiles politely and says Lovely night isn't it. We have a few questions for you."
She is trying to distract him so someone else perhaps Waylon can knock him out before he raises an alarm.
Waylon moves to grab the man from behind and prevent him from calling out for help. As he grapples him he hisses in his ear, "Stay quiet and you will survive the night.
Morwenn watches the hobbit and Woodman advance on the lone guard, then turns her eyes towards the other pickets, bow ready in case any get too close....
_______________________________________________
The brigand seems truly startled to see Primrose rise up out of the bushes before him. He blinks a moment, as if suspecting that his eyes were playing tricks on him. In that moment, Waylon seized him from behind with a sure hardy grip. The brigand struggles briefly but without much luck against Waylon and goes still as he hears the threat.
"You're surrounded," he manages to mutter past the woodman's grip. "You'll never get away with this!"
"We just have some questions." she moves away from the camp. I hope that Waylon can keep him quiet. She keeps an eye out for any enemies following.
It appears that for the moment, no one in the camp is aware of your presence. Their overconfidence is their weakness.
"What do you want?" says the brigand, barely able to speak with Waylon's arm about his throat.
"Your group struck at a town to find someone. Who were you looking for?"
"I don't know," says the brigand. "Some hobbit. We takes orders from the top, and that's all I know. You'll be right sorry you went and put your foot in our business. I know that, too."
"Some hobbit? Which hobbit? Who's at the top?" Primrose looks angry enough to kick the man in the shins. "I'm a hobbit. You weren't looking for me?"
"I dunno. Not you. Somebody named Bingo or Bango or something."