If Gaelin is can spot an enemy, and is close enough to do so, I want to charge.
Gaelin charges, and pounces on the bandit. His slice is true and kills him instantly.
There is a sound of someone smashing blindly through undergrowth within the darkness circle
Athromar takes a moment to assist his companions making sure the bandit is out of range to receive his positive energy benefit.
Channel Energy
Jeydavu watches Gaelin strike down the second bandit. When he hears to the bustling of another bandit in the darkness, he begins to move in that direction.
The darkness looms at Jeydavu like a wall made of shadow. He can see nothing within, but he hears the fading sounds of the bandit as he runs through the woods somewhere behind the concealing spell
Gaelin examines one of the fallen bandits to determine if they are local thugs or some greater menace.
The men are Taldane in ethnicity. They are dressed for winter though, and look well fed and equipoed
The tied up woman moans
Athromar checks her to see if she is wounded or injured in any way though he approaches wary of a trap.
Perception
Heal
The woman seems unconscious, but not trapped. She is securely tied to the tree by a length of hempen rope.
Athromar will move to untie the woman and attempt to wake her.
"The bandits are local," Gaelin says, "but prepared for the weather. Perhaps they were outfitted by whoever orchestrated this weather."
Athromar reaches the woman. She is tied tightly, but the rope is tied in a quick-release knot. He soon has the ropes free
The woman is odd looking, definitely not human. She is unconscious, almost in a coma
Athromar Channels Energy in an attempt to Heal the woman, no matter her race.
Channel Energy
The woman is so thin as to almost look adolescent. her hair is tousled, and an odd silver blue. Her skin has a bluish tinge to it, not from the cold. It is more uniform than frostbite.
Sahsara opens her eyes and sits up, as she stretches a strong breeze blows by. "I hope you all are rescuing me?"
"So it seems. Who are you and how did you get out here?"
"My name is Sahsara and i was captured by these bandits after our fight with them went less well than yours. Would you mind telling me why you are here? I doubt you trekked out in this cold for my benefit."
A brawny Ulfen with conspicuously Taldane manners rises from where he was examining a fallen bandit and approaches. "We are trying to find out what malign force has turned this quiet wood into an icebox. I am Gaelin Northvein. Are you from this wood - from before this sudden and unseasonable winter?"
"Oh not at all, I was just moving through. Say do you mind if I tag along? Obviously it's not safe out here, and although malign weather controlling forces sound dangerous, I prefer to face danger with company."
"We will see that this Fiendish plot is stopped for Taldor. If you are committed in this with then by all means come along. If not the village is back yonder where for now it seems to be safe. Comrades before we proceed, do any others need to be healed? I think the bandit that escaped will go back to his friends, let us follow his footprints in the snow to uncover his villainy and put an end to it once and for all".
Near the campfire are several backpacks and leather bags. Sahsara recognizes her equipment among the pile
"If you give me a moment to gather my things following the tracks shouldn't be difficult at all"
Sahsara takes a moment to gather and organize her belongings and walks back to the group.
When Sahsara rejoins the group, Jeydavu introduces himself. "My name is Jeydavu. I come from Hellirinn near the Irrisen border. We have already seen quite a bit of death on our way through this cold. You are wise not to travel alone. Welcome to our group."
Athromar reloads his crossbow and gets ready to set out again along this dangerous journey. For the Glory of Taldor I must see this through.
The group sifts through the bandits meager belongings, finding little save for some blankets and basic camp gear
Heading out, they continue on the trail. It climbs a bit more, until they are about 40 meters off the main forest's floor. The bandit that escaped had rejoined this trail, his fresh tracks easy to follow in the snow.
As they walk on carefully a clearing opens ahead. The snow covered top of a large log building looms ahead, two chimneys trailing smoke into the overcast sky
"If that bandit had allies no doubt they will be here. Have any of you a way to determine how many may be lurking in that structure?"
"I am loath to walk into another trap but I see little alternative."
"Short of looking in the window, no. Though the bandit wouldn't have been gotten here much before us. Maybe he's telling them all the tale, could give us the element of surprise?"
Sahsara pull out her bow and starts warming it up.
"I think Sahsara is correct, if we do not strike now, they will be prepared for us. Perhaps we can climb the building and come in through the second floor? I doubt they would expect that..."
"Perhaps we can scout it without drawing too much attention to ourselves," Gaelin says hopefully.
"I guess whoever is sneaky can scout ahead with me and the rest can follow behind. I don't want to be far ahead of the main group though"
"Scouting is not my strength, perhaps we can draw them out of the house and fire at them from the treeline? A taste of their own medicine".
"We are too far away to strike. I'd suggest we wait for night fall, but if they have additional scouts out, they may detect our tracks. I think we need to send a scout to figure out how many are in there. How close can we approach as group before we are in danger of being spotted?" Jeydavu scans the terrain looking for cover.
or
Jeydavu can see the lodge is surrounded by woods. The trail leads into the clearing, and there are several smaller outbuildings. The sound of running water can be heard. There is a decent-sized stream nearby
Athromar looks at Jeydavu dubiously, "We Humans cannot see so well in the dark and may be hampered in our ability to fight effectively. Do you suggest we let them come out to search for us and then pick them off? I have a doubt as to how many would be in there and organized they may suspect we intend to do precisely that. I am no tactician, I am a servant of Iomedae. Whatever is the will of the group I will do my best to ensure we are victorious, Taldor will need for us to be".
"I am not suggesting we wait until dark. If we do, we may be discovered while we wait. We should approach now using the wood as cover and get as close as we can as a group. Then, whoever can sneak closer without being detected, can look inside and see what we are up against. If all are in agreement, let us start moving," answers Jeydavu.
Athromar nods to Jeydavu, "Agreed".
"Sounds good to me"