Before waking Deor up, the party should consider whether or not they really need him- with nighttime conditions and [color=blue]Invisibility, he can probably get a Sleep in quite easily, possibly without even giving away his position, especially if the forest is rather thick. However, sleep is essential to being productive tomorrow. I’ll leave it to the Captain.[/color]
The night is clear and the moon is waning, but the stars are bright.
Renee, "Do you perhaps want a decoy, maybe myself or a single Dwarf?
I think Deor’s sleep spell would be a good use if we are in doubt of their intentions. "
Elfstan is willing to scout or to play first line of aid as needed. With his Elven cloak and boots and his treasure finding skills, he may be nearly undetectable in the dark.
The Elves and Hobbits due to skills, natural abilities and items are nearly invisible and silent, especially at night.
Renee, “I too can walk quietly and unseen, I shall go with you, but trail behind. I can also be your messenger if needed.”
Curunauth who woke up to the whisper conversation or perhaps he just felt the activity around him, “Is there anyway I can be of help?”
Ghân would not compare to the others, but he is quiet, passes without trace and provides a low profile and Fang is nearly as hard to see or hear at night as Gil-Gandel or Elfstan.
Deor, Thoroncir and Gwaelur would have to wait further back.
As the party discusses, Anca growls out to Ghân, “Being watched, behind that bush over there, let me get him.” (this was in Canine, no one else understood)
(Yes, we wake Deor. If we’re going to get into a fight we shall probably need a days R&R anyway, so that will make up for everyone’s rest being interrupted.)
Ghân will assume that the party is already alert and the best option is to get information from the intruder (which means not alarming him before casting).
Given Deor has been woken, Ghân will try to look relaxed and say to Folca (in bird) “Tell Deor to look calm. Someone is watching us from a nearby bush. Have Sleep ready - I’ll use Entangle and also have Anca prevent them getting away.”
Ghân will tell Anca in Canine about the coming Entangle and ask the War Dog to go around the waving bushes and block the intruder getting away. Ghân finishes “Try not to kill him, unless you are in any danger.”
Ghân will calmly remind Fang to bodyguard him and Deor, then Entangle the intruder’s bush + surrounding shrubbery. (N.B. He uses the Spellstone for speed.)
Thoroncir drags the spy out from the bushes and dumps him on the ground where all of the party can see. “Who are you, and what are you doing here?” he growls, longsword now drawn and at his side.
If the above goes off without a hitch, while Thoroncir keeps the captive at sword point Elfstan will take his weapons and then bind the captive’s hands and feet with Elven rope.
And this is my cue to chime in with [good cop]“Please, Thoroncir, do not kill him. I do not want to have to tell you again.”[/gc] (Which is technically true. ) But it depends on what the prisoner looks like.
Ah, the impetousity of youth. (And these people get the classy women too! )
Ghân tells the captive “Be silent and live. Think about it.”
He borrows some rope, ties up the spy and brings him out.
He tells Anca “Well done! Keep on guard.”
Ghân stays alert and echoes Gil-Gandel’s cunning interrogation ploys, e.g.
“My dog is hungry. If you tell us everything, I will feed him a dog biscuit.”
(All true. Anca is always a bit hungry. And, of course, Anca will get fed whether or not the suspect talks…)
This may not be the time to worry about playing “good cop”, then. Everyone not otherwise engaged, turn to face roughly the direction of the bandit camp, ambush site or whatever, then Miron and I will separate so as to bracket any attackers. Be aware that our forces can manouevre in low light or darkness better than the enemy, probably.