Still not in a position to offer an in-character comment until I spot Gimli and the reinforcements, but I’d vote for our party searching out the lair and deciding whether to send for help once we’ve seen it. A posse of Gondorian knights and dwarves might as well be a brass band for all the subterfuge they’re likely to be capable of. 
Is there still debate about what to do next? It seems as though we are all agreed to, at the very least, head back to meet with Gimli who is probably on his way with troops. We waste time debating the minutia of what to do after that. Let us meet with Gimli and see where that takes us.
Okay, so realt quick before I head to lunch. Gil meets up with Gimli and company. Leads them along the road looking for the wagons picking up the Father and extra mounts along the way. The party makes in down out of the woods to the road and meets up with Gimli.
Gimli, “I am leaning to the idea of joining your party with an extra Ranger I picked up. I think we should go on foot. I think we should considerer waiting until daylight and send part of this tropp to escort this family back to the city. If we wait until dawn, it should give your spell casters a chance to rest.”
It’s an honour to be offered temporary stewardship of another character. 
I am happy to do this (as the two casters would naturally stick together).
However I would like the agreement of both What Exit? and the players…
I’m fine with Glee running both spellcasters.
Theogrim winces at Gimli’s suggestion of going forward on foot, but is more than willing to go with the party’s best interest in this case.
I also think that glee taking stewardship of the character is a good idea
Gwaelur: Gimli’s advice is wise. We should make camp for the night and proceed on foot in the morning.
Ghân welcomes this advice.
Gimli and the extra Ranger will give us even more firepower. 
Going on foot means Mulligan can be stealthy and Gil-Gandel + Brin can cover our flanks. And we don’t have to worry about guarding the mounts not trained for combat.
As Gil-Gandel says, a posse of Gondorian knights and dwarves might as well be a brass band for all the subterfuge they’re likely to be capable of. :eek:
We can cover the noise of those few of our fighters in metal and have the scouting ability (Folca, Took) to give us the information we need.
And casters always need to reload their spells!
You can always tell the trained lancers in the party… they wince when going on foot is mentioned.
Sorry, Theogrim, but sometimes (e.g. due to terrain) we have to dismount.
What Exit, what would Moose like to do when we advance on foot?
I know he is reasonably quiet and hates orcs … also I won’t be riding him.
Bootlicker.
I am happy to stand night watches. I can rest my mind in waking dreams and still be alert for danger.
Moose in Moose, “I am nimble almost like goat; I will carefully follow you at a slight distance.”
glee, I think you handling the unexpected for Deor works out well.
Merry, “We will need to figure out a safe camp and we still need to be alert for the Orcs coming to help the ambush party. I don’t need much sleep any more and I suspect the Elf will not either. We could keep and eye out for them. I suggest that if the party is attacked you let Moose call for help. His bellow should work nearly as well as a Gondorian Battle Horn and perhaps better than my own horn. Gimli, I will need use of your best mountain pony tomorrow, if you don’t mind. I don’t think I could scramble up the Orc trail and still be much use to the party. That and my good steed will need rest come the morning. I plan to keep him on the move tonight.”
Gimli replies, “Aye, but no Hobbit and Elf will prove any more tireless than this Dwarf or are you forgetting what I went through to try and rescue you from the Orcs.”
Ornan suggests, “I am willing to go and I do prefer to wait until daylight. I am also exhausted and will be no use to you on watch.”
Merry, “It sounds like the spell casters will also be off the watch list.” He gets interrupted, “Moose watch.” Merry continues, “So if the Elf and I act as roving watches and Gimli & Moose guard the camp, the rest of you should be able to switch off.”
Ornan, “Fine, where, in the road, or in the woods?”
Do not think my hearing is so poor that I did not notice that, elf. And do not think you are so important or protected that my fist won’t be alble to find your face.
OK with me if Glee runs both spellcasters. Makes sense.
“Switch off”? What are we, droids? 
“We are in accord, then,” says Thoroncir. “Let us rest and gather our strength for the morrow. Of course, I am willing to stand a watch if need be.”
SO Gimli and another Ranger are joining out? Is this a ranged or melee type ranger? What’s his name? Is Ornan sticking around?
Brin: I’ll also take a watch. With the dwarf asleep, my ears can make up for my lack of night sight, provided Starharp does not snore.
Ornan, “I already said I am willing to help.”
Gimli introduces the additional Ranger, “This is Prince Caramir son of Faramir and Eowyn. He is a skilled veteran and fair tracker, he knows more about killing orcs than anyone here but me.”
Looking a little embarrassed and nearly as young as any of you, "I got word that Gimli, Merry & Pippin were to be in Minas Tirith and actually came riding to meet them. Actually, I never got a chance to pass on my message, Legolas & my parents plans to be joining us within the week in Minas Tirith.”
Gimli, “Ah, good news, I could use them here now, especially Legolas.” Then, “The rest of you humans, try to get some sleep, we don’t know when to expect the Orcs.”
A Knight of Gondor, “Yes, get your rest, four of us will stay and help guard you through the night as the rest escort the farmers back. Another troop will relieve us in the morning and stand ready if you need help in the mountains. The troop will be able to look after the mounts.”
Thank you Moose. We will defeat orcs together - in our different ways.
It is a good pairing of character classes and I will do my best.
If the night passes (!), Deor will load:
1st level: Sleep, Magic Missile
2nd level: Invisibility
Does he have the cantrips Tie and Knot?
I understand he can cast two cantrips per round. Can he tie up a Slept opponent using these two?
As per post 219, Deor intends to cast Invisibility on Mulligan, Sleep on Orcs and Magic Missile on Gash.
Ghân: Thank you, Lord Meriadoc. Welcome, Prince Caramir (Ghân bows). Ornan, I suggest we camp just off the road - out of the wind and sight of travellers.
Gwaelur: Don’t hit Gil-Gandel; just send him to get some more sandwiches instead. He’s good at that. 
Prince Caramir: It is an honour to meet you. ::Bows low::
I guess we camp then. I agree with just off the road. Wake me when the next set of Orcs turns up or breakfast arrives, which ever comes first.
The wagons head back with a good escort now. Four knight of Gondor plan to patrol the area for Orc activity at night. Far more quietly, Merry & Gil-Gandel keep a stealthly look-out for the party while Gimli and Moose guard the camp most of the night. Brin, Thoroncir, Gwaelur & Theogrim will each take a two hour watch to take us into the morning.
A cold camp is made 100’ off the road and those that can grab some sleep. Mulligan, Ornan and Deor appear especially good at this. Ghân drifts off after performing some calming techniques and casting 3 Goodberries creating 18 new berries.
Let me know if there are any objections, anything I forgot or any special precautions.
As to the spell use, he does have the cantrips Tie and Knot. He can cast two cantrips per round. He can he tie up a Slept opponent using these two by first dropping a rope on them.
I forgot to describe Prince Caramir more thouroughly. Caramir looks very much the Dunedain. He is tall, but fair like his mother. He looked extremely comfortable in the saddle when he road up. He appears to carry a Bastard Sword and an elven bow. He wears no obvious armor or helm but a well worn cloak of high quality make. He wears high quality travel boots.
Glee, I am PM’ing you about the Detect Magic. This get complicated.
Something tells me that you are a halfling…would you like sausages with your bacon and tomatoes?
You mean something besides the fact that he’s barely a metre tall?