Brin will grab an orc shield, preferably one not crushed by a dwarf axe. Seeing the knights take watch, he’ll help with the stripping and disposing of the bodies away from camp. Given the number of orcs (30+), that will take until daylight at least. Is there a near enough clearing or pit where the bodies can be cremated without endangering the forest?
Checking the map, you are only about 500’ to 600’ feet from the southern edge of the woods and a stony area. Otherwise your current clearing is the largest nearby.
The woods get denser to the north.
Elendil’s Heir, thanks and oops. I am prone to spelling errors and gaffs and you will fine plenty in these game threads.
Ornan, “We could just strip the orcs and leave them. We could camp near the road instead. I doubt we have any chance of hiding at this point. I think now it is just a matter of getting through the night.”
I thank the Prince and ask him to help Ornan, Gwaelur and Theogrim. I then rush over to the fallen Knight 3. If Goodberries will heal him, use the maximum 8. (I have 13 left).
(If, sadly there’s nothing I can do, then explain to the Sergeant and use my curing powers on the others.)
(If you play specific injuries, I have herbs to treat concussion, nerve damage, sprains, torn ligaments, cartilage and muscle damage.)
Then Ghân attends to Knight 3 and Moose, first using a Yavethalion Fruit on each (leaves me with 1), then using up remaining Goodberries. If either are still injured, use my Mur and my Slota brews.
Brin: No beast except the most fell will feast on their flesh, and I don’t think you want to invite any more fell beasts into your forest. Plus, they smell bad enough alive. Dead and decomposing, no one will use this road for months. Best we create makeshift biers, and do the hard work of transporting the bodies to a site for cremation. No one will be sleeping tonight, and the work will help us stay alert.
Ghân nods at Brin’s wise words.
Is this clearing suitable for the cremation site, or should we use the stony area?
Is there enough wood on the forest floor and does the party have oil?
Ghân : I thank the Prince and ask him to help Ornan, Gwaelur and Theogrim. I then rush over to the fallen Knight 3. If Goodberries will heal him, use the maximum 8. (I have 13 left).
(If, sadly there’s nothing I can do, then explain to the Sergeant and use my curing powers on the others.)
(If you play specific injuries, I have herbs to treat concussion, nerve damage, sprains, torn ligaments, cartilage and muscle damage.)
Then Ghân attends to Knight 3 and Moose, first using a Yavethalion Fruit on each (leaves me with 1), then using up remaining Goodberries. If either are still injured, use my Mur and my Slota brews.
The knight requires immediate suturing and Arkasu Sap can be applied to the slashes and punctures. That is four applications for 8 points stabilizing him. (Did you have four left?) Due to the magic of the Goodberries, I recommend you give one to everyone injured; it does wonders to stop bleeding. I believe we have four injured besides the Knight. You give him 8 and he is in reasonable shape at 12 of 18HP. That leaves one good berry for further emergencies. You use Mur on Moose and then if you have more Arkasu that could be used else Caramir has extra. The Mur gives him back four and he is full.
Caramir administers Arkasu to the three fighters.
He heals Theo by five and with the Goodberry is only down 4HP.
He heals Gwaelur none, but takes care of the gash, cleaning it out. Still down 3HP
He heals Ornan five. Still down 8 HP.
**Ghân ** still has the Yavethalion Fruit and some brews to use. Let me know.
Brin: No beast except the most fell will feast on their flesh, and I don’t think you want to invite any more fell beasts into your forest. Plus, they smell bad enough alive. Dead and decomposing, no one will use this road for months. Best we create makeshift biers, and do the hard work of transporting the bodies to a site for cremation. No one will be sleeping tonight, and the work will help us stay alert.
Ghân nods at Brin’s wise words.
Is this clearing suitable for the cremation site, or should we use the stony area?
Is there enough wood on the forest floor and does the party have oil?
Gimli, “I agree Brin, but I think this clearing is large enough to burn them here. There should be no shortage of fuel here and Merry has lamp oil and matches and already lit 6 torches for us. Then we can retreat to the road or tend the fire, I regret surrendering our chance to sleep, I would like to track these Orcs as near as possible to first dawn.”
I’ll recover any of my arrows I quickly can from the slain - if any are too deeply embedded but look recoverable with time and trouble, I’ll ask for the bodies to be put to one side for a few hours. Then I’ll do as the Brandybuck asks. Indeed, I’d willingly do it myself and let him rest his old bones, but I suspect he won’t be told. 
I too would like to recover any of my bolts that are available for recovery.
After donning all his armor, Thoroncir will help as needed.
You shot 9 arrows, 6 are easily recoverable, two are clearly broken but with a little work the fletchings and points can be salvaged. One would take some work, but Gimli says, Don’t worry, I’ll get it out for you, I’ve worked with Elven Archers before. Looks like I got five to your four. A good piece of work there."*
Gwaelur, you can recover your two bolts.
- Gimli seems to have ignored the Goblins, Gil got 7 total to Gimli’s 6.
Are we burning the bodies here or dragging them off?
Gwaelur agrees with Gimli that there is no need to drag off the bodies.
OOC: I’m assuming that is your way of telling me that the clearing is large enough and safe enough to burn the bodies without unduly endangering the rest of the forest. If so, I’ll assist my building instructing some of our smaller companions on building a proper fire break if they don’t know how, while helping to pile the corpses for the burn.
Gimli: “I agree Brin, but I think this clearing is large enough to burn them here. There should be no shortage of fuel here and Merry has lamp oil and matches and already lit 6 torches for us. Then we can retreat to the road or tend the fire, I regret surrendering our chance to sleep, I would like to track these Orcs as near as possible to first dawn.”
Brin: (again totally deadpan, then going away to work before he can cleave my skull in two) That is quite alright Lord Gimli. We young men can tend to the labor; I understand the need for naps in your advancing years. The fire, once begun, should be quite warm and comfortable for you.
Quite right too - they only count as a warm-up. Off I go then, to make sure we’re free of interruptions for a while. Pocket the leftover bits and pieces for the next time I have the chance of a make-and-mend session.
It’s true, Deor needs sleep. Kindle a couple small fires for the wounded’s comfort from a torch, matches, or if absolutely necessary using Firefinger, assist Ghan with the bandaging if he needs the assistance, then hit the sack for the night. In the morning, load the following spells: Invisibility, Shield, Sleep, and Tie, Untie, Firefinger, Cough, Bee, and Distract.
I’ll gather what sling bullets I can find from the Orcs I dropped. 2 is not a bad score for me.
Can’t believe I missed a backstab!
I’ll help get the fires going as I’m not going to be that useful shifting Orc Bodies around, as long as everyone makes sure searched first. Did we leave behind any dead Orc Bodies after the first ambush tonight?
So about 40 Orcs and 10 Goblins in one Night. How many are they going to have left at their encampment?
If we start getting towards dawn, I’ll start doing breakfast for 17.
It sounds like we will strip the Goblins & Orcs and burn them here. It will take about an hour for the fire to really get going and everything to be ready. This puts us a little after 3am.
Ghân, Deor, Ornan & Knight 3 sleep near the horse to the south of the clearing. Away from the orc fire and near a nice campfire. The horses and sleepers are guarded by nearly everyone else. The Knights & Elf stay awake the rest of the knight.
Mulligan drifts off and sleeps until about 7am. Brin leans against a tree and drift in and out of an uncomfortable sleep in his leather armor. Theogrim & Thoroncir get even less comfortable naps in their chain until at 5 they remove their armor. Near dawn, Gimli & Gil-Gandel catch a nap / rest.
Merry catches a short sleep at 5am until the party rouses.
Gwaelur who already had 4 hours of sleep and does not wish to remove his chain and stays awake, helping to tend the fires and keep watch.
This uncomfortable night passes. By 7am breakfast is being prepared and the spellcasters are ready for a new day.
So, the bodies are burned and breakfast was delicious (thanks to the cooks). These Orcs were ready for us, it was clearly an ambush. Should we continue on our present course or should we try to track the orcs path back to where they came from?
Gimli, “We seem strong enough to track them.”
Ornan, “Maybe, maybe not. I might bow out.”
Ghân uses 7 doses of herbs (doing 2hp each) and his last Goodberry to cure all the above.
He thanks the Prince for his help, then tells the party that he’ll try to forage for more herbal cures whenever convenient and that he has about 11 doses left. Plus his Druid spells, of course. 
Ghân checks the fire is under control.
After resting Ghân loads:
1st: Animal Friendship, Detect Magic, Entangle, Faerie Fire, Locate Animals, Speak Animal
2nd: Barkskin, CLW, Flame Blade, Goodberry, Heat Metal
3rd: Neutralise Poison, Summon Insects
Ghân checks to see if the Owl he befriended is comfortable.
He explains to the party that he would like to bring the Owl along as a night-guard and an occasional night-scout.
Since the Owl is nocturnal, Ghân would need some sort of leather travelling harness ** to carry it during the day. This could presumably be quickly acquired in Minas Tirth.
Would the party mind waiting while Ghân asks a Knight of Gondor* to ride back, order and buy the harness and bring it back?
*There is orc gear to be disposed of, plus Ghân could do a forage for healing herbs nearby…
**The Sergeant did say the Knights would be in Ghân’s debt after his healing!