Where do you think the mushrooms for breakfast came from 
Not really - it just gives two of us the chance to set the trap off, instead of one. The hobbits have some figure of speech about cooks and broth, and I never argue with their kind where the culinary arts are concerned. 
Deor and Ghân work on bandaging and healing the wounded. Caramir also assists.
Caramir, “Friend Brin, the trail will get tougher now, we may even need to double back and follow another trail. However, I will be far happier to meet them without their mage, I just fear for their prisoners. If they choose to flee, none will be left alive. We may need to split into two groups. one to track the sole orc that left this group and one to track from our previous battle.”
Gimli, "My thanks young Mulligan, your feint worked marvellously and combined with Ghân’s magic, made this simple. Ghân, I agree that we were more powerful, but this plan and the bravery of you and the young Hobbit made it nearly painless. A poorly executed plan could have resulted in more death. Gil-Gandel’s clever shot also in all likelihood saved myself and the lads from tasting some more deadly magics. I thank thee Good Elf, for keeping alert for the greatest danger over worrying about some lesser Orcs. "
Shortly after the bandaging, Mulligan with Ghân’s guidance, sifts through the belongings of Gash and the other orcs. The knife that was used on Brúni is coated in magical tarlike substance. On Gash is a magic pouch, a magic belt and three fine magic volumes in his backpack. Otherwise, no traps were located or other magics.
Deor might have some luck with the magical tarlike substance that was on the knife.
As to the magical pouch, Mulligan finds no traps.
Moose nudges Theogrim and says in common, “Thank You.”
Ghân, you must be very low on spells, I may have had you burn a 3rd for an extra 1st. Please verify.
“We have done well, but we are all tired,” says Gil-Gandel, politely drawing no attention to his own fresh-as-a-daisyness. “Supposing that we made camp, posted the freshest of us as lookouts, and resumed the pursuit after a rest? Perhaps our good Ghan could seek out some creature with a keen nose, if the trail defeats our Rangers after such a delay - though by all I ever heard of Rangers, even a small troop of orcs should not be too hard for them to follow.”
Spellbooks! Excellent! Deor plops down under a tree and begins reading (very, very carefully, in case Gash put “Explosive Runes” in there). Once the spells in the book have been identified, then go ahead and check out what’s inside that magic pouch. Examine the belt carefully and the magic substance carefully without touching it. Tomorrow, load Invisibility, Identify, Sleep, Bee, Cough, Firefinger, Tie, Gnats, Mute.
You thought those things in my pack were … mushrooms? :eek:
How many of us ate them?! :smack:
Ghân pretends to look worried and throw up… 
He apologises for making the remark - he was reacting to the stress of the long chase and worrying about another Lightning Bolt.
I’ve looked back and I did indeed burn a 3rd (for an extra 2nd).
I started today with 6x1st, 5x2nd and 2x3rd.
I cast in posts 423/433/461/471/550 a total of:
- 6x1st
- 6x2nd (thus ‘burning’ a 3rd)
Therefore I have 1x3rd left.
Ghân invites Moose and Thoroncir to guard him, then forages from a safe distance, unsure how well Deor will detect Explosive Runes.
If Deor is not blown up, Ghân suggests that Identify first would be safest next time…
Ghân will happily look for such an animal , but also thinks the Rangers will succeed. Also since the remaining orcs are probably not invisible, Folca has a fine chance to spot them.
Ghân is ready to continue if the party are determined to pursue, but mentions that he has only one spell left…
Merry & Gimli were conferring, then Merry says, “Deor, I would be more careful with those, I like not to meddle in the affairs of Wizards, except it appears to be my life’s work. Go careful and easy and be not to eager.”
Caramir, “I understand if any need to rest at this point, but I think we have a small window to save prisoners and must press on. We could use some to return as a messenger to the company on the road and to leave a clear trail to follow us, but if we don’t press on, some will die that could be saved.”
Gimli, “Aye, Merry and I were discussing the same. Merry will be one to return, he grows to weary to continue and is not young enough for the cave work he expects us to find. I think we should press on. Any who wish to return with Merry should find no shame, you have done great work for no reason other than goodness. I applaud you all.”
Ghân is ready to follow Caramir without sleeping, because rescuing prisoners is good. However he wants to complete his foraging for herbal cures.
Also the orcs are presumably leaderless…
If htere is a combat, after casting his last Summon Insects, he will use his blowpipe!
Gleaning whatever arrows he can: “Certainly. ‘More haste less speed’, it is said, but also ‘Need brooks no delay’. It was once my privilege to discuss the giving of advice with Gildor Inglorion himself, and as he once famously said so now say I: ‘The choice is yours, to go or wait’, and I will gladly back either choice with all my strength.”
Brin: I have to agree with Lord Caramir. We need to see to any prisoners while there still may be a chance to save them.
Thoroncir says, after guarding Ghan while he forages for herbal remedies, “I am weary, I confess, after last night’s encounters, but would much prefer to press on as suggested by my lord the Prince Caramir.”
Ghân: Thank you, Lord Meriadoc. You have earnt your place in legend.
Perhaps any injured dwarves should return too. After all, we are low on healing and rightly intend not to reload those spells until a further combat.
(Perhaps the party will benefit from less NPCs - although they add background, they do tend to dominate the combat. This is a great party, but we need to learn to stand on our own feet.)
It appears safe to assume that the players will press on.
Caramir suggest, "We should try to track the way the orcs were heading and if that fails we split up and pursue both the stray orc and another group returns at speed to the larger battle and tracks Gash’s group from there.
I’ll take Gimli, Nanthor, Jari, Brúni & Víli and return to the battle.
Brin, you and Gil-Gandel lead the others and take Gwaelur along as your cave guide. Gimli recommends him highly.
Is this satisfactory?"
Merry, “Please ensure you leave clear trails this time, I have no clue is the help will have any trackers along. Good Luck, I will ride off if the rest of you are continuing, I will probably make better time anyway on my own.”
(Hi, Glee, I already had suggested the method of seperating out the NPCs)
I suppose I should come as well, it would not do to have the Hobbits under represented
Thanks - I appreciate your responding to our suggestion.
So we PC’s are now on our own, right? (Obviously that includes Moose!)
Ghân completes his foraging for herbal cures - any luck?
(I think Mulligan is down 1hp and Moose 6hp, right?)
Ghân asks Brin and Gil-Gandel for advice on leaving a trail.
(Presumably e.g. fallen branches laid in a line, plus scuff marks in the earth will be sufficient?)
I think the party vote is clear to press on!
While the trackers try to track, Ghân and Deor and Moose go foraging/nosing for useful herbs. Luck is with them and Ghân & Moose locate enough to prepare several balms and salves. It will take more time then they have, but with a proper fire and some peace, this should be enough for maybe 4-5 curatives.
The trackers realize that there is no trail and so go to plan B, Split and track. The party proceeds back to where the orc split off. Here Brin and Gil-Gandel lead the rest to follow the trail.
This is how the order will start, let me know changes desired.
Brin
Gil-Gandal
Mulligan
Thoroncir
Ghân
Deor
Theogrim
Gwaelur
Moose
Brin: If we must leave a clear trail, then perhaps there is some indigenous, plentiful plant’s petals would be sufficient to make a marking we could apply to the trees. I assume that your mortar and pestle have uses other than creating healing poultices and that fermented apple drink you mentioned? If we could make a bright marking, a group could follow, provided it doesn’t rain. OOC: Are my creaky old knees acting up, or are we expecting a clear night?
If Mulligan is still injured, perhaps he should settle back into the center of the group for now. Even Merry took the rest of the war off after facing the Witch King - no shame on knowing when to slow down.
Lord Caramir, we will not let you down.