Did I mention, I still hate surprises 
Yes, we have cleared out an Orc lair of 100 with associated big spiders. I would expect the same in this lair as well.
I am up for it though, if the group agrees.
Elfstan to Mulligan, “I didn’t mention it early, but you’re going in with me, right?!”
Has anyone told you about the last time we went in like this. I out riddled a Giant Spider and it went downhill from there on. 
Do you know how much havoc an invisible hobbit can cause, let alone two of us? I wouldn’t miss it for the world.
Renee, “So what’s the plan? It appears to be a smaller cave system, but we need to determine other exits first if we can. We also need to wait for Riglo or do we just send the young Hobbits to spy it out?”
(We need to send Miron back to the base camp soon, he is taking an extended vacation.)
Renee’s prodding has the desired effect. Watch me as I seize supreme executive power in the absence of Gil-Gandel/Malacandra and Ghan/glee!
Thoroncir, serjeant of the party, says, “If our intrepid Hobbits are willing to go, let them leave at once to scout the interior of the orc-lair together. If they have not returned by two hours before nightfall, we will go in after them, and leave a message and a map for Riglo here. Miron, please carry news of this to the base camp.”
“Ummm… I think at the very least we need to watch how they change their concealed guards. Right now the only way we have to get in is to knock.”
Ref interfering, we’ll hold Miron long enough for Riglo to report back. We should probably send someone as an outside handler for the Hobbits. I am thinking the absent Gil-Gandel is a good choice.
Last question, can Deor provide that second invisibility to Mulligan. If the Hobbits get a chance to get in, the invisibility will be worth far more than any confusion it will cause.
Elfstan draws Sting and starts to apply grease paint to obscure the blade. He hopes he doesn’t have to use it!
Btw, can I get a ruling on Sting being invisible or not when held by an invisible hobbit? I seem to remember from The Hobbit that Sting was visible even when Bilbo wasn’t. How about normal swords?
Sting will Shine and be visible. Regular blades will not.
So much for using Sting for an initial backstab. :smack:
I do appreciate the consistency with the source though.
There are still some ways to use Sting. Just keep it in the Scabbard until needed and use it quickly from behind. If you hit, that orc should die immediately.
It’s really not a terrible liability, since invisibility will drop at that point anyway. I just wanted to get a clarification on it. Thanks.
Ghan agreeswith all this and thanksThoroncir.
The hobbits can decide whether they want to observea guard change before they go in. Only one should be Invisible, since otherwise they have no way of seeing what the other one is doing or where the other one went.
Miron is welcome to risk the road (day is presumably safer)
Miron is happy to wait for riglo. 
Suits me. Let’s have Gil-Gandel follow the Hobbits and remain outside the orc-lair, then. And welcome back, glee!
Ok Elfstan, this is supposed to be a scouting exercise. If we wind up in combat, although I am sure you can take care of yourself, it means we have done something wrong.
We go in, look around, get an idea of how many Orcs are around, leaders, weapons etc. etc. and then get out again.
Use all your senses especially your ears, don’t just rely on your eyes. Don’t pick up anything, make a note, and we can get it when we go in later.
If it goes badly wrong use one of the smoke bombs and get out. In a cave system, it will fill the area and stop them seeing you. At that point you will be able to slip out. The noise will also alert me to get out as well.
If we are both invisible, listen for the low whistle calls and for marks drawn on the floor. Don’t forget you can do the same too if you have something of note.
All the above applies to me as well.
The only question is, do you want to go first or shall I. And above all, don’t forget to use your initiative.
Alright guys, I’m headed to the airport in about an hour, so as much as I’d like to I won’t be able to play Miron through this encounter. If Pleo is alright with it, I’m happy to have someone in the group play him through this encounter, otherwise I trust whomever is around to pose him out of the adventure until I get back in 3 weeks.
The Hobbits head out with Gil-Gandel to escort them. Renee suggests that the Ghân provide the three with 8 berries each.
They swiftly but cautiously make their way back to the hill. Gil-Gandel finds a safe, hidden cool spot to observe and potentially offer help. He plans to spend his idle time constructing a few songs and poems of the adventures so far.
The two young Hobbits stake out the western guard, which Gil-Gandel can keep an eye on from a greater distance. Fortune smiles on the Hobbits. They arrived but minutes before noon and at what cannot be more than a few minutes after noon, they see the Orc crawl out and stand up and stretch. Then he crawls back in face first and knocks 3 times on something in the back of the hide-away. The Hobbits are but a short distance away at this point. They both hear a door creak open and see the orc crawl through a low tunnel opening. Low enough that even the Hobbits would need to duck.
What do the Hobbits do? Currently you are but a foot apart for careful whispering if needed and both are invisible.
**Miron ** is simply waiting for the return or non-return of Riglo and then will act as a messanger back to Caramir and possibly back to Minas Tirith.
At about 1pm a strange noise is heard approaching the camp. It sounds like drunken singing and off key. It is coming from the North.
Just to clarify, the noise is approaching the party at the main camp?