“I’ll come along.”
I follow the group, bow strung and arrow in hand but not nocked. I’ll also make sure that my sword is loose in its sheath and that my armor is on tight. I keep to the rear, with my head down, not being the sneakiest guy around.
That should be enough for a quick scouting party. Let’s get this show on the road.
Sneaks through underbrush, closing in on the source of the foul smoke
“That sounds good. Somebody just accidentally set themselves on fire. We’re probably just overreacting.” *I try to sound more confident than I really am. Looking nervously at the others, I start heading in that direction. *
Yeah, I set myself on fire all the time. Let’s go.
“If that is the case, their food is likely ruined. I will be more than happy to PURIFY it for them. Blessed be His Noodles.”
Melon saunters along behind Wolverine, tossing the crumpled Googlemap printout into some bushes. Nearby an Indian cries.
[I need to disappear for a few hours. I’ll be back soon. In the meantime, I do not have my weapon out or readied unless I’m fairly certain there will be physical confrontation. I am ready to cast Bless for the first round of combat, if any. After that, I will use the mace to attack. After battle, I will use Cure Light Wounds for anyone (alive) under half hit points.]
Geez, it almost sounds like this cleric knows what he’s doing. Me… I like daggers.
I guess 5:11AM EST is a bad time for y’all. Haha. Darn my crepuscular schedule.
It’s 2:27 AM here, but it’s like afternoon to me. 
It is afternoon for me. I live in China.
With a sigh, I close the latest edition of “Wizard” Magazine, and crouch among the baggage in the cart, ready to dazzle (or club with my staff) any incoming enemy that is incompetent enough not to notice me.
Crawls off of the wagon, “Damn, do those guys ever sleep. Oh well, I’m not dumb enough to check out things that I’m not paid to.”
I’m get up on the wagon so I can have a better line on sight and hopefully see anything coming before it gets too close.
(I’m on mountain time so it’s just before 8:00 am here)
The disagreeable smell is indeed like burning meat, although not quite like any meat anyone here has ever cooked. Somewhat more stealthily than a one-man-band’s annual hopscotch competition, the detachment sets off in search of the cause of the disturbance. **Oredigger77 ** spots no approaching ambush from his vantage point on top of the wagon.
Another yell, and some other voices can also be heard, apparently from a small depression in the ground ahead a furlong or so off the road but screened from it by a few small trees and bushes. The smoke from a small fire can be clearly seen. I could do with knowing what spell Hoopy Frood has prepared before I go any further.
Points Malacandra to post #15.
“I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”
(Ishtar has had Charm Person readied as per the other thread).
Hopefully charmed persons make delightful meat shields or can advocate for how peaceful [del]we[/del] Ishtar is to his friends.
I’m good at spelling. I think this situation spells danger.
“Gee, I hope those guys get back soon, I’m really craving a cold ale once we get to town.”
Autolycus peers around a bush at the rim of a depression. The noise of your approach seems to have been masked by the screams emitted by someone who is staked to the ground with his bare feet to the fire. It is possible but, in Auto’s estimation, unlikely that this is some manhood ritual, given that there are half a dozen shortish green-skinned humanoids in close attendance.
There is a small but active and extremely local religion based around Sull, the seat of whose religion is in the town you just left. Some of his clerics - the more stay-at-home ones - tend a sacred spring by which Sull, it is said, blesses and heals deserving cases. The various members of the Norse pantheon have something of a following too.
Hmmm, looks like some orcs are having a bbq. They didn’t invite us though… 4 on 6 eh? Not bad odds. Anyone got a plan?