Prologue: All Players

[dmw71]

"I'm going around this way." Shannigans reattaches the scarf and rolls off and crawls to the right of our group, twenty-five to thirty feet, hoping to flank the incoming group on it's left side.

I will add this movement.

Gwillt, staying low to the ground and trying to avoid being seen, follows the halfling. He does this for several reasons.
a) because he still doesn't totally trust him,
b) to keep an eye on him to make sure he stays out of trouble,
c) because he actually has a good idea of flanking the approaching party and since the halfling is the only other one carrying a bow, it seems the two could work together to fire a few rounds into the opponents, should it be necessary, before any melee commences.

And this.

Updated map, below, placing Shannigans [S] and Gwillt [GR] between the rope and the wolf restraint:

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More recent map available.

Shannigans and Gwillt, feel free to let me know if you wish to adjust your current positioning.

[Computer +1]

As Shannigans and Gwillt break for the open Jareth hisses.
Fools! We must scout to the right and withdraw if possible. If we can't withdraw we must use the waterfall to our advantage and seek to parley.

He releases Ewells arm.
I will step out on our side and parley with the approaching group. If they seek to attack can ye hold the path behind the falls? Kaltar and Garth can back you up and watch the cave for any additional problems.

[dmw71]

As we are still frozen in our moment in time behind the waterfall I would like to ask, what can we see to the right on our side of the falls? Does the path lead to the forest? Any cover? Is there a clear path beyond? Are we trapped?

There isn't an easy way to create gradual lines, but both the cliff and the river/stream begin to bend to the north not far (~50 feet) from your current position. For at least that distance there's a route the group can take. Past the bend, however, you can't tell.

I have modified the map again to add the bend, and also to show Jareth [J], Kaltar [K], Garth [GM] and Ewell [E] in some order (doesn't have to be how I illustrate them) actually being behind the falls.

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                                   Waterfall
              
                                    |~ ~ ~|
                                    | ~ ~ |
                                    |~ ~ ~|
                                    | ~ ~ |
                        Cliff       |~ ~ ~|  Cliff
                                    | ~ ~ |
 (Gwillt)                           |~ ~ ~|                                                      /
                                    | ~ ~ |                                                     /
   ---!---------------------------- [J] [K] ---------------------------------------------------/
      ! [S] & [GR]       |          | ~ ~ |  \___  10'     
      !                  |          [GM] [E] /                                                     / ~  /
      !                 Wolf        \ ~~~~ \______________________________________________________/ ~  /
     Rope             Restraint      \ ~~~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ /
                                      \ ~~~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ /
                     .      .           ____________________________________________________________/
                     .      .    .
                    .       .      .
                    .       .         .
                   .        .            .
                   .        .               .
                  .         .                  .
                  .         .                      .
                 .          .                           .
                 .          .                                .
                .           .                                     .
               .            .                                          .
               .            .                                              .
              .             .       ^                                           .
             .              .       |                                             (Ewell)
            .               .
                            .  Approaching
   (Garth & Shan.)          .     Group                     (Top)
                            .                                 N 
                            .                       (Left) W     E (Right)
                            .                                 S
                     (Jareth & Kaltar)                     (Bottom)

[Alethan]

Err... do you mean the right of the map as we're looking at it? Or as the party is facing? I was picturing the party as facing south (or down?), not facing the cliff face.

Ignoring the large man, Gwillt whispers to Shannigans, "Let's keep moving and try to come around their flank... at the very least, we're out in the open and not pinned between a river and a cliff face and a cave we've never examined."

[onlyme]

He releases Ewells arm.
I will step out on our side and parley with the approaching group. If they seek to attack can ye hold the path behind the falls? Kaltar and Garth can back you up and watch the cave for any additional problems.

Ewell laughs at such nonsense...
Could I, of course. But you being a trained fighter know as well as I, that watching others is not the task of men like us. I shall walk beside you or lead you, I shall not stay back to babysit. Our new friends, at least I hope they are, will be safely to our side, and can handle whatever you and I leave for them.

[dmw71]

Err... do you mean the right of the map as we're looking at it? Or as the party is facing? I was picturing the party as facing south (or down?), not facing the cliff face.

I have edited the most recent map to include the cardinal directions. I should have specified this earlier, but when I write "right" or "left," it is from the perspective of the reader, not the character (e.g. North = top; South = bottom; West = left; East = right).

Ignoring the large man, Gwillt whispers to Shannigans, "Let's keep moving and try to come around their flank... at the very least, we're out in the open and not pinned between a river and a cliff face and a cave we've never examined."

Similar to the bend to the northeast off to the right of the map, the cliff face will bend to the southwest off to the left.

[dmw71]

I shall walk beside you or lead you, I shall not stay back to babysit. Our new friends, at least I hope they are, will be safely to our side, and can handle whatever you and I leave for them.

Jareth and Ewell step out from behind the waterfall. However, before they can turn to advance towards the newly arriving group, a loud drumming is heard.

Stopping to focus closely on the newly arriving group shows that it has stopped marching in your direction. Instead, the band appears to have camped appromiately 200 feet from your current position. Also visible amongst the group is a large, round kettle drum with two members of this band of humanoids (larger than goblins) alternatingly beating upon its sides.

[dmw71]

Most recent map. Updates reflect the new location of Shannigans and Gwillt (let me know if your plans have you elsewhere), the fact that Ewell and Jareth have stepped out from behind the waterfall, and also where the band of humanoids stopped advancing and revealed their drum.

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                                                                         Waterfall
                                          
                                                                          |~ ~ ~|
                                                                          | ~ ~ |
                               (Gwillt)                                   |~ ~ ~|
                                                                          | ~ ~ |
                                                              Cliff       |~ ~ ~|  Cliff
                                                                          | ~ ~ |
                                                                          |~ ~ ~|                                                      /
                                                                          | ~ ~ |                                                     /
         ----------------------------------!----------------------------- | [K] | ---------------------------------------------------/
       /   [S] [GR]                        !                  |           | ~ ~ |  \___  10'     
      /                                    !                  |  [E] [J]  | [GM]|  /                                                     / ~  /
     /                                     !                 Wolf         \ ~~~~ \______________________________________________________/ ~  /
    /                                     Rope             Restraint       \ ~~~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ /
   /                                                                        \ ~~~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ /
  /                                                        .      .           ____________________________________________________________/ 
                                                           .      .    .
                                                          .       .      .
                                                          .       .         .
                                                         .        .            .
                                                         .        .               .
                                                        .         .                  .
                                                        .         .                      .
                                                       .          .                           .
                                                       .          .                                .
                                                      .           .                                     .
                                                     .            .                                          .
                                                     .            .                                              .
                                                    .             .     (drum)                                       .
                                                   .              .    Humanoids                                        (Ewell)
                                                  .               .
                                                                  .             
                                         (Garth & Shan.)          .                               (Top)
                                                                  .                                 N 
                                                                  .                       (Left) W     E (Right)
                                                                  .                                 S
                                                           (Jareth & Kaltar)                     (Bottom)

[onlyme]

the band of humanoids ... revealed their drum.

Hee hee... it's just a drum band... Why are y'all worried?

[Alethan]

the band of humanoids ... revealed their drum.

Hee hee... it's just a drum band... Why are y'all worried?

Er. Because drum sounds carry far... and attract attention.

Or because they're magical Drums of the Quake or some such thing and they make cliffs tumble down on people.

Or because they're the drums used to call the dragon out from the mouth of the cave under the waterfall once a year for the ritual sacrifice...

[Stonjuz]

"Let's keep moving and try to come around their flank... at the very least, we're out in the open and not pinned between a river and a cliff face and a cave we've never examined."

"Way ahead of ya....", Gwillt could pass the halfling as Shannigans turns to give a look back to see Garth's position. Then he turns and quickly sneaks along the human ranger's 'path' or flanks the incoming group with Gwillt in tow.
The closer he gets, he realizes 'they did not approach from EXACTLY the same angle as Garth and I' as he first imagined but doesn't mention it.....yet.

[Nuke66]

Garth waits, staying hid, waiting for the bait to act. What are they waiting for? he wonders.

[Alethan]

Gwillt continues northwest, hugging the canyon wall, until he reaches a distance he believes to be safe from their sight before turning westsouth and beginning to flank them. He will take advantage of any cover available, even if it means turning west a little sooner or a little later.

EDIT: Edited to correct directions, which I obviously messed up in a NyQuil-induced stupor.

[saalaria]

Kaltar will turn and look into the cave - if he sees nothing he will take a few steps to check the immediate geography of the entrance and beyond. He won't actually advance into the cave as I assume the light disappears fairly immediately.

[Stonjuz]

From the western spot, decided upon by ranger and halfling, and looking back to his left at the group, Shannigans begins his southern crawl. Staying ahead, parallel of anyone from the main party that also proceeds south from the cave.
If no one in the group proceeds south, then he will not crawl any further than 25% of the way south to the drum parallel, unless Gwillt does.

[Alethan]

Check your directions, Stonejuz. Up is not north on the map.

[Stonjuz]

Check your directions, Stonejuz. Up is not north on the map.

OOC - looks like it is to me

[Alethan]

Eh? It is.

Sorry.

Blessed god NyQuil is doing his work well...

[Computer +1]

Jareth stops and looks at Ewell.

I think sir that ye confuse me with yerself. I care not fer fighting nor am I am full of meself as ye are. I asked ye to hold the falls so that if I fell the other would have a chance. I also asked ye to stay behind since ye strike me as the type to start a fight even when it isn't necessary. Ye want to go out with me to talk, fine, jus' remember that I will protect those behind us from any threat, that includes ye if ye bring down ruin upon us.

[Nuke66]

Garth tries to take a peek and discern what kind of humanoids these may be.