Mario-cart for driving skills; .  That explains alot.  Ghlan will go back to duck hunter to work on his sniping.  

  As usual the plan worked and didn't work.  They had gotten a surprise attack off and scored some good hits but failed to kill any of the bugbears and the most injured one was the victem of the sleep spell.  Hornet shrugged, such is the way of battle plans.  Reloading his crossbow he took aim at the closest bugbear and let loose another bolt.  With luck the enemy might not know exactly where the attack came from and not be able to counterattack.    

DragonSoul, I saw your post about aiming at the bugbear's calf so as not to kill it,  We are trying to kill those two, the one at the otter will be under sleep spell and the one we question. 

Once the plan was final and all were in position, Hornet gave a "hoot".  His bolt flew towards the bugbears and was joined by arrows, javalins and a spell.  With luck the battle would be over before the bugbears were even aware they were under attack.

I missed a word in my post.  We are aiming at the bugbears at the campfire not the fire itself.  I can give the signal in game.  to make it easy for the DM post if you are aiming at the right or left bugbear.  Include the answers from those above you to make it easy.

Hornet: Right bugbear.  Will give an owl hoot when time to shoot and cast spell.  

"Be careful Silver, just because the bugbears have the otter tied up doesn't mean it might not be dangerous."

  Hornet returned to the others.  "There are bugbears ahead,  Appears to be three of them, two by a fire and one taunting a very large otter strung up in a tree.  Nothing too weird there.  Now, this next part I am not sure I even believe.  When teh bugbear growled at the otter, I assume taking to it but I don't speak bugbear, the otter seemed to talk back, but I don't speak otter either.  The bugbears might be in league with the goblins or at least know where the goblin lair is.  I suggest we attack them while we have surprise using ranged attacks on the fire and hopefully use sleep on the one by the otter so we can question it.  As for the otter, I say we at least keep it alive to see what it is.  I've never seen a talking otter."   

Sleep is a good choice.  Then ranged attack followed by a charge.  We should have a surprise attack.  

Bugbears are not nearly as bad as trolls.  We can take them and rescue the otter.  If for no other reason than to see what it is

My vote would be NO on returning to village and YES to sniffer.  

"The villagers may not have told us everything but I doubt they know where the lair is located.  We found a raiding party and have a chance to maybe follow one goblin back to the lair.  Returning to the village would not get us any closer to finding the source of the evil and could cause us to lose a chance to track that runaway."

The group was on the move once again in their new vehicle.  Ghalahn wondered if it was worth more or less than the abandoned van.  Charlie would be pissed they lost the rental but maybe this vehicle would be a fair trade.  "Fixer, try to keep this vehicle in one piece."   

Could a druid shape change into a bloodhound or other animal with good sense of smell?  Maybe track the runaway goblin that way.

In a table top game we could search several directions in quick order by saying "we go north" and DM says "you travel several hours and find nothing" and then we try a different direction.  In post play the DM may have to take that upon themselves.  Post that we try several directions without sucess before finding that "x" direction seems to be best.  If you are roling for random encounters you would simply throw that in and compete it before the final correct direction is given.  

"Yes indeed those are the evil.  But only the sysmptons of the evil that lurks on teh ridge.  We need to find the source and destroy it before the village is once again safe"  It seemed the newcomer would be a helpful addition to their little band of adventurers.

 " AND IT WOULD SEEM I HAVE FOUND WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR !"   It was those loud words that really caught Hornet's attention.  The newcomer had been talking about searching for and finding evil and then finished with that.  Did he mean he thought he and his companions were evil?  Or that the other party they had met was evil?  "What do you mean you found the evil?" Hornet stared at the newcomer and waited for an answer. 

Just car jacked a soccer mom so gotta stay and see what happens

From the post I got that only the last part was shouted and it sounded like we were the evil

He will be known to Hornet as Thäoran the Lost

Hornet walked close to Soledad.  "Which way do you think the goblin HQ lies?  Perhaps that fleeing goblin headed in its general direction.  With the coming storm I doubt we will be able to track him but it seems as good a direction as any to investigate."

    The lone surviving goblin was long gone and there was no sign of reinforcements arriving.  Hornet stood and turned his attention to the group that had appeared and was talking ot his companions.  Slowly he made his way back to the group.  "Seems we have a better class of visitors.  Although I would love to learn more about each of you, it looks like a storm is coming and I'd rather talk under cover than out in the open in driving rain.  Perhaps we can retire to the farmhouse until the storm passes?  Then we can discuss the future."  Hornet started to walk slowly towards the shelter.  

thanks for clearing that up. Now I can get a post together

Just checking: The dragonborn is our new player and he has a group of retainers that function as his private NPCs?   

Steam and smoke bellowed from the hood of the wrecked van.  It was obvious that it had driven its last mile.  Looking around, Ghalan spotted a vehicle that could carry the small group and have room for the new folks.  "Everyone get ready to move.  We need a new ride and that one fits the bill."  Ghalan pointed to his intended target and then exited the broken van.  Drawing his pistol, he pointed it at the driver of the vehicle "Nice and easy now.  Make the smart choice; step out and live for your husband and kids."  With the car jack complete, Ghalan moved to the passenger side so fixer could drive.

OOC: Ghalahn picks a female driver as he figures they would be less likely to fight back.  If they do he will simply shoot them and drag them out of the car.  

Ghalan is considering a straight up car jacking.

Twp questions:

1.  What are the hijackers doing at the moment?

2.  Is there an undamaged vehicle stopped nearby?