The Man They Call Shan

[Edward]

Zhu Lin trties to find a good hiding spot where he can observe the caves.

[Kwokinator]

There are a total of four caves alongside but not near each other.  The only hiding spot that is within range and wouldn't be too easy for anyone to spot someone hiding behind is behind some large rocks opposite of the caves, but would be far enough that Zhu Lin would not be able to listen to what the occupants of the cave are saying, but can look inside, providing the cave occupants are not too far in the cave and the cave is not too deep.

There is also a closer spot that is within earshot, but anyone hiding behind would be easily spotted by anyone coming in and out of the caves, even though there are no guards standing at the entrances.

[Edward]

"The fortune teller told me to step carefully," Zhu Lin thinks.  That means the space behind the large rocks.

Zhu Lin looks around for edible nuts, roots, or berries as well as a source of water.  He'll also closely examine the route to and from the large rocks, trying to find the best way to reach there unseen and the best path of retreat if he is discovered.

[Kwokinator]

Since the cave occupants seem to be rather lax in security, Zhu Lin making his way to the rocks unseen does not seem to pose much of a problem.  That is, unless someone comes out of the cave at the exact same time that he's making his way over.

Since there's no other way down the mountain, if discovered, the only way of retreat is to go back down the same path he came up on and hope no back ups surround him from both sides, or keep going up the mountain, with no visibly obvious way of getting back down.

There's no nearby source of water because the caves are located in the middle of the mountain, the only possible source is inside the caves, and it is not known if all of them are occupied or not.  Source of food poses a similar predicament, with only bushes around and bushes can't be very appetizing.

[Edward]

Zhu Lin examines the path upward, trying to determine if there would be food or water sources father up the mountain.  Spying on the caves may take a lot of time and he's either going to have to live off the land, which he's good at, or return to town for some sort of rations.

[Kwokinator]

It is unlikely for there to be a well on top of a mountain, so an obvious water source is not possible.  It is possible to have bushes or small plants, but large trees with growing fruit is unlikely.

However, there are usually animals that live on a mountain, so there could be food to be hunted, if one was so inclined.

[Edward]

Zhu Lin isn't and hasn't been looking for a well, which are rare on mountains and difficult to find.  He's looking for a stream, which are fairly common on mountains and easy to hear.  He finds the fact there is no stream near the caves very odd.  The bandits have to get water from somewhere, and if there is no stream nearby, then they either have to travel large distances for it, or they spent a lot of time and effort digging a well into the solid rock of the cave floor.

Zhu Lin will set some snares suitable for small game away from the caves where any bandits are unlikely to notice them and then look for a stream.

Again, he's expecting to have to spend some time scouting the caves, which isn't going to work if he has to hike all the way back to the village every time he needs to get water.

[Kwokinator]

OOC:  Finally decided to just bite it and ask Dracos for help 'cause I couldn't figure out how to get myself out of the hole I dig myself into here.  Hope this is okay now ^_^;

IC:  A soft sound of running water alerts Zhu Lin to the possibility of a water source.  Upon further examination, there is a stream with running water slightly further up the path, obscured from sight by some rock formations.

[Edward]

Zhu-Lin moves to the stream as carefully as he can, as there might be bandits near it.  If there aren't he'll quench his thirst and try to make it to the hiding place in the rocks where he can observe.  If there are bandits by the stream, he'll try to listen.

"I wonder how many bandits there are?" he thinks.  "The ones who attacked me had enough courage to face me, but whoever killed the girl was such a coward they struck her from behind."

"I wonder what her name is?

[Kwokinator]

Shortly after Zhu Lin gets back to his hiding place, a pair of bandits make their way up the path.

"Man, I can't wait till we split the loot today," one of the bandits commented.

"Yeah, it's been a good week.  Usually we don't make this much, but there was that girl several days ago..."

[Edward]

Zhu-Lin reminds himself that the fortuneteller said to be cautious, even though he wants to leap out and start busting heads.

He quickly checks to see if attacking these two would be visible from the cave and how close he can get before attacking them, hopefully by surprise.

[Kwokinator]

As the bandits are still sufficiently far enough from the cave entrance, sounds of fighting shouldn't be able to reach inside the cave.

If they decide to scream loudly, either from pain or calling for backup, however...

[Edward]

Zhu-Lin pulls out a couple of the bamboo needles he uses for Anqi attacks.  He quickly tries to assess things to see if he can hit both bandits in pressure points that will cause sleep, paralysis, or at least paralyze their vocal chords.

OOC: How are these bandits armed?

[Kwokinator]

As the bandits are walking side by side but one slightly before the other, the second, dao-wielding bandit has his body mostly shielded by the first one, who carries a staff, and most of the important vital points are not visible at Zhu Lin's vantage point.

[Edward]

Zhu-Lin is torn, if the bandits are splitting the loot today, it sounds as if they're splitting up and leaving the area.  Yet he can't forget the fortuneteller's warning, either.

OOC:  If he drops the first bandit with the pressure points attack, would he have a clear shot at the second?