Sasso, not the usual one to notice such thing, does so regardless (Per + Folk Ken roll of 10). He pauses for an instant, wondering if he should just shoot the defenseless woman dead. Master Thadeus wouldn't be pleased if he did.
But then, master Thadeus isn't there.
He takes his dagger out and moves around her. With the pommel he hits her hard on the head to knock her out. Maybe she can provide some information.
No, she was moving back towards the group, but was ready for another shot if the spearman was following her.
With the misaligned collaboration of Cath'rinne's mind control spell, it is very easy for Sasso to knock out the spearwoman.
Iago and the others can hear very brief hostile clashes, but except for Telsa who is approaching to rejoin them, everybody is keeping their heads down.
After looking around to make sure there aren't any other hostiles, Sasso picks up the woman on his shoulder and goes back to the group. He leaves the woman's spear there.
This brings Sasso on a route towards the wounder archer, unless he returns the way he came and return to the path to take it uphill through the ambush pass to the party. Cath'rinne can of course see both Sasso and the wounded archer.
If Sasso heads the shortest way, an Awareness+Perception is called for. Maybe stealth too, but that's difficult with an aqult on one's shoulders.
Cath'rinne can watch this from above and has first initiative regardless of roll. Sasso is startled when the archer suddenly sticks his head out from behind a rock. The archer is surprised too, but he already had his bow ready to fire, while Sasso has a spearmaid on his shoulders.
Archer at initative 7. Sasso should roll.
Sasso rushes the archer, hoping the the combination of his shield and the woman of his shoulders will catch the arrow. He'll try to turn as the arrow is released, to present as small a target as possible. (Initiative total of 3, defense of 7 - Enc from the woman + whatever bonus she provides as a shield)
After the arrow is shot, unless he is badly wounded, he will dump the woman, turn into a wolf and run down the archer.
The archer sees the woman. «Arlaine? What the ... ?» he exclaims, hesitating just a tad before he aims low, hitting Sasso in the leg. Damage 9 to be soaked.
Arlaine groans, and Sasso can feel her attempts to shift weight, but she is not yet making any active resistance.
The party on the path can hear the exchange and watch the tired and annoyed vulture in the sky. Awareness+Perception 9+ to see anything else.
Iago will order the pack train forward, trying to get sight of the enemy ahead. He will halt the main group about half way towards the voices the move forward himself. (Awareness+Perception of 21)
When Thom points out the direction to the sleeping archer, Iago can see a person making their way towards them, more than a hundred paces away.
Just after, he hears the thud of a bowstring, and a low groan, from about where the lookout previously disappeared.
Iago will advance but will not use his bow until he is sure who the targets are.
Sasso curses as the arrow hits him in the leg, taking a medium wound (only -2 beause of Enduring Constitution).
He dumps the woman from his shoulders, heavily, and turns into wolf shape to jump towards the archer, snarling. (I'm assuming his attack will only come next round.)
The path onwards goes through a narrow pass. The sound was from behind the rocks on the hill lining the pass. Does Iago leave the path and search for a path between the rocks, or to the highest point to get an overview, or?
Arlaine drops to the ground, and moans a bit. It sounds as if she is slowly getting to her feet. Sasso turns and jumps on the archer while in the process of transforming. The archer screams, almost freezing, «demons! ... from hell» The shout is loud and everybody hears.
Next round (feel free to interject Cath'rinne), the archer tries to kick Sasso away, but the attack is only 4.
Iago will climb to the highest point to see exactly what is happening
It takes two or three rounds, but you can just as well roll the obvious awareness+perception straight away.
Thom moves a few steps behind Iago as they progress down the pathway.
"I will be nearby," he says to Iago and the grogs before putting on a Veil of Invisibility spell. He starts to proceed down the narrow pass a handful of steps ahead of Iago, trying to see anyone ahead. He pauses when he notices Iago climb to get a vantage point to see what is happening.
Iago rolls a mighty 6 for his Per+Awareness
Thom too needs an Awareness+Perception. He follows the path when Iago starts climbing, right?
Sasso bites the archer (Atk total of 16, including the penalty from his wound) while easily evading the clumsy kick (Dfn 7, same).
The teeth cut through the seams in the leather armour, but does not cut very deep into the skin of the archer.
Next round. Sasso hears a scream behind him, «Glenn!» It must be Arlaine stumbling to her feet.
Arlaine is first in the round, but I now I do wait for @temprobe .