"Excellent."

"Now that everyone is here," Duncan says, "we can begin preparations for the Joining ritual. Each of you will need to collect a vial of darkspawn blood. There are enough scattered stragglers in the area that this should not be too difficult." He pulls out a map of the area and spreads it out on a nearby camp table. "There is also an old abandoned Warden outpost nearby." He taps the map. "While you are out, I would like you to find it, and bring back any documents you may find. Xandra knows what exactly we are looking for, so she will go with you."

She's got questions on the terrain, and on the varieties of darkspawn that have been spotted nearby. 

They've got that information. They're in a marshy type area, with drier hills poking up everywhere. Muddy waters might hide unexpected depths, so watch your step. It's been mostly hurlocks, with a handful of genlocks. There are emissaries confirmed, but no positive sightings of shrieks or ogres. The scout corps have lost a couple deeper patrols, so those might be sticking with the bulk of the horde.

She's studied those in depth, fortunately. 

And Halna's fought more than her fair share - she can run over her own experience with tactics while they walk. 

That would be very helpful for Briony.

On their way out to the wilds, they pass the Chasind dog warriors' encampment. One of the men tending to the mabari looks up and notices the party. "Excuse me! Grey Wardens! You are heading into the wilds, yes?"

"We are. Do you need something, Ser - ?"

"Aven. We've got too many dogs catching sick off these blasted darkspawn. There's a medicinal herb that sometimes helps them fight off the taint, but our stocks are running low. White flower, with a blood-red center. If you can find some and bring it back, we'd appreciate it."

"We'll keep an eye out."

"Our thanks. Maker go with you."

"And with you."

Off into the Wilds?

Xandra will let the recruits decide on the route they want to take.

...She barely remembers life outside the Circle. She's realizing that she has no idea how navigating rough terrain works. 

Yeah Shiremi's a city girl, she's eyeing the trees suspiciously. 

...Is Halna really the least bad at navigating overland here, because she hadn't seen the sky ever until Xandra recruited her. 

"...Briony, do you have an idea?"

"Yes." She does, in fact, have training for navigating the wilderness. Templars do sometimes have to hunt down rogue apostates.

They'll follow her, then. 

Briony does a passable job at leading the party.

Enough so that they can spot the first roaming band of darkspawn before they get spotted in turn. There's about a dozen, human-sized hurlocks in shabby, ill-fitting chainmail with rust-pitted swords and shields.

Any way they can set up an ambush? 

There's a bit of a hill they could sneak up on the darkspawn from behind.

Sounds like a good strategy - especially given both Lys and Shiremi (who grabbed a bow on their way out of camp) are going to be better at range, it'll be good to have high ground. 

Briony will take point, then Halna and Xandra can back her up, with Lys and Shiremi remaining at range.

Works.