The villagers listen with great interest and attention, nodding to confirm the horrors. «The giants were marching South two months ago,» they say. «We had to give up our journey to the market at the coast. Did you see them? Have they really been vanquished? If travelling is safe again, it would solve a great many problems.»
"We have seen no living giants. We have seen many dead Diedne, giants, all sorts of creatures and soldiers. It has been carnage. I can't be sure that all the giants are dead, but the humans who would summon them and make deals with them are gone."
The two young men look at each other, smiling with relief, but the older man interrupts. «Why do you want to hide here in the hills, if the menace is gone from the land below?» As before, the younger men repeat the question with improved articulation and a very suspicious look in their eyes.
"I don't think you understand just how much devastation has been left behind. We crave stability, somewhere we don't have to worry about mundane rulers coming and interfering. Why, as we were burying our dead a lord's steward came by to chase us off, and was protected by holy relics! No, somewhere further away from the powerful lords would be much more comforting. Let us see how the land heals and how the kingdom's power squabbles work out, and then we can look at rebuilding."
Luciu lets Edwin doing the talking, not wanting to force interruptions for translation, or draw attention to himself and his Gift.
The old man nods in understanding. «Difficult the lords can be,» he affirms, echoed by Æðelwulf. «But scant too is the harvest here in the hills, and many have already sought refuge,» continues Angus with the feeble and squeaking voice. «Unfortunately, these hills already have the people they can bear,» rephrases Æðelwulf. «We already depend on supplies remote towns to survive.»
«... but please, tell us ... » Hrothulf changes the subject. «Whom did the war leave standing? Who now rules the lands of Uhtred the Bold¹?»
¹ Historically, Uhtred was ealdorman of Northumbria 1006-16. Area Lore: Northumbria 3+ to know that he was ealdorman a couple of years ago. 9+ to know anything more recent; add three to the EF if the area lore is Stonehenge.
"Ah, as we travelled through the land it seems Uhtred is still alive, but I saw neither hair nor hide of his men. It seems he has little authority in many areas. Local lords have been pillaging where they can, and picking sides in the war. I could not tell you who truly rules a given area." Edwin shakes his head at the anarchy of Northumbria.
«Dangerous the times are,» squeaks Angus from his chair. «Bold a man it takes to carve out land for himself. The next valley, maybe gives a living for the travellers, if the giants march no more.»
Æðelwulf and Hrothulf look at each other, rather confused, before they they light up, and rephrase. «Even if this valley cannot support more people, there are other valleys, and the only threat has been the giants. They should be safe from the robber barons of the South.»
"If there is somewhere good in a nearby valley, we would be happy to try there. However, there is more to look for than just a farmland. Are there any wise men or scholars living near here?" Edwin asks.
«It won't be easy to clear a farm. It would be hunting and foraging for starters; and then you should try to get livestock. But you can cross the hills either East or West, and you will find place where you can settle half a day from here. Just the three of you, are there? That's not much to run a farm anyway,» Hrothulf explains.
«Scholar? No! What do you mean, wise one?» asks Æðelwulf. «We turn to Angus for his wisdom.» Angus snorts, and speaks to Æðelwulf, «the wizard, he means; the old one. That is not the question though. Why does he ask?»
«Oh.» says Æðelwulf and turns back to Edwin. «Why do you ask about the wizard?»
"I have worked for wizards before, and I know some of my colleagues would feel safer if there was a wizard to keep strange beasts and threats away. Also, they tend to require exotic things for their work, which justify a trip to a city to pick up goods, which is another of my talents." Edwin is trying to find out about the wizard so Luciu can find someone knowledgeable to talk to, but is trying to sound casual around the villagers.
«You put a lot of faith it wizards,» says Æðelwulf. «Trust me, when the giants march or other threats are looming, you had better hide. I am sure that's what the wizard does too. Nobody knows where hides, but he comes to us every full moon to bargain for food. His money is good, and allows us to buy supplies from the coast. At least when the giants don't block the way.»
«Hide does the wizard as anybody with any sense, but there was a time when they did not. Few here remember the days when the wizards ruled the valley and could live in the open, for most are refugees from the hills around. Six Winters has passed since the Wizards' Tower fell. For six years the wizard has kept himself to himself. He only appears to trade, and then he disappears into the hills to North.» Angus explains, and this time the younger men do not repeat it. «Can you tell more of the wizards you have worked for?» asks Angus kindly.
The villagers are eager for any kind of story, about the war, about the wizards, and about the new peace.
Edwin tells them a little about the White Horse covenant, but sadly reminisces about the destruction of the main building. Edwin tries to talk more about how the kingdom appears now, and tries to find out more about "the wizard".
Angus is not one for straight answers, but you gather from the conversation that he has lived in this valley since his youth at least. Before the war a group of wizards inhabited the turret at the top of the valley. They claimed taxes from the peasants and shepherds. Some years ago, giants and warlocks from the North mardhed through, sacking the tower and plundering the villages. Many of the villagers currently living here came to seek refuge when other villages were plundered, including Hrothulf and Æðelwulf.
Hrothulf mentions a secluded and abandoned hamlet where most of the cottages still stand. Across the hill to where the the rest of the part waits, down the valley towards the Southwest, and then up the next vally to the Northwest, and then it is in the forest on right hand hillside. Maybe it is a place to settle down, but please use the hunting grounds to the West and not infringe on ours, they say. The houses may be difficult to find, though.
Nobody knows what became of the wizards, except the monthly visits by one of them. He always leaves up the valley towards the ruin of their old tower, and then he disappears in the distance.
[[If and when Edwin passes along this info, Luciu will want to head up to the tower first, and then to the other village.
He will also ask Edwin to ask the villagers how they would feel about new wizard settlers, ones that might be more involved with their community than the old one is.]]
It is night, and certainly not a good time for further exploration. Even so, everybody is still engaged in the stories told and rumours exchanged. Somebody puts more wood on the fire, and suddenly you get a little more light. Almost enough to make out the faces of the people around the table. Does Edwin translate for Luciu? Or otherwise discuss in Latin?
Edwin will happily translate for Luciu, and asks about relations with wizards.
"Put some birch wood on the fire, as more light would be helpful" he says.
In the light of the birchwood fire you can see the suspicious looks in the eyes of your table mates when your conversation switches to Latin. When Edwin suggests settling wizards, their eyes turn again to Luciu and the frown, then they look to Angus for guidance. «More settlers support we really can't, wizard or otherwise,» he squeaks diplomatically, and predictably Æðelwulf rephrases, «The valley really cannot support more settlers as the situation is. It does not matter if they are wizards or not.»
«We had better show you the abandoned cottages,» says Hrothulf helpfully.
When the conversation dwindles out and Angus starts yawning, the grog asks if you are hungry. «I took the opportunity to cook some of the fish, and now it is properly stewed,» he explains. You are quite hungry after a long day hiking, and even the stew is not haute cuisine and you have been fed up with the dried North Sea fish for days, it feels like a necessity. Another chore of the day.
You are offered to sleep in the house, even if the hospitality does not extend to board.
Anything else you try to accomplish? Head to the ruins in the morning and then back to camp?
Head to the ruins in the morning and then back to camp?
Sounds good.
Head to the ruins (Edwin wants to check for anything that makes his Magic Sensitivity tingle) and then join the group again.