Rubellius sees Edwin and Janus busy with the newly arrived.
He makes a sign to his grogs, whom leave the things they were carrying where they are to follow him. Rubellius makes himself big as he used to do in such contexts, even if his face may betray his uncertainty.
He gives a long look at the wagon and the cage, as well as to the two knights: are they equipped well?
Do they seem well equipped and servants of a rich one?
What signs do appear on their horses' caparisons?
The knights wear excellent armour but no crest. That is not unusual though, in this day and age. The horses, to those who have a decent training in animal handling or ride, appear to be of the best breed. Clearly, the knights are able to afford the best, of both aesthetic and martial qualities.
The wagon, in contrast, seems to be built purely for function. Like the driver's cloak it is rough, but solid and durable. The driver looks reckless and merciless, as he speaks. «We received news that the peace of the land has been broken. The culprits are to be brought to the Aelderman. Can you tell us what has happened here?» He glances at the giant, before he resumes his stare at Janus.
Meanwhile, Rubellius' grogs carry the armour to the cart. Were they asked to take anything other than the armour too?
At the far end, Luciu gets his wagon. The spell does not reveal anything new. No active spell effects can be seen, but the spell would not detect vis nor enchanted devices. The lady must be a maga in twilight; nothing else makes sense. A beautiful wooden staff with a crystal embedded at the head has been dropped to the ground beneath her. In the poaches hanging from her belt, you can find two small clay statues, five dried nuts, and three vials of unidentifiable potions.
The presiding quaesitoris has a large seashell in his hand, a sword in his belt, and the ostentatious helmet. His clothes are partly burnt, and they find illegible fragments of a diary which has been burnt with them.
“We were attacked by these brigands and had to defend ourselves, the lord God granting us victory in the struggle. We will take the victors right from the dead and be on our way. I have no wish to meet the Ealdorman so you can be on your way” replies Janus.
Wulfric eyes you suspiciously and scans the battle field. «Brigands, is that what you call them? They just came upon you with hundreds of men at arms and assaulted you? Who are you? Was it just you, or did you too bring a little army.»
Janus' memory of the battle is hazy, but he can remember that both the Order and the Diedne had amassed big armies for an anticipated clash. More senior magi were pulling the strings, and you know little about why it came to a confrontation here and now.
[You are free to postulate any memories which make a good story (no orcs though, I know they are your favourite). You may or may not have been part of the big army. I assumed you were, but I can adapt to your narrative regardless.]
Luciu has his people lift the Quaesitore's body into the wagon. Expecting her not to be movable, he'll try the same with the maga; and if it works he takes her staff as well, otherwise he leaves her undisturbed, and puts her staff in her hand, or gets as close as he can; hoping that if she is holding it in her strange attitude, it's less likely to be taken. Afterwards, he rides with his crew back off the battlefield, keeping a close eye on the others, for he wants to rejoin them, but doesn't interrupt their conversation.
The maga's body is indeed impossible to move. However, the pouches can be cut from her belt and the staff can be removed. You get the quaesitoris' body into the wagon. The big seashell slips from his hand and rolls into a pool of mud. Do you take anything?
It takes a little while to maneuver the wagon back to the hill where you first met, and if you want to catch up with Janus and Rubellius, it will be faster to go on foot. It is hard work to maneuver a wagon between dead bodies, and the ground looks a lot softer if you continue.
From Intellego Vim guidelines Arm5 base book p. 158: "Raw vis will show up as magical, simply as raw vis, under any magical detection. The level of the detecting spell is irrelevant, as is the realm of power that it was designed to detect. However, only specially designed spells will yield any information other than that it is raw vis."
So actually, yes, a vision InVi spell looking for spell traces or active spell effects would reveal vis. It wouldn't tell how many pawns there are, or the type of vis, but it would reveal vis.
Luciu takes the seashell but doesn't interfere with the maga's possessions other than to hook the staff to her body somehow. He believes it is hers, so does not indulge in self-delusion to excuse taking it as if it weren't, and he won't deprive her of magical power. He can't be sure she's a Diedne, so he feels he must behave as if she weren't.
Edwin will look at the stranger (Wulfric) and say "I'm sorry, good man, which ealdorman are you referring to?". (He missed the earlier conversation, and is trying to smooth over any poor impression the magus' bluntness may cause).
The five dried nuts that the white maga carries are vis. Nothing else is detected (yet).
Luciu doesn't take the vis, either. He hopes he's not leaving a Diedne with resources, but better that than to deprive. He gets his people to start moving off the battlefield, but keeps a close eye on the distant conversation, walking closer to get within earshot, accompanied by one grog (the other is staying with the wagon).
«Eadric of Mercia, of course,» says Wulfric impatiently, «who else? You are on his land. Is this wanton slaughtering your doing?» His eyes moves impatiently and suspiciously from one to the other. «Or are you just petty plunderers? There is no point in lying. The truth will be revealed,» he adds touching a cross which he wears in a necklace.
"This slaughter is not our doing. These reavers came to burn and destroy", Edwin claims while pointing at the corpses he thinks belong to Diedne. "These brave men had to defend themselves and your Lord's land. God willing, the nearby villages and monasteries are safe from attack now."
«You would say that, wouldn't you?» he says, «but show me, then, who are the reavers and who are your lot?» He steps down from the wagon, and steps forward to inspect the corpses you pointed out. «Interesting,» he says, looking at a body with arms and legs twisted in ways that defeat descriptions, and which you are sure you could not replicate. «How did you say you slew them?» He watches the magi out of the corner of his eyes, but addresses Edwin.
"I didn't kill any of them. Look at me, I'm no more a warrior than you are! I work in service to others", Edwin replies.
Pointing at the corpses, he shakes his head and says "It was a most confusing battle. The warbands smashed into each other, and people were pushed over and trampled into the mud. The bad weather didn't help, many lost their footing due to wind and rain. Then some cattle stampeded into the fight, I don't know if they were spooked or if this was deliberately done by someone."
Sighing, he says "I can't explain all of this, and I doubt any man can. It is as if the angels turned their face away from this battle."
«No, you are right. You do not look as if you fought.» Wulfric gives you a good look. «You look like aide-de-camp to the warlock. Where were you when the battle was went on?»
«And you,» he turns to the magi, «you were fighting, you said. Can you tell me how this man was killed? Who can do such an atrocity to a fellow?» He points at the twisted corpse, obviously slain by a supernatural and non-Hermetic effect¹. «Please, walk me through what happened, and I am sure we can figure out who poses the threat to the realm.»
¹ You may or may not have seen the spell slaying them. Your choice. Elaborate as you wish.
‘I don’t answer to you or anyone else, leave me to my business and I will leave you to yours” replies Janus with distain, turning and walking away.
«Thus speaks an enemy of the Law,» says Wulfric patiently. «We shall return to that in due course.»
Then he turns to Edwin, again. «You, then, tell me who you are, all three of you.» Edwin feels compelled to answer honestly. The sound of Wulfric's voice is that the senior magus at the covenant, invested with rightful authority¹.
¹ The effect is similar to that of Aura of Rightful Authority. It would take MR or a very good personality trait roll (12+ maybe?) to defy completely, but at a Loyal roll of 6+ is should be possible to balance competing obligations and loyalties. Please roleplay it.
“Know that I am the righteous fire of the lord God, sent to cleanse his lands of the evil that resides here. If you speak to me in that tone again it will be the last thing you and your guards ever do this side of Purgatory. Now take this final warning and leave us be. What little patience I have for your demands and accusations is at an end. Be gone and live” roars Janus
Unable to stop himself, Edwin says "I am Edwin Oswaldson, the estate I worked for is now ashes."