«You don't know? I thought everybody had heard the story by now. People have been coming from miles away for weeks.
«A strange friar came to the abbey's hospital early in Spring and gave a box of food to the head hospitalier. Although the box was not that big, it was not empty for a week and both the patients and the monks ate well.»
The priest goes on to tell the story of the three fish and the five loaves of bread, and he is full of praise and thanks to the lord, and seems to forget that Nauvi is there.
"A whole week? What amazing providence from the Lord. Such a shame I missed it." Nauvi will look heavenwards before he says goodbye to the priest and joins the others.
As Hamish follows along with Finn, he watches the folk and people around, listening to snatches of gossip and trying to assess the general vibe of the town and the people there. He's looking in particular for any soldiers he might talk to. [Folk Ken Check: 9, Intrigue Check: 11 for the "Intrigue also allows a character to pickup important information about those in power, separating fact from useless gossip" part of the ability description.]
The peasants and the working class seem more optimistic than it was. As one of you suggested, early crops have started to come in, and those who have a steady business have more to eat. The city is still full of desperate beggars, even more so than before, as more people seem to have flooded to the city hoping to get something from the Box of the Unnamed Friar.
There is not much more learn, and certainly not without delaying the journey, so I suppose you move on.
The rest of the journey to Dumfries is as uneventful as the start. You notice that several large new fields have been ploughed around the village, an impressive feat for a small village. Otherwise nothing has changed since last year, and Benvy is still working for the miller. She does not seem to recognise you.
She looks up, surprised, «Sir? Oh. You are the friends of master Tacitus. Yes; we are alright. And you? Did you find the wizards you were looking for?»
"Afraid not. Just one of their spies, who couldn't tell us much."
Thadeus smiles, a bit sorrowfully, before adding, "We did rescue one of our friends, who'd been captured by giants. And found the remains of another, peace be on him."
"How about you? The winter was hard on many people down south. Was it as bad here?"
«Winter was a strain, but we have known it worse. A few peasants have fled into town during the winter, as bandits have been raiding the smallest hamlets.»
"What about you? And other survivors from Dunwald? Things seemed difficult in the fall. If you are willing, Ungulus is looking for more people. Things have settled down there."
«Things have settled here too, I think, and I am not English. I have had to relocate once, and I'd rather not have to do it again, and with the new-ploughed fields, we should have plenty to eat in Autumn. The miller got a nice big patch for himself, and now he has recruited several farmhands. So has everybody else who had coin in the village, and now there are good deals for us who did not as well.»
"I understand," says Thadeus with a nod. "If there is anyone you know who would prefer a position at Ungulus rather than staying here, let them know we will be back in a week or two. And tell me if there is anything else we could do to help you."
No, that was all for Dunfries. Thadeus planned on going straigth to Wicker Hill first, before going to see Lord Fergus. We can stop at Dunwald on the way to Fergus.
Telsa and Sasso will be sent ahead to locate a place where we can establish a discrete camp near Wicjer Hill. Ideally somewhere less than an hour from there, but still tucked away where villagers and shepherds are unlikely to stumble upon us.
That would be a long detour. Fergus' manor and Wicker Hill are West of Dunwald, and further from Dunwald than from each other. The logical route is to return the way you left Wicker Hill, and go West from Dumfries to St John, which is a church town south of Wicker Hill. Don't visit Dunwald for my sake, but you can always do that going East from Fergus' manor on your return.
It takes you almost two days to St John's. You want to stop? Pass through? Or avoid? It will take about half a day more to Wicker Hill if you remember the way correctly.
We will pass through Dunwald when we come back, then.
Thadeus would be in favour of passing through St. John, gathering what news they can, but will consult with Nauvi, Hamish and Finn to get their opinion.
Since we agree, the group goes into St. John, probably into the center of the village where the well is. Or any other place where we can water the pack animals and draw some attention. Thadeus will speak to the first person who approaches the group politely with a nod and a smile, "Greetings."
The well is in a small square in front of the church. A short and round woman hurries away with her buckets when you approach. Your party of almost a dozen men and half a dozen donkeys make the square feel rather cramped ...
You hear people whispering, and doors are closed. After a little while, the priest appears on the church stairs. «Greetings to you too, and peace be with you,» he answers.