"And with you, father," answers Thadeus. "Please assure the people here that we mean no one here any harm. We are simply travellers passing through," he says with a respectful nod. "We heard there were brigands last winter. Have you heard of this? Was there any problem here?"
«Not in town, no, but the roads are unsafe. Where did you come from? From East? And you did not see any trouble?
«I suppose they would hide from a group as large and well-armed as yours. Where goes your way onward?»
"We came from the south by way of Dunfries, and we're hunting down renegades. Most of them were killed last years, but there might be a few remaining. They may have joined brigands," explains Thadeus.
"We have not had any trouble on the road yet, but as you say we are ready for such. We will be going into the hills next, so anything you might tell us would be helpful."
«Not many people travel in the hills. On the narrow paths between rocks and hills, you are easy targets. Fergus' men came down to sell cattle last Autumn, but they had a small army to keep them safe. Padraig the Peddlar ventured up the valey earlier in Spring, but I have not seen anyone coming back down this year. The local shepherds never go more than a mile and a half from town.»
"Thank you," replies Thadeus grimly, "we will be careful. That sounds like exactly the place where bringands and renegades would hide."
He also inquires about how the community fared during last winter, and if they need anything in the way of help. Then we will proceed towards Wicker Hill, keeping a vigilant eye out (meaning scouts).
«Some struggle more than others, and the church tries to help them as best we can. Donations to help more of them is always welcome. The community seems to be over the worst. The last harvest was the best in years.»
Sionag took her time, between two pages of her books to take care of people off the covenant. She loves clearly that. Some people makes their duties only because they are duties. Sionag is another kind of people. She makes her duties almost with more pleasure than her studies. And she doesnât seem make difference between her patient. Grogs, servants, teamsters or magi, she takes the same time, the same care. She listens them, gives advices and attention like they was their sodales. Itâs certainly easier to find her amongs the common people than in her sanctum. And giving news about a newborn and her mother canât be difficult for her.
Thom smiles a little sheepishly and says, "Yes, I've been out flying a few times. I'm getting the hang of it, I think. But honestly I'm not very good at the spell yet. But I'll get better at it, I'm sure."
"That is good. Some people starved down south last winter, sadly."
After offering a small donation for the group, Thadeus will thank the priest and the group will be on its way.
The priest thanks you, and makes a sigh of relief when you leave the village. You pass through a mile and a half of pasture and can see the cattle and sheep in the distance. Ahead of you, is the rocky and hilly landscape. It is a wee bit early to camp here, but you don't remember another good camp site within reach.
During the night, it starts to rain, and the next day, the eighth day of your journey, is the most arduous one. The path is slippery and uphill. You hear wolves howling in the distance. «That's people signalling,» says Tasso. But neither wolves nor men show themselves, and mid-afternoon the terrain eases and you can see two large cattle herds grazing. You think you are a few miles from Wicker Hill, but you can neither see nor remember other settlements in the vicinity.
"So I won't need to push you off the root for you to learn to fly then." she chuckles. "I suggest we get going. I'll meet you in the air." she says, unless he tries to chat her up some more. She'll leave her cloak in a room she uses as a sort of temporary sanctum, and fly out a window. When Thom catches up with her, she'll cast Voice of the Bjornaer Magi. "I find this form liberating, but speech is useful. You may want to learn that some day." she'll say as she invites him to fly along.
Thom shakes his head, muttering something about "so much still to learn" before he strips near a window and then casts his spell. He takes a couple of minutes to catch his breath before he hops out the window and takes to the air. It doesn't take him long to catch up, and he nods his beak at Vulture-Cath'rinne.
Vulture-Thom appears to delight in the experience of flying, curving his wings this way and that to cup and catch the wind as they head toward their destination.
"I see you're taking to the air well, Thom. You'll find your senses are a bit different in this form. Amplified. Not just your eyes but your smell too. Humans neglect it but you'll find you know where things are that you can't even spot yet, because the smell comes from behind a boulder or the middle of a bush. Odors you wouldn't like in your human shape don't disturb you so much in this one. It takes some time to get used to it." She explains as they are flying away.
"Or at least that's how it was for me when I was younger. I'm not too sure if it's much different with a spell. Maybe the instinct doesn't kick in as well."
While the other set up a temporary camp, Thadeus will send out Sasso and Telsa to explore the surrounding area.
He asks them to determine how far they are from Wicker Hill, what other settlements there may be close by, and how many people are around. As well as see if they can find out where the false wolf calls came from. They are to report back at day's end.
They do so in wolf form, transforming away from the camp.
Returning to Hamish, Thadeus explains what he sent them out to do, simply omitting to tell the giant about the shapeshifting. "They can cover a lot of ground on their own, trust me."
"They've proven themselves time and again," says Hamish with a nod. He sets about setting up a sentry rotation and making sure camp is set up well enough.
Finn will keep spirits up with a few upbeat stories
Before you get to camp, still struggling uphill between the rocks, Thadeus sends Telsa and Sasso out to scout and identify the false wolf cries. They have been gone less than half an hour when you hear the intense growling from what must be a pack of wolves, probably a couple hundred paces away.
Telsa and Sasso have nonchalantlyÂč stepped into the territory of a pack of actual wolves, and they did not like it. There are five of them, immediately to see, and growling and showing teeth, slowly circling around the intruders.
Who wants to play a wolf shapeshifter, anyone? I guess this is about the time the two vultures catch up too.
Âč Botched Hunt roll
Cath'rinne slowly lands on a nearby tree. "Hi there. I suggest an alternative paths. There are wolves up ahead. Maybe too close for comfort."
Thom remains circling the wolves, curious.
The five wolves circle around the two, growling and threatening, and gauging the opposition.