The druids, driven away by Eadric's ban and Wulfric's merciless hunt, are not easy to find. Turold has spent the better part of Summer looking for them. When he finally succeeds, it has turned Autumn. Leaves are falling, and it rains almost every day. He was on the verge of giving up, when they appear and make their camp upriver from Cauldron falls, well out of sight from the nearby hamlets.
Oh, yeah, we really had to lie low and move often for a while. We were over at Sherwood earlier this Summer, when Wulfric made life hard for the locals. We left in a hurry, and had to split up to loose any tail. Apparently, he was knocked down by a friar and a giant warrior, but since they cannot kill him, it is only a question of time.
We are going to stay here for a while, and then move down to Druid's temple for midwinter.
Turold may remember that they almost always stay there for midwinter, not midsummer.
Turold asks for the hospitality with the small camp for a couple of days and will greet his cousin and the tribe.
"I've been traveling and exploring the land these past few seasons myself. Adventuring with a group of capable friends I've made. It's a nice place to camp here - I almost didn't find you. How is the tribe doing? Having to split up in a hurried retreat doesn't sound fun."
(How many are they? What does the camp look like?)
The camp is poor and makeshift. Most of them try to hide under windfalls and low branches. There are 20-25 of adults, and 10-15 children.
No, the last couple of years have been arduous. Have you run across Wulfric yet? You had better tread carefully. He can smell power; I am sure of it.
You are welcome to stay, of course.
They are all eager to hear your stories and learn about the places you have visited. They have a lot less to tell themselves. Except for the close call in Sherwood, they have been safe lying low. Wulfric came into the Ure valley last year, investigating, but luckily, they were not close at the time.
"I did not, but the group I travel with did. Sent him packing too - have you heard of a fire mage?" If questionned about the group, he will talk of a group of gifted with powerful, varied magics who "saved his mentor, Malhad, from Wulfric's jail with a clever spell."
Turold shares some details of his trips with Ingerith's tribe. He'll share some tales of meeting an ancient druid named Lise at the Midsummer Copse nearby, of an ancient water spirit that was saved from a pool in Sherwood forest and relocated with help, of visiting strange places not seen with mundane eyes, such as a roman temple. He embelishes the tales, not stepping into outright lies, but you know... firecamp stories. He talks enough to make his tale ring authentic but without divulging access areas for vis sources, and that kind of thing.
"I've been traveling with them for a little more than a year now. I plan to settle down with them, build a kitchen of sort for my own. I thought I'd seek you out - see if you might be interested to join us since we'll be in the area. A roof, food, coin, access to a kitchen, protection from Wulfric. That kind of thing."
«Oh, you know Janus the Incinerator, and the gaolbreaker too? Amazing. What are they like? As people I mean? Do you know the friar and the giant too?»
The reputation has obviously preceeded Turold's new friends, and everybody is enthusiastic to learn more about the celbrities.
«Maybe your new friends are even strong enough to withstand Wulfric, but if they are, and stay put, I am sure Eadric would send an army. I hope you will be safe, but I am not so confident.»
"Janus is a battle hardened warrior who fears nothing. He's firm, somewhat easy to irritate, but a valuable ally whose magic can burn any men alive. The gaolbreaker is smart and calm but aloof. I don't know any friar, but I do a giant. He leads the men at arms who protect us. Maybe they are the same, maybe not - I haven't seen the event you're speaking of."
"We're not exactly planning to let him know where we settle down."
"I've seen my group do great things. I don't mind being a bit nomadic but not being on the run and having a kitchen to call my own sounds great. I understand your fear of Wulfric. But they don't seem afraid of nobles. I've known them to fight giants, real ones, living in the clouds, take some loot, and come back alive. They can become invisible, create illusions, fly, throw fire, deflect arrows, project rocks, change shapes, heal, read minds, and much more. My mentor was.... Teleported out of his jail from a hundred paces away. Think about it for a second. All the walls, the metal bars, the guard patrols Wulfric depends on were completely useless to prevent the gaolbreaker's magic. I can't really explain it. I'm a good shooter... they gave me a bow that never misses so long as I can see the target, even if it's a flying bird a hundred paces away. A cloak that allows me turn into a bird. Some of their bases have stood there for decades, are armed, and Wulfric hasn't found them. If Wulfric found us... Perhaps he might kill some of us. I don't know. If he finds us and starts a war... I'll do my part to defend my home. I don't really worry about it. And I'm not convinced he'd win."