Angus and Oswald will enjoy the food and a good nights sleep before heading out of Carlisle on the southeast road the next morning. They both listen out for any news of “York soldiers” at each village and Oswald will keep an eye to any sign of a group of heavy cavalry horse traffic on the road.
Leaving Carlisle and Thadeus in the morning, Oswald and Angus see no signs of armies, nor of Wulfric. The road goes through several peaceful hamlets, with peasants busy in the fields, like any other Spring. Sheep are grazing, you hear pigs in the pens, and chicken are roaming free between the cottages.
Just before midday, they come into a hamlets which is oddly quite. Two dozen peasants or so are sowing in the fields, working quickly and ignoring you completely, but there is no sign of livestock.
Oswald will approach a villager and ask “Greeting friend, the absence of livestock reminds me of the raids of the last few years. Have you had troubles of late?”
Oswald has to make his way through the fields to talk to them. Before he gets halfway, a few of them stand up to look. They look alarmed. Oswald is armed as a shield grog, I suppose. Before he has a chance to speak, «Sir, if you stick to the paths and do not step in the fields, there will be more to plunder in the Autumn. There sure is nothing to find here now. We have only scraps left from Winter.»
“I am not here to plunder anything, I just wondered where your livestock was. Have you had troubles of late?”
The man looks at Oswald. «There is always trouble,» he says. «Who can afford lifestock in times like these?»
Another peasant asks, «you're from 'round here, stranger? From Carlisle?»
“Further south west of Carlisle friend. We came this way seeking news of Wulfric and his warriors. Have you heard anything of him and his band?”
«They have been raiding villages East of here, but we have not seen them yet,» says he.
“Thank you friend” replies Oswald passing over a few coins “I hope this helps you get back on your feet after such hard times”. They both then move off to the East.
The next hamlet looks more like the ones in the morning, like any other Spring, with peasants busy, but not hurrying, and with livestock around. That seems to be the norm, even if there are some more that look partly shut down like then one where you stopped.
Oswald again engages with the peasants re any activity from Wulfric and his men “Hello friend, we were told Wulfric’s men had been raiding these parts. Have you suffered by them? Any idea where they are based?”
Nobody has a clue in the first couple of hamlets, but towards the end of the day, they meet peasants who can tell them that a dozen men-at-arms from Lincoln are camped a few miles East. They are jumpy and afraid, but there is not much to do about it.
Oswald will scout a route east and once he spots signs of the camp he will set up a hidden observation place for he and Angus to stop. They will then observe to see any comings and goings, troop numbers and sign of Wulfric
The camp is at the edge on the far side of a village, blocking the onward road. You count about a dozen men-at-arms with no command and no duties. They eat, drink, fart, and roll dice. That much is obvious from an observation post hidden in the woodline a hundred yards away.
Some of the villagers venture closer to your observation post, tending the fields. They look concerned and unhappy.
Angus and Oswald stay watching for Wulfric to arrive using the rations they brought along and keeping a cold camp. Does the camp include tents, if so how big are they, can one main one be identified that looks like it belongs to a leader?
No, there are just enough tents for the dozen men. There is nothing ostentatious, nothing posh, and absolutely no sign of Wulfric for a week.
You should make a stealth roll, to stay hidden for a week. One has to make a 12+ to make a good observation post this close, otherwise you have to move further away. The other has to make 6+ to avoid any mishap.
Oswald rolls Per+Stealth of 14 and Angus gets 9 on the same test
What armour are the soldiers wearing?
Some of the soldiers wear pieces of heavy leather armour, and odd pieces of metal, like sheaths over the lower arms, but they do not look battle ready, and most of them appear to have shead the armour in order to enjoy the drink and the dice more comfortably.
Oswald finds a secure cavelet in between rocks and trunks. It is not comfortable, but it is secure, and you can stay there for a long time with a good view, if you only go out at night.
They both keep a rotating watch under the assumption Wulfric will return to his troops at some point. Oswald will forage for food and supplies at night if required.