Thadeus, and Angus a week later, return safely to Ungulus. Oswald has returned with two horses in the meantime. At the same time as Angus, arrives a messenger from Carlisle, wearing the crest of the sheriff, to inform you that a warlock is loose, mysteriously killing all the soldiers of Lincoln. The letter he brings from the sheriff himself, is a little more personal. «It would not happen to be one you?» asks the sheriff politely. He describes the sinister stranger observed in the area. I cannot remember if he met Angus face to face. The description is not very detailed or precise, but it could absolutely fit. «Wulfric has still not been seen, but news spread quickly, and he is likely to return when he hears.»
He did meet Angus on his visit to Ungulus.
Angus will explain what happened on his trip and that he failed to locate Wulfric but did kill many, but not all of the Lincoln soldiers. If they get more definite news of Wulfric’s location he will try again
OOC Forgot to mention that Angus can take a reputation, centred in Eastern Carlisleshire, of, I am open to suggestions, but my first idea is «soldiers' bane».
Works for me
"So," Thadeus says when Angus finishes relating what happened near Carlisle, "you found some of Wulfric's soldiers -- some of whom you killed while others ran away -- but not Wulfric himself. Am I correct?"
“Yes that is correct. Not a satisfactory conclusion at all I would say” replies Angus
"How likely are you to be recognized by some of the survivors, or by peasants in the area, would you say?" Thadeus shakes his head, then looks at Osbert's message, "And how would you suggest I answer the sheriff?"
I killed the soldiers while invisible but had an encounter with two riders while visible, so those two may well recognise me. Some peasants seen myself and Oswald bury the bodies after the killing but not the killing themselves. As to how you answer the Sheriff, that fully that is not my decision to make but one for politicians and praetors.
"It is, but a good praetor consults his sodales. Which is why I am asking for suggestions. Since you were there, you might be able propose a way to say it that is both true - since it could be corroborated by villagers and survivors - and yet doesn't reveal too much."
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Maybe say “Your available missile troops ambushed and killed many of Wulfric’s troops and are still actively seeking the man himself”. The statement is true even if the troops was just me and Oswald.
Hamish continues to keep himself out of the line of sight of anyone from the Sheriff, though he is keen to get reports on what is happening. Meanwhile, he keeps training the turb.
Thadeus nods, "That is something I can work with, sodalis. I'll also aks the sheriff to let us know if he learns anything about Wulfric's location."
Turning to Hamish, he asks, "Could we instruct some of our rangers to patrol a bit wider than usual, and ask locals if they have seen Wulfric or his men? I don't want them to get as far away as Carlisle, or even Whitehaven, but perhaps half as far as they usually do. That might help us locate him, or at least give us additional warning if they are near here. What do you think?"
Hamish nods. "I think we could spare a pair, but only just. We sent rangers to the Circle and still need to recruit and train more."
He frowns slightly.
"We need a master of whispers."
"Speaking of which, we should also send a messenger to the Circle to let the others know of recent events," says Thadeus. "I will compose an answer to the sheriff, then work on something for the Oak Circle. We'll need someone who's been there and can carry the message. Safely."
The answer to the sheriff:
While seeking to find W, my people came upon some of his men and set up an ambush, using missiles. Many of them were slain, with a few survivors fleeing in panic. Not surprised they blame warlocks for their humiliating defeat.
Unfortunately, no further sign of W. If you receive word of his location, let us know.
T of U
Thadeus shows the message to the others before sealing and handing it out to the sheriff's messenger.
Since nobody has objected, I assume the letter has been sent.
Having the ranger do wider patrols would be at the expense of foraging. Up until now, I have assumed that their main duty has been foraging, and the patrol has been incidental. If you want to make it the other way around, that's fine.
You also have the teamsters who would go to Whitehaven (or another random seaside village) every few weeks to trade for fish, and maybe less often to other inland villages to trade other things. They report, over the next month, that the seaside villages are just like before. Stable and not particularly hard times. The villages to the East have heard the rumour of Wulfric's witchhunt and various skirmishes, and they are worried even if they have not seen the fighting first hand.
I will follow up with another encounter in the second half of Spring.
In the second half of Spring, Chronos returns, both to complete the trades on behalf of Blackthorn, and to bring news from the continent. He is accompanied by a second redcap, Maev, whose ship is moored at Whitehaven.
@John_Graham_52 would you care to update libraries according to past agreement with Blackthorn? I hope everything is in the notes. Maev will bring the copies you owe back to Blackthorn, while Chronos is planning to travel North to Loch Leglean.
Chronos brings greetings from Mildred, Thom's parens, and is disappointed not to find Thom there. He does not have time to visit Oak Circle though, since he hopes to explore Loch Leglean and return to Ungulus for the Winter.
He confirms that there is no sign of other Hermetic magi in England, other than you at Ungulus and Oak Circle and Mildred. The Order on the continent is also struggling. Guernicus has suffered heavily, and they do not have a single quaesitoris to dispatch to the British Isles in the foreseeable future, although, they might appoint a quaesitoris if there is a magus of sufficient good reputation and knowledge of the Code. Other houses have also suffered, to varying extent, and as the magi emerge to hiding, there is plenty of room to settle closer to home.
Hibernia is set back at least as much as Stonehenge. The few remaining magi at Vigil and Circulus Ruber are improving their defenses.
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The trade books are not ready until end of Spring but otherwise all is good. Ungulus reformed now updated
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We are close enough to the end of Spring. Maybe the scribe has to work nights, and the redcap stay a night or two extra, but let's call it done.
In that case, we'll just let them know to keep an eye out for trouble. Feeding our people is their first priority. (That includes building enough stocks for us to get through the winter.)
If you do not have anything you want to discuss with the redcaps, they stay four or five days, while the scribes complete the copies. They, on their side, are very eager to hear all the stories. They ask specifically about Wulfric's whereabouts. Would you share the stories about the confrontation with Lincoln's men or of the «friar and the giant»?
Chronos is checking that he still has his old sanctum, which I think he has, and spends some time sorting papers. He is always travelling with a fair pile of letters and notes.
If there is nothing else to add, we call this an SQ8 story for Angus, Thadeus, and Oswald. One confidence point for those who took active part in the meeting with the sheriff, and one (extra) for the excursion to Carlisle and beyond.