There is little chance of catching game in a short morning hunt (call that Hunt+Int 21+). Trapping overnight might work; or leaving the group to hunt during the day and catch up at night. Foraging is possible, if you know how to (survival+int), but I reckon you wanted something meatier.
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Edwin points out the deserted house, and says "that area feels slightly different. I think it might be of interest, Luciu".
Luciu agrees that villages should be avoided whenever possible, though he doesn't love camping.
He looks over at the cottage, inspecting it more carefully, checking for magic.
[12 on premonitions. Will cast formulaic spells to look for active magic and regios, and a non-fatiguing spont to get a precise read on the aura.]
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As they stand on the edge, watching the cottage from a distance, Luciu gets the nagging feeling that someone is watching with bad intentions.
The slope down from the road is steep, and where it is slightly less steep, it is just the more muddy and slippery. You can get down, it is a five pace drop at worst, but you are not sure you can get back down. If you do approach the cottage, who goes and who stays at the road?
After looking down at the house for a little while, and looking around them, Luciu says, "Be vigilant. We should camp on the other side of the road, where there is no aura, and nobody should go near that place. I can't tell anything concrete, but it looks too easy to get trapped down there, and something malevolent is watching us. Thomas, I suggest we take turns staying awake, we can nap on the road tomorrow if necessary."
It is still mid-morning. You have camped out one night after you came through Corbridge. Sorry that I was unclear.
Thus, you have plenty of time to proceed along the road, between the forest and the cliff, and get far away before nightfall. The forest is impenetrable only for the wagon.
Thom joins Luciu and Edwin, looking down at the cottage.
"I agree. I may be able to call forth an illusion or two to discourage or hide things when we make camp, if you think it wise," responds the Merinita to the suggestion of setting up a watch. "But it seems like we should move on. You're making me think that cottage is up to no good."
As Thom looks down to toward the cottage, he triggers the Wayfarer's Friend (Piercing the Faerie Veil) to see if it allows him to recognize any faerie regio boundaries that might be visible from this vantage point. (Long shot, yes, but worth the try.)
Thomas sees no faerie regio. Luciu also saw neither faerie nor magic regione.
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"If you don't want to explore the place, we can just keep moving the wagon along the path and travel until we see somewhere good to camp as the sun gets low." Edwin tries to keep a practical attitude, looking at the drop down to the cottage and realising he's not as nimble as the goats.
Thom looks back at Edwin.
"I'm for moving on. That cottage might be curious but seems to me we're kind of on a mission to survey the sites of covenants that maybe survived the War. Or not."
The young man shrugs before looking toward the road ahead.
"We should make a note about this place. Probably worth sending someone back to figure it out so it doesn't hurt the unwary."
Luciu nods. "I think we should move on, but as you say, remember this location."
You proceed cautiously along the road. Luciu's nagging feeling of being watched intensifies. It must be from the woods, because the cottage is quiet and deserted.
When you reach the highest point on the road, only 30-40 paces from you first spotted the cottage, you see a big tree blocking the road twenty-odd paces ahead of you.
Awareness+Perception 6+ to hear, 12+ to hear more; alertness and hearing spec applies. You may use search or sight spec, but they imply stopping and taking time to look.
Edwin stops, as he thinks he heard something.
[OOC:9 on perception + alertness]
You hear a couple of chops and branches, twigs, and leaves breaking. When you turn your head, you see a big tree falling over the road behind you, a little closer than the one ahead.
Thom turns toward the sound of the tree crashing down behind the group, his eyes growing wide. Without much hesitation, he casts Wizards's Sidestep, gestures and words flowing with practiced memory.
"Well this isn't good."
The young man knocks an arrow to his bow, looking about for the presumedly nefarious lumberjacks.
Luciu remains seated in the wagon, without any preparatory magic, but keeps a sharp eye out and is ready to defend the group as best he can.
As Thomas makes his incantation in Latin, you hear a load «crow, crow» above your heads; a raven is circling in the air.
When Thomas completes his spell, and his image shifts, it is silent, as if even the forest contemplates the situation.
«Well this isn't good,» says Thomas, while Edwin and Luciu tacitly assess exactly how ungood it is.
The two grogs follow Thomas' example and ready their weapons, flanking the cart to protect Luciu. The two unarmed specialists seek cover between the cart and the goats.
Then a tall hooded figure appear next to the fallen tree in front, dressed exactly like the two pedestrians who passed you yesterday, and he speaks in a serious, basso voice. «Relax. We will only claim the goats and the cart. You are free to proceed on foot. I am sorry about the trunk, but I trust it will not make that much of an obstruction for you. Don't try anything violent; there are more of us than there are of you.»
The hooded man is partially obstructed by the trunk and the undergrowth, and he watches the readied bows carefully.
P.S. I do not want to rely too much on dice, but if you want to see any of the people allegedly outnumbering you, you will need Awareness+Perception (Sight applies). You can just as well roll initiative, in case it be needed.
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Luciu looks keenly around, searching for others hidden in the foliage, preparing to cast a spell.
[Awareness 12, Initiative 6]
He can see the axe man withdrawing from the trunk behind (EF9), and one archer on a branch (EF12) a little closer to you. The axe man is aiming for cover, but not stealthily; the archer is trying to hide, but obviously has not done a good enough job of it.
Luciu doesn't hesitate. These men know they're magicians, they've just seen Thomas cast a spell. He speaks rapidly and with quick motions, casts a spell in triplicate. Then he calls out in a deep voice, "They sleep at my will. I will allow them to awaken if you come forth and be obedient."
[Call to Slumber on the bowman, the axeman, and the hooded man.
Pen values are 13, 5, 4
9 on Leadership to Intimidate/Command]