The flight takes less than an hour and you find yourself above the city. There is a castle with a circling wall within the city and then the city itself with market area and housing also circled by a separate wall. There are main gateways in the North, South and East walls and a straight wall leading West ending in a smaller gate onto a dock area. The three main gates have a few guards checking people in and out and all three gates have a small but regular traffic of agricultural goods loaded carts coming in and carts much less loaded going out.
"I don't think we'll find Wulfric on the walls." says Cath'rinne to Thom, high in the air. "He's probably a guest. Whether with the local lords or at a tavern is a good question. But a group of knights with twenty footmen out to stand out." Cath'rinne takes her time to fly high above the city. Perception + Awareness of 10.
Looking in the area of the castle you quickly identify soldiers in two different livery. The walls are manned by the Cumberland troops while the second group is moving in and out of a large building in the courtyard outside the castle keep. They seem to be carrying firewood and foodstuffs in to their “barrack” block. A few are training with bow to the side of the building. Keeping watch you estimate at least ten but less than thirty are present given the different faces appearing and the size of the building. You see no sign of Wulfric or his knights.
Cinereus vultures are from the south - but the same species can survive in the arabian desert, and the Everest... I don't think Cath'rinne would be concerned with the snow unless she anticipates a full blown blizzard which will both block her view and force the humans indoor, in which case, she might seek shelter. She would look where she might find that nearby, hidden from human eyes. She will otherwise keep the group in view. Although there are no traces of Wulfric and the knights, are there signs of horses in a nearby stable that might belong to the group?
"I'm not sure if these soldiers are Wulfric's or another guest yet. Unless you have spells to find quick answers, or you feel comfortable on the ground, my game is patience and stealth until we figure out where he lodges. We should have an opening at some point. Might be in an hour... Might be in a week. Surely he'll take a walk at some point. Or stand by a window..."
Both birds find reasonable shelter from the light snow and heavy cold rain with a good view of the castle. Nothing particularly changes overnight but the next morning Wulfric appears from the central keep accompanied by four soldiers in full chain armour. The weather is drier but it is still bitterly cold.
It is not a guest keep but rather THE keep of the castle. It is about 40 feet square and about 120 foot tall so likely 6 to 10 floors and multiple rooms per floor. Plenty of room to feast and host guests and the household of the Sherif of Carlisle.
The group of five approach the barrack block and call out to those inside. Thirty soldiers come out and assemble in three rows of ten. The first two rows are armed with sword and shield and armoured in full length metal scale. The final row of ten are Bow and short sword armed and armoured in leather.
Wulfric speaks “Men the weather continues to thwart us in our mission to root out the witches and warlocks of this area. Continue to train well so when the time comes you are ready to face their vile magics. Nothing is more important than the elimination of their vile threat.”
The soldiers remain silent, many looking at each other with a look of concern on their faces. One of the four knights steps forward and shouts “Wulfric, Wulfric” his right hand pumping the air. Only a few of the soldiers join in at first until the other three knights take up the chant. Reluctantly at first but with growing participation the soldiers join the chant.
Wulfric addresses the knights “Sirs, sweat them hard, their enthusiasm for our holy mission seems dulled by the cold” before turning on his heels and re entering the keep.
The knights break the twenty soldiers in to four groups and commence drilling them in combat manoeuvres. The eight archers move to the far side of the open area under the supervision of their two sergeants and begin shooting at the practice targets set up there.