Betula does not enter and puts an arm up if anyone tries to bypass her but speaks pleasantly and as if this is the man she knew when she was last at the Covenant. “Edwin, remember me, Elsbet, I was almost a girl [~19 if Edwin remembers and yes her actual pre-Maga name] last we spoke… before all the trouble. Come out into the light where I can see you.”
Turold is not currently with the group. His Second Sight is attuned to the Magic Realm, yes. Check would be 8 + aura. Specialty is ghost. Note that there is some overlap with Forest Lore in a forest on what is perceived. Instead of entering the covenant, Turold will introduce himself to the local genii locii, trying to get a sense of what it is like, and more insight into the local area (feel free to narrate for a bit).
Cath'rinne will stay behind Betula a distance away, reading her body language as an indication not to go through with the invitation. She's taking a low profile until it's clearer to her whether the person answering the door is a companion or a magi, somewhat nonchalatant. Outwardly, she seems normal. Internally, she's somewhat disturbed at finding living covenfolks after Betula implied everyone was dead. Or perhaps disappointed would be a better word?
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Ruedi will slowly approach the squirrels, and to prevent making them bolt, he'd talk to them slowly as he approached. "My friends, the most mighty of the creatures of the forest, the ones who get ready for winter, I have need of your advice. The tree over there told us that humans have battled here, and have buried their dead, and I know that such a tale must have been witnessed by those who can climb the trees the fastest, and from them can see all that goes on the ground."
At the manor house, maybe-Edwin steps out into the open: «Elsebetyyanna? Nyliya's little lass? Is that really you? Long time no see. And you have brought so many new sodales back, too!»
Turold is greeted by the genius locus. «Welcome back, Turold. I have not seen you in a while. But listen, who are these grave desecrators that you have brought here? They cause great harm.» It takes them a while to express these sentences, but the Forest Lore must have taught Turold near-Entish patience already.
The squirrels speak fast and cheerfully. «Yes, it was awful, but four seasons has passed, so what's the matter?» says one before quickly jumping a branch closer. «And who are you? Two-legged, yet speaking like us?» says another who jumps down to where the first used to sit.
P.S. I hope I did not forget anyone. Yes, Benedict does not discover anything but empty caves and cracks.
(Is the genius locus a tree? if so what kind? If not, what is it?)
"I don't know them a lot but they saved one of our druids. They are magic users of some kind. I did not catch everything that they did or why, but I believe they have an interest in the warrior's spirit, perhaps they were hoping to speak to it. Are you hurt in some way?"
The genius locus is a spirit and not a tree. It is a very powerful spirit, with the entire Sherwood forest as its realm. Within its realm, it resides nowhere and everywhere. On Magic Lore+Int 12+, Turold may be familiar with the concept of daimons; this genius locus is one of those.
«The ghost was at rest,» says the spirit. «It had communed with us, and it always hurts when a spirit is torn away.»
"I'm not quite clear on what they will do... Is there any way for them to speak to the ghost without interrupting the communion, or help avoid the harm to the forest if the spirit is torn away by their magic?"
«What do they want from it? The ghost was ready to move on and become one with the forest, and we were receiving it. Breaking that communion can only hurt, and it hurts all of us. Once the body is dissolved and the process complete, it no longer matters which one of us you talk to. If you could close the grave, we would all be grateful. When you do, our pain will heal.»
"Nyliya... who?" Betula says in Saxon and before Edwin can give a response Betula's jaw drops and her eyes go wide. She grabs Edwin's coat tightly and says, "you will take me to her." And quickly noticing how unapt she is behaving, almost physical violence, nearly threatening him, she releases, attempts to flatten his coat in apology and says, sounding quite unsure of herself, "... Please?"
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He looks surprised at first, but then he bends forward and whispers. «Sure, but Elsebetyyanna, there is a time for everything, and we have to be careful. The witch hunters are everywhere.» Then he straightens up, looks around, and speaks to everyone. «Why don't you come inside and have a drink with Janus and myself?»
"We shall see what they say, Edwin," as she nods towards the rest of the group right there. Turning to them now and speaking in Latin, "Meet Edwin... or a reasonable facsimile. The whole manor house is a faerie glamour. I assume Janus is as well. Janus was an apprentice of a Flambeau when I was here at Castellum Veridian. Edwin, as I assume you all understood, wishes for us to join him at his table. Is that wise? Probably not. What do you say?" as she looks at the others expectantly.
"I'm okay to join them at their table but how about later - Say... for dinner, slightly after sundown? I'm sure they don't have guests all the time, and might enjoy some time to get ready."
"You are right that I am two legged, but unlike most of them, i can speak your language. And it's true that four seasons have passed, but we two-legged care about things even 20 seasons ago, so if you can tell me who these men were, i would be most grateful, and as a show of gratitude, will ask one of my friends if she can make a gift for you."
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«Scores of men.»
«Killed each other.»
«Some fled.»
«Some stayed a while.»
«... to bury their dead.»
Each squirrel speaks a sentence and suddenly turns to look at something else, jumping to a different branch.
«Bygones now»
«You want a pinecone?»
The squirrel looks at you and extends their arms with the cone on offer.
Looking from Cath'rinne to Edwin to Obstetrix, "yes, that could suit me. Shall we join them for dinner, Obstetrix?"
"Unfortunately, I don't speak their language, and I barely know the type of magic they possess as we have been together not that long. They seem to be observing, and at one point I heard them ask if someone could analyse magic. That lady, the vulture, she seemed puzzled to hear there was a ghost, and even more puzzled when you pulled him back into the ground. My guess is she's trying to understand what's happening with the burial and the ghost. Maybe she's after something the ghost knows, but I can only guess at this point."
«If she needs to talk to the ghost, she should do that without delay, and then cover the grave to let it rest,» says the forest spirit sternly. «Asking it now won't much to the harm, but as long as the grave is open it suffers.»
«I shall expect you for supper then, an hour before sunset,» says glamour-Edwin.
You can see, wandering between the trees, Turold seemingly speaking to someone you cannot see, and also Ruedi, conversing with a group of squirrels. You don't see very clearly, because of the obstructing trees, but you know at least where they are.
Benedict the bear enters the clearing and finds a cave more or less facing the manor house. It is larger than the others he has seen, and it almost looks as if the entrance has been expanded to man-height. Pieces of wood is spread across the floor, and by the wall on the right hand side, there is a tall chair, beautifully carved from a trunk. The wall ahead is rough, but on the sides they are smooth.
Ruedi, Turold, and Benedict have not had time to make complete searches of the neighbourhood, but to be honest there is not much more to find. You can complete the announced searches now or later, but there is no need to narrate them, I think. except completing current encounters of course.
"Yes, Edwin, I believe that would be nice. There are more of us but we must collect them," seeing the Bear enter the clearing, "ah, here is one now but there are [correct number] others as well and shall bring them as well. Until the last hour of the sun, Edwin." Turning to the others she says, "Let's be off. Find those who have strayed," and begins walking towards Bearnedict and the cave he is approaching.
When Edwin is out of earshot whether from retreating indoors or merely the group's distance Betula looks seriously at Cath'rinne, do you think you might be able to handle spontaneous spell of Third Magnitude? Intellego... and Vim, to taste the timing of the sun. to alert you when the Sun touches the Western horizon that we may begin our Parma Rituals at a moment that will leave us defenseless for the shortest time. I am unsure if I trust this... Edwin," With a glance back towards the manor house.
Benedict looks at the others, but heads into the cave anyway. After looking around, and noticing the differences in the walls, he digs for a bit at the rough wall, suspecting it may be loose or may be hiding something.
The soil is indeed soft and moist, but there is little of interest. Broken furniture, rags of torn cloth, and a blackened skull. It looks human in shape, but it is too small, even for a child. Only a foot down at most, the soil is packed and full of stones.
Betula arrives to see Benedict digging. She can roll a second sight, difficulty 9+ with no aura. (Others who approach may do the same.)
Those still outside can see the black cat approaching the cave, slowly and carefully, as if it is hunting.
P.S. I am not sure where Obstetrix is in the scene. I expect a post tomorrow.