Turning to Thomas, "Do you see him? Over there in the alcove? Go get Cath'rinne, I believe we have found a ghost."
Turning back to the ghost in the alcove she approaches him, "I am Betula of Criamon, I mean no disrespect. We are exploring, searching for a new place to call home."
The apparition smiles, eyes wide open. «You have come to take the vacant seats?»
Thadeus will next visit one of the cottages that no one has investigated. (That would be 5 or 3, in that order, I believe).
"I... I do not know. What is required of those on the Council?"
Betula has been to Cottage 3, but only briefly. Cottage 5 looks like a taxidermist is working in the kitchen. The customary large cauldron in the fireplace takes centre stage. The largest work table is filled with feathers and leather, and tools for working them. On the shelf behind it, there are two vials marked with rabbit feathers, three rabbit paws, and a stuffed hawk.
(I think I have made superficial descriptions of all the cottages now. Let me know if you search anything in particular.)
«You don't know? Are you not druids?»
"We are of another magical tradition, the Order of Hermes. Perhaps you knew of Pralix? Or Cassandra?"
Thom looks over where Betula indicates. [Second Sight: 18]
"Oh my. I'll go get Cath'rinne."
Thom does just that, running out the door.
"Cath'rinne! Come quick! I think we found a ghost!"
Thom waits for Cath'rinne to head in his direction before heading back into the Cottage, missing Betula's initial conversation with the apparition entirely.
«How dare you!» says the ghost and vanishes behind the alcove wall.
"We brought a Druid with us," Betula says loudly after the spirit, then more quietly, "Though I don't know that Turold is who you are hoping for."
Sionag lets their potions, that would be good to analysis more, even she's sure that major part would be spoilded. But the word "druid" attracts her, same as a wounded person.
"I'm a pharmacopean. A child of old druidic tradition."
For the first time, Sionag asks herself if her mater said the truth or if it's only a myth for mondains...
The ghost has gone silent.
When Thadeus (or others check) the flowers on the oak are Creo vis. The quartz pieces are Imaginem vis, and the polished wood pieces are Auram vis (from Cottage 3).
Not knowing what else to do Betula removes her socks and examines the stigmata on her legs.
[OOC: @loke , Invoking my predictive stiigmata flaw. Please give some new change to my stigmata that can push me in some direction]
Thom goes back out to sit under the grandfather oak and think. He'll keep looking around, trying to spot the simple, little faeries that sometimes inhabit gardens and magical places. [Second Sight 19]
Cath'rinne will search the storage cabinets and the work tables, seeing if she finds anything. She then follows the group into the other cottages.
Turold will enter behind the party and also go arround the different cottages. Several of them are described as peasant kitchens - Are any of those functional folk witch kitchens? Assuming some of the peasant kitchens are folk with kitchens, do any of them have installed virtues? Are any of them of higher size (reminding that a size -3 lab or 100 sq. ft is a size 0 folk witch kitchen)?
Int+Folk Witch Magic Theory check of 12 to have an idea
Would these look like Dowsing rods made by some in his tradition?.Does he believe the various potions found might be potions from his tradition?
What is in the pile of books?
Cath'rinne was looking into another cottage as Thom gets her. She heads in the direction of the cottage. As she enters, she ask Betula: "There is a ghost here, you think?"
The cabinets in Cottage 1 are well stocked with obscure ingredients. Much of it is spoiled, as if it has been stored too long, but some of it might be useful in your lab. Some is relatively available things, like rat skulls and common herbs, others look more exotic, like scales from some Wyrm of Legend. There is no vis though.
The books in Cottage 3 are ledgers, but seems to be written in some obscure language and script, or possibly shorthand. It would take both time and skill to make sense of it.
Thurold recognises the kitchens as witch's kitchens, and the dowsing rods as dowsing rods. Some of the kitchens suggest a speciality, such as the healer's. The owner is likely to have made healing potions, but there is no way to be certain of the effect because individual witches make them differently.
The kitchen's are large enough for Hermetic labs, so yes. The typical virtue would be a major focus, like a particulary fine cauldron or the worktable dedicated to some craft. Since Turold has few of the WItch's skills, he does not recognise the various specialties very well.
When Thom catches Cath'rinne, Betula has not quite got time to sit down, nor get back to the tree in the middle. I'll get around to that in a bit (hoping to see what happens with Cath'rinne and the ghost first). If somebody has searched anything else in depth, please ask again.
"There was. He went through the wall over there," pointing, "after I told him we were from the Order of Hermes and reminded him of Pralix and Cassandra." Attempting to imitate the ghosts voice, "all it said was 'HOW DARE YOU!' before disappearing through the wall. He does not seem aware of what has become of much of his tradition."
"Understood. Let me know if you see him materialise again, if you don't mind?"
Cath'rinne looks arround this cottage for any signs of human remains that might belong to the ghost.
"It also did not want us examining the letters on the table or the books in that cupboard. It might return if you examine those."
Ignoring that Cath'rinne is in the room Betula removes her socks and examines the stigmata on her legs. Looking for any new signs.
Cath'rinne sees no trace of human remains, but she does hear the voice. «Go away. Have you not done enough harm?»
Betula finds a new stigmata, not under her socks, but on her shoulder. Mor than anything it looks like a tower, 7-8 storeys, and a giant man with a pointy and wizardly hat looming over it.