Edwin takes a look around the glade and examines the statues while the others talk.
[OOC: Per + Magic Sensitivity 12, 13 if there's a regio]
The aura is not magic, and nothing else sticks out.
"Our little gathering, a village if you want to call it that, is in the Lake District a bit. Not on the coast. It's quiet and beautiful, right on a lake," says Hamish.
"And were you going there when you stopped to help me? Or coming from there?"
The monk looks down, "Forgive my curiosity, your affairs are your own, of course. It is just that, if I am to visit your community, it would be better if I knew how to get there."
Finn looks at each direction in turn and smiles “you know brother I don’t actually know” looking to Hamish and Edwin “Do you fine fellows know the way?”
"Just coming from there now," says Hamish with a glance at Finn and Edwin. "Headed to check on the spring markets and see if we can't get a few more folks to join us. We need to rebuild, what with all the troubles and all. You want to join us for a bit as we go and then you can head back with us. Won't be but a week or ten-day at most."
Finn checks the three statues with second sight for a roll of 7/10/13 +1 for Faeries.
"We are off to market, and to consider if we can find good people to help out. I know the way, I have travelled from Carlisle to our community, the short trip to town should be much easier. Especially as we're not taking goats with us this time." Edwin shakes his head as he remembers being terrorised by bandits for livestock.
There is nothing to see, but putting his confidence into it (1pt) Finn can sense a spirit lingering over (in/under) the statues. It just is. It takes no interest in you.
"Trouble?" asks Leofric as they (assumedly) start back towards the road. "Do you know anything of these troubles? The villagers I wintered with heard only vague rumours. Enough for them to be worried, but nothing precise. They'd heard wild tales of witches and demons -- not unusual amongst those who toil in the fields -- but could not really tell me more."
"I was thinkin' 'bout the wars and such," says Hamish. "Seems to have been troubles for as long as I've been alive. But maybe havin' a sword at my side makes me look for trouble."
You soon see the town, or maybe you'd call it village. The only thing to give it a town feel is the commotion at the harbour. Two large boats have been beached, as well as a dozen smaller ones. As you approach, you understand that people are trying to barter over wares brought in by the two larger boats. One has a half a dozen geese and a dozen hens, and the other one several sacks of seeds for sowing turnips and barley. It is a sellers' market, and the villagers are on the verge of violence as they compete for attention.
Around the village, the fields lie quiet. Everybody seems to be at the harbour. The village is only five minutes walk at most from the statues, though it took longer with the cart.
Finn will approach the crowd and listen to the prices being offered
You hear offers at 2-3 times pre-war prices, but it seems that they are at the limit of available silver. Some people start bidding for smaller quantities rather than increasing the price, and others come up with increasingly creative in-kind offers.
Finn will look at the people in the crowd, trying to assess if they look hungry or otherwise desperate.
Leofric feels sadness as he looks upon the villagers. He knows not how to prevent violence in this situation, so he settles for stopping his cart some distance away from the crowd and utters a quick prayer.
The villagers do not seem to be starving, not immediately anyway, but they do behave rather desperately.
Hamish stands looking out over the crowd of people. The tall soldier looks for any particular groups, families or individuals that might appear to be looking for work or who seem to be immigrants or displaced by the troubles and war. [Folk Ken 5, no botch.]
Hamish' folk ken is not up to the task. The boat from which they sell seeds and sowing grain looks foreign, with the dragon head at the stern, but there is no reason to think that they are here to immigrate.
Those who are wee bit more perceptive than Hamish hear that the birds are intended mainly for breeding, and the captain, who speaks saxon with a heavy gaelic accent displays a rooster for sale with the hens. Trying to calm down the crowd, he says,
Easy, easy. We are not a war. Let's make it an auction tomorrow at noon. Then everybody has a the same chance to make a winning bid.
Leofric observes the crowd, noting those most apprearing to be in need. Not that he has much to offer them, but his road companions said they were looking for people in need of employment... (Folk Ken roll of 11)