At the time I assume the Woad is bunched up somewhere in the middle of the group, next to Marcellus, whom he was just talking to.
His first instict it to be alert and combat ready, but seeing what looks like a herbivore he simply stops and watches it, while assuming a more relaxed pose.
He then immediately looks over his shoulder to check for a trap, predators in ambush or whatever. But still just casually.
Marcellus, who has seen them before, still appreciates those exceptional specimen. He sighs softly, he is home.
Marteu jumps when Edith suddenly appears in front of him. Thorn between yelling again, hitting something with a mailed fist, and looking that thosre 2 ar enot pranking him again, he turns around. When he turns his face around he sees the great goats. he manages to somehow yell, point and sound observant and freaked out at the same time. Not necessarily in that order. Aaaaahhh!!! Look! What an ibex!
Suddenly he regrets not having taken seriously the javelin instruction of the infantry.
The Woad looks back around at the grogs, to see if anyone is readying bows or javelins, and quietly asks: Are these animals hunted for food, horns, skins or all of it? The Woad is trying to categorize the local wildlife. Do they have any natural predators?
He looks speculatively at Oscar: Do the owlbears eat those animals? Or what do they eat, they can't just eat people....mumble, mumble...
Marcellus, hearing The Woad, replies softly, "Yes, they can be hunted when the need is there. But the buck can react violently on an attack on his ewes, and those horns are not just for show."
"And yes, the owlbears probably prey on them, as do drakes. I would advise against harming them, for the scent of blood might very well draw some of their predators. And not necessarily those we are looking for. Furthermore, some that great Herc may very well be magical. Think potential familiar rather then food animal."
If the trio of ibex have not not already fled upon hearing Mateu's yell, Marcellus will call out again to alert them on the presence of humans.
Looking clloser at that picture, I see that there actually five of them. Two of them ran off right away when Mateu shrieked, and the two furthest run off when Marcellus shouts.
But the large male in the front, he doesn't flinch at all. He glances to make sure the others are fleeing, then he stares menacingly at the group as he waits.
No one brought a bow. This is not a hunting expedition. This is recon and intelligence gathering.
Oscar comments Marcellus has it right. And that ibex is agitated right now. It won't come at us, but it is ready to fight.
They are common game for hunters. I don't eat meat though. Go ahead if you want. I feel it would be unsporting if you guys use magic on it. Save that stuff for the drakes and owlbears.
Hey, if you guys wanna see a drake, Venkath's cave is about a mile that way. He is a nasty beast, but he is under treaty not to mess with us if we don't mess with him.
Edith buts in No! We are to avoid drakes if possible. And except for Venkath and his brothers, there should be none in the area I intend to cover.
The alpha ibex is still watching the party, but the rest are long gone.
The Woad looks thoughtful and brooding, while quietly replying: Naturally, my sodales. Magi must be guardians of the lands. No animals must be killed just for sport, only if there is need. The Woad does believe however that if the need is there, one might as well make a sport of it. Special care must be taken if the animals sometimes produce magical specimens.
And about their blood drawing in predators, that might be a way to lure in owlbears. But not if we risk drawing in drakes or other predators
Friend Oscar, The Woad would be delighted to observe a drake at another time.
But now, let us let the stag be and get on our way. He has earned the Woad’s respect with his courage.
Marcellus makes the appropriate gesture to express to the large male that they do not intend to threaten him or his charges (Survival 4 + Ways of the Mountains 3 + either Com 0 or Pre -2 + die 4 = 9 or 11).
Presence is the more applicable Characteristic in this situation. But Survival is the wrong Ability. You should instead use Animal Handling. You have a score of 3, specializing in goats, and an ibex is a goat. The total comes out the same though, so no issues with results.
A 9 is good enough if you just want to assure him you mean no immediate harm, and it will just wander away. But if you want to approach the ibex, you would need a 12, which you can do if you spend a point of Confidence.
Not approaching, Marcellus is simply trying to prevent a harmful confrontation. There is no need for anyone to get hurt, and he'd rather see the ibex live than be killed.
The ibex wanders away and the expedition trudges on.
Eventually you arrive at the fist location, where the tracks were found this past winter. The guards unpack the supplies and begin to set up camp.
What activities or plans does anyone have in mind?
Without anything better than a modest Hunt score, the Woad would rather take to high ground to scan the area. He can’t fly so that means climbing a hill
Ikelos will find a nice place to nap. He does not want to be tired if they are hunting at night.
Before the Woad climbs the hill, he stands around brooding, and then asks:
That's right, we need to establish whether the owlbears are nocturnal or...(whatever the opposite thing is called).
Also, what they eat. Maybe we can set bait and lure some in? We do not have to jump and kill any we encounter - we can let them go and follow them to their lair.
Mateu gets a little bnit to the side. He does not trust those heathens much. Because they must be heathens,. he was aware that they were magicians, but THEY were supposed to be magicians. Not ALSO their freaking servants as well!!! he crosses himself, several times over. And then he prays to Saint Cugat for strength of body, of will and resolve.
After that his military training kicks in and he follows the Woad uphill. The farther away from the witch servants the better.
The Woad takes the easy route up the hill, no fancy climbing and no risk taking. He has cut the chatter, but if engaged in conversation he'll politely reply, he just won't initiate anything.
He has entered the mindset of the warrior.
When on top of the hill he takes a solid, still stance with his greatspear planted near his left foot, clutching it with his left hand against his body. His right hand is used to shield his eyes from the sun, and then he - patiently like a rock - scans the area around. He simply starts whichever way he is facing when arriving at the top, and start looking down hill al l the way to the horizon. Then he turns his head slightly and scans all the way back. This goes on until he has turned a full circle, or if he finds anything interesting. In this case he'll look more intently at that, and may even mention it to Mateu.
Also, he ponders about sight-amplifying magic, and how useful that would have been right now.
Mateu looks appreciatively at the attitude of the weird guy. He looks like a heathen, even if armed adequately. Can't you just ask your magic powers to see where those owlbears are? he asks whikle also looking around for signs of peril.
The Woad looks at Mateu in silence for an unfortably long time, but maybe it seems longer than it is. He may be thinking about how to answer, or maybe the question threw him off?
The Woad wishes he could, that it was so easy. Actually it is, or may be, for some. Look, magic is not a universal tool for everything. Magic is more an almost infinite number of tools, and everybody has some of them. Some more than others, this comes with age. Magic can do many things, but it has limitations. Just as we as people have limits. For the Woad it is time, and this is true for most magi. There simply is not enough time to master everything. While many a young magus or magi may be trained in finding his or her foes, there are other things they can't do. The Woad is trained in fighting and in destroying things, but he intends to broaden his horizon. In many ways, magic is like mundane skills, in that it takes time to master and there are limits. These limits are just not mundane, and magic can transcend mundane limitations. If wizards were granted totsal power at once, they would have nothing to strive for, nothing to aspire to.
Faith, on the other hand, is easier in some sense. One may pray for something, and God may grant it. It does not take study, like magic does. But it does require devotion, and that one is worthy. The Woad respects the authority of God, but does find the Church as an organization somewhat limiting. He prefers the way of magic.
Also, patience is a virtue. We'll find the owlbears when the time is right. However, the Woad is open for suggestions for shortcuts of any kind, which beats waiting around. Such a plan may make the time be right. However hunting beasts of which one knows little is tricky.
Marcellus will offer to help whichever grog goes looking for tracks and other signs of the owlbears. He will also express the possibility that the owlbears might attack the group's camp site once night has fallen.