Winter Wolves (Part 2)

You leave the location where you met the winter wolves behind. It takes the rest of the day to reach the village that the worgs had been going around, and by the time that you reach Renwood night has fallen. It's a small settlement, barely a collection of a few homes amid the forest. Their inn is a familial home which is big enough to house guests to Renwood, but only a few.

Being well aware that she is hardly a fit face for any group, Aimarra hangs back, becoming quieter the more closely they approach what passes for civilization out this way. Her arms find their way inside her winter cloak, and she pulls it closed around her, allowing others to take the social lead.

Thurid is more than happy to take the lead of the group as they head into the village, given the late hour- she makes her way towards the town's inn, knocking a few times on the door before calling out. "Hail, friends. I am Thurid Freeborn, Warrior of Angoron. Might I and my companions impose upon your hospitality and borrow your wits a while?" to make herself known.

MAC-B1G's data on this geographical population consolidation point is limited or nonexistent. It may yet be processing the existence of speech-capable lupines. It tromps along with the others, scanning the dwellings and denizens as they arrive.

Unsurprisingly there's no one really outside their homes during this late hour, particularly this time of the year. However the door opens briefly after your knock showing a man with graying hair who looks at you suspiciously. "Bit late for guests, but I suppose we've the room." He backs away from the door after a moment and gestures you inside. It's very clearly a house first and foremost. The main room is little more than a living room, though there's a desk set back from the entryway that he leads you to. "Rooms are five silver per, and come with a hot meal. Either breakfast or dinner. You're too late for the latter but we've some bread left over if you need it."

He slips behind the counter and looks at you. "As for the rest... what's it that you want to know?" This more than anything seems to make him suspicious, as if he might not answer your questions so easily if he doesn't feel inclined to do so.

GAME: Aimarra rolls diplomacy: (9)+2: 11

Poor Aimarra -still- looks cold, even after following the others in and edging as close to the hearth as she gracefully can. She offers a smile that she hopes is polite, but lets Thurid do the talking.

GAME: Thurid rolls diplomacy: (1)+10: 11 (EPIC FAIL)

"This unit does not require meals," MAC informs helpfully. Neither does it require a room nor shelter, but one non-requirement at a time.

Thurid steps through when invited, and dips her head offering the greying gent a smile. "Aye, and we're sorry for the late hour- we've been on the road." she says then. "We've been following a pack of Worgs, near your village. They claim to have left you be- long story- but we'd rather take your word for that than theirs." she offers then, oblivious to the fact that these simple folk might not be so calm about a pack of worgs nearby as she is.

The man does not respond to Aimarra's smile, but rather focuses on Thurid and her words leave a wicked scowl plastered across his face. He glances toward the weapons you all bear and his frown deepens. "Worgs? As in those evil wolves that are known to make off with children?" He shifts behind the counter with displeasure. "Mayhap I spoke too soon. If you've dealings with them I've no rooms for you."

The man points toward his door and makes a shooing motion with his hand. "Go on. I don't need none of that trouble. Worgs on your trail. Leading them right to _my_ house. I think not. Go on."

Aimarra's weary expression says that that isn't the first time she's heard -that- from a villager or farmer. _About what I expected,_ it reads, and she turns for the door. "Then we follow them into the Desolation ourselves," she says tonelessly.

"Megative contact confirmed," the construct interperets. If the creatures had accosted the village, the man would have stated as much, rather than a concern for possible contact. Its faceplate pans to Aimarra. "Acknowledged." With several small steps, its chassis re-orients beneath the faceplate and it moves to egress.

Thurid dips her head towards the innkeep, "Aye, that's fair enough- we wouldn't want to drag any trouble your way. Truth be told, we was mainly here to make sure trouble hadn't found you already. You've not had any livestock or folks been taken in the last couple weeks, have you?" she wonders- she's not moving to leave just yet, but she's certainly stopped her advance into the inn.

She glances back to her companions and nods, "Aye, but if they are true to their word and haven't harmed anyone along the way, I wouldn't feel rightly about just slaughtering them."

"Desolation? Worried about worgs? Bah." The innkeeper makes another shooing motion, this one a little more vehemant than the first. "I'm not answering none of your questions. Just go before you bring a pack of your friends down on my home!"

"Don't waste your breath, Thurid." Aimarra's already most of the way to the door, and reaching for it, her tone still flat. "They're not going to listen to anything, even if they did see anything, which I doubt. Let's go." She doesn't even bother to look back, and pulls up her hood with her free hand.

MAC-B1G moves out of the dwelling before pausing to respond to Thurid's comment concerning uncertain course of action. "Primary directives satisfied based upon identified lupine intent. Termination not required." It may not hold a preference to either (or any) option and is only re-iterating task criteria.

Thurid sighs and shakes her head, clearly disappointed with the outcome- but not willing to lose any more time arguing over it. "We are here to look out for you." she insists, one more time, before heading out of the inn after Aimarra. To the ranger, she says, "Do you think you will be able to pick up their trail again? And do you think we'll be able to avoid being spotted? I'm curious about these dreams they mentioned, and this... ritual, they seem intent on." she offers. "But I expect if they catch scent of us again it'll come to blows, or else they'll lead us on a wild goose chase."

GAME: Thurid rolls perception: (20)+10: 30

The door to the inn shuts firmly behind you without another word from the gentleman who runs the establishment. Leaving you in the cold dark with only one another as company.

GAME: MAC-B1G rolls perception: (1)+14: 15 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Aimarra rolls perception: (8)+13: 21

Aimarra pauses on her way out towards the exit from "town", and turns her head towards a semi-open door with a head poking out of it. "Thurid." She jerks her chin towards the door, voice suddenly dropping.

Thurid glances to Aimarra, and nods her head, "I see her." she says, and she lifts a hand to offer the peering woman a wave- not one for subtlety, Thurid. She heads towards the half opened door. "Hail, friend!" she calls out then. "I am Thurid Freeborn, Warrior of Angoron. Me and my companions here are passing through, and we'd like to ask a thing or two of you if you don't mind." she offers- friendly, and not at all dissuaded by her last encounter with one of the villagers.

MAC-B1G pauses again and its faceplates pans back to Thurid as it parses and collates. "If the lupines follow geese, we could follow geese to locate the lupines. There was no prior mention of geese."

The woman seems to consider a moment closing her door, but she gathers he sweater around herself and opens the door a touch more, hiding behind the wood to keep the chill from her bones more than as a symbol of not trusting you. "Aye. I be Agnes Pycaed." She nods to each of you in turn and gives the construct a second or maybe even third look before allowing herself to return her gaze to Thurid. "What's ya askin'?"

The sweater and the warding off the chill is so relatable, and there is no shortage of silent sympathy in Aimarra's expression. She trails the others, letting Thurid again do the talking.

"We wanted to know if there's been any disappearances of late- people or livestock." Thurid answers then. "There's a pack of... wolves, passed by here recently, and they was hunting the forests barren. So we were worried, is all." she adds then- apparently having learned her lesson about bringing up worgs right off the bat. Thurid for her part seems to be oblivious to the chill, given how her chainmail shirt leaves her lower arms and her knees bare to the elements.

MAC-B1G only now becomes aware of the denizen and rotates its focus and optics towards. "Query: Did the congregation of carnivores assault this location or its inhabitants in any manner?" The current temperature may remain within acceptable parameters for its operation.

The woman looks a bit confused for a moment then shakes her head. "No; heard that there was a pack of 'em causing trouble to the west though. Me daughter is a druid from the grove, and she sends messages." She smiles slightly at the thought of her daughter then shrugs. "But nothing out here yet. Should we be preparing to be attacked? If they be causing trouble elsewhere they might yet cause trouble here."

Thurid shakes her head a bit, "So far as we can tell so far, they've been skirting around the village. Might be worth putting a watch on, at any rate, these wolves are eating up all the prey so I expect there's going to be others going hungry, might get a bit nearer than they usually would." she tells the woman. "And mayhap we met your daughter- we've come from the grove." she explains. "We was just concerned about the town, but if you're managing alright, we'll be on our way." she offers.

Aimarra, as is her pattern, seems to be content to let Thurid do the talking, cloak still pulled close around. Eventually she'll uncoil - maybe.

MAC-B1G's inquiry was answered and it does not currently have another. It returns to silence, attention shifting between those present.

The woman seems to consider her options a moment before shaking her head. "Canne I offer you a place to stay the even'? I have not a spare room, but the hearth is warm and the floor more comfortable than the rocky ground." She looks at Aimarra in particular. "The wilderness is a cold place, and I'd not turn away girls me daughter's age into the night."

Thurid smiles at the woman, and nods her head, "That's very kind of you, and I'd gladly accept if it wouldn't be too much trouble." she tells her. "If we're to stay the night, we can keep a watch as well, just incase the wolves stray too near." she adds.

Looking back to her companions, "What do you think? If we're going to end up finding trouble, I'd rather do it fresh. Will you be able to pick up the trail on the morn?" she wonders, this last comment directed towards Aimarra in particular.

_Who me?_ Surprised by the offer, Aimarra blinks visibly. "Um," she begins, not quite knowing what to say. "Um, thanks. Yeah, it'll be good to give them some more distance, and I can find it in the morning. As long as I have a fire to sleep next to, I'm fine." She looks around at the other two.

"This unit does not require shelter," MAC informs, "but is aware that biological units require such for peak operational efficiency. Pursuit to re-establish under daylight."

The woman pulls back from the door and waves you in. "Come on then. Yer companion sure does have a funny way of speakin'." She eyes the construct, but seems more amused than anything. Her home is warm and welcoming, but small. It's all one room really, to make it easier to heat. She even has her bed in one corner. There are herbs strung up on the ceiling and a massive raven perched on the headboard of her bed. It watches you come inside with all-too intelligent eyes. There's plenty of space for you all around the hearth, but not much beyond that.

She sees you inside and closes the door behind you with one last peek at the dark. "Donnae mind Edgar. He's a grouch, but he just doesn't like company." The raven makes a harsh claxioning noise at her words and she smiles at the bird but waves at it and ignores it there-after. "Make yourselves comfortable. I can put on some tea if you like."

"A Familiar?" Thurid asks, surprised, as she spies the raven, but whether the raven is one or is simply an unusual house pet, she heads in regardless, making her way in towards the hearth- though leaving Aimarra the nearer space. "I'd love some tea." Thurid says then, when the woman offers to put a pot on for them. "And bless you, for taking in strangers so late on the evening." she offers then. "If there's anything you need seeing to- by way of thanks for your hospitality, I'd be happy to see what I can do. I'm a healer, as well as a Warrior, and I've broad shoulders besides and no stranger to chores."

Once the door is closed, the room's warmth and the inviting light of a crackling fire is enough for Aimarra to begin the process of uncoiling. She pulls down her hood to reveal brown braids, and her cloak gradually relaxes from where it had been pulled tightly around her against the chill. "Thank you, ma'am. You're most kind." She does make a beeline for that fire, with a grateful look for Thurid, and sets bow and pack down a comfortable distance from it where the heat from the fire will not weaken the string or warp the wood.

MAC-B1G follows the others in, moving far enough for the entrance to be closed behind it. It then scans the interior and sidesteps towards a corner. Somewhere it will not obstruct the entrance in the small space.

GAME: Thurid rolls perception: (3)+10: 13
GAME: Aimarra rolls perception: (16)+13: 29
GAME: MAC-B1G rolls perception: (11)+14: 25

"Aye, but donnea tell me neighbors I be a practicing witch. They'd be liable to run me off with pitchforks." She laughs in spite of her own words and sets to making the tea. Once that is done, everyone settles in with a cup of tea - she insists that Mac have one also - and Edgar watches over you all as you lay down for bed.

Eventually you fall into peaceful slumber.

Aimarra is perfectly content to fall asleep, having finished her tea - she seems to have crashed the moment she was warm, curling into a cloak-covered ball by the fire with her empty teacup nearby.

That doesn't last the whole night, though, her tuned half-sil ears perking at some sound nearby. She sits bolt-upright near the banked fire, one hand reaching unconsciously for bow and quiver. Her voice is low, but enough to wake someone close to her. "Trouble. Not here, but nearby."

Thurid's featherlight Celestial Chainmail doesn't impede her ability to drift off to sleep- after finding a quiet spot to say her evening prayers, and drink her tea, she had ended up dozing off near the door- arms wrapped around the haft of her hammer, cradling it like a babe. A hundred pound adamantine babe. Whatever wakes Aimarra, passes by without notice for the Jotunborn.

However, the urgent whispering of Aimarra does cause her to stir, snorting and then starting. She reaches to rub her eyes, waking slowly.

MAC-B1G's optics blink on to full power and it rises from its ...compact squat in the corner. "Affirmative," it announces as its faceplate rotates about. "Unexpected input detected. Threat probability high." It maneuvers in the small space to the entrance to egress and evaluate.

GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+5: (9)+5: 14

There's the sound of sudden shattering, as whatever wooden object that was being bombarded gives way to the force hitting it. Then silence. The sort of silence that precedes a terrible event.

Aimarra wastes no more time, ignoring her own breastplate in favor of grabbing bow and quiver and dashing outside after MAC to see just what is going on.

The crashing noise brings Thurid's mind to attention, and she pushes herself to her feet, blinking the sleep from her eyes as she hefts her hammer over her shoulder and ducks her head to follow them outside and see what is going on.

"The previous structure entered is now breached," the construct announces after a quick scan. "Moving to investigate and intercept." It tromps its way directly towards the village inn.

Entering the establishment tells the tale pretty quickly. There's muddy pawprints all over the ground, some of them headed to the left. Some of them headed to the right. It seems that the creatures that headed into the inn have split up.

Thurid bounds across the way and back into the inn, skidding to a stop after leaping through the hole where the entryway used to be. She looks left, then right, then says, "You two take the right, I'll take the left. If you find anyone who is wounded, shout for me." she says, and then without waiting for confirmation, she bounds off to chase down the left hand set of tracks.

MAC-B1G is not a scout unit. Fortunately, in this instance, muddy paw prints are not a normal part of this structure, so they are conspicuous. "Acknowledged." It moves to take the path to the right.

Aimarra doesn't argue - not that there's time to. She diverts immediately off to the right, nocking an arrow to the bow and running outright.

-TBC