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[Plane Sailing]

A couple of days later they return to this point after delivering the charmed men to the authorities - although charmed they still bore some guilt, since even under the charm they were behaving in a way which they were predisposed towards, and had to answer for the murder of the courier.

Following the trail into the forest the company are surprised to find, after a couple of leagues, evidence of a long-forgotten roadway along their trail - jumbled stones which, at one time, must have formed part of a paved highway. A little further along and Crail notices hidden in the grass an ancient stone memorial, apparently depicting elves involved in siege against trolls or some other giantish creatures. It’s strange, because nobody round here has ever seen an elf, not in living memory. This must be from a long, long time ago.

As they press deeper into the forest there are some alarming calls heard away to the north - some strange strangled bird-like sounds. Auriel’s nature knowledge is improving, and she confirms that it is cockatrice mating calls - and in the mating season they tend to be less aggressive towards large creatures (saving their aggression for mating duels). Even more wary they press on.

After another couple of leagues they see a large white wolf, lounging on grass beside their trail. While they study it, the animal stands, and both Auriel and Sula gain an empathic impression - a sort of question, a need for them to follow. The two wilderness lovers project feelings of agreement with their animal empathy and they follow the wolf off the track and into the underbrush. An hours journey brings them to an old log and sod hut, with grass and flowers growing all around it and a family of wolves lounging or playing nearby and inside. The large grey wolf enters, introduces himself to them as Thornfur, and asks for their help…