Our characters also spent 5 years in a prison run by the ruling party. We have a mark that prevents us from acting directly against them so we have to make sure the bandits are not affiliated. We ended up in prison because the previous ruling party sent us off to war when the opposing leader...
The cantrip idea was use it to make feathers grow, as they are similar to hair. Perhaps our GM will allow it.
The point of this part of the campaign is supposed to be like Seven Samurai/Magnificent Seven. Stupid, astronomical, unbeatable odds. That's why we need creative solutions.
I'm the wizard in this campaign. It is a bit nonsensical. There's no mention of birds in town besides the ones the fletcher has, and they're all raptors. The whole country was at war and there have been major political upheavals. Maybe the birds were given as tribute, I'll have to ask the...