Theandric: Journeyman

[Nzld]

The expedition sets out...

With the magi in agreement, orders are given for the expedition to set forth for the village. Volkmar orders Lukas to scout a short distance ahead of the main party, keeping Mattihus close at hand to answer any questions the magi may have, or to provide directions when needed. With promises of meatpies Volkmar entices the youth Pavel to shape into the form of a raven, and fly above the party and keep an eye out, but to return to report any important sightings. As for Puck, there is little point in trying to order him to do anything, for the little man will do only as he pleases and nothing more. Occassionally the diminuitive figure walks along with the main group of travellers... occassionally he runs off into the woods only to return after some time has passed.

Volkmar stays near the magi and the troubador, to protect them in case, despite the advanced scout and overhead watch, something succeeds in taking them by surprise.

 

[Yair]

Theandric: Journeyman; Adventure 1 Scene 2

Although it is a roundabout way, Matthius insists the fastest, and certainly the safest, way to each the village is by simply following the main road, then veering off after a few miles to a smaller trail. Like most everything else the road is covered with snow, but it is still easier to follow it and the walk is not hard.
The clouds slowly gather and a genetle light snow begins to fall, but ohterwise you encounter no other travelers or hardships along the road. As darkness grows and the day wanes, you turn into the side trail and continue towards the village that Matthius assures you is only an hour's or so walk away.
The trail is twisted and narrower than the road, but is no harder to traverse. A short time after getting on it, you hear a wolf's cry from somewhere ahead. It is a stattered cry, rising and falling and with many stops. If wolves could talk, that will be how it sounds. With a pale face, Matthius informs you that this is a werewolf's cry.
Pavel can just make out what must be the village's first house, and its fields, in the distance. He spots no wolf, and is not sure exactly where the cry came from.

OOC: Tell me if anyone tries to do anything. If not, I'll move the plot further in two days or so.
Also, I assume that Kajamba Lion's character is also with you, whomever he turns out to be.

 

[Old Fezziwig]

The boy Pavel flies farther ahead, over the village, air rushing under his wings. He scans the area for any signs of the cry. Strange cry for a wolf... He flies in closer than he probably should, to see if he can get a good glimpse of the surrounding area.

 

[Strahd_Von_Zarovich]

Mallok & Lukas

What's that?
says Malloc with little panic.
We better hurry, hopefuly the village is near by.
he says to Volkmar and the magi.

****************************************
OOC: I assume Lukas as a ranger and an hunter knows it's a werewolf too.
Lukas send a concering look back to the group and let them catch up with him, meanwhile until they reach him, he scans the surronding for any tracks of wolves or other beasts.

 

[Nzld]

OOC: Did the wolf's cry sound like it was just a short ways ahead, or did it sound distant and remote?

Valeria will call upon her Magic Lore (creatures) knowledge to see what she knows of these creatures. Also bear in mind Volkmar's Magic Sensitivity (magical creatures), should that come into play.

Valeria contemplates casting a spontaneous spell to try to understand what is being said. She will go to any great lengths to do so (i.e. not getting undressed or using biold gestures, etc.), but if the cry occurs again she will spont an Intellego spell to understand it. Not sure if this should be Animal, Imaginem, or Mentem.

 

[Yair]

The boy Pavel flies farther ahead, over the village, air rushing under his wings. He scans the area for any signs of the cry. Strange cry for a wolf... He flies in closer than he probably should, to see if he can get a good glimpse of the surrounding area.

Flying closer and higher, Pavel apporaches the village. It is dark by now, and you can already see the firelight through the house's windows. A few farmsteads with small houses quickly converge into a small village, with surprisingly large and spacious wooden houses. The few fields ahead seem to be all the fields for the village, but perhaps you are missing some in the dark.
Around the village and to the south of the road lies the forest. To the north of the road are plains with a more sparse flora, an area of low hills with only the occasional dark tree sillhoute piercing out of the snow cover by the evening's waning light.

The wolf's cry came from somewhere below and ahead of you, perhaps in the direction of the village, but you couldn't quite make out the distance or precise direction.

 

[Yair]

Lukas send a concering look back to the group and let them catch up with him, meanwhile until they reach him, he scans the surronding for any tracks of wolves or other beasts.

There are no wolf tracks on the road, indeed no tracks at all covered as it is by fresh snow. Nor can he make out any in his sight - the white plain to the north seems almost barren in this, midwinter, and the forest to the south, well, I don't reckon he'll be going into there by himself.

 

[Yair]

OOC: Did the wolf's cry sound like it was just a short ways ahead, or did it sound distant and remote?

It was not very distant, but neither was it a few feet away. Depending on how the sounds carries, it could have been few hundred feet or half a mile away.

Valeria will call upon her Magic Lore (creatures) knowledge to see what she knows of these creatures. Also bear in mind Volkmar's Magic Sensitivity (magical creatures), should that come into play.

Int+Magic Lore (creatures)+7=12; pretty good.
The werewolves of Pomerania are infamous in the folk tales of the region. They are repulsive to animals, much like magi, which is their tell-tell sign and a cause of many presecutions against magi traveling in the region. There are clans of them, families, living amongst humans or in the wild woods of Pomerania as their whim strikes them. They are led by witches, which are said to be very powerful; the founder Bjornaer was one of them, their greatest, and her betrayal of their secrets is an insult to them. They hate Bjornaer magi with a passion.

Many werewolves are lycanthropes, taking the form of a wolf on the full moon. The more powerful ones have learned to control their curse, and are Skinchangers instead. By taking the wolf's form voluntarily and succumbing to their base animal lust, they can avoid becoming one at the moon's whim.

Half human and half animal, the werewolves are savage predators that live in the outskirts of human society, preying on human children and cattle as vicious wolves. They are feral and bloodthirsty, but can be very cunning and deceptive in their human form. Their witches are wise in ways of Animal; it is said Bjornaer invented much of the Order's Animal spells as conversions to the Hermetic system of her tradition's powers. In packs, they have been known to converge and best even powerful Bjornaer magi, and are just as indistinguishable from mundane animals as the Bjornaer are in their heartbeast form.
House Bjornaer largely leaves them alone, for reasons no one understands, and while some sporadic attempts have been made to eradicate them from some regions of Pomerania none succeeded in the long run. There are speculations that Bjornaer magi are in fact not traitors at all, that the reason they do not eradicate their brethern is that they are really part of them, still loyal to the old werewolf witches way, and are in fact their leaders. The failure to eradicate them, it is said, is due to clandestine opposition from the Bjornaer. The powerful Bjornaer magi refuse to discuss the matter.

Valeria contemplates casting a spontaneous spell to try to understand what is being said. She will go to any great lengths to do so (i.e. not getting undressed or using biold gestures, etc.), but if the cry occurs again she will spont an Intellego spell to understand it. Not sure if this should be Animal, Imaginem, or Mentem.

Hmmm. See OOC thread.

 

[Nzld]

Valeria finishes pondering a spell of understanding. Though various methods cross her mind, she ultimately concludes that what she desires isn't feasible within the current bounds of Hermetic magic. And considering her own limitations, she decides it isn't worth the effort to try for something more difficult. Instead she decides to fish for more mundane information from the old gardner.

"Mattihus, do you know much of these werewolves you speak of? My own knowledge is surely limited, but I have heard stories told. Most frightful and worrisome stories. Tell me, do you think this village you lead us to is peopled by their kind?"

 

[Old Fezziwig]

Curiosity gaining the better of him (although the lad would insist it was bravery), Pavel swoops down to the ground and shifts into wolf form. All the better to smell the werewolf with. The boy tries to get an idea of what direction the beast might be in and then pads back to the group.