Zoom 2023-08-29 21:00

The party heads south-west towards Brandygeres - intending to take the road south from there to cross the river. On our first night, our 'old friend' who had tailed us before (and had given us advice not to go either south or west) triggered a magic mouth and left a note saying "Where are you going?". We left a note for him saying: "Who are you, and why should we trust you? We are going where Wyldwood directed us. We invite you to our camp to parley - and guarantee safe passage unless you initiate hostile action"
Next day, Joshua (as a falcon) spots 6 cow-like creatures, which the party decides are worth going after for food. As we get closer (with Francis ahead), we discover that these creatures are, indeed, cows: A bull, 3 cows and 2 yearlings. Having checked as best we can that they aren't branded, we take out the hindmost animal - the eldest cow. We learn from this that unless you take it out quickly, it will start bellowing and cause the bull to attack. Still, it meant we ended up with both a cow and a bull to butcher. Yummee.
That night, our 'friend' sets off another magic mouth - but does not come and join us. Instead, he just leaves a note (in a well written hand) saying "Oh, OK. Good luck!"
We continue on our way - through increasingly heavy snow. After three days trekking we get to about 15 miles away from Brandygeres. However, what Joshua sees in the distance does not match the description of a small, quiet village - rather than the one or two plumes of smoke that one would expect from a small settlement, there are at least 30 or 40. There are no outlying patrols visible that would indicate a camping army, but it certainly ain't no small sleepy village.
Joshua does some clairvoyances/clairaudiences to find out what it going on there - Darrell to let us know what is seen/heard.