Wolf Hunt - Downtime 1b - 1201

[Rule Hound]

This is the location where Raetus listed in his note to meet.
 

There as a base camp with two areas and main tents though one is a little more luxurious than the other.

The first has a large militia/mercenary force set out in semi neat tent rows around a Large tent bearing Raetus's heraldry.

The Second is the more luxurious and fancier tent with Galahads heraldry and a smaller unknown heraldry below it.

Surrounding this is a equally large militia wearing the personal livery of Galahad. The Tents are in perfect order and all weapons and fires are ordered with exacting precision.

In a semi-circle behind both camps (they are only separate in as much as the tents and such are obviously different and Galahads is more neatly organized) are make shift dog and animal corrals. Some dogs wander free around what is assumed to be handlers, while others are kept secured. Several wagons of supplies, 2 pens containing live goats. Quite the collection for a wolf hunt.

[Raetus]

Raetus can be found mostly wandering between the animal pens inspecting the dogs, horses and live stock. He discusses with great interest the health and care of these animals finding the company of the animals or animal handler preferable to all else. 

As a side note a large evil looking tabby with green eyes slinks from Raetus' tent on occasion. The animal weaves through the encampment inspecting everything as cats are likely to do.  Strangely the dogs leave the feline alone and cat likewise.     

[Raetus]

Next to the tent is a large dark timbered coach upon its surface are etched snakes entwined with each others in mortal combat or perhaps making love??? Windows are shuttered and the side is padlocked. Upon the outer surface it is strapped with iron for reinforcement and the outer surface appears to be washed with a coat of black tar. 

[Fia]

Fia arrives and pokes about the encampment, seeing what manner of interesting things are about. She wonders at the odd coach and the amount of militia and mercenaries for a wolf hunt.

[Raetus]

Raetus notices the gangrel wandering about the encampment and approaches. As he crosses the way several mercenaries stand and follow in behind him along with the cat. Upon arrival the cat stands by Raetus' leg rubbing his ankle and glancing at her reproachfully.   

"Fia, you're a long way from Trieste."

[Fia]

"Good of you to join us on this fine hunt. I didn't realize we were expected to stay close to our city of choosing. While my loyalties may be with Trieste, I go where the hunt takes me. You seem to have brought an interesting entourage with you on your travels." she points at the cat and coach.

Addressing the cat (Feral Whispers) "And you, would you happen to be one of Freyja's fine cats or maybe even Irusan, the ruler of cats?"

[Raetus]

Raetus loks back up the hill to the coach and then down at the cat.

"Yes well they all serve a purpose."

(The cat cocks it's head unsure of what Fia means by name. But decides it seems to like Fia and strolls over to begin sniffing her dress hem)

"The cat's name is Sith (one of the cats ears turn towards Raetus' direction the head continues to sniff).  How do you happen upon this encampment inn your travels?"   

[Fia]

"Sith as in the celtic cat Sidhe? Well could be irusan then. Huh. " Fia scritches Sith under the chin.

Addressing Raetus again "I didn't just happen upon your encampment. I was invited by the reeve to aid in the wolf hunt. Seems like quite a large party for a few wolves. "

[Raetus]

"Ah, that explains it Gunnar's female friend. Well clearly you two must be quite a pair since you defeated Gunnar at the tournament."

[Fia]

"Ahaha I did not defeat Gunnar. I did fight him yes but defeat him no. He has been around much longer than I have. We have had several entertaining hunts together and from the look of things this one promises to be most entertaining.

Tell me what exactly are we hunting and what is the plan? Usually the hunt involves some level of stealth but with this small army stealth is out of the question. "

[Raetus]

Raetus' eyes narrow however with a dismissive hand gesture the mercenaries begin to disburse back to there separate tents. Raetus slips closer so that the surrounding men cannot hear the conversation.

"I cannot be too careful since the enemy began to create Doppler ganger. As for wolf hunting perhaps Gunnar failed to mention the numbers involved the accounts range from 50 to 100 wolves.  This pack is leviathan destroying entire villages you might to want to keep that in mind."   

[Fia]

"Yes this whole business with the duplicates is troubling. I can assure you I am me, for what that is worth?"

"I knew it was a large pack but not quite in those numbers. Still I fail to see how several of us cannot best a pack of wolves. Unless these are not typical wolves?"

[Raetus]

"Generally packs of wolves do not number above ten this group even on the low end of this estimate is far beyond that. Even my ability to summon such animals would never gather such a horde. They are held together by something more cohesive than simply animalism. Now as for the matter of wolf hunting I'm not sure where you hunted wolves but in the Frankish regions entire villages are conscripted to destroy wolf packs. This pack is five times that number and led by an unknown human alpha and his gigantic wolf pet (Raetus' eyes gloss over as he drifts away in thought before his attention returns). Hunt as you wish I have hunted for a long time all manner of beasts; underestimating them is usually dangerous and sometimes fatal." 

[Fia]

"Ah. I meant no offense, simply seeking to understand this venture. My clan was more the stay at home type so I have not participated in hunting a pack, only a stray wolf or two. And there really weren't many details given at the bar, a map with word squiggles and a pigeon with a metal tube causing its fair share of trouble. "

[Raetus]

The Duke turns back towards his bannered tent and begins to climb the incline all the while continue to talk not bothering looking back.

"I take no offense dear Fia you are here upon the hunt and that speaks more to me than most. Has Gunnar taken the longer route or did you fly here. I assume he will be coming?"