"So we can only assume, huh? That's no good..." Shautha grumbles. "What do we do now? What's the plan?"

She glances at Ulf before continuing, this time with a mocking tone. "I awoke to someone telling me there was trouble and I was ready for some action, but seems like that was just a poor assumption too"

Ulf stares at her a moment, clearly considering his response. She gets drunk and brawls in the street, 'trouble' is probably a spear in the belly for her. Sensibilities of an Ox.

He shakes his head at the orc's remark, his tone dismissive, "Where I come from, a battle a few feet from the camp is considered trouble. Next time I will leave you to sleep, if you prefer. For my part, rouse me if the situation is reversed: I like to see how our enemies fight, before we have to fight them."

 As you all finish your bickering, or conversation however you personally see it, and start to pack your things for travel, it doesn't take long to notice a V shaped formation flying in your direction.

Most of them seen to be lightly armored and even more lightly armed, four of them wielding javelins, with a small 'quiver' of them on their backs and one in their hands. The one at the head of the formation however had a long bow with an arrow of quivers. The large, bird-like humanoids had wings of varying sizes, shapes, and colors. Most were hawklike, with the leader appearing to be more eagle in nature. They made no attempt to mask their approach and even got low enough to hover only a few feet off the ground, just outside of normal melee reach as they greet you.

Morning travelers. I hope the day finds you well. We're on the search for cultists in the area, or cultist sympathizers. We have no definitive proof but we believe they may be the source of the strange weather and other minor disasters that have been plaguing the area for the last few months. Do you folks happen to know anything?

Ulric looks up to the avian folk above him and partially lies, "A group of strange people approached us just the other night. We don't quite know what they were talking about, but they were speaking of strange gods and different lands. I think they went that way." He points off in a random direction. If he was going to infiltrate this cult, Ulric figures he should show the cult members that he can be reliable.

Deceive the bird people cult is in the direction he pointed.

 the left-most one cocks his head to the side as he observes Ulric's lie, sensing the underlying tension as his hesitation to consider his exact words betrayed his intent. You need not fear, we are hunting them down for their crimes. If they have any hold or threat over you - you will not be harmed for giving us information. We understand they like to use underhanded tactics to keep their secrets. They will not survive long enough to hunt you. So tell us, where did they go and we can be on our way.

Any further lies from Ulric would likely be at disadvantage against these bird-men.

Shautha stares at the birdfolk with a mixture of waryness and wonder. She had seen and heard about dragon-people and fiend-people, among other things, but this was her first time seeing these bird-of-prey people. 

If cooked and eaten, would they taste like the birds they look like? She thinks to herself.

"They seemed strong, like an army. Are you sure you will be able to defeat them when you find them?" She asks, her tone revealing she wouldn't care that much for who'd be the winner. She's just curious. "I don' know what you are, but you look like birds. And bird bones are quite... fragile."

One of the bird-men, one whom had remained silent so far spoke up, he looked 'young' by the standards of the others there, young and brash as he responded to Shautha with as much of a smirk as a beaked maw could produce .. You know what else looks weak? A pack of barbarian orcs flailing their axes and flexing uselessly their muscles as we rain down arrows on-- Enough Rrakra, they are not our enemies. This is why you will never rise in rank. Apologies for my subordinates behaaaavior. He is young, and foolish. But yes orc, we are plenty strong. You have no idea how powerful a group that can fly and attack at the same time can be - Mobility can be the difference. And we are AAAAAAArakokra. So tell us, where did they go so we may be on our way.

Ulric considers what to say while the others talk. After there is a slight pause after the bird man speaks, he says, "They were over there, but don't tell them we told you so." He points in the direction where cultists were.

Ulf nods at Ulrics last comment then finally speaks up, "You say you are hunting them for crimes. We too are looking for criminals who have waylaid wagons not far from here. Can you tell us what crimes they are accused of? Or if you have heard of other criminals in the area?"

"You better not lose, then." Shautha growls, eyeing Rrakra. "They outnumbered us, and we had to be very careful to get them to let us leave, as we wouldn' had been able to win such a fight. As my companion here says, you better not tell them we told you. We do no want them going after us, we do no want anything to do with this, do you understand that?"

She stares them down, grasping her club tightly.

Ylnira's eyes widen in awe at the majestic Aarakocra. If only her abilities allowed for flight. She bows in respect. "It is an honor to meet you. We are travelers of the land, who have apparently been caught in some form of conflict foreign to most of us - we do not know much, frankly, and without information, it is impossible to act decisively. Forgive us for being unwilling to divulge the little information we do know - it is not ours to give. Forming enemies is not something we are keen on. You seem friendly, and alliances are something I am interested in creating, but I do not wish to take sides." She rises, giving each a friendly glance to assess their conditions. If any seem to be injured, Ylnira will offer some healing. Although not as deceptive as Ulric, it is evident Ylnira speaks with a practiced tone and manner of speaking foreign to most clerics or healers devoted to worshiping their deities. "If you would be willing to explain in further detail what you know and what fuels your motives, I would be thankful and perhaps be willing to aid you further, but we have given you what we know. Please, do not imply that we told you where to find the cultists." 

Looking to Ulric as he continues to hover, nodding while his wings perpetually displace the dirt almost twenty feet below him Much appreciated, We will see to it that they aaare dealt with, or pursued if they do ultimately prove too large aaa force. And again, we have no reason to tell them where we got our information. We will say we spotted them with our vision from the sky. the others listen to what else is said, eventually, responding to it all, as they readjust their grips for comfort, or scan the area.

Now responding to Ulf, another one says They aaare cultists, that is crime enough. We don't know if they aaare involved in any such activity, but considering aaaall the attacks aaare taking place along the rivers... if they are associated with the water cults we've been heaaaring rumors of, it wouldn't surprise us and it would match the 'most likely' scenaaario. But it could also simply be coaaastal raiders, acting now while the cults do, to use them aaas cover for their own crimes. The young hotheaded aarakocra looks about to speak when the leader steps in before he can Do not worry, we have traaaained since we were young, to be warriors for our tribe, aaand should we believe we would be outmatched, we would keep an eye on them while caaaaaaawlling for reinforcements. We are strong, but we aaaren't foolish.

As Yin's eyes scan over them, none of them seem to be harmed (likely much to her disappointment - as since leaving the AFS that day, her healing has found little to no need, yet) and if anything, they are in peak condition going off assumptions of their race. The apparent leaders expression shifts throughout her small speech, and by the end of it, he closes his eyes and sighs a sigh with the weight of the word behind it.

We hunt them to aaavenge our fallen. The water cult slipped into our village pretending to be traders, claaaiming to have some maaagical artifact they wished to sell us, in exchange for aan aartifact of our own. They told us it would make it so our villaaage would never need waant for waater aagain, which is aaaaa need for aaany village that cannot cast spells, aaand would have made our self-sustaaaainence so much easier. Using that, they brought with them a rock, thrumming with immense magical power. 

Aaafter the traade was completed, we aasked them how to make the aaartifact function, aaand they told us it would aaaactivate on its own by the end of the daay - And they had spoken the truth. My brothers here, aaand a few other warriors had left, to hunt, in preperaaaation for celebrations and feasting for our good fortune. It is only by that miracle that we are still alive. 

We do not know whaaat they gave us, but severaal hours after we left to hunt... an explosion of force rocked the area, torrential rain so heavy and visible for miles... the water weighed down our brethrens feaathers, so they could not fly... and then they were dragged down the mountain in a flood, battering them.. we found what was left of our families, and our homes at the bottom of the mountain, when the devastation had ended.

When he had first begun, there had been a burning anger, but by the end of it, only a hollow sorrow.

 Ulf's disinterest rapidly disappears as the story unfolds, and he listens intently to every word. "And you are absolutely sure it was these cultists?"

(( assuming they say "yes" ))

"I too know what it is to lose someone, though to lose a whole viliiage..." he shakes his head, "...your desire for vengeance is a righteous cause."

"I perhaps should not say this..." he pauses a moment, glancing around at his companions, giving them a chance to interrupt. "...but they also mentioned a dwarven fort that they have taken as their own. We only have a general idea of its location, but it's somewhere in that direction" he says, pointing where he thinks it lies.

(( if someone does interrupt, he instead says ... ))

"...we felt very uncomfortable with their strange ways. Be wary, there is more to them than it first seems."

Shautha assimilates the aarakocra's tragic tale. While she's not exactly sympathetic, she now feels respect for their warrior ways and their mission. "They spoke of serving a patron, but they didn' wanted to say what that patron even was. They also seemed to like rain a little too much..." She adds.

Remembering something, she scratches her head before she speaks again. "...Said something about a feather spire, too? Feathergale, I think? Don' know, I didn' care." She shurgs, honestly admitting she hadn't been paying that much attention.

Ylnira does not appear to react in any way by the tale. She had been expecting something along those lines. Only rarely does any creature - flightless, humanoid, or otherwise - embark on a quest of such vengeance, especially when likely heavily outnumbered, without a due cause. Rather, she maintains her neutral, calming gaze and opens her mouth to speak, but her voice seems to fail her. The grip on both sides of either arm tightens as she momentarily bows her head.

A voice filled with malice rings through her head, plainer than day. “I was right about the cultists, Yln. Murderers and scoundrels, too zealous for their own good.”
Ylnira grits her teeth behind her blank expression. “You’re one to speak about being zealous. You love that word, don’t you? If you had attacked them all, we would’ve died.”
”And you’re one to do nothing about anything, Yln,” the voice laughs, jeering in a singsong tone. “Those cultists made their decision by joining something they can’t redeem themselves from. I haven’t been buried around in your head just to watch undue suffering continue. These cultists have killed and will kill.”
“And your solution is to continue that cycle?” Ylnira closes her eyes and shakes her head to rid herself from some of the pain brought from conversations with the voice inside her head. “I plan to solve the issue, and that doesn’t mean needlessly slaughtering any cultists we see. Some are deluded because it is all they know or have left.”
”Oh, Ylnira,” the voice condescendingly scolds, “You know that’s not true. Are you just too weak to do what needs to be done? I’m not. Let me take control. I’ll do it if you won’t.”
”No,” Ylnira firmly responds, tuning out the incessant whine of her other half. 

She lifts her head, apologetically smiling to the winged creatures above. Without reason to believe they are lying - and with their previous experience with the cult of water - she was inclined to aid the Aarakocra how she could. Ylnira gives Ulf and Shautha a hard glance when divulging the information they knew, but made no motion to stop them. “Your motives are just. My allies have noted what there is to know. Given the size of the parties and their apparent strength, I ask for you to be cautious. I imagine they can quickly overwhelm five, even with your superior range. They have their own. I can only offer my aid as a healer - I am afraid we have other occupations to deal with.”

She stops, tilting her head. These birds must have a good vantage point on the vicinity. “Should I find myself free of any current tasks, I may consider helping you further. Given your obvious knowledge of the vicinity is definitely superior than ours, perhaps you can help us quicken our business here. Have you seen any signs of caravans being stopped, or somehow prevented from continuing, in any way?”

The 'leader' of the band grunts and shakes his head 'no' as his shoulders slack, ever so slightly No. We don't know if these specific ones were involved, but we do know they aaare part of the same group. We only found out aaabout the existence of the cults after... a sigh filled with fury escapes his 'lips' as he closes his eyes, collecting himself, and a similar sentiment can be seen like an echo rippling through the rest of the bird men. As Ulf points somewhat northward, the birdmen share a look but don't immediately say anything, as they listen to Shautha speak now, another shared look, though this time with more uncertainty. 

We don't know whom they serve if they worship some evil entity, but we do know their leader is a pirate of ill repute. But if they've taken over some ruins... they may have sought one near an element they favor... chatter starts filling the air as if puzzle pieces were fitting together, though the leader kept his focus on the party as Shautha continued. I doubt Feathergale is their base of operations... it's relaaaaatively new, and filled with nobles who fancy themselves hunters of the sky. They fly around on the backs of lesser winged creatures to hunt prey for trophies. A typical rich human thing.

The leader stows his weapon to better cross his arms and hold his 'chin' as he seems to be thinking, hard after Yin finishes speaking, his eyes darting around. His fellows still chatting away among themselves for several minutes before they all seem to come to a realization. After discussing it with each other, one of the more falconlike ones speaks in place of the leader Sorry..  worry not for us. We will always do our best to be cawtious, but aside from us, there is only a handful of our tribe left. Either we suceed, or we all die anyway. We haven't seen any caravans being stopped but your information put what I believe you call a puzzle, together. We simply lacked some of the pieces. They're a waaater cult.. likely they will near a source of waaater. You saay folks have been getting waylaaaid? You believe they're in that general direction... with what we know... There are many ruins dotting the lands here, but there is only one aaaalong the river directly.

We saw smoke rising from the rivers edge some way back as we flew west, once the devils wind died the other daay, and there is a old fort not too faaar north from there.. but we hadn't put the possible connection together, we didn't know they would be using the fortresses.... we aaassumed it waas fisherman from Womford ... But now we think it may be more cultists.. possibly. But it was directly aaalong the river, and most of these cultists look like pirates, brigaands, aand so forth so perhaps they've laaaid an ambush somewhere along the river to waylay travelers?

Ulf nods, "We thank you for the information" he says, "and I hope that we may count you among our friends, and as such...as such, must counsel you to caution. If these people -- or their allies -- are behind the recent attacks then they are more powerful that we expected, but ... we, too, would then count them as enemies."

"If this is so, then together, in the future, we may be able to bring them to justice. Do not throw your lives away on a futile gesture now, when time may lead to a greater opportunity for the justice your people deserve."

"For now, we are trying to gather information about the attacks and would be willing to share what we learn", now his gaze wanders over the assembled creatures, "and I have little doubt that you will be able to find out much -- and find us -- if you want to. I suggest we keep in contact, and work together to what may be a common goal."

Ulric stays silent through most of the conversation. He nods here and there to signify he listening, but he is content to glean information from the strangers. Despite their noble countenance, he remains skeptical and not a little bit cautious. For all he knew, there could be spies or assassins from one of the cults. The best spies were the ones who wouldn't be suspected.

Noting the conversation seems to be coming to a close, Ulric gives them a warm smile and says, "Thanks for telling us. We'll stay safe and hope the same for you in your journeys." Despite sounding friendly, he is stone cold on the inside.

Will wait a little longer to see if the others have anything to say, otherwise I will continue tomorrow.

A long, awkward pause happens as everyone seems to just cease speaking entirely before the birdmen take the initiative to break the forming ice. We thank you aas well. We will take your words into consideraaation. We will re say, the fort we know of is along the river to the north, that might be their tribe... their baase... whatever you caaaawll it. We will return to scouting, and decide how to go on from there. Take care strangers. and as one, the group of aaracokra fly in near unison in the direction specified earlier to pursue the cultists you had all seen the night before.

Moving on the way you all had originally intended to move, towards Wompford and the Bargewright Inn, neither of which were far from eachother, and it takes another few hours of swift travel but eventually the sight of buildings can be seen in the distance, and within half an hour the Inn comes into view. Once a hilltop wayside inn, this site has become a walled community of ramshackle, often-rebuilt wooden towers and buildings now entirely cloaking a hill that overlooks the village of Womford across the river.

You all approach the gate of the small settlement that had been built around the former inn from the south-western side. The ramshackle building methods doing anything but adding to the appeal of the area as everything seems patchwork at best. There are no guards at the gates, though a man is sitting, squatting against the wall as he chews on some stale bread. The man is a human with sun-tinted skin, and dirty clothing, a single dagger at his belt but he doesn't seem to care about your approach, despite clearly noticing it as he keeps an eye on all of your movements as you approach.

There are a small amount of people milling about their own personal business walking to and from various places.