As the day and night progress it becomes increasingly clear to Ulf that Ylnira is uncomfortable with the outdoors. He has guided enough folk through the wilderness to recognise the signs, and -- while he realizes that there may be another factor at work as well -- he tries to smile reassuringly to allay her immediate concerns. "All the sounds of the wild keeping you awake?" he asks, then continues before she responds, hoping his voice will reassure if nothing else. "Think of it just like a big city: All the people shouting about what they have, what they want, warning others off, scuffles breaking out. Only much more ... natural ..." he smiles to himself and nods, "...yes -- death happens, but unlike our tiefling friend's wife, things only die here for a purpose. There is little malice in the wilds, and when there is, it usually comes from outside and people like me and Shautha deal with it."

(( in the morning ))

Ylnira: "Is Womford our destination? I'm one for caution, and that bridge seems quite precarious." 

Ulf frowns, "No, but maybe a short visit to get any news. Our destination is further on, based on the reports and what I saw of that map."

Turning to Shautha, "You up for one more town before moving on? At least to take its measure. We should not tarry long though."

Since wilderness felt like home to her, Shautha enjoys the absence of crazy crowds and claustrophobic buildings while it lasts. While she prefers natural things, the bridge does manage to impress her. "Pretty thing. Almost as pretty as the river..." She mutters to herself.

Because she couldn't put herself on Yilnira's shoes, she chooses to say nothing. "Wonder where he went" She wonders outloud after Ulf mentions the tiefling. After that, she sleeps.

Shautha just shurgs. "Sure, I don' see why not." She says, though she doesn't sounds particularly interested. "If we have luck, the next town won't be as murderous as this one."

Brushing off the dirt a little and picking up her club, she comments. "We had luck with the tiefling. If we find yet another poor little thing in need of saving and we are outnumbered yet again, we might not be so lucky...

(During camp)

Ylnira's persistent frown softens into a more neutral expression at Ulf's words. As far as Ylnira could infer, Rangers and the roamers of the wilderness possibly had a similar view on the wilds as she held for the cities. "The wilderness doesn't care who you are or how you look. This may sound offensive, but the wilds seem much more simple than the societies built into cities - I guess each are kill-or-be-killed in some twisted way. The nuances with human behavior, as a healer, is what I tend to specialize in." She risks a small, uncharacteristic smile. "On the same page, I find purpose to be a topic more complicated to bother with. I can only judge others based on their actions. The water cult's intentions could be considered justified by some perspective. My goal is simply to alleviate the inevitable disagreements that arise from different mindsets in whatever way I can - conflicts tend to result in pain, which to me, is the worst experience someone can have." 

In response to Shautha, Ylnira curtly inclines her head. "A stop, however brief, may be ideal. I am hesitant to burden ourselves with more occupations at the moment - perhaps avoiding conflict in general may be wise." 

(in camp)

Ulf smiles also, "Then we see the world very similarly; nature is indeed simpler in many ways, and never cruel. A wolf will kill efficiently and without mercy, but a domestic dog -- like a domestic human --- will cause needless pain and suffering, though humans seem to enjoy it, and dogs do it through ignorance. They have both lost sight of the great balance that spawned them." He waves his arms to encompass the wilderness, then is silent for a moment, before continuing, "These 'nuances' you speak of are what leads to the ... to the kinds of people we saw back there. And while nature may lack nuance, it has such beautiful subtlety that it would make you weep" He pauses again, then nods in the direction of the town. "The townsfolk were brutish, thuggish, and lacking in all subtlety. They are out of balance in every meaning of the word."

At the mention of the water cult he laughs, "It seems that they are the equal and opposite reaction to the likes of the innkeeper. I would happily see them kill each other."

((in the morning))

Ulf nods, "Then we are agreed. To Womford. Let us hope it is less pestilent than its sibling city."

With that he secures his pack, ready to proceed as soon as the others are ready.

After several good conversations and a good nights sleep, you all backtrack just a bit to the bridge you had passed the night before, in search of a good spot to camp. Ulf tries to think on the structures history, but little comes to mind other than 'probably dwarves' with no conclusive affirmation. The morning was met with the chirping of birds and other wildlife who woke up at-least an hour before you all did yourselves. The sun was warm, and tempered by a light breeze  as everything is more or less packed up. 

It's a few miles to the bridge but it doesn't take long to get within 'we're almost there' distance when Everyone, especially Yin and Ulf notice the rustling of brush nearby. Unfortunately for the would be attackers, the area was somewhat thin in foliage allowing them to be spotted quite easily, though Shautha only saw a few of them moving about in coordinated manners. A pack of Wolves had picked up their scent though the few glances of their bodies showed them to be starved.

Ulf has earned a point of inspiration. Combat has begun, no one is surprised. Party is up first (20.33333 vs 8. something) All players take their turn simultaneously, however combat is resolved in the order of posts. After the party has taken their turn, the enemy (if any remain) will have theirs.

The wolves seem to have been following for some time but out of hunger, revealed themselves prematurely. All targets are within 30 feet. And all but one is next to another of its kin.

Ulf holds up his hand for his companions to wait, then tries to identify the leader of the pack and speaks to them, or the pack in general if he is not sure, "Only death waits for those who attack us. There are much easier pickings elsewhere. You look hungry -- we too are hunters and can help you find food."

Give me a persuasion check, DC 13

Ulf turns to his companions while the wolves consider his words. "Growl a little, show your teeth, especially you..." he says to the orc, "...make it clear we are not easy pickings. But make no aggressive move, and don't look them in the eye."

Then he turns back and waits for a response, his eyes scanning over the pack and their surrounds.

Despite being unaccustomed to treks through the wilderness, Ylnira's stride is surprisingly agile due to her lack of encumbering armor or equipment. Upon noticing movement within the brush nearby, Ylnira assumes a more defensive stance - those who bothered to disguise their approach rarely held peaceful intent. Her preparations for combat were interrupted by Ulfric's words. After a moment's hesitation as she processes the strange request, she lowers both curled fists and complies with his recommendation, pushing aside her initial awkwardness with the gesture to bare her teeth and appear intimidating enough for the wolves to reconsider an attack - she was no fool enough to question a Ranger's wisdom on the behavior of animals. 

While the wolf doesn't seem to understand the concept of 'death' atleast not in the active sense of the word, the Alpha does notice that at-least most of the party doesn't seem to be afraid, and its even more confused that this not-wolf is able to communicate with him at all. A few short growlsnaps later, and the movement around the party has stopped completely, though all are still not seen, the ones that were  seemed to be looking as intently as a shaking body could.

[Ulf] Pack is starve. You are food? Eat food. it says in simple terms, which to atleast Yin.... would simply sound like the wolf was making threats due to the limited capabilities of the wolf. Shautha may or may not be able to understand it. However, as Yin changes from a defensive to a more aggressive stance, and Ulf continues the wolf speaks again. You bring food? Hunt food us? Then bring now, or we eat you pack. The wolf seemed like it had, for the moment, been persuaded. But as the alpha it couldn't show weakness for any reason, atleast not moreso than the rest of its pack.

Al of them sitting down, shivers running along their bodies from near starvation. Apparently something whether tied to the events or simply bad luck, was effecting the wolves ability to hunt properly.

Ulf crouches down, trying not to startle the wolves, and showing respect for the Alpha as he reaches for a pouch at his hide. "I have food. Small food, but it is very, very good". He pulls several small berries out of his pouch, shows them to the wolf, and eats one himself. "Nature provides for those in need." he says with a quick glance at Yln, before turning back to the wolf, "Try one...but only one for now...they are good. Fill belly. I have enough for all of your pack. Can make more..."

He throws a single berry to the ground between himself and the wolves. "Try...eat..." he says, nodding at the food, then waits.

The wolf looks at the berry as it rolls a little bit before stopping fully, and it eyes it with some level of offense and hesitation. They wanted meat, but wolves weren't entirely averse to berries... feeding them to their young when meat is scarce. The alpha eventually, however, moves forward to pick up the berry - as any further hesitation to any action would be seen as weakness. And though it takes a few nips to actually get the berry in their mouth, the wolf eventually eats it, its back lips lifting in a snarl from the taste (what might taste good to a human might be disgusting to a wolf!) and it gets ready to lunge when it stops, looking around confusedly for a few moments.

The other wolves see this and prepare to attack when the wolf barks out at them. [Ulf] How small plant fill up much.... it said to itself before looking at Ulf, with steely eyes. Taste dung, but no hungry. You say you feed pack. Feed pack. it says commandingly, thoguh with Ulfs insight, he can tell there is some appreciation there. Some. 

Ulf nods and solemnly and slowly throws a berry to each wolf, before returning his gaze to the Alpha. "Let that settle in their stomachs and I will give them another -- they look hungry."

He glances at his companions, "I think they will settle for food, and they may have information. Wolves range widely."

Turning back to the Alpha, "I can not speak with you for long. Only once a day. But tell me...why are your pack so hungry? What has driven you away from your lands? We seek what causes the bad weather and the attacks on the road."

Most of the words aren't recognized by the wolf. But it understood enough to get where Ulf was going. The tree's shifting along the edge of the lightly forested area as the wind picked up slightly. As the berries went out, a total of seven wolves, all possessing visible bones through their skin, each eat the berry that was tossed their way, though all of them wary of the party, and ready to strike or retreat if the party proved hostile. When each of them finished their 'food'  they seem to shiver for a moment, as the secondary effects of the berry take place, giving them a sense of 'fullness' they hadn't felt in atleast several weeks.

Still on guard, but not as tensely, they all remained where they were. None of them offering thanks, lest they draw the ire of their alpha. nature shake. Nature howl. Nature wet. See heat far off. Food hide, or die. Die where no to eat. Or danger. What left, eaten by pack like you, along wet. it says, takign a moment to sniff the air, before his nose points almost directly north, along the river you were on back down the path you had come. Too many pack to fight, or steal. Some of pack like you go other place. Outside of tree. 

Ylnira watches Ulf deal with the wolves with increasing interests for the abilities shown. She had not known speaking with animals was possible - furthermore, conjuring a meal from thin air was impressive. "I never expected to ask wolves for information, but I suppose inquiring as to what they have seen is worthwhile." Unsure on the behavior of wolves, Ylnira defers to keeping her position and expression rigid. She had heard conflicting stories about the behavior of wild animals - whether to relax her guard or maintain a defiant demeanor was beyond her knowledge. 

Ulf is relieved to see his companions remaining still and quiet, he turns to them and speaks. "Make no sudden or aggressive moves, especially to the big one. And don't look in their eyes; look away quickly if you do. The leader says there are people north, driving them out." Ulf looks north and his expression slowly hardens. What I said to Ylnira was too truer than I realized: there is an imbalance here that must be corrected. "Now I have a reason to fight."

He only allows himself a few moments more to think about the Alpha's words before responding. "North are our enemies. We fight. You should look for food elsewhere." (( He suggests a location/direction if he knows of a safer location )).

As he speaks he takes out more berries, and throws them to the wolves slowly. "Eat. You need  them more than I, and tell me of the tree you mentioned." Then he looks at the pouch he uses to carry them, clearly torn. It was a gift from a his teacher, and he has carried it a long time. Then he looks back at the wolf. "I put this on you" he demonstrates looping over his own neck, taking it off, putting it on. he shows the wolf the remaining six berries. "You chew open and feed you pack before the moon is high -- there are only six, but share. Mix with other food -- makes better. Then you can go far from here, healed and with full bellies. Remember: must eat before moon is high!"

((I'm so sorry, I had no internet connection. It still comes and goes, so if I disappear again that's why, not because I ghosted it all of sudden. This is awful))

Shautha just sits there and allows the elf to do all the talking with the wolves 'till now, seeing as he's doing fine with it. Her totem glows warmly for a moment as she quietly does a ritual spell herself while Ulf talks.

Then, she speaks. "Can you tell us why your pack has been starving? Is there no prey to be found here?"

Ylnira complies with the recommended gestures and raises an eyebrow as Shautha performs a similar spell. She supposes the general skillset is shared between wanderers of the wilderness. "If a cult inhabited an area to the North and sustained themselves by overhunting the wild game, I could see why the rest were driven out." Understanding little of the conversation, she turns to reflect on her own thoughts rather than pointlessly attempt to make sense of the conversation constituted of growls and barks. 

"More evidence of the cult doing what they do," Ylnira's other half sardonically speaks in her mind. "When will I have the opportunity to deliver the fate they have earned for themselves?"
Expecting the voice, Ylnira's expression remains unchanged. Wolves could read body language - or so she heard. "When I am sure the injuries motivating the cult's behaviors cannot be healed. You heard the birdfolk. The destruction they weave is a response to the own suffering they have felt."
"So? Ylnira, Ylnira - they kill and harm. I never thought I would have feelings for non-humanoids, but seeing these wolves so wretched only reinforces my belief indiscriminately slaughtering these cultists is the only way to ensure the lives of others." The voice curls in cruel - yet, somehow, lighthearted - laughter. "I never thought I would be more compassionate than you." 
Ylnira hesitates for several moments. "You and I very well know death is the last resort to an incurable wound. Only if something is enduring so much pain - with no viable chance of healing that death is the most merciful option - can putting them at ease be considered. As of now, I plan to remedy the cult problem through means of peace when possible. I guarantee the lowly subordinates of the cult are there out of desperation - innocents enthralled by the words of the truly wicked leaders."
"I admire your optimism, Ylnira - yet it is foolish. Those willing to kill have forfeit their lives already; cultists exist in a miserable state of desperation like living puppets hooked to a wire, hoping their qualms will be quelled, and enact horrors upon others that can be avoided by simply killing them before they can."
"I believe you should be the one reconsidering what consists a horror," Ylnira coldly replies, blocking the voice from her mind. She takes a few deep breaths to calm her nerves and awaits a result to the conversation with the wolves. 

It's Fine Rachel, My jobs been keeping me super occupied as well.

When you attempt to put the satchel on its neck, it growls fiercely, echoed soon by the others. Ultimately forcing you to put the satchel nearby. Afterall, a wild animal much less an alpha of a pack, couldn't allow such 'familiarity' with anyone. But as the satchel is ultimately passed off to 'feed' the wolves later, when Ulf pulls away much of the sudden tension lifted as he found a spot a respectful distance away. However, when Ulf mentioned the tree, the alpha - as well as two of the others - cocked their head as if they didn't understand the question. The two whom had joined their leader in the questioning pose padding their front feet into the dirt like someone 'pitter pattering' hands on the ground would.

Outside tree. No tree is. Where your pack walk ... run. it seemed mildly frustrated as it couldn't form the words best to express its intentions. Its nose pointing south, towards Bargewright, and the roads between it, Womford, Redlarch, etc were at. (if only to help you along, hes saying that sometimes the cultists leave the forested area to go other places. Like the one group did when they met you earlier.)

The Alpha female on the opposite side pushed out of the brush when Shautha spoke, asking yet another question, since her alpha was already responding to the hunter. Food run. Food die. You pack eat food. Rest run far. 

Using his best guess as to where the cultists have their base(s), Ulf suggests to the Alpha any area away from the cultists that might have good hunting -- from the maps, or from his own knowledge -- then he bows his head to the wolf, and looks at the small bag, "Remember...eat before moon is high."