"You've all had hours to decide, and then you make up your mind right before we're to depart, and all preparations were done?" Aurea sighed, slight tinge of annoyance in her voice. "Well, there's no point in all of us going... There might not even be anything there anymore. This whole escapade may also take too long. You don't know what you run into." The knight looked at the city around her. "From what mayor said, the garrison here has been decimated last night. You might return to nothing if lycans strike again..." Aurea paused and turned back to the other group. "I'll stay then, just in case you haven't returned by the time sun sets. And If that were to happen..." She slightly wobbled her sword which she was holding by the blade in the middle. "This might still come in useful. Well then..." Aurea nodded, turned around and headed back towards the hall's main room. "...Gods' speed...'adventurers'" It's as if she added the last part mockingly.

Minutes passed after Aurea's speech and the people who had wanted to leave for the ruined Church of Petrania had gathered the at east gate of Thornfell, towards the forest. Right with them was the mayor and Sir Dreimon. The sky above had let up slightly, now only a drizzle accompanied the dark cloudy skies. The townsfolk were still making repairs on the huge barricades and walls, some intructions from the soldiers themselves were a huge help, creating decently stable defensive walls with less effort.

"Now then, adventurers. Since you are intent on searching for the silver I will tell you that it north from here but not too far. Perhaps you can make it in a few hours. The river in that Waterwheel has been quiet, Ytra has been kind enough not to reclaim that as well." The mayor explained. "Please do be careful, even with the lycans in hiding during the day, other things may lurk in the bushes. As I've mentioned before, it has been difficult to hunt for good game, likely because we are no longer the only ones hunting."

"We hope to hear from you before night falls or at its first hour," Sir Dreimon remarked. "We will set up traps around the city to deter the monsters from entering."

"If you haven't anymore questions, my friends," the mayor nodded. "You may take your leave. May Amadea guide your travels, adventurers and ArchWing shield you from danger."

"Alright." Rudolph cracked his neck with the simple turn of his head. "Time to get this show on tha road." He snapped his gauntlet into place, the locking mechanism allowing the gears that bent his skeletal fingers to be connected directly to the gauntlet's. He slipped his arms out of the heavy coat and simply hung it on his shoulders so that it still protected him from the elements but could be shrugged off at a moment's notice. The dwarf took his pipe and chomped down on it, lighting it with a match that he crunched down on to extinguish before swallowing. "Come on lass and laddies, we're burning daylight." And with that said, Rudolph took lead and began making his way north.

Visage placed a hand on the stalwart dwarf's shoulder as they walked. "While I am certain you are far more durable than me, and more lethal in melee, it might be wise for me -- the Druid -- to take the lead in the forest. This is where I and my like are at our best."

With that said, he transformed into a Dire Eagle, and took to wing, keeping himself high enough to be hundreds of feet beyond even the most remarkable archer's range. His keen eyes scouted the forest below, attempting to pierce the mists and trees. The sparse leaves aided his cause, allowing him to usually have an unobstructed view through the canopy as they travelled. He did not go far ahead, rather staying within sight of the rest of his party.

Rabbit didn't mind none that the others were taking the lead. A refreshing twist from the usual, and the like for him.

But he wasn't going no where, so he just sat and flipped his book some mor'.

Amon got up from the ground looking at the group before him.."It's time to get the show on the road" he says to himself and lifts his hood over his head, you can barely make out his face now. He follows the dwarf using his staff as a support for walking and he makes sure to keep the eagle in his sights in case of any signs.

Rudolph snorted at Visage's suggestion but let the changeling do his thing anyways. He watched him turn into an eagle and fly away before simply continuing on deeper into the woods. He turned toward's Mari's voice. "Oh, yer roight. I forgot." The dwarf unlaced a pouch from his belt and handed it over. "'Ere lass, should be bout 20 in there. Casted em from iron then dipped it in silver. They should fit in fine. Must say though, not every day you see a handcannon in the hand of someone who's not a pompous douche, they ain't cheap." He looked up at the eagle. "Between you and me," Rudolph wondered if Visage would be able to hear. "If anyone was to have one, I'd guess feathery up there would."

Aurea walked into the room slightly shaking her head, and once more took her spot next to a window. She wasn't particularly happy with the turn of the events, but at least she got to witness how eager these people are. While it was a good sign for her...Eagerness is not always a positive trait.

Her attention turned towards the woman that slept on the couch. This girl had the right idea... Although she was sleeping unbothered by whatever was going in the room, Aurea had a feeling that even without the armor on and trying her hardest, she wouldn't be able to get even relatively close without attracting the ranger's attention. A weird thought of an unoccupied mind... She watched Rhea for a bit longer, then the rest people in the room. 'Rabbit' and Lera were how they've introduced themselves she believed. Eventually the silence disrupted only by sounds of ruffled pages and clock's ticking, as well as overall idleness began to weight down on her. The woman turned her gaze towards the window, and just like before began staring at people at their work as their repaired the buildings and set up traps. "Might as well keep helping them..." Aurea muttered, but haven't moved from her spot.

[Church of Petrania]
The sun finally shone out of the clouds, its warm rays enveloping the landscape in its yellow glory.

Visage, Rudolph, Amon, Mari and Edward set off northward, following the vague instructions given by Thornfell's mayor, Roderique. With the druidic changeling in the air guiding their movements, the time it took to reach the abandoned ruins of Petrania's place of worship was a mere few hours. The falcon had spotted the church's steeple poking out of the green canopy, the goddess' insignia perched on top of the spire. Luckily, nothing untoward had happened during their trek however, the silence of the forest at this time was unnerving¹.

The travelling party now reached the church grounds which was only marked by four derelict white marble pillars (one had been toppled over and the other, closest to the party seems to be missing a good chunk of itself) and a broken down stone path that lead to the church itself. ² The once immaculate structure of white stone, raised a good two feet off the ground and staircase leading up to it, was nothing more than a dull grey, dirt had clung into the crevices in which new plant life had bloomed. Its metal decor, iron and bronze swirls depicting gears above the massive wooden door and around the windows were either rusted or missing. What used to be a beautiful garden is now a sprawling mass of vines and thorns, green stems snake upwards, coiling around overhanging stone and punching holes through them. Stain glass windows of the entrance could have depicted various images of Petrania but all thats left were paneless holes like mouths with teeth made of colorful glass shards.

The entrance's double doors, its peak was a good seven feet high, stood ajar inward slightly, enough for a person to come in.

[Thornfell]

"Alright, cover the traps," Sir Dreimon ordered his men. "Night will fall on us soon."

Thornfell itself was a big city, its sprawling structures extended not just outward but upward. People who were trained in archery were already placed on the treetops while those on the ground managed to fix the last of the traps that surrounded the city. Even if there'd be no attack this night, it was uninamously decided that being prepared was better than being dead. It was a busy afternoon and the sun finally gave its light to Plethoras.

Aurea was found helping the people finish the traps, a round of thanks was given to the outsider for the hard work before they went back in the walls. The rest of the adventurers were in the town hall, lounging in its interior.

Inside, the Mayor was looking expectantly out the window. "Where is that girl?" he muttered.

FOOTNOTES
¹For Visage: As you had swapped into animal form, an insinctual, animalistic tug tells you to leave the forest or at the very least hide; being not wholly animal, you resist the urge.
²For Visage: From abobe, your vantage point in the sky, there seems to be nothing wrong with the rooftop save for some holes where branches seem to pop out from. Clay shingles decortate it, patterned to form Petrania's insignia.

Rudolph grunted, they were making good time and now wasn't a time to slow down. He didn't want to make any noise however, there was no idea what was out there and so didn't want to call out to Visage. He looked up to the eagle and waved his hand to get Visage's attention. He pointed downward to indicate that the changeling should join them back on the ground. He crunched out the smoldering tobacco with his finger and pocketed his pipe. Once the druid joined them he would approach the church and ease his way through the door. "Let's see what we got here."

Rhea stayed sprawled out on her couch, either completely disinterested in whatever concerned the mayor or still asleep. She was here for one reason only.

She could just...go. Right now even. Was there really a point in all this waiting? Aurea yet again gave Highmount an almost longing look, as she was working on the traps outside the walls of Thornfell.

Once all was done, she accepted the thanks with a slight bow and a smile, and headed back towards the town hall. Everyone was already there...or perhaps noone got himself engaged into anything productive throughout all this time and just waited.

Visage noted Rudolph's signal and dove down to the ground, spreading his massive wings to make a couple back strokes just before impact to bring himself to a soft, silent landing. Shifting back into his human form, he shivered slightly.

"There's something wrong here, more than just the overgrowth. While I was an animal there was a distinct sense of unnatural corruption pervading this whole forest. Stay on your highest guard...I'd advise weapons be drawn and readied."

Taking his own advice, Visage hooked the small crucible he had taken earlier on his belt with a bit of rawhide from his satchel, placed the piece of silver in it, and focused on it until the silver melted.

With the silver ready, Visage took his cudgel from his hip. At his will, the simple piece of wood morphed into an intricately grained recurve bow. A single twig sprouted from the outside edge of it. Plucking the twig, it elongated into a strange arrow of sorts. A single fluid gesture dipped the broadhead tip into his liquid silver, then knocked the arrow. Holding it at half draw, he nodded to Rudolph to go ahead and open the doors.

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Cast Heat: 5 essence channeled | 11 total today

As the party began to get ready, Mari lurked somewhat in the back, scanning the surroundings of the party in order to maybe catch some off movements. As she did so, her hands slipped behind her back and pulled out her handcannon. The woman began loading the firearm with gunpowder, swiftly detaching the iron stick from its barrel and pressing it down the barrel. The pellet followed an instant later, receiving the same fate as the powder. Once the first cannon was ready, she slipped the stick back onto its hole beneath the barrel and returned the weapon from where she had taken it. An instant later, the other handcannon appeared from around her back, the one that Nat had given her. She repeated the same actions as before, loading it with a silver pellet. Considering the awkwardness of those actions, Mari had finished in a record time, taking only a dozen seconds for both.

She held the cannon in her left hand, and drew her longsword, wielding it in her right hand. She looked over her shoulder one last time before turning her attention to the door and patiently awaiting the entry into the decrepit church.