Fehér Holló

[Inu]

*I nod without a word.*

-/Hun/ Good bye then, Zsolt. And thank you for everything.

*I give him a few coins to cover the cost of the meal and leave the house. It's time to continue my journey, although I don't know where it takes.*

[Freiherr von Rosen]

*The breakfast goes nice and dandy, the entire family seems to be quite disciplined in the presence of the noble guest. When all is said and swallowed, Zoltán emerges from the table alongside the head of the family, and the two walk to the small terrace just outside the entrance.
Upon hearing the "secret" of his guest, Zsolt's eyes turn wide open, he needs a few seconds to regain his breath and his composure.*

-/Hun/ A... A witch-hunter?

*He lowers his voice now himself, shuffling closer and looking around before speaking.*

-/Hun/ You know... even though our good King Kálmán used to say there is no such thing as a witch, I've seen my own good share of strange things out there in my day.

*His tone switches, almost to a defensive one.*

-/Hun/ Of course, your lordship shouldn't expect for a moment there, that we have anything out of the ordinary here and now, I'm just saying that our world is a weird one, and there definitely is more under the Lord's skies than we are able to see. That's all...
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[Inu]

*I slightly smile when he asks my name again, but I remain in silence. After I make sure that they take care of the horse, I gladly join to the breakfast. I start to eat and wait a few minutes before I tell them my usual tale, just to make them more curious.*

-/Hun/ Thank you for the meal. And this wine... its really delicious. Well... about myself. I'm usually on a diplomatic mission and this case is no exception. I spend most of my time travelling and if I can be honest its much faster and easier to travel alone. Trugding with half a dozen carts full of meal, clothes and other goods, taking care of twenty men is not my way.

*After the breakfast I ask Zsolt if just two of us can talk. When we are alone, I suspiciously look around and start to whisper strictly looking to his eyes.*

-/Hun/ I ask you to keep a secret, Zsolt. I travel in the name of the Lord rather than for my family. I'm searching for witchcraft and dark magic. If you have experienced such a thing, if you know anyone in the village, who was attacked by such evildoers, please let me know. I'm here to listen to the happenings and send help. - *I keep a little break to let him think it through, then continue* - But let noone know my real purpose.

*This is one of my strategies to gather some information about fomori. It rarely works but usually makes sure that the whole village shispers about a witch hunter (Me) before sunset. Sometimes it even lures out the most careless ones. Only one out of a hundred can keep such a secret. This time I'm not hunting for a fomori but I can still play the usual game.*

[Freiherr von Rosen]

*The man narrows his eyes for a moment, as if checking whether he heard the name right. His next expression would be that of amazement, he blinks rapidly and replies on an even more respectful tone.*

-/Hun/ B-Báthory?...

*Ah yes, a famous noble name gets one far. Especially if he looks convincing enough - something that can be found in not the clothing, but the bearing, the accent, the manners, the movements of White Raven.*

-/Hun/ But of course, your Lordship. You're traveling alone?... How strange. Let me invite you in right away, we were just getting ready to have a late breakfast after unpacking the cart.

*His speech rich in gestures, Zsolt turns around and invites his guest further in too, while walking towards the house.*

-/Hun/ This way, this way, please nevermind the commotion here.

*From the inside, White Raven can approximate the wealth of the croft as "relatively well-off", a thought reinforced by the interior of its large adobe. Leading him straight to the main room of the house that serves as the kitchen too, Zsolt loudly introduces him to his similarly-aged wife and half a dozen children, all of them between five and twenty years of age.*

-/Hun/ Listen up now, we have a special guest today from the east, Zoltán from the Báthory family! Give him all the respect, boys and girls, be nice and quiet now. Anna, bring us some sausages and white bread - and our finest wine!

*The goods soon arrive, and their very smell makes the Garou's stomach rumble demandingly. Guarded by the curious glances of the family's children, he sits down to the head of the table so eagerly offered to him, followed by the mayor, and later his wife, his children and the farmhands from the outside.
But as the proverb says... a lot of good people can fit in a small place.*

-/Hun/ Well now, good sir, I hope our humble home accomodates you just fine. Why don't you tell us the reason of your visit to these fiefdoms? We are very honoured to have you here amongst us...
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[Inu]

-/Hun/ Greetings! I'm Zoltán Báthory. I'm on a long journey and looking for a place to have a meal. Could you help me?

*He might send me to the alehouse or somewhere else, so I don't get off, I'm just waiting for his answer. Let's see the hospitality of the mayor.*

[Freiherr von Rosen]

*Though the personal entrance to the croft appears to be closed, the cart gates are wide open below a mastercraft woodwork with the large, proud inscription: "Clean courtyard, tidy house".
In fact, as the newcomer edges closer, he can clearly see the ox-drawn cart that recently arrived, with a good couple of farm hands busy unloading it. A relatively well-off man in his fourties is directing them, before noticing the freshly dismounted rider. Accompanied by one of his helpers, he walks back to the gates to receive his guest.
The man certainly is no beggar, his sheep fur coat and hat are decorated with elaborate folk symbols, and his belt keeps a moderate belly at bay.*

-/Hun/ Ahoy there, good sir, what sort of wind brought you here?

*Stepping closer, he puts his large hands on his hips, eyeing White Raven up and down. It is as if he instinctively realizes the status of the person he's talking to.*

-/Hun/ I'd be Zsolt, humble mayor of this town.
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[Inu]

*I don't even slow down at the "main square". I'm not interested in such places. I only get off in front of the house of the mayor. I'll need a servant to take care of my horse and of course the mayor himself to invite a tired traveller (Me) for a breakfast. I won't ask it though and I won't try to buy food. We'll see if he offers it on his own. Of course I will pay after the meal if everything goes well. One never knows, when he needs to come back again. Espcially when One is guided by a crow.*

[Freiherr von Rosen]

-/Hun/ G'day, sir.

-/Hun/ M'lord...

*Starting to scout the settlement for any sign of a place where he can purchase some food, the Shadow Lord finds the same words of respect everywhere; he doesn't have to talk for the peasants to feel his inherent superiority.
Wolf among sheep.
Though lacking a temple of its own, this small village nevertheless possesses something that can be called a main square; a T-shaped crossroads with a grocery store and a small alehouse. Maybe some food can be found in the latter, though the already-loud singing from the inside might not bode well with the Garou.
Further ahead, smoke rises from the chimneys of the humble village blacksmith, and a rich gate can be seen in its neighbourhood with wonderful works of wood-carving on it, leading to the richest house so far.
For all anyone knows, this could be the mayor. Perhaps he too could be persuaded to part with some surplus food.*
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[Inu]

*I do ride as a noble, with straight back and pride on my face. I don't even waste a glance to the poor. I'm looking for an inn, if the village has any. Otherwise I leave the village and hunt. I don't even know why I'm here. Maybe just because I want to look like an average traveller. If something dangerous is after me, then lets play dumb and make everyone belive that I'm no threat at all. I'll trick fate as always.*

[Freiherr von Rosen]

*Now on horseback, White Raven continues to the west, stomach growling. The land is silent, the land watches him almost unnervingly, as if waiting for something. With a sigh, the wanderer dismisses the last remaining paranoid thoughts about his dream and takes a deep breath from the morning air.
Though the day is cold, the cloudless sky provides for some much-needed sunlight; both rider and his horse bask in the weak, but all too pleasant rays of sun with relief. Soon enough, the first mud huts of the tiny village ahead come into sight.
Far from frozen solid in the winter cold, the serfs and peasants of this small community already fill the air with the typical scents and noises of humanity; loud yells are exchanged as a father gives directions to his working son, an infant's cry can be heard in the distance, dogs bark and run across the single road leading through the village and roosters greet the new day in all their pride.
Wherever White Raven goes, eyes are fixated on him; he is the newcomer, he is the outsider, he is the rich and presumably noble man who can afford a riding horse.
Best give him respect.*
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[Inu]

*Those damned dreams... I have never had such dreams in all my life. Even after defeating the ugliest fomori, even after barely surviving the failure of my own trap, I slept well. But now I'm sure, that something life-threatening is coming and I stand defenseless waiting for the disaster to happen. Why can't Crow spare some more information? He knows more than he says. Why do we always need to play the same game? Always guessing the meaning of his ambiguous sentences, always desperately searching for clues, he surely aware of, always dancing on the edge of the blade.

I know that nothing will change, no matter how much I grumble, so I get up fast and stretch to pump some blood into my legs. At least that nightmare warmed me up a little...

I need no time to get ready and I have to eat before my horse begins to feel my hunger. It takes time to make a horse get used to me and if they start to afraid of me again its even worse. I pat the head of the horse before I jump on her. We have no time to waste. Little village, here I come.*

[Freiherr von Rosen]

"I saw a hand reach out and grasp the night sky, and I saw each silvery star wink out one by one. Thunder roared and lightning flashed. Black armies gathered in the snowy mountains and threatened all the world with their rage until the moon's light parted the clouds and quieted the very thunder itself. Luna plucked the squirming darkness from the heart of the lightning flash, and twisted it back upon itself, leaving the armies to battle each other. One shadow, however, was late to the gathering and did not fall into the trap. It continued on its way to complete its fellows' mission."

- The prophecy of Songs-of-Shadows to the Shadow Lord Garou


*****





*It was a cold, unforgiving winter in the 1189th year of the Lord of the Christians.
Snow and frost came early this year, and although shelter and the warmth of fire are easy to find for noble and serf alike, such comforts are unavailable for those traveling the vast white wilderness.
Cold, however, is the least of this particular wayfarer's plights. He's just had a nightmare. The sun rises, illuminating the brightly-glittering fresh snow on the tree branches above him, the eye-piercing visage ensuring him that he's finally awake.
What the dream was about he cannot recall, but fragments of it come rushing forward as swiftly as his heart beats now; bloodthirsty growls, angry, violent ripping of flesh and bone, pain, blood, fear, and desperate lupine howling for great Luna.
Another of those.
Time to time again, these dreams would emerge to haunt the rest of White Raven, increasing in frequency as time goes on. Whenever he asked Crow about them, the spirit remained as silent as the peaks of the Carpathians. Where is he anyway? His old companion has not seen it fit to appear for quite a while now.
Rising from the remains of his makeshift campfire, the second thing to come to the wanderer's mind - or rather, guts - is hunger. Much like the dreams, hunger is inescapable, and right now, he'd much rather deal with the latter.
When he passed by that hilltop last day, he could clearly see a village ahead to the west; there certainly is some food to be found there. Failing that, there is the older and nobler method.
Hunting.*
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[Freiherr von Rosen]

The tale of Gaia's elusive wanderer.
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