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"Wild animals are not aggressive if given proper respect for their territory, and if well fed. So long as we find a place to camp that is unclaimed by any of the forest's creatures, we'd only need to worry about outlaws and the weather. Neither are likely to be a threat." Eloise speaks to Gillam, but does not face him, instead continuing to gaze off into the distance.

"Outlaws we can handle, and we have braved much worse than poor weather," Gillam replies. "I think it might be pertinent to keep our eyes and ears open in Mestheim for rumors. We don't need to spend any more time than necessary there, but any new information helps," the man explains to his allies.

Roy nods at Gillam as he walks.
"Aye. I know a little of the region, but not much of it's happenings myself. It will be good to be back however, see how the homeland is doing myself for once. If we get the chance, we should swing by my family home, I'm certain my mother will accommodate us if we ask nicely. Though that will have to wait until we reach Wolfrun, of course... Perhaps she's heard of something..."
He mulls over this, seeming to drift off into his own thoughts as they walk.

"Your home, Roy..." Gillam says as they travel along. "Where are you from? I'm afraid I never knew," the man admits.

"Outlaws? Are you forgetting about the brains of our group?"
Daeris said to Eloise. "About 280 pounds? Adorable? Fuzzy? Ringing any bells?"

"I wouldn't say Esma is fuzzy," Lorelai says to Daeris, with a smirk. "But large and adorable, and good against bandits? Definitely!"

Gillam spares a rare smile at Lorelai's jest. "I'd say only a fool would engage a creature as fearsome as Ursula," he comments. "Though these outlaws aren't known for their intellect. We should still be wary should we not make it to a proper inn during the night."

"It'd be foolish to underestimate them," Eloise responds, turning to face Gillam. "The Bear Clan does not wear bearskin as a fashion statement. They must know how to combat the beasts better than we."

"That is very true, Eloise. Ursula is still vulnerable to those that would seek to hunt her," Gillam agrees. "Though I would imagine their experience would be in attacking a solitary bear using many men. The Bear Clan would seek an early grave should they attempt the same feat, only with our brethren fighting alongside her."

Roy nods to Gillam, having lost himself in a memory or two.
"Aye. I'm from Wolfrun, personally. Guess I haven't talked about my home much, have I? Well, it's been a while since I've been home. I left to join the Order some time ago. So far, best decision I've made."

"I'll say!" Lorelai responds to the Roy. "If you hadn't, you'd be stuck there right now. Who knows what life is like in that place with whatever's going on? Foreigners taking over? The lord holing up in his castle? Must be worrying for the locals."

"It will be a bittersweet reunion for you, Roy," Gillam notes, referencing Lorelai's comment. Best decision I've made as well, he notes to himself.

Eloise nods at Gillam's response, and the group travels on. It is a long and uneventful ride, one that each knight was all too familiar with. The Jensan Estate, the Validel Estate, the Vergos Estate, and the many other smaller ones in between. Farmland for miles and miles, always the same, peaceful, uneventful, boring.

It is nearly sunset when the fields finally end, and the wilderness begins. A vast forest of widely-spaced trees, primarily oak and elm, sits ahead. They are far enough apart that they rarely effective visibility along the road ahead, which has always served to make the area fairly safe to traverse. The occasional stream is crossed, with nothing noteworthy standing out.

A couple of hours after sunset the group finally reaches Mestheim, the quaint little village in the woods. In the early days it began as an inn on a small river, a tributary of the main river network of the peninsula. That inn grew to the point that it is now surrounded by a village, a perfectly-located stopping point on the road between Fort Sakura and the rest of Andor. The inn, the Old Brook Inn, is well-known throughout the region as one of the most welcoming and peaceful.

"Well you all can continue on if you really want, but I'm stopping here for the night," Lorelai says with a yawn, as the group trots into town. Their horses have slowed and seem just as eager for a break. The stables are just within the town, which has no walls or clear-cut borders with the surrounding forest. You pass them, in favor of tying up at Old Brook. Lorelai wastes no time in heading inside.

"Old Brook will be acceptable," Gillam confirms. I hope we do not tarry too long here. Mestheim reminds me too much of my heartland. Upon arriving to the stables at the inn, he carefully dismounts and ensures his steed is safe and comfortable.

"Reserve a room for me, will you?" Eloise says, following after the others to the inn. "I would like to take a walk around town, first. I have not been in awhile." She dismounts and leaves her horse at the stables, then walks back the way they came into town.

"As you wish," Gillam says at Eloise' request. Perhaps I should join her? No, I shouldn't. She might enjoy the solitude. Besides, he had been through Mestheim several times and the city bored him. Instead, Gillam heads toward the inn to reserve rooms and settle in.

Even as he tied up the horse he rode in on, Roy's eyes seem a little sad. His first return home is one of duty rather than pleasantries. He nods to Eloise, then nods to Gillam. "We should get up early in the morning. It would not do to leave Lorelai behind."

"Ah, you're the rest of the Order's officers, correct?" a kindly inkeeper asks as the group makes their way inside for the night. "That other one said you'd be coming, your rooms are already covered! Would you like anything to eat or drink, or shall I show you all to your rooms?" The woman smiles to Gillam and Roy, and the others are they trickle in behind.

The inn is quite busy, with many other men and women - other staff of the inn - helpfully serving their many patrons for the evening. Despite the crowd, it is not overly loud. A few men stationed throughout the room assure that no ruffians cause any trouble, and that those who are too drunk are escorted outside. Everyone takes the place's welcoming reputation very seriously, and so the only people who spend any large amount of time here are typically the more quiet, peaceful sort.

"A meal would suffice," Gillam says to the woman. "Thank you. And just water, no ale tonight, please." He stretches his arms and rolls his shoulders before sitting down at one of the tables. Another day's ride and we'll reach the Cove, assuming we carry on through Risenya. I've no business there and I hope the others don't as well, the man ponders.

"Coming right up!" the innkeeper says cheerfully, heading off to fetch Gillam's order. She returns and serves the rest of the group as they please. After a half hour or so Eloise returns from her walk, quietly taking her meal with the others. They chat about the days events (or lack thereof), and eventually the group heads up to bed.

The morning comes quickly, a nice sunny day as usual for Mestheim. Lorelai is up bright and early, making her way outside to feed Jessie before the day's ride. Eloise wakes up later, still early, and quietly eats her breakfast in corner. Lorelai joins her after a bit, where the two await the others.

Waking up and stretching, Gillam quickly gets dressed and heads down to the tavern area once again. He gives a quiet look to both of the women that have arrived before him, sitting down to begin his breakfast. "Once the others wake, we'll move," he reasons. "Sooner we get to the Cove, the sooner we can begin our investigations."

Daeris enters the tavern area about ten minutes after Gillam, sits down and eats his breakfast quietly.