Flight of The Harpy's Heart

Chapter xx: Silent Forest

As the sun inched toward its zenith, a foraging party embarked on their journey, setting their course toward the mysterious depths of the Silent Forest and the ominous Wailing Willow Pass on the northern fringe of the village.

Aden found himself among the foraging party, having been summoned to the war room alongside the other able-bodied defenders. It was there that Father Edgar, his graying brow furrowed with concern, had apprised them of a dire situation – the village's stores of medicinal herbs were running perilously low.

With the harpy menace showing no signs of abating, and the steady stream of injuries mounting with each passing day, replenishing their supplies had become a critical imperative. Thus, the foraging party was assembled, a motley crew tasked with braving the untamed wilds in search of the precious flora that could mean the difference between life and death for their beleaguered compatriots.

As the group made their final preparations, checking their gear and ensuring their blades were honed to lethal keenness, Aden couldn't help but notice the palpable tension that hung in the air. Captain Willem paced restlessly nearby, his piercing gaze fixed upon a cluster of figures that had drawn his suspicion.

The former smugglers whose allegiances had always been a matter of speculation, seemed to be congregating in greater numbers than usual. Their furtive glances and hushed whispers did little to assuage the captain's misgivings, prompting him to keep a watchful eye trained upon their every move.

Yet, even as this potential threat simmered in the background, a strange calm had descended upon the village skies. The harpies had all but vanished from sight, their haunting shrieks conspicuously absent from the morning chorus.

It was a lull in the storm, a brief respite that Captain Willem had deemed too fortuitous to squander. With the foraging party assembled and the smugglers under close observation, he had given the order to proceed, seizing the opportunity to bolster their dwindling resources before the next wave of feathered fury inevitably descended upon them.

In anticipation of the persistent drizzle and the looming threat of rain, especially in the mountainous expanses to the north where the storm retained its furious grip, the members of the party adorned themselves in grey hooded cloaks.

These cloaks, worn over knee-length padded leather armor, served as a barrier against the elements, shielding them from the capricious weather that veered between a gentle drizzle and the imminent promise of a downpour. The hooded ensembles were a nod to the unpredictable temperament of the mountain weather.

With a keen awareness of the burden that saturated gambesons could pose, the foragers made a pragmatic choice. They left behind the heavy gambesons, providing a donation to the defenders stationed at the courthouse. In the event of rain, these defenders would don the discarded armor, opting for protection over the encumbrance of waterlogged garments.

Armed and ready, Aden, equipped himself with a spear and a longsword. Hjalmar carried a kite shield for steadfast defense and a sledgehammer, securely strapped to his waist, for formidable offense. 

Maeda shouldered a bow, a quiver laden with arrows, and his trusty Median steel katana accompanied by his wakizashi on his waist. 

Gilbert, wielded a round shield and a wooden pole to help him hike the elevated ground. 

And the last Ser Percival, acted as the leader of the foraging party for his familiarity in the area. He bore a kite shield and an Empire standard longsword.

In preparation for their foray into the forest, each member carried a willow foraging basket secured with a leather strap—an essential tool for collecting and transporting the herbs of their foraging. Notably, Gilbert, with his foresight or perhaps a penchant for preparedness, brought an extra basket, a prudent choice that could prove invaluable in the unpredictable terrain of the Silent Forest.