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"Well then, looks like we had things to offer to Ullo in exchange for information" Liri says briskly. "And with some luck, it will even be so much that you have time to bake while he tells them" she adds with a wink to Bastian.
"So, which way do we go?" she asks Ash.

Nodding in silence Angel steps back bringing Praesul around in a turn she rests against a rock.

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"So we wait?" Eldon asks with a shrug. "Fair enough. So what's your story? Imperial sigils, grumpy, dislike men... Couldnt cut it?" He stands close to Angel.

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"My story is none of your concern, but we parted ways, that is all you needed to know. I do not dislike men, I count Bastian as a good friend. He has seen me almost naked afterall." She says with a wink.

How long do we wait? and how many of us are going? We dont want to spoke the hermit.

I would say two of the "legion" and two of us. Bastian and Liri, if that is OK with you.

What time of day it is again? perhaps the rest can organise a camp or a meal?

[OOC] In the interest of not splitting the party, I am going to assume that the bulk of the group will wait outside the canyon, out of sight, while the volunteers walk into the canyon to see Ullo. Otherwise, I have to start two threads and keep them concurrent and that's no fun.
Oh, and it's mid-afternoon by now.[/OOC]

Ash, being the only one who really knows the way to Ullo's place, leads the way with Bastian and Liri trailing immediately behind. The others stay a short distance away, within line of sight. Ash takes a side trail, away from the path of the grotdier, but running in a somewhat similar direction.

After about half an hour of walking, Ash stops short and signals for quiet. He lays an arrow across his bow but does not draw it. Something large and low is moving up ahead in the underbrush.

Liri nods and gets her darts ready.

Bastian clutches his flail tight in one hand and starts to quietly chant a prayer to Liquitus. ((Casting Bless on Liri))

Ash looks back at Bastian and rolls his eyes, then moves to his right, perpendicular to a the line toward the contact. He still has not raised or drawn his bow. He waits quietly until the shape moves again. It is a large black and brown hog, about two hundred pounds or so, wearing a collar, rooting around in the leaf litter.

"Ullo keeps hogs. But he doesn't let them roam," says Ash.

"Could this mean something has happened to him?" Liri asks quietly. "Or will he follow soon after?"

"Plutus," Ash curses without raising his voice. "How would I know? I do not count the hermit a close friend.
"But I have only ever seen his hogs in their pen."

"So I suggest we let the hog pass us and go on" Liri offers. "Then hopefully we will learn more."

The hog pays you very little attention as you pass by, although it does let out a little squeak and a grunt and takes half a dozen quick steps away from you when you get close.

The entrance into the cleft is about a fifty yards wide, although it widens out to at least triple that once you get through there. The sloping sides are lightly forested, as is most of the floor. The floor is uneven and strewn with large moss-covered boulders.

"Ullo has a cave at the back of the vale, and a sort of lean-in front of it," Ash says.

"He will cook outside the cave then, I presume" Liri says. "At least that's what I would do."

After a pause, she asks: "Is he known for greeting intruders with a ranged weapon drawn?" Her eyes scan the terrain for places that would make a good ambush.

The entire vale would be a good place for an ambush. The ground is uneven, with numerous boulders and trees to hide behind. The only good news is that the uneven ground would provide cover for either side, if it came to shooting.
"Ullo is grumpy, but not aggressive," Ash replies. "I doubt he would shoot at us.
"His cave is about five hundred yards back, on the right."

"I'll have to talk to the god botherer, he seems like an interesting person. If you ignore the messing with the gods, that is simply not right." Eldon says as he watches the group leave.

"He is unique." Angel responds, stretching as she slides down the rock to rest.