In the forests, several days West of Kalbacken, the Tower's forward base is a fortified position of several buildings surrounded by a wooden palisade. Taft and Vasil wish cripple this position, and interrogate a Speaker. Winter's Third Bite wishes to taste a spirit banner, and learn from it. To taste the flesh of one who bends spirits to its will, like Vasil does with hot metal.
Having scouted the village, the enemy's numbers were are large for a head-on assault.
The group settled upon a plan; create a distraction to draw their attention, then grab the banner in a hit-and-run, using the great wolf's superior speed to run in and out before the distracted humans could react.
Circling around the encampment, Taft and Vasil made a false camp - Vasil building a smokey campfire, and Taft faking the tracks and trail of a group far larger than their own. Disinformation is a powerful tool to the guerilla warrior.
With the distraction set, the group crept - Taft covering their tracks - back toward the entrance of the fort. At an opportune moment, Shadow dashed in, through the gate. Its powerful legs propelled it up, onto a building, and into the air.
On the flagpole flew the banner. The air thick with its spiritual influence. Its protective magics, no match for the wolf's powerful jaws, Shadow made a fast exit by jumping over the wall, and disappearing into the forest once more.
Summoning the great powers bestowed by Grandfather, Shadow sundered the foul article, tasting the salt, ash and misery of its creation. Wiser, but not as wise as it wished, Shadow left the tattered remains on the ground.
Wishing to gain a better view of their enemies' movements, Vasil scrambled up a nearby tree - vastly overestimating his own capacity. A brief glimpse of the top was paid for with a painful fall, thankfully broken by his stalwart companions. His stupidity insulated by his friends' loyalty.
Bruised and battered, the group made camp nearby. Though Taft and Shadow were recovered by the next morning, Vasil still enjoys the bruised fruits of his harvest.
Shadow and Taft called forth their Raven friends for further information.
The speaker it seems is undertaking some great project - drawing a circle in the dirt. They know not what it means, only that it is probably not in their best interests to allow it to be completed.
With a promise of fresh eyes to pluck, the group request the kindness of their feathered allies - another distraction for their next run at the fortress...