Complications were expected.
However, as they passed into the wilderness, they should lessen, as does the Rad's activity.
"There is something wrong with the mountain pass," the village elder warns sagely. "We have not had anyone come through from the east since the thaw before last."
"What about the other way?" the ranger asks.
"Five or six parties tried. One of them came back, of the others none was heard from again."
That earned some raised eyebrows.
"Is there someone of the party that came back we could talk to?"
"You can try. But their tongues stayed in those mountains..."