Epic night of venturing out into the wilderness last night. Probably what I would consider a perfect quest. Spoilers ahead so if you want to play clean without being told where to find some stuff, stop reading here. Long post ahead. I don't know why anyone will be interested in the adventure, but getting it off my chest, thanks for the indulgence.
Tried hunting for wolves near Owanjila, but no dice -- after two days in game, only saw one and it was low quality. Decide to head out to the other location I remember seeing wolves, which was around Lake Isabella in western Ambarino.
Head back to Strawberry for an assisted bath (scrub that left leg, baby) and change of clothes to ensure I had warm gear. It gets frigid up there in the Grizzlies West. In town, also hit the general mercantile to load up on predator bait. It threw a couple of cover scent lotions in the basket for good measure, too.
Light out for the northlands. Saw a trail heading up to what I thought was Mount Shann -- had been there before coming from the north and Big Valley, but not up this trail. It was night, and had heard whispers of things going on at the top of that mountain in the night, so head up multiple switchbacks, running into a rock carving (only my second found, they are so damned elusive) and some giant's remains. Very cool.
Head back down and head north again, revisiting Lenora View cabin which for some reason had a perfect sparrow just lying dead on the porch. Still can't find a way into this shack.
There was a saddled Kentucky Saddler just sitting there for some reason. No one else around. Well, tough beans, I made it my horse. Nailed a perfect pronghorn and loaded it on up.
Head north across the Little Creek River to Wallace Station to mail off the carving coordinates, then meander off trail due west towards a tiny blip on the map just northwest of the station. Weird fenced clearing with a chimney without loot, so just wandering the perimeter fence until I ran smack dab into a double-bit hatchet. Cool!
Hit the road leading northwest, stopping by Watson's Cabin, the shack that used to houde a sad old crone and her four boys -- until I had blown them away, anyway. On a whim went back in (just learned from another mission that sometimes there are loose floorboards in cabins to pry up) and it was still full of loot -- including some jewlery items and a semi-auto shotgun in a basement crawl space. Noice.
As evening fell, turn north to head up to Isabella, and just where the three roads intersect north of Hanging Dog Ranch. Heard some howling, and all of sudden, a pack of 5 wolves slink out of the trees.
I hate when this happens. My plan was to cover up with lotion, set out bait, and hunt from afar -- when a pack descends, what normally happens to me is my horse throws me, the wolves attack at once, and I have zero time to study them or even look while aiming at whether any are 3-star. That doesn't seem to be a feature when you are under attack from all sides. In these cases, I can only hope to dead eye a few in the bean with my rifle -- what usually happens is that I'm spraying them and the entire forest around me with lead without abandon before I'm ripped into shreds.
So with a sinking feeling, knowing I'll likely have to reload from my last save point, I try my best to dead-eye and aim between their eyes. Hit two this way, the other three get hit with multiple shots or in non-perfect locations. I think one of my horses trampled a body after I shot it, too, pretty much ensuring a tiny probability it will be perfect.
Skin one -- it's a one star. The next is a two star, as is the next. Bother. Another one star. Last wolf? Perfect. I don't know how or why, but was elated.
Load up pelt and carcass, set the marker for home, and set off. Stop by the trapper by Riggs Station as a reinforced Herbalist gunbelt was waiting for me, then head off for Clemen's Point.
I see a campfire burning on the banks just across Bard's Crossing -- walk in expecting to draw down (for some reason every one I've tried to say hi too has thrown back attitude -- every.single.one. Maybe it's my legendary fox mountain hat that's setting them off? Whatever, dude, my ears kept warm and it looks super fly).
Instead, I get greeted by a friendly pup and an even friendlier camper who invites me to sit down before telling me about his plight of falling in with the Chelonians who bilked him of his possessions with the promise of salvation. So dude, why are you joining up with them? Strange. Even stranger is that after our conversation, he somehow gets offended at something and leaves, but wishes me well. I loot his camp, but for some reason stealing the salmon he had caught made me lose honor. Strange. Must be related to a later mission? Had already helped Mary's brother, so maybe there are more Chelonians to meet?
Head for camp. Literally a trail away (that stove-in stone shack with the worn tower north of camp) and both animal carcasses I netted fall off the horses, decayed. Dammit.
This was the only glitch in what I consider my most perfect free-roam campaign. Reload a save from the trapper, and go hell-bent for leather (Work, ya nag!) for camp, not bothering to stop for the Chelonian on the banks (I wonder if he'll resurface again?).
Make it to camp. Restock the camp's provisions to gold with all the meat I provide, and donate the perfect wolf skin. The final piece of a long grinding journey.
Craft the Legend of the East satchel.
So gratifying.
Thanks for your patience and forbearance.