Missions[]
All missions require a leader and an escort. Circle members have a greater chance of success. Worshipers of Zarlen, Ekarna, Dostal, or Redalda (in Lights Going Out) have magic to keep them safer. The Pathfinder blessing helps even more. Devoting Clan Magic to exploration during Sacred Time helps with all missions.
Missions are dangerous, especially if "Bandit Threat" or "Chaos Threat" is displayed next to the Map button. Some of your party may be injured or killed, horses may be lost, or the whole party may disappear without a trace. Certain ventures can help alleviate the mentioned threats.
Most missions sent out during Dark Season - as well as some sent during Storm Season - will fail due to poor weather conditions unless they have some kind of magical aid (e.g. Pine or Winter Fox spirits). In addition, there is a high chance some of your party will be left sick or frostbitten.
Several types of missions can be sent from the Map screen:
Capture Horses (Ride Like the Wind only)[]
If you have Hyalor's Horsebreaker blessing active, you can try to capture wild horses. Don't expect to find untended horses on another clan's lands.
Exploration[]
Exploring lets you learn about new lands, filling in the map. But you can explore anywhere - it's quite possible to find something new in a place you've been to before. This even goes for your own clan lands.
A side benefit of exploring is that it can make the valley safer. If you don't explore, the threat of bandits or monsters can increase.
Another benefit is that you can let other clans know what you've discovered. This requires a dedicated venture, but will increase your standing, and the other clans may reveal knowledge of their own in return.
While exploring, you may also experience certain events.
Foraging[]
This mission sends foragers outside your lands to find food. It's best to avoid other clan lands. You need to stick fairly close to home - foraging missions can't be sent more than about a season's travel away. This is a concentrated effort, in addition to the normal gathering on your own clan lands, or the foraging venture.
Search for Spirits[]
A Search for Spirits mission has a chance to find a new spirit and bind it to your clan. The leader should have a high Magic skill in order to succeed (tests Magic vs. Spirits). A shaman will find it easier to succeed, and "may discover additional opportunities", such as learning greater Magic skills from a spirit that is too powerful to bind, or fighting a malevolent spirit to increase Clan Magic.
You can only search for spirits in known territory (i.e., the parts of the map that have been colored in). Additionally, you will have better luck finding spirits outside the territory of any clan.
Search for Golden Mares (Lights Going Out only)[]
This mission appears if you encounter the Golden Mares and convince them to teach you their song. If successful, you will obtain a Golden Mare treasure. You may seek a mare in any known territory (the parts of the map that have been colored in). Tests Herding vs. Elusiveness.
Seek Treasure for Gods War Journey (Lights Going Out only)[]
This mission appears only after you learn the Orlanth and Ernalda ritual. Your party will attempt to find treasures related to the divine wedding of Orlanth and Ernalda, which will help you perform and successfully complete the ritual. The ritual may be attempted only once, and this option will no longer be available afterwards.
You may find multiple such treasures, and their effect is cumulative; each treasure will also give another bonus to your clan (for example: Cattle Dowry Necklace: Enables travel to the wedding of Orlanth and Ernalda, helps with wild animals, and blesses Uralda worshipers). Note that these treasures are very difficult to acquire in other contexts (e.g. they may not be bought or captured from other clans).
You may seek these treasures anywhere outside your clan lands. Tests Exploring vs. Elusiveness.