"That's interesting. Do you think she summoned a mount?"
Hedrick backtracks to check. He wants to see if the house joined up with her or appeared. He also wants to see if the horse was already carrying a rider.
"If its like her bears then it will allow her to gain a great distance on us. Lets get moving." He kept his bow out as he continued to follow the hoof prints...
After quietly extracting himself from the encounter with the snake and hoping that no one else noticed, Yudra makes his way to the others and notes that he was completely on the wrong course.
While Hedrick looks around,Yudra takes a moment to contemplate what lies in that direction, pausing to check his map if needs be, then moves to follow the trail.
Ynghildr says nothing about his brother's incident, and picks up his pace to match Vaynard's bearing.
"Ynghildr, are you a tracker as well?"
"Not quite, though such a talent is nearly required in these lands."
"Hummm, well you seem to be a man of many talents and mysterys. Let me know if you want that cloak you have on mended. I have a spell for that."
Group 2:
Hedrick's investigations certainly suggest that the horse appeared out of nowhere. Telling if it was originally carrying a rider is impossible, but the fact that Fenian's tracks intermingle with the horse's before disappearing is certainly suggestive that she rode away on it.
Yudra's examination of the map reveals that the nearest landmark is Tabletop Mountain. If they continue on their present bearing, the tracks will lead them towards that flat-topped peak.
The tracks prove easy enough to follow, keeping straight for the most part, save for the occasional detour around an obstacle. On the plus side, the jungle terrain probably isn't all that suited for horses, so Fenian is unlikely to be opening up as much of a lead as people may have feared.
Yudra continues along quietly, seemingly reasonably at ease in the jungle, simply looking along to avoid further encounters with serpents, tree-dangly things, and all the rest, while doing his best to keep the trail. If possible, he also tries to get a feeling for how hampered the steed might be.
Vaynard shares what insights he aquired from his tracking. He missed little as there quarry was mounted and that made them laughingly easy to track...
Ynghildr regards the frayed edges of his cloak for a moment.
"It does its job well enough."
Group 2:
Though the tracks are easy to follow, it's a long slog, hours stretching by as they follow the horse's trail through the jungle. At length, however, something catches the eyes of the trackers - A couple of grey woollen threads caught on an overhanging branch.
The branch is well above head height, even for a mounted person, but somebody standing on horseback would be able to reach it. The horse's tracks continue on, along much the same bearing as before, but it looks as if horse and elf may have parted company here.
Vaynard, taking a gamble, decides to cast a spell and scan the area with an arcane eye...
... "It appears they may have used some sort of magic to move upward or fly... Are there any other major landmarks in this land that we know of? Ones of magical importance?" He wore his normal neutral expression as he sweated in the heat.
Hedrick looked at the trees.
Is it possible she took the tree path?
"When you last saw her, was she wearing grey?"
He looks for someone hiding in the trees.
"She summoned a giant eagle or something? Or dd she simply pull herself up into the trees."
"Why did she not dismount normally?" Yudra says. "Perhaps something grabbed her?"
Vaynard sighed as he rose to his feet still scanning the area with his magic. "Or she lead us on a Jvyter's loop and did as Hedrick said. Has anyone checked the sky? I am busy with this area here..."
Group 1:
Catching the apple easily, the woman bites into it with every sign of enjoyment, "Much appreciated. You just don't see apples out in the wilds; it's been a while. Iodenna Sigrunsdottir," she says by way of introduction, "What brings you out? A hunting expedition?"
Iodenna's appraising gaze takes in each of the three in turn. She is herself dressed practically for the jungle, a light pack on her back no doubt containing the essentials for travel. A hatchet and dart thrower, suitable for bringing down small game, sit at her hip. From the looks, she's become quite at home in Bifrost's jungles.
"You could say that. Were searching for those serpents that have been attacking livestock. Found one, but it wasn't big enough to be the one we are looking for though."
"Hey yeah!" Exclaimed Thorfinn. "You look like ya been around the block a few times lady, ya ever see something like that," He pointed to the feathered serpent; "But bigger?" He held his hands wider.
Ynghildr quietly puts distance between himself and the group, scanning the canopy.
"Here we stand gawking. Perfect for an ambush. Ynghildr has the right idea. Spread out a bit, but not so much that we loose track of one another."
"If you worry about an ambush," says Yudra, as he starts to scan the tree tops himself, "Then it seems that isolating yourself would be a poor idea."
"No, no, not isolated. Heh heh just far enough apart we can't all get lightning bolted, netted, or deadfall trapped all at once."
Group 1:
"The nicor?" Iodenna asks, turning her gaze towards the picked-over remains of the serpent, "Yes, I've seen a few. Mostly a fair way to the north, around Eisr Tarn. They seem to like still waters. Yours is likely to be closer to hand though; There's a middling-sized tarn east of Tabletop. You might try there."
"Fireballed, now that would be a problem . . . "
"A nicor..intersting is that the offical name of these beasties or your personal name for them? So you say east of Tabletop then?"
Group 1:
With no other leads and no further serpents presenting themselves, the decision is made to carry on to the lake. It's a path which requires them to backtrack a little, walking along with Iodenna for a while. As it turns out, her awkward walking gait is due to a wooden leg, her original one having been lost during the course of Ragnarok. Though the missing limb slows her down, she seems to get along well enough otherwise. Along the walk, she fills the trio in on her knowledge of the beast they hunt.
Named for water monster of Midgard, the nicor is a large but surprisingly swift and agile hunter, able to bring down large prey through a combination of venom and crushing coils. It's generally a solitary animal, but mated pairs will cooperate to feed their young, with nests found in hollowed-out trees. To her knowledge, nobody's gotten into a fight with one, so it's difficult to say how they'll respond when attacked.
Soon enough, the group reaches the branch of the path which will take them to Tabletop and the Tarn. Here, Iodenna leaves them, wishing them well on their hunt. For her part, she intends to continue on to Arnsford, and from there to Ragnfeld.
Time passes, thunderclouds beginning to mass in the east as their day wears on. At length, however, they crest a hill and the lake comes into sight. It's a decent-sized body of water, trees growing right down to the edge. To the west, Tabletop looms. Of more immediate interest, however, are the three people warily retreating along the trail towards them. By the looks, they're three of the youngsters from Gulbrandr's party. One has a splinted leg and is being supported, whilst the third is watching their backtrail, bow in hand. Beyond them, the occasional glimpse of mottled coats can be seen, indicative of animals stalking along behind.
Group 2:
No ambush is forthcoming. It seems their quarry's objective was only to confuse and elude pursuit. A short amount of searching picks up Fenian's trail where she descended from the trees. The new trail leads off on a tangent from that taken by the horse, leading them along the gentle southern slopes of Tabletop. It's difficult for the group to tell if they're gaining ground, but hopefully they'll catch her before the thunderclouds looming in the distance reach them. Tracking through a downpour would be a trickier proposition.
Time passes. At last, the journey is broken by the sight of a large lake to the east. It seems they are not the first to arrive here; downslope, on a trail leading down to the lake, two parties of three can be seen. One party, with an injured member, is retreating up the trail towards the second. Given your higher vantage point, neither group is aware of you yet.
However, further inspection reveals you are not alone; Only a short distance ahead of you, peering intently down at the people below, is a large, spotted cat. It seems unaware of you for the moment.
"What do you two think about that?" Elric says as he draws an arrow and points with it towards the retreating group.
Thorfinn paused, shading his eyes against the daylight to peer at the people on the trail ahead of them.
"HEY!" He bellowed over Elric, waiving vigorously at the strangers ahead of them. "DON'T SCARE OUR PREY OFF YE BACKWOODS HICKS!"
Yudra, upon noticing the big cat, holds up his hand to single the others to stop, then gestures toward it as subtly as he can so as not to draw its attention. He tries to recall what he can about the predator; how they hunt, how tenacious they are, how likely a well-placed rock might drive one off, how much their hides, teeth, meat, and so on might be worth...
Ynghildr began the process of scanning the creature with detect magic. Would this be evidence that their actual prey was still near?
Not one for idleness Vaynard lifts his bow, notching an arrow and aiming carful before firing it at the predator. Intent to wound the creature and drive it off...
Hedrick waits to see what's going to happen.
Hedrick is still waiting to see what happens.