As you being to leave the trade post of Gánnáhwǽr, you first have a feeling of being watched... Your keen senses notice a high tower set apart from the gate and from its barred windows baleful eyes of a prisoner follow you...
Secondly from the same area a low whistling cuts through the wind, not tuneful but rather a mournful keening...
The tune is a famous one o' the North; Marsj til Borrehaugene (Skald: "March to the Death Mound").
Traditionally when whistled it is to call upon the dead to welcome those who would join them soon.
Kevkul stares out to the white rugged terrain before him. His resolute dwarven soul thinks nothing of the hardship and starts putting one foot before the other.
Nadia presses through the snow carrying her masterwork bow and breathes in deeply the crisp Ioberian air. She is excited to be exploring the land of her ancestors. She looks around taking everything in while being aware of the wildlife she had studied so many times at the academy.
Perception:
Nadia sees the prisoner and then recognizes the tune being whistled. A cold chill creeps over her and she shudders.
Whispering to the group: Does anyone know his story? Pointing out the prisoner who is watching them.
Perception:
Ragnar casts eyes to the tower for a moment, before shrugging and spitting on the ground. "Feh, I know not" setting skaggig astride his shoulders as he trudges through the tundra. The cold bites, but the northman pays no heed.
He whistles Marsj til Borrehaugene. She shudders again and then pulls her hood tightly over her head.
Ragnar counsels Nadia "Just the mewling of a crippled dog... nothing of our concern"
The hound whistles for himself, his true nature revealed soon, and the silver blades will be sharp.
Kevkul trudges behind Petrik who carries his spear proudly and on guard. He wears his new wooden holy symbol close to his heart, worried not of the cold biting air.
Muli will start in the middle, but before too long will end up in the rear, as usual.
Your group makes good progress, with Luke path-finding the tracks of the dweorg merchant train is picked up with ease. The frosty ground is rent with the tracks of heavy cart wheels and numerous booted feet. In addition the pats from the shaggy cattle pulling Ǽdensor’s wagons offer easy (if pungent) markers to the right direction.
As the day progresses the weather continues to draw in, with a sleety wind whipping across your vision and company. The weather however does little to stymie your Warden how leads at pace.
As you clear the latest stretch of undulating terrain, from the hazy sleet ahead you all hear a series of deep, heavy snorts...
Some 50ft. ahead of your group stands the shaggy frost clad bulk of an Iobarian Bison.
The large beast snorts and shovels at a pile of cattle dungs; zealously shunting its muzzle and wide horns through the muck... The big male (and it is clearly a male!) has not yet noticed your group, but any closer might tempt fate...
The Iobarian Bison are cantankerous beasts, and at this time of year – the mating season, bulls even more so...
Knowledge Nature:
Whispering: He is in heat. We need to be on guard. Normally he would be docile, but in this state...
Ragnar puts a steadying left hand on Liten Mun's shoulders while his right keeps skaggig steady across his own. Speaking quietly "He would make for good eating..."
Aye, good eating! Skolrykk nods, tossing his longspear from hand to hand.
But a long detour in a hunt against time, nae Luke?
Kevkul keeps mum and watches the beast intently. He pats Petrik's back holding him firm against any rash action.
Let the warriors decide, I hope they do not go and pick a fight.
Keeping his eyes on the bison Ragnar grimaces and counsels "I go this way, circle to the left." and starts to step slowly and surely to the right and closer to the beast. A hand signal sends Liten Mun looping in the opposite direction.
As he approaches he begins to growl quietly, but loud enough to make it noticeable to the beast. Ragnar seeks it's attention solely upon him... so that his companions might loop around unnoticed to it's rear. The trick will be making the challenge to the bison agressive enough to draw it's gaze... but neutral enough to avoid it's charge.
Handle Animal:
Muli catches up and finds the group paused. "Oh..a bison. Strength and steadfastness. And considering his state, extracts for softer ailments. But such a beast could feed a village. Muli agrees to go around, a waste to slaughter him, when he needs to go make more bison."
As Ragnar moves forward, she follows the others circling around slowly. She draws back an arrow quietly readying to fire if the Bison charges.
Stay calm...It is no different than a target. It's heart is the bulls eye.
Watching Ragnar's actions Kevkul waits for the opportune moment before following the others sneak past the distracted beast.
To a degree Ragnar's strategy appears to work... his growling gets the big bull's attention, and it paws the ground, eyes rolling in part fear, part aggression as the bulky Northman.
As it does so, the others in the group circle round, using both the distraction of Ragnar and the poor visibility of the sleet to put distance between themselves and the heated bison.
From the other side of the Bison, Skolrykk motions silently for Ragnar to loop around.
Kevkul hurries along, putting as much distance from the bull and ensures his acolyte does the same. He stops after making sure the bull is at a considerable distance away and trains his crossbow instead on the beast.
Muli will pull out the Ice Toad from earlier and give it a vigerous shake to get it primed....he will hold it just in case the Bison decides to charge, as he slowly tries to make his way around.
Once his fellow travellers are suitably clear, Ragnar eases past the shaggy brute (as best a burly heavily armoured Northman can).
Just as he skirts the big bull, he catches the beast's bloodshot eye and it scrapes a deep groove in the tundra...
Handle Animal:
Ragnar keeps his motions steady and smooth as best he can while continuing past. His eyes are steady and clear and face inscrutable... but the knuckles on his right hand whiten slightly as his grip on skaggig firms...
Luke draws his bow and readies an action to fire. Being certain that he first creaps up to within thirty feet.
Stealth:
Luke creeps into position and the rest of you warily watch Ragnar's progress past the bovine brute...
Smiley Stealth:
Mmmm Bison:
The bull snorts and sniffs the air as the vikingr fixes it with a withering stare; the tundra bison's eyes roll and it seems even more nervous than before...
Kevkul's eyes glance around, hoping to find the cause of the bison's concern.
Perception:
Neither of you notice anything untoward... however the bison's apprehension may be Ragnar... but may not...
Perception:
Perception:
From what you can see the bull is getting more and more agitated by Ragnar's movements...
What appears to be a simple bull pi$$ed at man situation is just to simple for your eyes... Iobabrian bison, even bulls in rut tend just to charge; this big lad is nervous...
As your keen eyes scan around, they are drawn to a pair of distant (80ft. away) icy blue eyes framed by a fluid grey frame and crowned in hoarfrost; edging closer to both the bull and Ragnar...
Luke says lowly, so that the rest of the party can hear as they sneakily approach the bison.
A big cat of prey approaches, prepare yourselves, my arrow will lead the way.
Luke takes his readied shot at the approaching menace with a MW Cold Iron Arrow.
LB ATT:
LB DAM:
Knowledge Nature:
Perception:
Spotting the great cat as Luke looses his arrow, Ragnar spins and howls a challenge before looking to bear down on a new trophy...
Nadia points her bow in the direction of Luke's arrow readying to attack at first sight of the beast.
Let the beast be, for the bison would nourish the cat and we would be on our way.
Kevkul keeps his position, watching the events unfold and not seeing any big cat.
You recognise the big cat as a Smilodon or Seaxbita (AI:"Knife-biter") as it is known in Iobaria. These ferocious predators are rightly avoided, capable of taking down a bison or even jotunn. When hunted by the foolhardy they are always engaged at distance for their claws, raking attacks and terrible bites inflict brutal wounds...
Luke and Ragnar notice the approach of a deadly tundra big cat; whether it stalks the bull or your group is unknown.
Smiley:
Bully:
Ragnar:
Luke:
Nadia:
Muli:
Skol:
Kev:
Once we hit Round 1 here's the initiative order:
Luke & Nadia 17
Muli 16
Big Smiley 12
Ragnar (& Liten Mun) 11
Kevkul (& Petrik) 9
Skol & Mr Bison 4
Surprise:
Kevkul's warding words are as distant thoughts as the primal urge arises within Ragnar's breast. Liten Mun shys and backs away as Ragnar howls a challenge in the great feline's own language. Heavy feet break the snow as the Northman puts pride and challenge afore reason and rushes to'ward his fate. Skaggig, the jätte köttyxa is brought down in a powerful and brutish overhead swing...
Raging Power Attacking Charge with Skaggig: for
The Ulfen do not back from battle. May that the bison find his backside not appealing for its horns.
Kevkul watches Ragnar rush forward towards an unseen foe yet and keeps an eye on the wary bison.
Luke moves up 30 feet, bringing him to within 50 feet of the cat, and he looses another MW cold Iron Arrow.
LB ATT:
LB DAM:
Ragnar's reckless charge and brutal strike finds its mark. Skaggig bites deep into the Smilodon's shoulder and elicits a pained roar of anger from the king of the tundra...
With Ragnar engaging the beast in combat, the rest of you realise just how big the predator is...
Luke lets one of his arrows fly, but Ragnar's bellowing distracts the warden and his shot flies wide and handsome of the fearsome feline.
Ragnar's charge has a secondary unexpected effect as the tundra bison, clearly spooked bolts...
2 o' clock
... with the intent of running roughly towards Nadia's current position.
Luke's second arrow fairs better, burying itself into the cat's hide...
Nadia moved up to F16 and fires an arrow at the big cat hoping the bison is fleeing.
Bow Precise/point blank:
Damage:
Muli steps into his throw and sends the stuffed Ice Toad at the big cat.
It lands short but disgorges a spray of flame that still scorches the cat. -> 6 fire splash damage.
Round 1 Cont
Big Smiley 12
Ragnar (& Liten Mun) 11
Kevkul (& Petrik) 9
Skol & Mr Bison 4
Nadia stalks closer to the titanic struggle between man and cat and expertly buries an arrow deep in the Smilodon's flank. The beast emits a piercing yowl as this is followed by fiery rain that showers on both the beast and its Viking protagonist.
Turning its pained fury upon the human before it the huge cat brings its terrible weapons to bear...
:
:
:
:
: + Bleed
: + Grab
: + Grab
:
:
The Smilodon's knife like bite sinks deep into Ragnar's shoulder and neck causing blod to spout from the terrible wound. One claw just pierces his armour, while the other sinks deep into his hip, razored claws tearing bright furrows in his armour and flesh...
Clamped upon its new prey the tundra hunter seeks to finish the job...
Big Smiley: 28/60 HP remaining...
Stay behind Petrik, hold your spear fast and strong.
Kevkul runs across the snowy field north as he watches Ragnar being mauled. Drawing his shield with his left, he takes a bead at the cat before triggering the crossbow's release.
Round 1:
Ragnar bears the assault of the fanged beast manfully until the second raking claw digs deep into his ribs and steals the strength from his left hand. Letting skaggig fall into the snow, Ragnar's right hand rips alfr smarta from it's scabbard in a reverse grip. Spitting blood at the great cat even as the same crimson liquid flows from his mouth to stain his beard and chainmail. His weakened left hand bats at the smilodon's head while his blade cuts low, seeking tendons...
Raging Grappled Power Attack with Longsword: for
Nadia calls out to Ragnar, Do you want to be greased so you can get away from the cat's hold?