"Well yes actually, it is awfully hard to claim leadership when there is no one about to be led now isn't it. Fair enough, I will have to start my own clan, anyone looking to join, ha ha."
"Be right back." Thorfinn said. He quickly trotted back to the forge and picked up his baby.
He came back with his main weapon casually slung across one shoulder; the massive six-foot long iron bound maul known as an 'Earth-Breaker'.
"Ready." He grinned.
Group 1 (Elric, Edyssa, Thorfinn):
At last, Gulbrandr takes the stage, standing atop the large rock often to address crowds. He is a tall, fit man in his middle years, wearing light, practical outdoors garb, with a bow slung across his back and an axe at his hip. As an experienced scout and fighter, he has taken it upon himself to safeguard the region around Arnsford, and is generally well-liked and respected amongst the community.
“Friends,” Gulbrandr begins, “No doubt you’ve all heard about the creature preying upon our livestock. It’s a flying snake, a quick and deadly predator, and it’s been carrying off sheep. We’d like some experienced hunters to put an end to it, and to track down its lair, make sure there aren’t any more of them about. The pay’s good – a share of the next harvest surplus to anyone who sees the job through. And I’m sure the mages back in Ragnfeld will want a look at the creature’s carcass. So, what questions do you have?”
Group 2 (Hedrick, Vaynard, Yudra, Ynghildr):
As the others chew over Hedrik’s offer, a noise intrudes upon their reflections. Coming from somewhere outside the hut, it’s faint but unmistakable – somebody is shouting, their exact words lost to distance and the muffling effect of the walls.
"Does anyone else hear that?" Yudra says, frowning and trying to determine if the shouting is more angry, fearful, pained, or otherwise.
"Well that was informative..." Elric starts to quip before Edyssa playfuly elbows him in the side. He responds with a smile as he puts his arm around her waist and pulls her in close to his side.
Vaynard wasnt about to be caught in an enclosed space. He rose to his feet, grabbing what arrows he could and placing them back into his quiver. "Yes, time to see why." He shouldered his bow and quiver and walked outside...
Hedrick followed the man with cat ears outside.
Deciding to trust their instincts, Yudra quickly regathers his map, stowing it away in his bag, then takes it in hand and following the others out.
Edyssa lets out a giggle while Elric wraps his arms around her. "I can't wait to see what they have in store for us. I am itching to fight something again."
As Thorfinn returns with his weapon, Edyssa couldn't help but grin. "I can tell you aren't playing around eh? You mean buisness! Would you like to join us?"
After listening to what the man said about the serpent, Edyssa could feel her heart begin to quicken. The thought of going on an adventure to slay an evil serpent thrilled her. She wasn't necessarily going to go after the serpent for the money but for the adventure itself. She loved to fight alongside Elric and together they made a great team.
Edyssa leans in excitedly with one arched brow and a large smile. "So Thorfinn, how about it? The three of us could easily take down the creature and any possible others, are ya in?"
Edyssa looks up at Elric, her eyes burning with the flames of excitement and passion. Edyssa was the type of person that always needed to be on an adventure. A life standing still was no life at all for her, and she longed to make many new good memories with Elric to erase all the bad.
Ynghildr trudges out as well, not too surprised by the sudden activity.
"Absolutely! I've been going stir crazy working in the forge. It'll do me good to get out for a while; and if someone deserving desires the Blessings of Thor..." He slams his earthbreaker to the ground, which jumps under your feet. "Well then, I will be glad to accomodate him!"
Group 1 (Elric, Edyssa, Thorfinn):
“Any leads on the snake’s lair?” One of the crowd, a well-armed kobold, pipes up.
“None,” Gulbrandr says, “It’s a big jungle. I mean to do some scouting, see if I can narrow down the search area by spotting it in flight.”
It looks as if the other prospective hunters are likewise forming themselves into groups. If Elric, Edyssa and Thorfinn were looking to round out their own group, they could likely pick up a couple of people. Among the unattached candidates are two kobolds, one being the speaker and another with the look of a mage, two hard-bitten outdoor types, and a couple of youngsters, perhaps less prepared than their elders but certainly willing.
Group 2 (Hedrick, Vaynard, Yudra, Ynghildr):
As the group emerge from the cabin, they soon spot the source of the commotion – an elven woman in mottled green armour is toiling up the hill towards the lodge. Seeing it inhabited by people, she shouts again, “To arms!”
Now that they’re out in the open air, the four can hear a crashing sound coming from the jungle, as of something large shouldering its way through the trees. As they watch, three bears burst from the jungle’s edge, rather closer on the elf’s heels than she’d probably like. This is something of a surprise, as nobody has yet reported seeing a bear upon the Bifrost.
Still, under the circumstances, questions about the bears are probably secondary to seeing them off. Preferably before they get into mauling range.
Despite the elven woman being close to possibly being mauled Vaynard was calm and steady. Assessing the situation and smoothly reacting to it...
Vaynard draws his bow, knocks an arrow and holds his ground. Allowing the bears to close the distance some...
"...Those should not be here. And how did she anger them so?"
He stares toward the oncoming bears for a moment and the tattoos along his body seem to become more iridescent, almost but not quite taking on a soft rainbow glow.
Then he drops his sack on the ground and takes a moment to assess the situation. Aside from just being there, did the bears seem unusual in any sense? Why were there three of the usually solitary animals, could they be a family? As well, he was curious to see what Hedrick could do before making too many decisions of his own.
"Heh, why shouldn't there be bears!? You've got hairy little kids with tails that fling their own poop! Not to mention you just said I shouldn't be here either, but here I am. Don't worry no offense taken."
Hedrick smiles at the group and reaches a glowing palm out to Vaynard.
"May Diana guide your arrow friend."
Using his skills as a veteran of battle Hedrick sets out his sword and draws his bow.
"I think I can get a shot off or two. Then who's with me when it gets up close and personal? Gotta time this just right. Heh, heh, I am damn quick too! Ha ha ha!"
Ynghildr radidly begins the task of closing the distance between himself and the woman, his small hardwood crossbow already in his hand. The curious nature of the bears existing, or even traveling in such a pack, was secondary to ensuring they did not have an easy time of picking off a lone target.
Elric looks around at the gathered hunters. Noticing the kobolds he nods towards them. "What do you two think, we good or do we want to add to our ranks?"
Thorfinn arches his eyebrow.
"Kobolds? Are you sure?" He questioned. "Seems to me they'd be obliterated by anything that could challenge us."
"I'll try to support you as best I can, Hedrick" says Yudra. "In the meantime, I wonder if these are not skin changers? Bears do not tend to travel in packs..."
"Your brother is an odd fellow. I've never seen someone charge a pack of bears with a crossbow. Then again I've never seen a man shelling walnuts with his claws either. No doubt he has more suprises in store for me."
Group 2:
Vaynard's arrow flies downslope and lodges itself in the lead bear. There's something odd about the impact, a puff of glimmering dust erupting from the bear's shoulder as the arrow strikes home.
As to the bears themselves, they're all of a uniform, rather large size. The elf seems able to keep ahead of them, though she's having to work at it. It seems unlikely the bears will catch her before she reaches the group.
The puff of glitter, if noticed by Ynghildr, does nothing to alter his course. He skids down the edge of the hill, incanting a spell as he goes.
Vaynard's ear's twitch in frustration. Now that they were closer he focused on unleashing a salvo of arrows at the bear that he had hit already...
He fired more rapidly at the cost of his accuracy but he felt certain that his arrows would hit there mark. Before they had landed he was already drawing his next arrow...
Thorfinn looks skeptical, but he waves his hand in surrender.
"Alright, alright. If you think we need the help, go ask those guys if they want in. I think we're good to go as we are though."
"Claws?" Yudra says the Hedrick. And with that, he takes off with a quick jog, closing the distance between he and Ynghildr.
"Tch, leave it. Your right we are fine as is." He says as he stands to his feet an easy smile on his face. "So then we've got an entire jungle to search. I say we get started I don't want to miss out on all the fun."
Move to q10
Group 1:
The other hunters do eventually divide themselves up into different groups, three in all, and set to discussing how they'll go about the hunt. Gulbrandr attaches himself to the largest of the groups, intending to strike inland and investigate a couple of possible lairs. The kobolds, meanwhile, can be overheard talking about traps with their own group. They intend to set up shop near the town's flocks and see if they can bag the snake when it descends upon them. The third group is still discussing their course of action.
The three have the option of remaining to help guard the flocks and perhaps bagging the serpent (or serpents), or of exploring the jungle in search of its lair.
Group 2:
Another two arrows strike the bear as it lumbers uphill, causing it to stumble briefly in its stride. Two more of those puffs of dust waft from it, glimmering in the sunlight.
As the elf continues uphill, she slows, unlimbering her bow. Turning, she plants her feet and fires an arrow... An arrow which multiplies to become four in mid-air. Only two of the arrows strike home, to the elf's obvious frustration.
Between these and the previous arrows, the dust has become a veritable cloud of multi-coloured, glittering smoke, streaming from the bear's wounds. It almost seems to be losing substance with each step forwards. Nevertheless, it continues to advance. This bear, at least, looks to be sorely wounded. Unfortunately, there are still two more of them.
AC 16/10/15
HP 42
F/R/W +8/+5/+2
CMD 20 (24 vs. trip)
Two more arrows fly as Vaynard advances 5ft between shots. "Don't..." He fires the first arrow. "Stop keep running!" The second arrow goes wide as he was distracted and he gives a growl in aggravation...
"What form of witchery is this!? Are they summoned or is this something else I must come to grips with, magically puffing smoke bears!?"
Thorfinn thinks about how to possibly bag the critter.
"Hm. Maybe we ought to follow the Arn river upstream. Lots of predators ambush near water."
"That sounds like a plan to me and there is a hunters lodge near there that might be worth checking for any information as well."
Edyssa pulls out an assortment of maps and papers that she quickly consults them. "What about the hollow cliffs? The numerous caves should be a haven to a winged reptile."
"Hah! We can do both! Let's get moving before one of the others thinks of the same thing!"
Elric gives a quick nod to Thorfinn and offers his hand to Edyssa. When she grabs it he pulls her in close and kisses her deeply. "For luck, I love you." He says with a grin before placing his forehead against hers, and with that they head out serpent hunting.
"To us, before they swarm you!" Yudra calls out toward the elf, as he keeps with Ynghildr and Hedrick. Then he passes his hand over his shoulder ornaments.
The momentum of Ynghildr's skidding runs out as he clamps his boot down on a large root, holding his crossbow poised at the bear nearest the elf.
He glares down the sights as the smoke dances around his target.
Group 2:
Vaynard's arrow strikes home, swiftly followed by one from the elf. Between the two, they finally bring the lead bear down. As it slumps to the ground, its form wavers and finally dissolves before their eyes, becoming a cloud of glittering smoke which wafts gently downhill, dissipating as it goes and finally disappearing entirely.
With her target finally dropped, the elf climbs a little further up the slope, halting level with Yudra. The remaining bears, tenacious in their pursuit, continue up the hill, winding up still a little short of the elf and right on top of Ynghildr respectively.
"Keep going," says Yudra, before he moves downward to his brother's side once more. Rather than pumping his arms as he jogs, he spreads them, fingers splayed. Running toward the bear closest to Ynghildr, he thrusts his dominant hand toward it.
As the odd bear draws near, Ynghildr realizes he is well within clawing distance. He digs his boot in behind the root and steadies himself upon the hill. He slides the crossbow sight across his field of vision, lining up his shot into the bear's rapidly approaching body. He squeezes the trigger of the crossbow, sending the bolt towards the glimmering mass.
"Focus on the uninjured one no one is fighting." He spoke to the elven woman who had reached him in the back line as he launched two more arrows up and over his fellows and into the oncoming bears.
Hedrick fires his bow.
"Doh! Thor-bless-it. Oh well, looks like it is about to get up an personal anyway. Bow string must have gotten soggy at some point, heh heh."
Group 1:
With the decision made to try upstream first, the three set out into the jungle. To begin with, they walk along with Gulbrandr's group, crossing the Arn on a rope bridge. At this point, they part company, heading upriver whilst Gulbrandr leads his own group northward, in the general direction of Tabletop.
For now, the route is reasonably well traveled, a well-cleared pathway following a ridgeline parallel to the river. The jungle is alive with the calls of birds and animals, though they are seldom seen, the wildlife having learned to be wary of humans.
The landscape hereabouts is thin soil atop limestone, which means caves and deep holes where water has worn through the underlying rock. The path itself is firm underfoot, though at one point it skirts a wide, deep hole with water glimmering at the bottom. Your position atop the ridgeline affords you a decent vantage, at least when breaks in the trees allow it, but no winged serpents present themselves.
After a good five hours' walk, a possibility presents itself. For a while now, the trail has been close to the river, atop a cliff. Now, you come to a break in the cliff, where a more gentle slope prevails. There is a prominent game trail down to the water, and you actually catch sight of three small deer drinking at the water's edge. This seems like the kind of spot predators might frequent.
Group 2:
As Yudra bounds downslope, the bear reaches out to intercept him with a massive paw. The blow clips him and draws blood but he continues on in. Yudra's own blow strikes home, sending a thick gout of smoke billowing from the bear's wound. It smells of hot iron, and there is not a trace of blood.
One of Vaynard's arrows strikes home, the other flying overhead amidst the confusion of melee combat. Ynghildr adds his own crossbow bolt to proceedings, resulting in further billows of smoke. This time, however, the smoke has a cold, icy tang to it, a sensation all but unknown on the Bifrost.
The elf continues her steady retreat uphill, lodging an arrow in the pursuing bear as she goes. The bear continues its dogged pursuit. It's almost on top of the elf now, and poised to take a chunk out of her.
The other bear, looking a bit the worse for wear, lashes out at Yudra, the person who hurt it most. Its jaws clamp down on him with crushing force, and its claws drag him into a tight embrace.
Crit:
Grapple:
Focusing on the same opponent Vaynard unleashes another two arrows in an attempt to bring down the weakest of the wiley bears...