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"Well, we could sit in this horrid place and wonder about dark rituals, or we could go hunting with that lovely fellow. Besides, he may be well-connected and know things that can help us figure out what happened here!"
With that, Viro takes off to meet with Foxglove.
Aye we promised the man to go a huntin. And who knows. Maybe a he knows a thing or two about what went on and all...
The party leaves the boneyard and ambles down the hill to Tanner's Bridge. There Aldern Foxglove and his entourage awaits. They have a two horse and two ponies and a brace of boar-spears. A small army of hounds circles the horses dancing around excitedly.
"Ahoy, friends!" calls the good-natured nobleman. "So glad you have chosen to come hunt with us. The Tickwood is great boar hunting, why once I..."
And from there he goes onto tell you some fish stories about boar-hunting; tales full of his own personal heroism and deeds of derring-do. The ride to the Tickwood takes about an hour, and Foxglove talks about himself nearly the whole time.
Once the trees begin to thicken in around you, he asks "Have any of you hunted boar before?" He goes on to explain the method. The huntsman (one of his retainers) goes ahead with the dogs. When the dogs have taken the scent they pursue the boar until it goes to ground. Once that happens, the hunters take their boar-spears and surround the opening. Eventually the boar charges, and the hunters have to hold their ground using the spear, which has a long cross-piece about a foot from the handle, to skewer the boar and hold it off.
"Failing to skewer him, or to keep on the other side of your cross piece and lead to serious injury or even death for the hunter." Foxglove notes with some seriousness. "But enough of that, while the hounds seek the quarry, let's enjoy some wine and cheese, eh?"
He motions to his other servant who begins setting out a picnic luncheon, complete with a fine-bodied red wine and sumptuous hors d'oeuvres.
"My family weren't sporting types," says Viro with a sigh. "The thrill of the hunt may cause a few of them to pass out."
Once more his faux-Varisian accent has fallen away for a slightly posher Magnimarian one as he attempts to ape Foxglove's manners. "So this would be my first time. Good wine though. Cheliax?"
Bruin smiled politely all throughout the hunt. He had expected something very different from the experience so far. This was more akin to a picnic.
After all, they had just fought skeletons that morning and goblins the night before. Hunting boar seemed almost, well, quaint by comparison.
Bruin refused the wine.
"Oh, no thank you. I indulged a bit overly the night before. That party at the Dragon got a bit rowdy. I'm relatively sure I was dancing with a potted plant at one point. "
He waved his hand over the wine glass and it filled with conjured water.
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Why ye drink whine and eat cheese when a huntin? And lettin ye men do ya work so that ye have more time to babble bout yeself? Beromar grumbles incredulously as he tightly hefts the spear in both hands testing it's weight. He prefers his longaxe but this will likely do at least for a big pig... the Dwarf looks around with the practiced eye of a hunter not wanting to have anything to do with wine and cheese.
Boar spear 5 gp 1d6 1d8 ×2 — 8 lbs. P brace, see text
Foxglove continues to bend your ear during the break, but soon the baying of the hounds is heard, followed by shrill whistle from the huntsmen. "To arms, brothers!" cries Foxglove in earnest. "It is time to go and see where the hounds have trapped our quarry. Hurry along now, and bring yor spears!"
The Magnamarian noble rushes along following the whistle and almost tripping over a root or two. At one point when he stumbles, he drops his spear which nearly skewers the foot of poor Bruin.
Eventually, the group finds the hounds and the huntsman in an open clearing deep in the Tickwood. The boar has taken to ground in a tree covered rock-fall on the north end of the clearing and the huntsman hauls the hounds off, motioning you forward.
"Ok, stand in line with no gaps," calls Foxglove. "Call out if you see him, then be ready for the charge."
"Are you sure the boar is up there? Can't see it at all!"
Viro moves to plug the gap in the line, looking nervously northwards.
Beromar shakes his head as he looks at his more scholarly inclined companions.
Look here boys. This how ye hold the spear. Ready it for when the beast comes at ye!
Foxglove calls to the group "Let's advance until we spy him, then we can brace spears for the charge."
Bruin smiled as Loges asked about using magic. "You'll do fine, Loges. Embrace the experience. You might find yourself liking the life of a dashing slayer of boars."
"And besides if something does go wrong, I'll be there to stitch you back up. So no worries."
Bruin set his spear and then took a moment to study his surroundings.
Perception
Bermoar studies the the trees and bushes carefully before making any move.
As Bruin and Beromar study the bushes above, and Loges tries to figure out which end of the spear is the pointy one, the tramping and snorting of the boar helps give away its position. Trapped between two narrow stands of rock, the boar stares out at its attackers with a wildly rolling eye. Froth dribbles from its mouth where two razor-sharp tusks lie, ready to rip flesh if given the chance.
From the side, Foxglove gives a small yelp of surprise as the beast lumbers into view. "Quick, form up. Don't give him space to circle round or between us. Stand firm, gentlemen. This is yoru time for glory!"
The dainty nobleman pushes you forward, but you notice he doesn;'t advance himself...
Viro looks at the enormous boar with wide, saucer-like eyes.
"Y-yeah... glory." Viro notices Foxglove step back, but deigns not to say anything.
I know how idiot nobles like that play. If he wants to live vicariously through us, let him. I need allies against the Sczarni.
Beromar knows how to ahndle a weapon and has dealt with far worse than an oversized pig. The Dwarf steps forward and readies his spear.
Looking somewhere between excited and terrified, Viro steps up along with Beromar and braces himself.
The boar continues pawing the ground as Viroleth and Beromar advance. Despite his brave words, Foxglove does not fill the gap and step up. Instead he remains stock still, urging the others forward.
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Loges frowns as he advances forward.
This looks dangerous!
He murmurs an arcane phrase, rubbing butter between his fingers.
School conjuration (creation); Level bard 1, magus 1, sorcerer/wizard 1, summoner 1
CASTING
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S, M (butter)
EFFECT
Range close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target one object or 10-ft. square
Duration 1 min./level (D)
Saving Throw see text; Spell Resistance no
DESCRIPTION
A grease spell covers a solid surface with a layer of slippery grease. Any creature in the area when the spell is cast must make a successful Reflex save or fall. A creature can walk within or through the area of grease at half normal speed with a DC 10 Acrobatics check. Failure means it can't move that round (and must then make a Reflex save or fall), while failure by 5 or more means it falls (see the Acrobatics skill for details). Creatures that do not move on their turn do not need to make this check and are not considered flat-footed.
The spell can also be used to create a greasy coating on an item. Material objects not in use are always affected by this spell, while an object wielded or employed by a creature requires its bearer to make a Reflex saving throw to avoid the effect. If the initial saving throw fails, the creature immediately drops the item. A saving throw must be made in each round that the creature attempts to pick up or use the greased item. A creature wearing greased armor or clothing gains a +10 circumstance bonus on Escape Artist checks and combat maneuver checks made to escape a grapple, and to their CMD to avoid being grappled.
Bruin advances, but when he notices that Aldern didn't step up he chances a look back at the nobleman, but then wordlessly fills the gap.
He took a shaky but exhilarated breath and then planted the boar spear.
"Gentleman, it's been a pleasure knowing you. I'll see you on the other side," he said with a healthy chuckle.
Looking like it's ready to charge, and with the grease out in front of them, the time looks ripe for the hunt to get violent.
15 Bruin
14 Viroleth
12 Boar
10 Loges
5 Beromar
Looking at the grease with some alarm, Viro sets himself against a charge and waits.
Bruin braces the spear, ready for the boar.
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Boar Hunt - Round 1 - continued
As Bruin and Viroleth set to recieve the charge, teh quarry lets out a high screaming call and bursts forth from the rocky hiding place, all power and sharp tusks.
It rushes straight forward on a charge course at Beromar, but then the porcine bruiser hits the grease spell patch. The slippery footing takes the charge completely out of the boar, who spills over sideways in the messy goo and now lays prone, still screaming and thrashing about.
"Uh, Loges. All kidding aside, an angry boar actually is a pretty dangerous. You might want to pick that up," Bruin says with a voice slightly rising in fear.
It's a lot bigger than I expected.
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Loges glances--worriedly--at Bruin.
He then looks--frighteningly--at the boar!
He then waves his arms, producing a piece of cured leather from a pouch, and sputtering an arcane phrase!
School conjuration (creation) [force]; Level sorcerer/wizard 1, summoner 1, witch 1
CASTING
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S, F (a piece of cured leather)
EFFECT
Range touch
Target creature touched
Duration 1 hour/level (D)
Saving Throw Will negates (harmless); Spell Resistance no
DESCRIPTION
An invisible but tangible field of force surrounds the subject of a mage armor spell, providing a +4 armor bonus to AC.
Unlike mundane armor, mage armor entails no armor check penalty, arcane spell failure chance, or speed reduction. Since mage armor is made of force, incorporeal creatures can't bypass it the way they do normal armor.
He then quickly picks up his spear and follows Bruin's example.
Beromar steps forward with the boar spear in hand and thrusts at the bear.
Attack Damage
Boar Hunt - Round 1 - concluded
Loges drops his spear and casts a protective warding spell that envelops him in protective energy. Then, at Bruin's insistence, he grabs back up his spear again.
Stepping forward with the boar prone, Beromar stabs with his spear at the large pig,but his spear-point cannot penetrate the thick hide of the creature.
End of Round 1
Boar Hunt - Round 2
15 Bruin
14 Viroleth
12 Boar (prone, greased)
10 Loges
5 Beromar
Viro watches and lets out a gout of laughter as the boar slips and crashes to the ground. He quickly composes himself and uses the boar's prone position to circle around it entirely before stabbing down.
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Boar Hunt - Round 2 - continued
Bruin moves to the right of the boar, careful to stay out of the greasy mess, and stabs the prone beast, his spear barely penetrating the thick flesh.
Encircling the boar, Viroleth stabs it from behind and while prone, his spear doing more damage, but still not ending the beast.
Squealing loudly in pain and frustration, the boar rolls over in the gooey grease, and tries to stand again provoking attacks from Viroleth and Bruin. Even as the creature seems to have regained his footing, it slips again, falling back to prone.
As the boar stands up, Viro yelps and jabs out instinctively.
Beromar attempts to poke the porks hide but it proves to be rather resillient.
Attack Damage
Bruin stabs at the wounded boar, hoping to end its struggle quickly, but his thrust is wild.
Boar Hunt - Round 2 -continued
Both the opportunistic attacks from the party miss hitting even a prone boar, but it does thrash around a bit.
Loges tries to stab, but he cannot hit the writhing beast either.
Only Beromar is successful at driving his spear into the porcine critter once again. He plunges it deep and the boar screams loudly, it's eyes rolling in agony and anger.
End of Round 2
Boar Hunt - Round 3
15 Bruin
14 Viroleth
12 Boar (prone, greased, -4hp)
10 Loges
5 Beromar
Bruin stabs again at the beast, his blade finding purchase in the pig's internal organs. As blood gushes from the wound, the board continues struggling in the greasy goo.