Content to let the others debate, thomas looks around.
I do not know about you, but is there any way we could earn a bit of cash before we go looking for the stag lord?
"Oleg does have the wanted board over yonder. We can hunt something in the meantime. Oleg, what needs killing?"
Oleg leans on the old board fastened just beside the trading stall. It tilts dangerously the side and he quickly lets go, glancing around to see if anyone noticed. Several of the posters are growing dirty and ragged with time, but they're still legible.
And still good for the bounty.
"Well, there's this Tuskgutter fella. Some big ol' boar them hunters want killed. And there's still this notice about them kobolds in the hills. Your Brevic politico friends want them handled as well as this Stag Lord fella Kesten's talkin' about."
He scratches the stubble on his chin, peering over the rest of the posters on the board. Several are just notices looking for hunting companions or various trades on furs and equipment. Nothing worth any real money.
"I tell ya what," he says, turning back to you and almost leaning back on the board. He catches himself, thankfully, before he takes the whole board down beside himself. "Business's been picking up lately. And while Svetlana says it ain't no mind to her, I'd pay ya well for finding that old ring. She deserves to have it back, and you all have been a great help to us." He sighs, then begrudgingly adds, "Even that Kesten fella too."
"I want to kill Tuskgutter. We should go for that." he said while grabbing thr wanted poster off the board. The picture of the animal was fearsome and it excited a sense of hunt within Dmitri. He handed the poster to Thomas and looked at Tyanos with a smirk. "Any objections?"
"Do you know where it is? Otherwise nothing has changed and we will deal with it when we encounter it. As with everything else, I will say that I have no objections to killing a dangerous wild animal that actively harms people."
I am thinking that we should deal with it before we continue to map.
I for one could use the cash.
"I don't see any reason why we can't find it. My hunting skills coupled with Kareta should be more than enough to find this boar." With a slight nod he motioned towards the stables. "Our adventure awaits. Let's go."
"The notice should have where it was last seen, anyway." Kareta said, taking the paper off the board. "If we're lucky, more than one sighting so maybe we can figure out its range..."
The notice is no more helpful than simply saying the boar was last sighted in the depths of the Narlmarches to the southwest. And since the poster has been hanging here for a while, it seems likely that the boar is not where it once was.
Still, if the poster's exaggerated language describing this Tuskgutter is to be even remotely believed, it couldn't be that hard to track it down. It's apparently quite a beast.
"Well at least we know where to start looking..." Kareta said, rolling the notice up in her hands.
I am thinking that we should deal with this boar, and then we can finish looking around.
Our mandate beyond mapping was to make things safe, and looking at this flyer, we will need to be dealing with this creature.
Maybe we should buy some heavy lances. Boars are sturdy beasts.
"So we should map out the Narlmarches, and probably run into the boar in the process?
Oleg mentions having a few shortspears in stock, but he only has a single regular spear and a single longspear. Both of those have been collecting dust, since few warriors in this region employ such polearms.
You set out early the next morning, heading north up the road and verging off the beaten path to the west. The skies are clear and it looks like it will shape up to an excellent day for travel.
Perhaps the lovely day distracted you from the trail, but it was no matter in the long run. Only a hop and a skip from the South Rostland Road, you verge westward into the grassy plains and start the day's mapping.
A few hours into your cartography, Tyanos happens upon a strange stone figurine half-buried in the grasses. Shaped and sized like a squirrel, the rendition of the creature is remarkably well formed, with the exception of a single hole piercing straight through it--from one flank to the other.
If this wasn't strange enough, Kareta spots another of these figurines a bit ahead, buried in some grasses. This one appears to be a young catlike creature, but was carved in such a manner that it looks thoroughly worn... or perhaps injured or eaten? The expression caught on the figure looks suitably pained for such a condition, though it's curious why it would be carved in such a way. This one, too, has a single hole pierced through its side--on the same side as the strange damage--but this one does not pierce entirely through the statue.
Ahead, you see a small, rocky knoll and several lumps in the grass that look as though they might be more of these strange statues. One in particular catches Kareta's keen eye. It is carved in the likeness of a man, though it has apparently fallen onto its side from wind or weather. The sun catches the glint of metal on its stony person.
Dismounting to Hold up one of the small figures that had a hole drilled through it.
I wonder what might have done this indicating the hole
He then drops the small statue, and then leads his horse around the field as he looks around.
Kareta kneels down by the statue and tries to uncover it.
"A little..." *ungh* "help please?"
"No worries, Kareta." said Dmitri as he plied his strength towards freeing the sculpture.
"Man, this thing is tough!"
Between the two of them, Kareta and Dmitri manage to lift the human statue to its feet. At once a number of punctures--just like the other statues--become visible along the figure's leg. Remarkably accurate rips and tears show the figure's leggings in a state of disrepair, while its visage is caught in a fascinating glimpse of awe. A shortsword lays half-buried in the earth beneath where the figure had fallen, a belt pouch and severed belt beside it. A stag-headed figurine still glistens with a coppery color on its leather cord around the statue's neck. In his hand, the figure clenches a small satchel that appears to be full of a silvery powder. A cursory attempt to pull it loose proves fruitless--it was obviously a part of the statue's creation. You could probably tear it free, but that would ruin the satchel and spill its contents everywhere.
Yet, as the two hunt-inclined members of the party moved to lift the statue, a sudden and abrupt noise sounded from the base of the rocky knoll. Perhaps two dozen feet away, a small ball of white fur pushes through the grasses until its eyes locked on the two closest to it--Kareta and Dmitri.
The creature looked something like an oversized rabbit, save for the single pearlescent horn that protrudes off the crown of its head. The fur around its mouth has been matted down and stained a dark, rusty color. It narrows its eyes, and barks something halfway between a yip and a growl. It hunches itself forward, horn bared in your direction...
"By the gods..." said Dmitri as he helped Kareta unearth the statue. It seemed strange to find such a relic this far in the woods. Perhaps there were greater mysteries to be had. Before Dmitri could take in the site, something caught his attention. A puffy white creature was about to gore him and Kareta!
With instict, Dmitri pushes Kareta out of the way. "Take cover!"
You know that this is no ordinary rabbit, and suspect it may be magical in nature... but, unfortunately, know no specifics about what it might be and why it's eyeing you so viciously.
What is that? Why are they scared about a rabbit?
Tyanos remains on his horse but draws his crossbow, ready to fire if needed. Meanwhile he looks closely at the strange creature.
You recognize this creature as an almiraj, a rare, strange creature that (obviously) bears an uncanny resemblance to a normal, if somewhat larger and decidedly more horned, rabbit. However, they are not to be taken lightly. Carnivorous, these creatures are fiercely territorial and use their horn to impale intruders and prey before eating them while they still live on the end of its horn. Those unfortunate enough to be killed by its horn are turned to stone.
They share a strange relationship with witches, and are often the subject of superstition as a result. It is suspected they are intelligent enough to understand some speech, but few wild almirajes care to listen to those intruding on their territory.
"Put the statue down and back away slowly. That's a Almiraj, their meat eaters and a bit magical. All these statues are what's left of things it ate and intruded on it's territory. Anything it kills turns into stone, those holes are from it's horn impaling creatures. Best we be on our way for now."
Kareta steps back, drawing her axe as Eshie moves in front of her. "I'm not sure he's going to let us..."
The critter takes another step forward, keeping the distance between Kareta and itself roughly the same. It offers another growl, but makes no motion to approach any closer. You suspect that it may allow you to leave... if you do so rather quickly. That would also mean leaving behind all the stuff you'd just found on (and under) the statue. Or the stone corpse, it seems.
For something so small and fluffy, it sure doesn't look very cuddly right now.
"He's smart enough to give us a chance but I doubt that's going to last. Move."
He hissed as he thought it better then raising his voice around the volatile creature. The rabbit beast got the drop on them, something it was good at it seemed. Better to leave for now.
Kareta glances at Dmitri. "You decide. Fight? Or..."
We should fight him later.That such a small creature could kill people easily shows it's mightier than it seems. By Erastil, I make the solem vow I'll defeat you later.
Dmitri's battle senses tensed as he took in the situation. Above his own heart beating he could hear Tyanos' instructions and Kareta's questions. He had to make a split decision. Fight or Flight. It would see embarrassing to die to such a feeble creature but it held such a trove of worthy treasure.
Dmitri brandished his blade and looked towards Hadin. "If we pass, others can fall. We make our stand here! To arms!"
Letting go of the lead rope, Thomas looks over at them as they see the rabbit.
Seems a bit overkill, but may the inheritor guide our aim.
The almiraj tilts its head, confused. It takes another step forward, baying at you with its strange, high-pitched barking noise as it lowers its horn into goring position...
Dmitri hefted his mighty blade and pointed it towards the small horned rabbit.
"Not today, bunny!" he said while charging the creature! As soon as he was in range, Dmitri brought down the full breadth of his weapon and tried to destroy it.
"Eshie, go!" Kareta called, throwing her axe as her ferret rushed forwards.
As Eshie charges forwards, Kareta quickly slings her bow into her hand and nocks an arrow. If this battle goes farther, she'll need to make some distance.
Tyanos dearly wished to roll his eyes, yet good sense kept him. The creature was smart enough to understand them, as seemingly every damn thing in these lands could. So getting away from it and setting an ambushed was preferred over a fair fight with something that could kill with ease, the statues being a dead give away to that. Yet instead another headstrong woodsman forced things, he was starting to think dealing with simple minded animals for too long did something to people. No wonder bandits flourished, no one else had a lick of cunning. He takes aim and fires his crossbow.
His bolt goes wide, going no where near the small rabbit. That was why he choose ambush over fair fights, he was a terrible shot.
Hadin attacks the strange creature, not really sure of what to do
His weapon misses and breaks a chip of a nearby stone
"Time ta unleash da tune of arsekickin!" Brycen says as he takes out his lute. "It's a-huntin season!" He begins to jam on his lute while singing slightly out of key, though one could give him props for trying anyway.
4/13
As Brycen opens up with the great tune of 'arsekickin,' so too do weapons fly as the group shifts from curious investigation to full defense. The almiraj seems almost as shocked at the sudden turn of events, its eyes going wide as Kareta's axe flies at its head and Eshie follows just behind it.
The axe nicks the critter, sending a spray of blood into the path of the giant ferret that bore down with its mighty teeth on the dire rabbit. More blood stains the creature's white fur as Eshie tries and fails to pull the creature into a grapple.
Dmitri charges in behind Eshie, bringing his mighty sword to bear against the critter. The stunned almiraj finally wills its legs to move, narrowly avoiding the sword--and Tyanos' bolt, and Hadin's flail.
Furious and near-literally foaming at the mouth, it turns it great horn on Eshie, leaping for the ferret's neck...
Fortunately, Eshie is able to twist its body away from the strike just enough to avoid full impalement. The glancing blow still draws blood, but it is hardly more than a scratch.
Round 2
As the almiraj dodges Hadin's flail, the creature plats in front of Brycen, a perfect opportunity to hammer it six feet under.
Brycen yells as he heaves the large hammer towards the creature's head...
...and instead plants the ground flat with a large, dull sounding thud.
Kareta calmly takes a few steps back, waiting for an opening in the melee. When she sees one, she lets her arrow fly.
(+ 1 CON blood drain)
The creature leaps over the arrow at the last moment, but the move leaves it open for Eshie, who sinks his fangs into its leg.
Hadin strikes again, this time with more success
Dmitri didn't like the fact that his mighty swing missed the horned rabbit completely. By using the momentum, the woodsman balanced his blade and swung this time sideways, hoping the catch the creature from possibly fleeing.
Thomas seeing the rabbit all tied up by the party, holds his attacks.