Laufey takes a few moments in silence, a look of concentration on her face as if she is gathering her thoughts about a subject that is difficult to explain without rambling on.
"Kalsgard is the capital of the Linnorm Kingdom of Thanelands. It is a mighty city, and I have never seen it's equal in size. Riddleport is the closest, but it is tiny in comparison."
"It is different than Riddleport though. There the buildings are low and not so crowded, unlike Riddleport's high, squashed together buildings. Karlsgard is like Sandpoint in its appearance but it is Sandpoint a thousand times over."
"Kalsgard's walls are great and thick, to withstand even determined giants. Trolls, wolves, they are nothing to them. All trade comes and goes through Karlsgard. On one side is the great port, at the mouth of the Rimeflow River. There are hundreds of ships there every day. Cargos from close by and far away, fishing, whaling, raiders come to sell their loot as well."
"On the land side Karlsgard is the end of the route that travels over the Crown of the World to Tien Xia, where unimaginable things come from every day. There is a part of the city, the Jade Quarter, where the many people from Tien Xia live together."
"My family lived in the Stone Quarter, and that is where I grew up. After my father died, I was apprenticed to learn a trade. But I was not suited to it, and the apprenticeship ended. I needed to make some living so I came south to do so with weapons. It is something that suites me more."
"Giants, trolls, and wolves? Coming from such a dangerous place, it is no wonder you hunt the Sandpoint Devil. Compared to some of that, why, I'll bet you will find it to be nothing. And what of you, master gnome. What is your home like?"
Rasmorn is quiet for a moment, pondering how to respond. "The town of Nybor is where I currently reside, and I've been there for the last several years. A fantastic little town, mostly a farming community, and very open to half-breeds and oddities. It's a peaceful place, perfect for quiet contemplation and study, which as it happens is just what I need! Not much excitement, though - this was my first goblin raid, and this is my first boar hunt. I'm experiencing all sorts of new things on this trip!"
"Ah, yes, well, hunting boar is quite the past time, and indeed, we shall find great success, I am sure!" Aldern seems quite enthused at the boar hunt, although he seems to be speaking by the seat of his pants a bit.
You continue your ride, and reach the Tickwood after about half an hour. Aldern has asked you all a great deal about yourselves and your adventures, and regaled you with amusing tales of high society in Magnimar. However, the conversation seems to routinely find its way back to Isabelle, along with a compliment about her modesty, or her bravery, or perhaps her clear leadership abilities. It's getting a bit annoying, if you're perfectly honest with yourself.
You hear a rustling sound in the brush.
In addition to the rustling, there are grunting noises.
There is more than one of whatever is making that noise.
Those are boar noises.
Laufey's head jerks toward a rustling and grunting in the brush by the side of the path.
"It is time to stop talking. Our hunt is beginning. There in the brush are our boars" she says as she dismounts and readies her spear in the direction of the sounds.
Isabella does damage control as best she can. It rapidly becomes clear that she is somewhat used to people exaggerating their reactions toward her, and when given an opening she typically attempts to roll it into a more broadly interesting point, at the very least to involve her traveling companions in some level of dialog that doesn't revolve around her "angelic heritage."
"I hear it too," she says after Laufey mentions the boar sounds. She pulls her horse up short. "I guess we have to dismount? Can't really set a spear while on horseback."
The sound of Yasu's eyes rolling around in his skull so frequently has distracted him from the sounds ahead of them.
Of course she's amazing. Of course she's brave. Me? I have to wear a mask or the weak of constitution faint looking at me. Yasu seems lost in his thoughts. He's scowling... Right? No, wait. He always looks like that.
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Rasmorn pulls up short as well. "Agreed, sounds like at least two creatures in there." Looking to Yasu, he asks "what's the procedure here?"
"Huh? Oh, right. " Yasu realizes he's up. "Okay, spears, up front. Archers, line up with me."
When everyone is ready, he will draw an arrow and set it. "Ready... Set arrows."
"Fire."
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Rasmorn will follow Yasu's lead and lines up near the masked archer. He will prepare himself to help out in his small way.
Talia.
Talia hurriedly dismounts, she doesn't want to be on horseback in combat with her lack or riding skill.
"Hey Ras! Don't use that acid thingy, you'll spoil the meat."
"but, but, " the gnome replies, looking crestfallen at his prepared magical instruments. He struggles for a moment to come up with a decent argument, but apparently gives up after a moment. "Oh drat and bother, fine. Don't know why people get so bent out of shape about acid, little bit of spice in the food never hurt anybody..."
After a moment of griping, he looks up and says "I don't have any more traditional weapons, so unless anyone has a spare crossbow, I can reserve the acid for if we get into trouble..."
The boars of the Tickwood are well-known for their ferocity and temper, and very territorial. Two boars burst from the brush, grunting and squealing before charging at the interlopers in their territory.
Talia
Without looking back at him, Laufey calls out "You should dismount immediately Lord Foxglove. A boar could kill your horse beneath you. Very dangerous!"
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Talia's crossbow twangs, sending her bolt over the two boar. Yasu's aim is much more sure, an arrow sinking deep into the hide of one of the animals.
Aldern says, "Right, of course!", before attempting to hop off his horse quickly, although his foot gets tangled in one of the stirrups and it ends up taking just as long for him to get down as it would if he had dismounted normally.
With angered squeals and grunts, the two boar charge the two-legged interlopers who dared trespass in their territory!
Laufey positions herself between the cluster of people and horses behind her and the charging boars. She crouches with the butt of her spear set into the ground, aiming it at the closest boar and waiting for it to close on her.
Isabella posts herself behind Laufey, one hand on her back, gently pushing to support her against a boar's charge.
Wenona thrusts her longspear forward, slaying the boar Yasu had previously injured, as the two boars charge the two-legs. The other seeming doesn't notice the other go down as it squeals and grunts moving into attack range on Laufey.
Fortunately, Laufey is able to avoid its deadly tusks, her armor sparing her a gruesome fate.
As the Boar is in melee Talia steps back and holds her shot.
Yasu steps back, pulling a new arrow and pulling it back. His shot is poorly aimed.
Cursing her own ineptness, Laufey drops her spear and draws her sword. Trying to stay away from the front of the boar that is upon her, she swings the weapon down on it.
But she merely buries her blade in the ground beside it.
Rasmorn will reach into his spell component pouch, preparing to act if needed.
Talia steps back and holds her action, unable to get a clear shot with her crossbow. Laufey drops the spear and switches to her sword, but merely strikes the ground with it. Yasu steps back and fires an arrow at the creature, but misses from its thrashing. Wenona delivers a thrust into the boar, but it continues thrashing and squeaking. Rasmorn
speaks his words of magic, and an illusory cage appears around the boar. The boar squeaks and throws itself against the bars.
Aldern, with apparent trepidation and a bit of fear, shouts a wordless battle cry and thrusts his spear towards the boar, scoring a surprisingly solid hit.
The boar's thrashing against the illusory cage and seems to allow its animal brain to figure out the illusion, and it passes through the boats to again thrash at Laufey. However, it again finds it can't get past her armor.
Isabella continues to channel divine power into Laufey, hoping to help her with a better sword-strike this time.
Laufey barks out a curse through her now clenched teeth. Her face reddens, and she rips her sword from the ground. She turns again to keep away from the boar's front, and hacks at it with all her might.
With a wave, Rasmorn will dismiss his failed cage illusion. "Drat and bother..." Following Talia's advice to not use the "acid thingy", the gnome will instead back up from the boar and hope his friends can finish taking it down.
Yasu will draw another arrow but hold back on firing until he's certain his teams efforts have failed to kill it.
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Talia will wait for a clear shot.
Isabella again gives Laufey a blessing of Good,
Rasmorn holds off from casting a spell. Talia curses, still unable to get a clear shot. Laufey lifts her sword and brings it down, dealing a fierce blow, although the creature continues thrashing. Wenona draws her spear back to thrust, but slips and falls to the ground. Yasu slips as well, his arrow shooting into the air.
The boar continues thrashing against Laufey's armor, as Aldern takes a stab at it that hits the ground.
Still safely behind Laufey, Isabella takes a moment to call for Reymenda to help the team in a swift victory.
Laufey recovers her sword from her previous attack and strikes again with a snarl.
The boar is clearly hurting, heavily wounded, yet it still stands and still tries to fight on.
Yasu will draw his shortsword and step in, trying to score a hit on its flank.
Talia draws her rapier and steps up to attack.
"OK, I gotta do something here..."
Laufey and Yasu's swords bring the creature to the edge of death, and then Rasmorn's gob of acid finally brings the beast down. The forest is suddenly quiet with the boar's grunts and squeals silenced, with naught but the sounds of birds singing in the trees.
Aldern breaks the silence, saying, "Well, that was a most exciting event. I must say, it was wilder than anything I ever thought it would be. And we got not one, but two boars. Shall we return ourselves to Sandpoint?" He sounds breathless, borderline hysterical, and incredibly cheerful all in one.
Isabella breathes heavily, more from the anxiety of the situation than from any serious exertion. "Yes! Let's get back! No sense waiting around for something else to give us trouble."
"If Laufey would help me, I can get these dressed down and ready for use." Yasu says, kneeling next to the second boar and scraping the acid-spattered portion with fallen leaves.
Laufey rests briefly, leaning on her sword.
"Yes, we have what we came for. Let us prepare these boars for travel.
Laufey follows Yasu's lead on dressing the boars since she has never done anything of the sort before.
The boars quickly prepared for travel on travoises to be carried, the group returns to Sandpoint. Aldern chatters away the entire time, seeming still somewhat nervous, and heaping praises upon you all for your combat ability and bravery. After two hours of nearly non-stop praise, it actually gets annoying.
Upon your return to Sandpoint, Aldern suggests you turn the boars over to Ameiko for a feast at the Rusty Dragon. This will also allow for the group to clean up and have a bath, if they wish.
"That sounds like a good idea. Ameiko's cooks can no doubt turn it into something delicious," says Isabella.
"I think I managed to avoid getting sprayed with boar-blood, fortunately, but if folks want to clean up before dinner, this is a good opportunity."
Yasu, covered in blood and more from dressing down the boars, will nod appreciatively before taking the boars to the Rusty Dragon.
Talia eyes her lack of any blood and shrugs.
"Good job on the boar hunt everyone! That was marvelous. Looking forward to dinner now!" The gnome will head off to get cleaned up, returning after a short time.