Signe moves up beside Eldgrimr to get a clear shot at the wooly rhino. She is talented with her bow but even she can't shoot through trees.
Knowing that the meat and hide are needed for their survival, Signe takes a shot at the rhino in an attempt to take it down as quickly as possible.
Eldgrimr begins his basso chant, a growl that rivals that of your prey. He draws his throwing axe and positions himself near a tree trunk.
Otryggr breaks into a loping run, not bothering to hide his approach as he circles out wide, bronze blade flashing in the sun.
With a mix of excitement and fear, Þyrnir shades his eyes against the snow glare to examine their quarry. What a magnificent beast! If they slay it, not only will they have meat for many days, but that shaggy pelt can be made into warm cloaks. With a hand on Ramundr's shoulder, he whispers a prayer to Frigg.
Ramundr hustles to the fore, remaining just behind a tree, legs and arms pulsing with a newfound strength. For this hunt, Ramundr chose his spear, leaving shield and ice blade behind.
Signe moves up beside Eldgrimr to get a clear shot at the wooly rhino. She is talented with her bow but even she can't shoot through trees. Knowing that the meat and hide are needed for their survival, Signe takes a shot at the rhino in an attempt to take it down as quickly as possible. Her arrow strikes a stone and ricochets off !
The rhino snorts, stepping heavily over the rough tundra.
Eldgrímr smiles at the beast; a sad smile. He knows its life must be ended for their journey to continue, but even so the loss of such a magnificent creature makes the world a bit darker. He hopes their continues presence will make up for it.
Eldgrímr moves forward, cascading himself in mirror images in preparation to join the melee with Ramundr.
Ramundr had spent the whole evening attuning himself to his longspear. Spears are better than blades for hunting. A spear can pierce thick hide and won't hack up the meat. A glance from behind the tree, Ramundr sees his chance to pierce the rhino's side. He swings around, stopping just short of the Rhino and thrusts his spear.
Eldgrimr's song coursing through his veins, Ragnar runs forward, hurling his spear at the rhino. His aim is off, however, and the runic weapon flutters over the rhino's head for a moment, before twisting in the air back towards the skald. "Curses.", Ragnar mutters, standing next to the overturned pinetree, awaiting the rhino's attack.
Otryggr continues to circle, his long legs covering a prodigious amount of terrain to set him behind the rhino.
Signe recenters her breathing and draws another arrow. Breathing calmly, she aims and releases her arrow. In a smooth motion, another closely follows.
Thyrnir stalks across the tundra, staying close to his allies and behind the cover of the dry, old trees.
Eldgrímr smiles at the beast; a sad smile. He knows its life must be ended for their journey to continue, but even so the loss of such a magnificent creature makes the world a bit darker. He hopes their continues presence will make up for it. Eldgrímr moves forward, cascading himself in mirror images in preparation to join the melee with Ramundr.
Ramundr had spent the whole evening attuning himself to his longspear. Spears are better than blades for hunting. A spear can pierce thick hide and won't hack up the meat. A glance from behind the tree, Ramundr sees his chance to pierce the rhino's side. He swings around, stopping just short of the Rhino and thrusts his spear. The rhino roars in pain, twisting away from the human !
Eldgrimr's song coursing through his veins, Ragnar runs forward, hurling his spear at the rhino. His aim is off, however, and the runic weapon flutters over the rhino's head for a moment, before twisting in the air back towards the skald. "Curses.", Ragnar mutters, standing next to the overturned pinetree, awaiting the rhino's attack.
Otryggr continues to circle, his long legs covering a prodigious amount of terrain to set him behind the rhino.
Signe recenters her breathing and draws another arrow. Breathing calmly, she aims and releases her arrow. In a smooth motion, another closely follows. The first strikes the rhino in the flank .
The creature spins around, beginning to panick! It turns and tramples over its assailants, relying on its massive size and weight to crush these tiny predators.
Eldgrímr 42/42
Ótryggr 72/72
Ragnar 45/45
Ramundr 58/58
Signe 51/51
Þyrnir 44/44
Otryggr allows the rhino to come rushing in toward him, timing his blow so that he swings down at the beast's head moments before it slams him aside, sending him bowling over through the tundra grass and snow.
The barbarian comes up snorting with laughter and exhilaration, but it's clear the blow has knocked his sense of balance off; as he staggers back in to attack, he swings wildly, laughing all the while.
Grabbing his spear, Ragnar bursts out from behind Þyrnir, leaping forwards from behind the cover of the trees. Seeing the beast almost run over Otryggr and Ramundr, he roars, hurling his weapon towards the beast once more. The spear lodges itself into the rhino's thick hide, biting deeply, as the skald cries out victoriously. Gesturing towards the skies, the spear bursts out of the wooly rhino's fur to fly towards his hand once more, trails of blood dropping as it flies.
Eldgrímr charges into the fray, smashing into the creature on the opposite side of Otryggr!
The rhino slams into Ramundr forcing his grip to slip alongside his spear, preventing an immediate returning blow. Ramundr grunts in pain. Surely there are better ways to hunt. Spinning afte the rhino, Ramundr charges.
Breath coming out in white puffs, Þyrnir edges closer to the imposing beast, twirling a throwing axe in his hand. The distance is too great yet for a sure strike, so instead he encourages his companions from the sidelines.
"Do not try to match it for strength, friends! Be cunning and swift!"
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Having drawn first blood, Signe is not surprised at the animal's response. Knowing how important it is now to bring the rhino down quickly, Signe continues to draw and shoot while the others surround it.
Otryggr allows the rhino to come rushing in toward him, timing his blow so that he swings down at the beast's head moments before it slams him aside, sending him bowling over through the tundra grass and snow. The barbarian comes up snorting with laughter and exhilaration, but it's clear the blow has knocked his sense of balance off; as he staggers back in to attack, he swings wildly, laughing all the while.
Grabbing his spear, Ragnar bursts out from behind Þyrnir, leaping forwards from behind the cover of the trees. Seeing the beast almost run over Otryggr and Ramundr, he roars, hurling his weapon towards the beast once more. The spear lodges itself into the rhino's thick hide, biting deeply, as the skald cries out victoriously. Gesturing towards the skies, the spear bursts out of the wooly rhino's fur to fly towards his hand once more, trails of blood dropping as it flies.
Eldgrímr charges into the fray, smashing into the creature on the opposite side of Otryggr!
The rhino slams into Ramundr forcing his grip to slip alongside his spear, preventing an immediate returning blow. Ramundr grunts in pain. Surely there are better ways to hunt. Spinning afte the rhino, Ramundr charges.
Breath coming out in white puffs, Þyrnir edges closer to the imposing beast, twirling a throwing axe in his hand. The distance is too great yet for a sure strike, so instead he encourages his companions from the sidelines. "Do not try to match it for strength, friends! Be cunning and swift!"
Having drawn first blood, Signe is not surprised at the animal's response. Knowing how important it is now to bring the rhino down quickly, Signe continues to draw and shoot while the others surround it.
The rhino whips its head around, clearly desperate as it becomes surrounded. Its massive horn catches Ramundr in the belly, spearing upward and lifting him off the ground before tossing him aside!
Eldgrímr 42/42
Ótryggr 50/72
Ragnar 45/45
Ramundr -8/58
Signe 51/51
Þyrnir 44/44
"Ramundr!"
Þyrnir rushes to the fallen huscarl, not minding the great rampaging beast in his haste to get to the side of his fallen comrade. Kneeling by his side in the snow, he pulls his gloves off with his teeth as he frantically seeks to stem the flow of blood.
Otryggr roars as Ramundr is lifted clear off the ground and hurled flying; battle-dew spraying through the chilled air. Hurling himself forward, he hacks and hews at the rhino, seeking to bring it low.
Ramundr's eyes glaze over as he his gored and thrown to the ground. Suddenly the gentle hands of Þyrnir. Ramundr heart pumps blood again, infused with the healing of Frigg, and from the ground Ramundr thrusts his spear with vengeance into the Rhino.
Eldgrímr's song dips and rises to match Ramundr. A close dance upon the edge. His axe rises and falls once more.
Signe stifles a gasp as Ramundr is gored by the wooly rhino. Emotional sentiment is not going to help their Captain and the best thing she can do to help is to continue to shoot arrows and try to drop the beast.
"Hold fast, Ramundr!", roars out Ragnar, rushing out from behind the tree. Raising his spear in the air, he starts chanting. Despite the clouds, thick as a polar bear's hide, a fragment of a rainbow can be seen glimmering from behind the rhino, which turns. "Gaze away from the bridge to the heavens!", he roars out, turning his head away as the mirage shatters into the rhino's face.
Casing Glitterdust, DC 15 on the Rhino.
"Ramundr!" Þyrnir rushes to the fallen huscarl, not minding the great rampaging beast in his haste to get to the side of his fallen comrade. Kneeling by his side in the snow, he pulls his gloves off with his teeth as he frantically seeks to stem the flow of blood.
Otryggr roars as Ramundr is lifted clear off the ground and hurled flying; battle-dew spraying through the chilled air. Hurling himself forward, he hacks and hews at the rhino, seeking to bring it low. The enormous creature loses its balance, crashing down onto one knee before collapsing onto the ground. A final breath, and the body lies still. The blood of man and beast sends plumes of steam rising into the chill air.
Eldgrímr 42/42
Ótryggr 50/72
Ragnar 45/45
Ramundr 10/58
Signe 51/51
Þyrnir 44/44
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Ramundr stands slowly. The hunting has just begun. he manages.
"I will need some time." Eldgrimr says, moving to Ramundr. "Lay down. This won't take too long."
Sisters, his time is not up so it must be spent well. Aid his recovery.
Signe deals with the life-giving body of the wooly rhino as the others tend to Ramundr.
When she is finished with her task she asks, "So we are to continue with the hunt, then?"
Ramundr helps Signe hunt, but mostly makes jokes about how he's especially hungry for rabbit.
As tense and dangerous as it had been, the hunt hadn't taken all that long, so it made sense that they spend a little more time to gather provisions before setting off inland, and potentially away from good hunting grounds.
"We should continue, yes. Perhaps a... less dangerous quarry, this time."
As you work to skin and clean the rhino’s carcass, the lone howl of a wolf carries across the open plain. The cry is picked up by its fellows who join in the eerie song.
It doesn’t take long for the smell of fresh blood to draw then near. A pack of five tundra wolves, bodies lean and yellow eyes bright with hunger, advance, closing in to contest your claim to this prey…
Eldgrímr 42/42
Ótryggr 50/72
Ragnar 45/45
Ramundr 56/58
Signe 51/51
Þyrnir 44/44
Signe didn't like the idea of having to fight starving wolves but she also knew that they wouldn't be scared off being as hungry as they were.
The ranger grabs her bow that is never out of reach and shoots. She sends one arrow to her right and then to her left .
These lean wolves would not make for good eating, but they are threatening the party, so Þyrnir grabs his longbow to help fight them off. No need to kills them, just dissuade them.
Ramundr charges north with a howl. The wolf bears up to meet him in a ferocious embrace, but he is no longer there. Ramundr, feinting at the last moment drives his spear into its mangy backside.
Ragnar's spear leaps into his hand once more, as he erupts into a fierce howl to rival the wolves' own hunting song. "Find your own prey, rot-pickers!", he roars.
Signe didn't like the idea of having to fight starving wolves but she also knew that they wouldn't be scared off being as hungry as they were. The ranger grabs her bow that is never out of reach and shoots. She sends one arrow to her right and then to her left.
These lean wolves would not make for good eating, but they are threatening the party, so Þyrnir grabs his longbow to help fight them off. No need to kills them, just dissuade them.
Ramundr charges north with a howl. The wolf bears up to meet him in a ferocious embrace, but he is no longer there. Ramundr, feinting at the last moment drives his spear into its mangy backside.
Ragnar's spear leaps into his hand once more, as he erupts into a fierce howl to rival the wolves' own hunting song. "Find your own prey, rot-pickers!", he roars.
Teeth bared, the wolves close in.
Two latch on to Signe and Otryggr, twisting with their entire bodies as they try to bring their larger opponents down onto the ground. Otryggr loses his balances on an uneven patch of dirt and falls heavily before the feral canine. It snarls in preparation to pounce.
Roaring as the wolves tear into Signe, Ramundr charges toward the feral scavengers.
Not the best meat, but it is meat nonetheless. Eldgrímr snarls and brings his greatsword down on the wild canine.
Singe grunts in pain as the wolf's teeth tear into her flesh. Having failed in its attempt to drag her to the ground, the wolf releases her in order to try again to get a better grip. She takes this small window of opportunity to drill an arrow into it's skull .
She then pivots on her foot and releases a second arrow at the wolf who managed to trip Otryggr .
Otryggr goes down with a grunt, his blood splashing ruby red across grass, snow, and fangs. Without trying to rise, he slashes his bronze blade at the wolf.
The wolf dispatched, he rises to his feet, shoulders heaving as he searches for his next opponent.
The wolves did not seem deterred by the sharp point of arrows or the deadly edge of blades, and worse, they had dragged Ótryggr down! Dropping the bow, Þyrnir draws his seax and starts brandishing it in wide, menacing arcs.
"I said back!", Ragnar roars out as he steps forward, lunging with his spear against the wolf. As the weapon rises in his hands, the tip bursts into flames.
Roaring as the wolves tear into Signe, Ramundr charges toward the feral scavengers.
Not the best meat, but it is meat nonetheless. Eldgrímr snarls and brings his greatsword down toward the wild canine.
Singe grunts in pain as the wolf's teeth tear into her flesh. Having failed in its attempt to drag her to the ground, the wolf releases her in order to try again to get a better grip. She takes this small window of opportunity to drill an arrow into its skull.
She then pivots on her foot and releases a second arrow at the wolf who managed to trip Otryggr. The arrow flies wide.
Otryggr goes down with a grunt, his blood splashing ruby red across grass, snow, and fangs. Without trying to rise, he slashes his bronze blade at the wolf. The wolf dispatched, he rises to his feet, shoulders heaving as he searches for his next opponent.
The wolves did not seem deterred by the sharp point of arrows or the deadly edge of blades, and worse, they had dragged Ótryggr down! Dropping the bow, Þyrnir draws his seax and starts brandishing it in wide, menacing arcs.
Eldgrímr 42/42
Ótryggr 46/72
Ragnar 45/45
Ramundr 56/58
Signe 43/51
Þyrnir 44/44
Ramundr directs the northman to prepare the carcasses to carry back to camp. Offering an arm, he grips Otryggr's hand, pulling him up from beneath the wolf. Give you a scratch did they? He looks over the dead wolf. Lean and munged. These wolves were hungry. I hope this does not portend a lean hunt. Let us continue and find out.
"My magic is spent for the day, but my sword is yours until the end."
Otrggyr grasps Ramundr's hand and stands up with a wince and a grin. "These fights are getting so easy I got bored and decided to kill my foe lying down. Soon I'll be bringing my sleeping roll to battle."
Yet when Pyrnir heals him, his levity fades, and the barbarian bows his head gravely. "My thanks as always, friend."
That done, he readies his blade, gives a wolfish grin, and follows Signe toward their next hunt.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Ragnar chuckles, as he sees Otryggr rise. "Hah! The thunderous snores alone can chase away armies, friend.", the skald replies. "Could we eat wolf meat? The hearts, we must cast aside, so that their fear not run in our veins, but the rest?", he scratches his head, as he glances at the knife on his side. "Or should we simply take the hides? What say you, Signe?", he raises his head towards the archer.
In bad winters I've eaten canine, when we came across it. It is tough, and tastes better on an empty stomach. Let these be stripped and cured for the harsh winter ahead.
Signe wraps a bandage around her wound to staunch the bleeding.
She looks over at the sound of Ragnar's voice and nods. "There is still time to make use of the daylight and keep hunting. We can always use more food to feed our new allies." The ranger then begins to study the terrain for signs of fresh tracks suggesting more quarry.
Following the wolf attack, Signe follows their tracks some distance and makes an alarming discovery. In addition to the canine tracks of the wolves, she finds large, clawed tracks belonging to same massive feline. Likely this creature was tracking the wolves, but now that they have been slain, well...
Cleaning and skinning the rhino takes the better part of a day. You set up camp for the bright night, all too aware of the visibility that a smoking campfire may bring.
Late that night, as the fire turns to embers, the crackling of the wood mingles with that of something large and toothy as it leaps in for its attack!
A great cat emerges from the trees. It is a terrifying apparition of power and violence, muscles rippling beneath its short fur and vicious saber-like teeth extending downward from its upper jaw. In one fluid motion it is upon Ragnar, biting with its enormous fangs.
hit
success