Though they have no method of recording time that most residents of Avistan would understand, every year for nearly six generations, the Broken Tusks have followed mammoth herds in a circular migration pattern spanning most of the western Realm of the Mammoth Lords. The people follow traditions handed down from time immemorial, including the art of survival in a harsh land and rituals which were already old when the world was young.
On this night, which those in Absalom might call 25 Calistral, but to them is just the time before Green Moon, the Broken Tusks have set up camp on the Gornok Plain. Here, they plan to observe the Night of the Green Moon --a holiday during which the people bid farewell to winter’s hardships and celebrate the arrival of spring. As in years prior, the Tusks plan to hold their ceremony amid a ring of weathered standing stones called Rockloom. Not far from the standing stones, the following has established their encampment, where they can craft their ceremonial garb, forage for food, and rejoice in the calm and peace of the Gornok Plain.
In preparation for the Night of the Green Moon, the Broken Tusk’s leaders have asked head scout Wipa and her most talented scouts to hunt down a meal worthy of the annual celebration. Eager to fulfill the request, and hopeful to complete the hunt before her burdensome pregnancy disables her, the half-elven scout approaches each of you as dawn breaks over the snow covered plain. "Come, scout! Grandfather Eiwa asks you to find a beast to feed the Broken Tusks for Green Moon-time by the sharpness of your wit and weapons. Gather your gear, and join me if you will on your final test." The head scout smiles and clutches her burgeoning belly with a laugh. But her words and serious intent brook no doubt as to importance of the task. "Meet me at the big rock as soon as you are prepared, and we will hunt something grand enough to feed the entire following."
She slowly moves away, off to tell another of the scouts, and to get her own gear and preparations, leaving you to your own thoughts and devices for a moment.
On this night, which those in Absalom might call 25 Calistral, but to them is just the time before Green Moon, the Broken Tusks have set up camp on the Gornok Plain. Here, they plan to observe the Night of the Green Moon --a holiday during which the people bid farewell to winter’s hardships and celebrate the arrival of spring. As in years prior, the Tusks plan to hold their ceremony amid a ring of weathered standing stones called Rockloom. Not far from the standing stones, the following has established their encampment, where they can craft their ceremonial garb, forage for food, and rejoice in the calm and peace of the Gornok Plain.
Hurik Frozenheart imagines signs of Spring's dawning peeking through and he looks over the plains feeling restless, so much there out there, yet feels confined. A scowl crosses his features as he paces. He longs for action, something, anything to quell the curse within his breast, or perhaps, placate it.
Then, as if in answer, Wipa approaches...
as dawn breaks over the snow covered plain. "Come, scout! Grandfather Eiwa asks you to find a beast to feed the Broken Tusks for Green Moon-time by the sharpness of your wit and weapons. Gather your gear, and join me if you will on your final test." The head scout smiles and clutches her burgeoning belly with a laugh. But her words and serious intent brook no doubt as to importance of the task. "Meet me at the big rock as soon as you are prepared, and we will hunt something grand enough to feed the entire following."
The Scowl vanishes, and much like the dawn itself, Hurik's eyes alight. "This shall be a good hunt, Wipa. And I shall be a part of it!"
She slowly moves away, off to tell another of the scouts, and to get her own gear...
"At last," Hurik says. He will wear the hide armor made for him by his family for his protection, he will take up the Maul of his father for his weapon, and a spear beside to throw. A water skin, filled, so he might drink. A torch should it be needed to scare a beast towards other hunters. And flint and steel, of course. A bit of food for energy so he does not tire. Yes. Unless this will be expected for more than a day he'll have no need of bedroll.
Soon, he will make his way to the Big Rock. He hopes to be first to arrive, after wipa herself.
Embry nods at Wipa and makes ready, giving her old Scimitar a test swing - it had been passed down from priest to priest, nicked, worn and re-sharpened many times, her sling tucked into her belt, not really suitable to take down the sort of beast they'd be looking for, but her role was support.
She'd never really got used to the leather she wore, she'd rather be in robes or soft furs, but it's better than risking being gored out in the wilds.
Checking the straps on her back so they didn't fail on the march she set off across to the big rock. Smiling at her companions.
Mirani is excited for the hunt and celebration, if not what it meant. She could understand how furless ones might not like winter, but she preferred it to the heat of summer. At least Spring would likely bring a few good thunderstorms before things got too hot.
She dresses lightly, but fills her pack with all of her belongings. It was still not not much. Even her weak muscles could easily carry it all. Food, rope, snowshoes, a bedroll, waterskin. Even her her heavier clothing in case of a rogue blizzard cold enough to make her need more. While they would likely be back soon, she was ready if she needed to be.
She stopped for a moment, closing her eyes.
They will still be alive when we get back.
They will still be alive when we get back.
They will still be alive when we get back.
A few repetitions in her mind calmed her... somewhat.
Her skinning knife and flint went onto her belt. They were tools, as nature was her weapon.
"Yes" - came the grumbled response at the words from Wipa, the half-orc taking a few seconds more to breath in the smells of dawn. He was already fully geared and ready to go, so there was no rush - there was time to enjoy the tingling of anticipation a little longer...
He watched her move away slowly, a smile crossing his lips at the woman's resilience and strength as he wondered who else would be summoned for the task. There were a few he would not mind seeing there, they smelled different, like wolves.
Dropping from his perch, Tharskh checked his gear again - he drew a finger over the edge of his sword and tested the pull of his bow. Satisfied, he made his way to Big Rock, chewing on a piece of dried caribou meat.
After gathering their individual things, the itinerant scouts meet up at the big rock where Wipa is already waiting ain impatient half-smile on her pretty face. "You are slow like Old Man Aurochs! How will you ever become a scout and lead the following if you move like that?" she chides, only half in jest. The smile quickly fades and her eyes darken as she sees who comes along next.
"Fools," calls Pakano, clashing his spear against the hide shield he carries. "When I am clan leader, you will all follow my lead, not this woman," he spits out the last word with evident distaste. "Our scouts will out before the sunrise, not sleeping in until dawn. Now let's go find game and feed the tribe and earn me honor!" He says the last word, purposefully bumping into Tharskh and Embry, pushing his way in between them.
Wipa ignores the interruption and obvious disparagement. "We will go out and track down a caribou or moose. That should have enough meat to keep the following fed during Green Moon. But finding one will not be easy; you must use all the skills my sister and I have taught you just to get near a beast like this, and then to kill it...well you must be skilled with weapons as well. It is a fitting final test before you take my place as master scout and hunters."
She sets off opposite the still-rising sun, at a surprising pace for one carrying a babe. It's not long before the campsites of the following are out of sight, trails of smoke from dying fires all that indicates people were ever in this harsh land. The plains are snow covered, but only an inch or two at most, the land mostly barren with some scrub trees and bushes dotting the flat landscape. "Go to work, and find me a sign," Wipa says, dismissing you with a wave of her hand.
Satu, making a wide circle around Pakano, steps into the chill morning with a smile on her lips.
Laden with the typical survival gear, but also a bandolier full of daggers, her whip slung around her hips, sword at the side and spear in her hands she strode after Wipa.
On her way she clapped Tharskh on the shoulder.
Come on, join me and let's see if we are the first ones to find something!
Hurik is pretty sure he got to the Rock first, well, out of his friends anyway but takes the old man comparison with a half grunt of amusement.
Then Pakano mouths off. Hurik's teeth grind a bit, one near him might hear it, but he says nothing. If he spoke his mind right now, it might ruin the hunt. Slapping Pakano around will take away valuable time or worse.
wipa ignores Pakano too, which makes Hurik sure he made the right choice to do the same. when she gives her instructions, he nods
"To the hunt."
He looks at the others, "If anyone wants to come with me, so be it. I shall try to track."
The ground is hard, it will be difficult to track but he will try. If he can find a watering hole where the ground is softer better yet.
Miriani was about to ask Yse, but see her going off with Pakano. Fortunately, she has Watches-over-Bitter-Dawns to watch her back.
She then jumps up to tag Tharshk on the shoulder and runs off giggling. There was no reason that they couldn't have fun with this.
But she does get serious as they move out to find prey.
Embry joins Hurik, "I'll join you, I'm not so good at the killing things, but I can track well enough.
Embry calls upon the aid of Sister Cinder on their hunt.
"Fools," calls Pakano, clashing his spear against the hide shield he carries. "When I am clan leader, you will all follow my lead, not this woman," he spits out the last word with evident distaste. "Our scouts will out before the sunrise, not sleeping in until dawn. Now let's go find game and feed the tribe and earn me honor!" He says the last word, purposefully bumping into Tharskh and Embry, pushing his way in between them.
Tharskh reflexively lets out a low snarl, but keeps his eyes on the floor - he knows if he looks at Pakano his instincts may take over.
On her way she clapped Tharskh on the shoulder.
Come on, join me and let's see if we are the first ones to find something!
He welcomes the nudge from Satu, as it pulls him out of his ramblings and re-focuses on the task at hand - "Yes" - he nodded witha sidelong glance at Pakano - "Let us"
She then jumps up to tag Tharshk on the shoulder and runs off giggling. There was no reason that they couldn't have fun with this.
This made the half-orc's hand go to his blade, but he caught himself - Miriani always threw him off with her playful attitude...
"Come!" - he urged Satu, and dashed after the catwoman.
As they move away from the main group, the transformation in Tharskh is noticeable - he becomes more quiet, and less interactive. Every once in a while he crouches down, closer to the ground, sniffing, here and there picking up leaves or moss and smelling or tasting them.
Embry joins Hurik, "I'll join you, I'm not so good at the killing things, but I can track well enough.
Embry calls upon the aid of Sister Cinder on their hunt.
[dice=Survival with Guidance]1d20+7+1
"I think I have it," He says eager to win glory "But come along if you wish I..." He looks around, less sure now that he has this.
Yse has been looking forward greatly to the ceremonies surrounding the Night of the Green Moon, as anyone who has talked to her during the past week or two will be readily aware. The passing of winter itself is something she feels ambivalent about at best; Yse’s natural resilience to its unyielding cold means she harbours no particular animosity for that bitterest of seasons, though she is hardly opposed to the mild warmth of spring either. The rituals and old stories that surround the celebrations, though – those, she cherishes and anticipates. They are an opportunity to remind the following of its place in the greater world, to weave more strongly the bonds between its members, to mark the turning of the cycles and contemplate their invisible yet inexorable pace.
As dawn lights upon the land on this day, Wipa finds Yse seated outside her little hide tent, breaking her fast, her uncanny companion nowhere to be seen. The Kellid sits loosely wrapped in simple furs that hardly look sufficient to ward off the frigid bite of the early-morning air, and her meal likewise is a frugal affair of dried berries and some jerky; boiling above a small fire is a pot of herbal tea. Whatever flaws Yse might be said to possess, living ostentatiously is not one of them.
“It is an honour,” she tells Wipa with an earnest, serious smile. “Of course I shall be there. Do you have time to stay for a cup of tea? It is a simple, soothing blend. Well suited to your condition, Wipa, if I may be so bold. But you need to be on your way, I imagine, especially on a day like this, so don’t let me keep you.”
~ ~ ~
Arriving at the landmark whither the would-be scouts have been summoned for their outing, her callused feet bare as always upon the snowy ground, Yse does not quite look like she belongs there. Her light-toned, fur-hemmed robes are not so rich as to be impractical, yet they clearly offer no protection against the fangs and claws of an irate animal. A sickle and a sling are tucked into her broad belt, and a shield of beast hide stretched over a wooden frame is slung by her side; still, it is difficult to imagine Yse wading into the fray herself.
Not that she needs to, for trotting alongside her is Watches-Over-Bitter-Dawns. Generally resembling the hardy ibexes that roam the Realm’s plains and foothills, with stout cloven hooves and subtly curving horns longer than Yse’s arm, the creature nevertheless exudes an intensity that sets it wholly apart from mundane beasts. Its very presence feels at once transcendental and primal, as though its bond to the natural world were so profound that even wild-dwelling souls like the Broken Tusks are too domesticated to truly comprehend it.
Yse greets her fellow scouts-in-training with a gracious nod, cordial in spite of her somewhat reserved, formal manner. She politely tilts her head at Wipa’s words, and manages not to roll her eyes at Pakano’s brashness. A little while later, when the hunt is on, she goes to join the impetuous youth, Watcher loping off to flank them several paces to their right.
“And no doubt you would set an example worthy of a leader by greeting the dawn right beside them,” Yse says as she walks along Pakano. As usual her tone is even and sombre; she doubts it is possible for her to be a good influence on Pakano, but she still means to try. He is not entirely devoid of virtues, after all, and if there is a chance that his unbecoming attitude can be reined in, she has to make the attempt – for the good of the following, if nothing else.
Eventually she comes to a halt on a low ridge, gazing out across the snowy plains. It is all very well to embark on a hunt for spoor or a trail immediately, but these are nothing more than a few dots spattered across a vast canvas. Yse prefers to narrow down the task from the beginning; after all, like any other animal, the prey Wipa has tasked them to bring down does not wander randomly. The beasts know the lie of the land on an instinctive level, their guiding circumstances while crossing the plains affected by the season, the time of day, the weather, and a dozen other criteria besides. Yse’s understanding of nature tends to be of a more cerebral kind, granted, yet even so she knows it quite well indeed – and it is this familiarity she now turns to, intending to deduce which parts of the plains the beasts sought by the scouts are most likely found at an hour like this.
Pakano shrugs and accepts Yse as his scouting partner with a grimace, but at least its a silent one. As they start across the open plains, he wanders off to her right, close enough to support if needed, perhaps, but not really close enough to assist or be assisted. Yse sees him bend down from time to time, and study the ground closely. Once he even picks up spoor and sniffs it.
"I have it!" cries the brash youth with evident enthusiasm. "I have the trail of a beast, a big one too. Come, Wipa, follow my lead, not these others, I am the one the clan will follow, and as they feast at Green Moon, it is Pakano's name that will be on everyone's lips when their bellies are sated and the ceremonies begin. Pakano!!!' he lets out a war-whoop that startles those who are a good distance away. "And I did it without your help, Yse, or your stupid spirit animals'" he says as derisively as possible.
Wipa nods resignedly, clearly wishing it had been anyone else, and whistles with a raised fist, the signal for the rest of you to return to her. She bends carefully to examine the sign and nods to Pakano who is swollen to bursting with pride. "Sister Cinder has blessed us early, as it appears we have the trail of a caribou," she tells the assemblage. "Now we must follow the trail until we find the beast itself. Proceed carefully and quietly. Watch the trail, and do not lose it. I will follow behind, signal if you need my help."
The scouts fall in, with Pakano given the point, a position of honor given his success in finding the first sign. The rest of the pursuit is painstakingly slow, with fits and starts as the trail is lost, and then found again. As the sun traces its way across the big open sky, towards early afternoon. Finally, as the scouts approach a soft-running babbling brook with a copse of small trees along its banks, Wipa raises her fist again, this time silently.
"The great beast is ahead," she says in an urgent whisper, the strain of the hunt in her condition showing on her face. "Ready yourselves for the kill."
Grandfather Eiwa’s request was clear: hunt down and bring back a meal worthy of the upcoming Night of the Green Moon. With the expert aid of head scout Wipa, tracking down a suitable beast was easy. Pakano, your fellow scout-in-training, all but whooped with excitement during the hunt. With the quarry in sight, now comes the hard part -- killing it.
In the forest copse beyond some thick foliage, dim morning light outlines a lone bull moose nearly as big as a baby mammoth. The moose casts a wide shadow on the ridge to the north. The sound of trickling water from a stream to the west intermingles with that of the moose idly munching on the tender grass sprouting from the recently thawed tundra. Your hunting party lurks behind thick foliage, planning the right moment to strike.
“This is our prey,” Wipa whispers. “We must not startle him. If we do, and he charges us, our only choice is to run.”
Her solemn, quiet words are met with a snort from Pakano, a young Kellid hunter whose beautiful face perpetually bears an arrogant sneer. “Let’s just get him,” he growls.
Wipa silences the youth with a wave of her hand. “This animal is our superior in strength, size, and speed,” she says calmly. “But we are clever and skilled. Before we strike, we must try to press our advantage.”
Wipa kneels in the soft grass. "I am in no condition to help with bringing down Brother Moose. So you'll be on your own for the kill and..."
Impetuous Pakano interrupts. "Let's just rush it. It doesn't stand a chance against my spear. I will kill this beast I already found it myself!"
Wipa rolls her eyes, but bites back any discipline for the interruption. "No, I encourage you to find a way to press our advantage first. Use your wits and skills, you all have plenty of both, or you wouldn't be here."
Tharskh first takes note if they are up or downwind from the bull moose, then turns to Satu and Miriani, silently crouching and signaling they should team up to circle around unnoticed, and block escape routes.
Then he waits for their response.
When Pakano is the one to find the trail, Hurik's face does fall a bit. Credit where Credit is due, the man succeded. Hurik wishes it had been anyone else.
Moving along with surprising quiet and surefootedness for such a big man, he joins the others in following the trail that has been uncovered.
The scouts fall in, with Pakano given the point, a position of honor given his success in finding the first sign. The rest of the pursuit is painstakingly slow, with fits and starts as the trail is lost, and then found again. As the sun traces its way across the big open sky, towards early afternoon. Finally, as the scouts approach a soft-running babbling brook with a copse of small trees along its banks, Wipa raises her fist again, this time silently.
"The great beast is ahead," she says in an urgent whisper, the strain of the hunt in her condition showing on her face. "Ready yourselves for the kill."
An apologetic look to Embry, and he whispers, "My apologies, Embry. I should not have been so impatient. Shall we block off it's escape from this side of things? If so, this time I will follow your lead."
In her mind the plan is perfect.
I slip around unnoticed, then at the perfect moment I release a clap like thunder. The beats bolts straight for Pakano. There is a clash and it ends with pakano impaled on it's horns. The might beast strides off, leaving a trail of Pakano for us to follow if we cared.
Sadly, this leaves everybody hungry. But at seeing Tharshk's gestures, she nods, attempting to get in place to encircle the beast. If they can all strike from different direction, the beast will surely fall.
"Do not worry Hurik, Pakano may have found the beast, but alone any of us would fail. Our strength is our numbers and our support of each other." Embry smiles at Hurik and the group.
She considers the area "Yes, let us make this side inhospitable while Thrask and the others do the same across the way. Sadly my offensive magic is that of flame, and I'd rather not char the hide if we can use it."
With a nod to Hurik and Embry, Tharskh takes a moment to observe the bull moose again, noting its movements and behavior , then slips away with his stealthy companions - shadows among shadows…
"Do not worry Hurik, Pakano may have found the beast, but alone any of us would fail. Our strength is our numbers and our support of each other." Embry smiles at Hurik and the group.
She considers the area "Yes, let us make this side inhospitable while Thrask and the others do the same across the way. Sadly my offensive magic is that of flame, and I'd rather not char the hide if we can use it."
A grin as he helps her block the paths of egress, or tries to, "Sister Cinder gives you the power of healing, mayhaps that will be called on and more than worth your part in the story. Warriors and Hunters do the killing, but it is healers who keep a tribe strong enough to hunt again."
Embry carefully arranges branches and stones to block the beasts egress back the way they came.
Satu rolls her eyes at Pakanos display, clearly unhappy with how this turned out.
She nods to Tharskh, then slips away with him, but holds him back from making a predators noise.
Instead, she offers a honey pot trap
She softly clicks her tongue at Pakano’s words and the regrettably narrow mindset they reflect.
Yet be that as it may, the impulsive youth clearly will not deign to hang back and prepare to take on his prey much longer. With a whispered word to Watcher, bidding him fall into step beside her, Yse sets off towards the nearby stand of trees, hoping to get close enough to the moose, unnoticed, for the two of them to act expediently once the hunt truly begins.
Moose Hunt - Pre-Combat
Moose 31 (unaware. flat-footed)
Tharskh 23
Hurik 20
Pakano 20
Embry 18
Satu 15
Yse 14
Miriani 4
As the breeze blows briskly across the tall grass, the hunters begin to stalk their enormous quarry. Tharskh motions for Satu and Miriani to follow, then creeps away to cut off one of the escape routes.
Hurik leads Embry the other direction, picking out large branches along the way to help barricade the prey in the killing box.
Pakano grunts as everyone starts to circle, shaking his head with disgust. He plows forward, quietly setting up at the bole of a large tree, readying his spear and tensing for the charge.
Embry follows behind Hurik, using the branches he gathers to build a reasonable barrier to slow the moose if it bolts their direction.
Satu follows behind Tharskh, and surprises everyone when she bellows out a life-like cow moose call that causes the great beast to lift his ponderous head and stare in their direction.
Yse and the Watcher creep ahead taking a position in the trees.
Finally, Miriani follows the others, ending up behind Tharksh at the northern edge of the copse.
Moose Hunt - Round 1
Moose 31 (flat-footed, 3 rounds; Clumsy 1, 10 rounds )
Tharskh 23
Hurik 20
Pakano 20
Embry 18
Satu 15
Yse 14
Miriani 4
Reacting to the sound of a nearby female, the moose lifts his head looking around confusedly. Even though he starts to hear the hunters creeping up, he is distracted. The enormous bull spies Hurik and lets out a bellowing cry, meant to scare off other bulls from its mate. The sound is loud and jarring in the stillness, but Hurik was half-expecting it, and does not cower from the beast. Next the moose turns to run, but the barriers put in its path further confuse its small mind, causing it to stumble and be off balance. It moves in a jagged fashion unclear which way to go to escape, and only succeeds in drawing closer to the hunters.
Hurik had been assembling the barricade with Embry on their area, and this took both his hands, so when the time comes to fight? Well....the Moose moves first.
Hurik is pleased the barricades worked so well, almost feeling sorry for the great beast that it was lured by a love song that was no true hope for mating.
Then it bellows at him, and Hurik gives a small smile in response, then takes his Javelin in his hand readying it, and moves with a speed most would not see as possible in such a big man. He rushes forward before the prey's face, some distance still between them, and then throws his first Javelin directly at it. Hoping to wound it first, and allow others a chance to close from behind.
Tharskh grunts, then drawing his bow, fires two arrows in quick succession at the confused moose.
Then he shifts his position, dashing behind a tree.
Moose Hunt - Round 1 - continued
Tharskh grunts and clips off two shots in rapid succession at the moose before darting off away from the others, looking for more cover. He grins with dismay as both the arrows, which he thought were off the mark, hit the distracted and awkward moose, causing it to bellow again, this time in pain.
Hurik faces the challenge of the moose cry with nothing more than a grin, and he also moves at a tangent to the quarry, grabbing his javelin as he strides. Stopping 25' away, he launches his first attack, but the thrown weapon misses the towering moose, clattering past it into the woody scrub.
"Glory in the kill...."shouts Pakano bursting from the trees and charging, despite orders not to. He bolts at surprising speed, his spear held high in a classic strike position, but the prideful youth stumbles over something hidden in the grass, and his attack fails, losing his balance and in danger of falling prone in front of the massive foe.
As the moose appears a little unsteady, Miriani reaches out, chanting to the sky and pulls lightning out from the air. The electricity jumps from the moose, seeking another target and slams into the ground a couple feet away from Pakano.
She then sighs and runs across the moose's field of vision. "This way, you brute. You wouldn't want to step in any Pakano. You'll track him all over the nice forest!"
[ooc]Explanation of my actions. Because the Moose is Clumsy, I'm using a spell against reflex. It's more likely to take damage. It is 5% more likely to fail and 5% more likely to critically fail for double damage. Only a natural 20 or roll of 27 lets it get away with no damage. Electric arc can be used against one or two creatures, so I joked about almost including Pakano. I then moved and spoke as a free action. Because I didn't have any actions left I couldn't have rolled any social skills with the commentary. Not that most of them work well on animals. Since I don't have Wild Empathy or Intimating Glare, I can't easily affect animals.
Embry curses Pakano for a fool, she almost moves to go assist him, but that would just open her up to be trampled, better to draw it's attention.
Like the moose, i expected Pakano to be distracted by my call, but seemingly he prefers the male mating call!
Visibly angry with red spots in her face Satu gives up her cover, unwilling to let Pakano claim any glory for himself.
She jumps out behind the bush, dancing in wild motions towards the moose, trying to strike it with her spear, then dancing behind the bush again.
Events unfold favourably, for the most part – though it does not come as too much of a surprise that Pakano’s ill-considered eagerness sees him slipping up, leaving him vulnerable before the agitated moose. Yse permits herself a brief, polite smirk at this before addressing a few quiet words to Watcher in their shared Sylvan tongue. The eidolon’s hide hardened by a quick utterance of primal power from Yse, he lopes towards the Broken Tusks’ prey and takes the fight to it, attempting to gore the animal with his spear-sharp horns and following up this effort with a somewhat less fierce kick from his hind legs.
• Yse uses Act Together. Watcher may take two actions, and she may take one.
— She casts protect companion on Watcher, who gains a +1 circumstance bonus to AC until the start of Yse’s next turn. If he would take 6 or more damage before then, she will use the Life Block reaction to reduce the triggering damage by 10 and take 5 damage instead.
— He uses his Beast’s Charge ability, Striding twice and then Striking. As he moves at least 20 feet away from his starting position and moves entirely in a straight line, he gains a +1 circumstance bonus to the attack roll. (piercing damage)
• Watcher Strikes the moose again. (bludgeoning damage)
Moose Hunt - Round 1 - concluded
Spying the moose stumble with her feline eyes, Miriani unloads an electrical cantrip arcing a bolt from thin air that probably would've missed the moose before, but its unsteady nature means it is caught in the blast and bit of hide is sizzled.
Biting back a shout after the impetuous Pakano, Embry instead takes out her sling and launches a bullet which flies true, smashing the bull moose in the snout with a meaty thwack. She then reloads the sling for later use.
Stepping from behind cover, Satu attempts to draw the attention of the moose in order to make her dancing attacks more effective, but the moose is frazzled and fraught and she cannot capture its attention. Her spear attack misses.
Yse uses her magical skill to protect Watcher who she sends charging across the clearing at the moose. Dipping its head, the eidolon's horns score a hit against driving deep and hurting the moose badly. As the eidolon spins to kick, the attack fails to connect.
End of Round 1
Moose Hunt - Round 2
Moose 31 (30dmg; flat-footed, 2 rounds; Clumsy 1, 9 rounds )
Tharskh 23
Hurik 20 (hunt prey vs moose)
Embry 18
Satu 15
Yse/Watcher 14 (Watcher frightened 1; Watcher has +1 AC until its turn)
Miriani 4
Burnt, bleeding, confused, and sexually frustrated, the moose has had just about enough already. Again it bellows, this time at the creature that appears to be an antelope, but does not scent or act like one. The beast then gores poor Pakano, who goes down trampled under the hooves of the bull. Finally the big target kicks back with both hooves at Watcher, but the crafty eidolon nimbly avoids both flying feet.
Hurik sees Pakano go down, the others attack, but as Pakano gets trampled, the Barbarian curses and draws his Maul, then moves forward to strike. Sister Cinder is testing his mercy today, but Pakano IS of the Broken Tusk.
The Maul lashes forth with a mighty blow to strike at the great beast, "Fall, Noble Beast! Give up your spirit to a happier realm and know you will be spoken of and honored at the feast born of your death!"
Yse winces when the moose takes out its anger on Pakano, even as she feels sudden trepidation in Watcher through the bond they share. This hunt clearly needs to be brought to a swift close, and to this end she draws on her powerful primal link to the natural world. A few murmured words and an imperious gesture cause the ground below the moose’s hooves to burst suddenly open, clods of frozen earth battering its forelegs and underbelly; virtually at the same time, Watcher brings his horns to bear on the animal again, still afforded a small degree of protection by his human companion’s magic.
• Yse uses Act Together. She uses a two-action activity, and Watcher takes one action.
— She casts scatter scree, targetting the squares marked on the map. The ground in them turns into difficult terrain for one minute, and the moose takes bludgeoning damage, subject to a basic Reflex save. (Yse’s spell DC is found in the post header.)
— He Strikes the moose.
• Yse casts protect companion on Watcher, who gains a +1 circumstance bonus to AC until the start of Yse’s next turn. If he would take 6 or more damage before then, she will use the Life Block reaction to reduce the triggering damage by 10 and take 5 damage instead.
With a howl, Tharskh circles around the moose, much like a wolf would.
Pushing his bowstring to the limit, he fires two arrows again.
Embry winces as she see's Pakano's body crumple underfoot, with the moose currently distracted by Yse's Watcher Embry calls upon Sister Cinder to heal Pakano's wounds, hoping fervently that he has the good sense to get out of the way, embarrassing himself this way may teach him some humility... or may just have him double down on bravado.
Miriani moves forward, closer than she'd like, but things were serious here. "It's almost spring? Well, spring brings floods." She lets loose a rushing torrent of water at it.
Moose Hunt - Round 2 - concluded
Hurik has no trouble closing in on the wounded and confused beast. The barbarian brings his heavy maul down on the back half of the moose, delivering a crushing blow that only a enormous beast like this could survive. The moose's eyes roll back in fear and pain, knowing its time is now very short.
Yse and Watcher team up again. Yse evokes a jumble of rocks and frozen earth that batter at the moose's undersides. Despite his awkwardness, the moose avoids any serious damage from the spell. However, his shifting leaves him open to another horn strike from Watcher and despite being intimidated by moose bellow, the eidolon scores a hit, goring the flank of the great beast once again.
Tharskh fires twice more, and both arrows finding purchase in the large target.
Embry is shocked at the rapid fall of Pakano, and sends some healing magic his way, hopefully enough to rouse him from mortal danger. She also lobs a sling stone which also hits the target.
Finally, Miriani's watery blast slams the moose causing it to stagger backwards under the pressure.
Struck multiple times in just a few seconds, the moose has had enough. With a groan and sigh of rushing air, it falls. First dropping to one mighty haunch, then staggering and falling all at once on its side.
End of Combat
"Ahay Ahoi!" Hurik howls triumphantly, "It's spirit moves on and the Broken Tusk will feed well! " His often glum or sour looks are gone , replaced by pleasure at a successful hunt.
He reclaims his thrown javelin if he can while he talks, "I do not know which blow it finally truly succumbed to, for we were like a storm upon it, but the first bleeding definitely goes to Tharskh." A nod of recognition to him, "It should be boasted of by the fire."
"Thank you brother" - Tharskh nodded at Hurik, approaching the beast to try and recover some of his arrows - "But truly it was the work of a pack. We should howl at the moon tonight" - he added, moving silently to stand next to the beast, placing a hand on it while still warm, to feel its last breath.
"And well fought to you too" - he whispered.
Embry walks over to check on Pakano. While the group were blameless for his fall the victory would still feel hollow to have lost of their number in the taking of it.
Just before the moose goes down, Satu strides towards it with quick steps, her cheeks glowing with the thrill of the hunt.
As the moose goes to the ground, she puts a foot on his neck, pulling out her spear and shaking it in the air in triumph.
We got it! The gods are praised, we caught the moose!
With a sour expression she looks down to Pakano though.
And all that despite your foolish actions! You endangered yourself, us and the whole following! Hopefully you learn from that! We must cooperate, now only further our own glory at the cost of others!
To the others she cheers though
We made it! Together we hunted down this great beast and can proof ourselves as scouts! This is great!
Miriani whoops and head back a ways to get Wipa, and helps her to her feet. "We have our feast! Come see!" As they walk to the hunt, she explains, "We set up a couple barricades to funnel it in and then we all swooped in on it. Tharshk kept shooting and it was like he couldn't miss. Hurik wasn't as good with the spear, but when he whacked it with his hammer, I heard it's collarbone crack. Yse was keeping it in with magic rocks while Watcher's horns dug deep. Satu didn't have a good angle, but kept up the pressure. Pakano stood in front to bravely draw all it's attacks, but it's okay, Embry was pulling up the healing light with one hand, while slinging stones with the other!"
As the quarry falls, the novice scouts celebrate, congratulating themselves and reveling in their accomplishment. Near to the fallen beast, Pakano stirs, shakes his head to clear it, and slowly rises with a noticeable wobble. "See, my plan worked. The beast is dead and you lot couldn't have done it without my leadership! Wait till the others hear about my exploits!"
After a few moments, Miriani returns with the slow-moving Wipa. The tutor grins broadly at her pupils. "The following will indeed eat well for Green-Moon. You have all done well, very well. I see Pakano has a few scrapes but the rest of you have no hurts at all! Praise to Sister Cinder for that. Now watch, and learn what must be done once the hunt is ended."
Wipa heavily drops to her knees and withdraws a long serrated knife. She jabs the blade under the hide of the moose and begins to remove it. Over the next few hours, she instructs you on how to field dress the mighty beast, saving the hide, the entrails and organs, and butchering a huge proliferation of meat, perhaps more than you have seen at any one time before.
Pakano turns his nose up at this activity. "Women's work," he says with a glare at the females present, and stomps off to wash his scrapes in the nearby stream.