"Snag not fond of horses. Horses step on goblins without thinking. War dogs trained to go for goblins. Small dogs are cuddly." Snag remarks as he cuts into a slice of meat to make it smaller.
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"What's the Tickwood?" he asks Mangrove, or anyone else nearby. "Sounds perfectly terrifying to me. Why hunt boars anyway?"
Why there is nothing so exhilarating as a hunt! Feasting on a boar that you have caught yourself? the young noble seems so proud.
"That sounds grand. Perhaps I can compose a ballad about the adventures of the great hunt... and I never turn down an invitation to visit new and as yet unknown trees and shrubs".
Aldern beams, A song? About our hunt? Really? My name would be heard in taverns and music halls...
"Snag has never been on a hunt. Is it hard to control dogs?" Snag asks as he tries the different foods in front of them.
"Snag not fond of horses. Horses step on goblins without thinking. War dogs trained to go for goblins. Small dogs are cuddly." Snag remarks as he cuts into a slice of meat to make it smaller.
The dogs must be brought up right, trained from a young age, lest they misbehave. A houndsmaster does this, it is their job.
Aldern frowns at Snag's last comment, My dogs would never attack you, my little friend. That is my promise.
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The rest of the evening goes nicely. Aldern is a perfect gentleman, even when he gets deep in his cups. A little before midnight, he excuses himself and tells you all that he had a wonderful evening and looks forward to your hunting excursion the next morning.
--
The following morning, a young boy from the Goblin Squash Stables has gathered horses for you all (except for Snag). A clearly hung over Lord Foxglove makes his way downstairs, the hood of his cloak pulled down low to hide himself from the rising sun.
Good morn, my friends. Please forgive my appearance, I seem to have imbibed a tad too much last eve...
The following morning, Mira wakes early, ready to prepare for the day’s adventure. She gets to the stables early to make sure everything is in order. After checking on everyone's horses, she notices Lord Foxglove making his way downstairs in a rather hungover state.
Mira smiles sympathetically, nodding in understanding. "No worries, Lord Foxglove. We’re ready when you are."
As they mount up and prepare to head out, Mira feels a mix of anticipation and excitement. The hunt promises to be a new experience and she’s eager to see what the day holds.
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As you head off, you do keep a slow pace to allow Snag to keep up. Aldern is a little quiet in the beginning, but as the hour passes the young noble resumes his usual self and becomes more talkative.
Soon after, you crest the hill and the Tickwood stands before you. Aldern says, Is anyone a capable tracker? I am only cursorily trained, myself...
"Not really me, at least," Lucien says with a shrug. "Never really spent any time in the woods, especially the Tickwood..."
"Nor I. I know some songs to help along the way... but with my physiology it's very difficult to bend over to look at tracks".
"Let me look for tracks. It probably won't help, though."
Snag shakes his head. "Maybe dogs help?
As the party starts riding away from the rising sun in the east, Mira points out "Tracking is easy. We are clearing going North right now."
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After hours of tracking, a rustle in the brush draws your attention from across the clearing!
Immediately, Foxglove whips his crossbow up and lets fly, but the quarrel misses completely!
The boar charges immediately going for Lord Foxglove!
The young noble flies through the air and lands with a sickening thud!
Thrashing around, the boar slashes at Mira! But the warrior easily avoids the lethal tusks!
You can all see the lifeblood of Aldern Foxglove darkening the forest floor...
Order
Tickwood Boar
Mangrove
Snag
Lucien
Mira
Anthony Slater
Anthony will get his weapon out.
Move to flank the boar.
healing.
◆ Stride
◆ Cast: Courageous Anthem (Everyone +1 to Hit, damage, and Fear Saves).
◆ Raise Shield
"Oh My! That was unexpected. Good job Anthony".
Lucien is quite startled at the explosion of the wild pig through the underbrush. "This is why its better to stay in town," he complains aloud.
Then he shoulders his crossbow and fires twice at the feral boar. But he is shaken up enough the both shots fly wide of the mark of the charging target.
Having fired, Lucien looks for a place to hide, and retreats to the bole of the nearest tree.
Flanking the boar with Anthony, Mira swings her warhammer into it three times!
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Mangrove begins to recite the Epic of Tirislan, filling you all with vigor and inspiration! Raising his shield, should the boar targets him next, the leshy puts some distance between them...
Lucien draws a bead on the boar with his bow and looses! When the arrow flies wide, the halfling curses and nocks a second arrow, but in his haste Lucien overcompensates! Giving up on the endeavor, the shifty rogue chooses discretion over valor, retreating into the brush!
Mira unshoulders her hammer and gets a-swinging! One! Two! Her hammer thuds into the side of the boar, but the third deflects off its thick hide!
Anthony quickly staunches Aldern's bleeding wound, the fainted nobleman gasping a breath that turns into a scream! Satisfied that Lord Foxglove is not in danger of shuffling off his mortal coil, the warpriest moves to provide some assistance to Mira's efforts!
Order
Tickwood Boar
Mangrove
Snag
Lucien
Mira
Anthony Slater
Snag focuses and casts as three small force balls appear before him and then streak out unerringly to strike the boar!
From the tree line, Lucien fires again at the rampaging boar, loosing first one arrow and then a second.
After firing, he attempts to take concealment behind the shrubs and trees.
Still flanking, Mira continues to slam her warhammer into the wild animal! After two swings, she raises her shield.
◆ CAST: Courageous Anthem
◆◆ CAST: Telekinetic Projectile
Throw a dead limb
Bludgeon boar
Mangrove continues to extort his companions with inspiring stories and poems.
Snag continues to focus and sends another three bolts at the boar! After he makes a "mmmmmm" sound as he thinks about how good the boar will be to eat!
Anthony will strike at the boar.
bludgeoning damage.
bludgeoning damage.
Then, Anthony will raise his shield.
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You inspire yourself and your allies with words or tunes of encouragement. You and all allies in the area gain a +1 status bonus to attack rolls, damage rolls, and saves against fear effects.
From the tree line, Lucien fires again at the rampaging boar, loosing first one arrow and then a second.
After firing, he attempts to take concealment behind the shrubs and trees.
Lucien shortbow: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11
Lucien shortbow, 2nd shot: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22
Dmg if hit on 2nd shot: 1d6 ⇒ 4
--
Mangrove continues his song, sustaining the welling of heroism within you. Then he whips his hand forward and a fallen widowmaker crashes into the boar!
Sang hurls three more bolts of force at the beast, causing it to squeal and thrash!
Lucien looses a pair of arrows, hitting the boar with one!
Thrashing and squealing, the boar's tusks fly left and right!
Mira, picking her spots, swings two perfectly placed strikes on each side of the boar's head! The boar thrashes, but the thrashing slows until the boar just collapses, suddenly!
Aldern lays back, his sucking wound gurgling with each breath, Ohhhh, I am dying...
Though he makes an entire drama over his wound, it becomes apparent that Aldern will be okay. He becomes more and more talkative as you get closer to Sandpoint. He makes sure that the stronger of you bring the boar with you all and carries on about the feast that the Rusty Dragon could make with it!
Stepping back out of the underbrush, Lucien dusts himself off a bit. "So this is what hunting is like? Getting bowled over by wild pigs? Think you can count me out next time."
He looks over to see the groaning nobleman on the ground, and looks concerned for a moment. "How's our benefactor over there? Don't let him die out here in the woods..."
Lucien is not very strong and struggles to move the boar at all if asked to help lift or carry it.
"Snag think boar looks tasty. But Lucien right about taking care of Aldern." He will move over to see if he can help the man, but doesn't try and do anything yet as he is not skilled with healing others naturally.
"Here, Aldern. Let me make you better."
healing.
As the boar's thrashing finally ceases, Mira lets out a relieved breath, her Warhammer still gripped tightly in her hands. She glances down at the now motionless creature, ensuring it is down for the count. As Mangrove’s song fades from the air, so does her adrenaline rush, leaving her both exhilarated and a little weary.
She makes her way over to Aldern, thinking he would be gravely wounded by the sounds of his wailing. She smiles and says "You're going to be fine, Aldern." practically rolling her eyes at the nobleman’s theatrics. "Anthony is an excellent mender of wounds."
"You will live. Milani willing. Though you should consider what purpose your new life is for."
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You lay the boar across one of your horses and head back to Sandpoint. Aldern grimaces with each bounce of his horse, but he seems otherwise fine, as his chatterbox of a mouth can attest.
Young lord Foxglove thanks you all profusely, and heeding Anthony's words, begins to look upon his life differently. Aldern begins going on about what he will do after returning home as his attendant helps him up to his room at the Rusty Dragon...
Anthony will take the boar to the butcher. My time is better spent in prayer and considering the futility of all existence.
Mangrove will compose a short poem about the deeds of the hunt taking care to expose how the brave Young Foxglove prevailed in leading this group, despite taking a severe wound defending his companions.
He will then go to one of his normal groves and practice reciting the new ode till he has it down pat.
Snag seems cheerful on the way back to town and then just waits to try the boar.