*poke poke*
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*poke* Still here.
Nightfang snarls at Vashta as she approaches, taking a protective stance directly over Tallak’s body and growling at any who approach.
Leinathan, sent you a list of potential backups. Seeing as Calder is the only real Ulfen among us, he would likely know, having talked with Tallak, that dieing an honorable death in battle is a desired outcome. But again, I leave it to the RP to decide. Do what feels natural. I can make a fun concept either way.
Let’s see what the party does. I have a new character concept in mind, one that could even let Nightfang stick around! Heh
Hearing the sickening sounds of combat followed by the sounds of armor hitting the floor, Tallak can only assume things aren’t going well for some of the others. As such, he sends out a wave of healing energy to try and keep his traveling companions alive.
Meanwhile, Nightfang lunges forward at the wikkawakk leader!
"Damn these bugbears!" Tallak says as his vision fades. He elects to hold back to not risk harming his allies, and instead just focuses on hanging on tightly to his saddle. Nightfang, however, never ceases to attack. He continues trying to tear wikkawakks to shreds, advancing as best he can towards the largest of the beasts.
Tallak and the tiger lash out at the wikkawakks with claw, fang, and spear, trying to fell them as quickly as possible to open up an avenue of attack on the leader.
Tallak works his own magic, granting most of the group a blessing from his clans ancestors.
Nightfang roars at the collected horde of goblinoids, and moves forward and begins tearing into one!
”Damned gnomish magic,” Tallak mutters as he rounds the corner and sees the way blocked by a noxious green cloud. He then looks down from Nightfang’s back at the crowded hall and says, ”Make room!”
Tallak says, ”Nightfang! Kill!” The dire tiger snarls and surges forward, it’s claws digging in for traction.
As everyone prepares, so does Tallak. He eyes the vial the gnome hands with with apprehension, before drinking it down. He coughs and gags at the bubbling drink, and watches as his skin is coated in thick bark with no small amount of anxiety.
Tallak looks to Calder, nods as he readies his spear and shield, and begins leading the way into the cavern. He casts a light spell on his shield to help guide the way, with Nightfang following directly behind.
”These should be dealt with,” Tallak says. ”They don’t pose the same threat as a dragon, but are still a hazard. And perhaps we could use their cave as our ambush site...”
Tallak takes Nightfang and joins the scouting party for a suitable ambush site that could limit the dragons aerial opportunities. Nightfang, however, seems more interested in the scent of a snow fox’s trail to be of any assistance.
Tallak nods at Calders input.
”It’s a dragon. Even if you flatter it, according to the tales, it is equally as likely to attack us as not because it considers itself our better. We are but foodstuff to it. We would be better served trying to hunt it down and end its threat before it grows older and stronger.” Tallak folds his arms in front of him, signaling that he has spoken his mind on the matter.
”The whole village is close minded and blinded to their shamans failures and cowardice,” Tallak grumbles. ”But their hunter says they were to the North when the dragon struck. Fortunately for us, he said it was about the size of an ox. He also said it was snatching men off the ground and dropping them from great heights, which means we need to try and find it in its lair to remove that tactic from the field of battle.”
Tallak nods. ”Ulf may have a map. He has been our guide. I will check with him.” Tallak rises to his feet and turns to leave. He pauses and asks, ”What is your shaman’s problem, if I might ask? Has he always been this distrustful of outsiders?”
I am home from surgery, trying to muster up the motivation to catch up and post. Will do so as soon as I can, I appreciate all your continued patience with me.
Tallak nods at the warriors council. ”So, we need to track it to its lair, as I thought. Take away its ability to fly in the open. Where were you hunting it?”
On Thursday, I’m having surgery. Posting may be slow afterwards but I’ll let y’all know how it goes.
”About the dragon,” Tallak says as he sits. ”Where was it you encountered it? How large was it? The size of a horse? A mammoth? Larger? What sort of tactics did it use?”
”Are you the one they call Naqqun? The warrior that survived the last dragon hunt?” Tallak asks as he approaches the man. ”I am Tallak, shaman of the Utgar Clan far to the south. I would ask you some questions, if you don’t mind.”
A bug has been making the rounds through my house. Started with kid, then wife, now me. Keeping things moving as best I can.
”Powerful. Bah!” Tallak scoffs. ”Had he any real power, he’d have faced us like a man himself instead of hiding behind his people. I offered him the chance. He fled. He has shown his true merit.” He then turns to the group, ”We should face this dragon directly. Hunt out it’s lair, attack it at its home. Take away its ability to escape, and end its reign of terror.”
Tallak’s brow furrows at the elderly shamans words. ”A poor show of leadership, Brother. Attempting to rouse these innocent people to fight us due to your own frailties. In my clan, we say only two types of people live to be old: great warriors or great cowards. I see now by your attempting to hide behind your people the kind of man you are,” Tallak says as he runs his hand through Nightfang’s fur. The great cat growls menacingly at the shaman. ”I am willing to see what kind I am,” Tallak adds as he tightens his grip on his spear.
Tallak steps forward, taking Ulf by the arm, ”I may need you to translate for me.” ”Noble Erutaki! I am Tallak, son of Sigurdar, White Wolf of the Utgar Clan. I, too, am a shaman of the spirits, those of the earth, wind, fire, and water, as well as animals and the ancestors of my people. Yet, I have never felt cut off from any of them, as one would expect I or my associates offended them. Great Tunuak, in what way do you feel we have offended the spirits of this land? I would like to know of what it is that me and mine stand accused.”
”Is there anything in the area suitable for a white dragon’s lair? A mountain or glacier?”
”No,” Tallak says firmly. ”We kill it.” Looking at the group of people around him, he adds ”This beast is upsetting the balance of this entire region. And we cannot run from every danger, especially this one. A dragon is capable of tormenting a vast territory, and we’d be better off facing it head on than letting it set the scene of the engagement.”
Tallak casts a knowing and concerned look to Calder and Ulf, wondering how they feel about the situation.
Tallak grows concerned. ”My Father’s Father told us stories of a dragon that preyed on our clan years ago. Their wrath is not to be underestimated.”
”Is it this dragon that strikes fear in your people’s hearts, North Mother? I have seen it in their eyes. They try to hide it, but their resolve seems shaken.”
Tallak will use his own bursts of healing until everyone has fully recovered on his side of the river.
Tallak steps up and runs a hand through Nightfang’s fur as the tiger continues to rip into the monster. The tiger jerks away with a growl, but remains focused on its current prey. Tallak chuckles and moves through the camp checking on the others, then checks the fallen enemies for anything of worth. He then removes fangs from the creatures and keeps them as trophies.
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