(Adventure) A hunting trip

[Uriel]

Inside the Cottage

Remi moves to the young man and realizes, alas, that he has breathed his last. The man has several deep gouges in his abdomen and chest.

Bekkle holds the child, calming her a bit, though she still sobs into the old man's shoulder.

Outside

Telerin tenses, Whitefang snarling at the approaching.

Aranel can just make out someone or something at the back of the Cottage, then it moves closer and into view...

Katherine readies herself, but holds from fingering the trigger of her crossbow at the last second.

Standing in the lee of the Cottage is a figure, no Giant this, but a Man.
Wearing hide armor rent and tattered, the figure staggers a few steps and falls face first in the mud, a shortspear falling from his fingers to lay in the mud next to him...

 

[Kahuna Burger]

Standing in the lee of the Cottage is a figure, no Giant this, but a Man.
Wearing hide armor rent and tattered, the figure staggers a few steps and falls face first in the mud, a shortspear falling from his fingers to lay in the mud next to him...

Katherine casts Light on the feathers of the readied quarrel and moves forward holding the crossbow as both a torch and a weapon. She kneels beside the armored man and places a hand on his chest to check for breath while looking out into the woods for any sign of what attacked him. If he is still alive, she will ask telerin to move him into the cottage while she and aranel keep watch outside.

 

[Uriel]

Katherine determines that the man is alive, if barely.
Katherine calls for telerin to move the man inside, while she and Aranel (and Whitefang, no doubt) keep watch.

 

[Aranel]

Aranel could see something moving, and then the man...whew...
It wasn't good. As the human help take the man inside she eyed Katherine. "So..." She tried to lighten the mood as the half-humans magic had done to the area around them. "Come here often?" Rain was getting in somewhere on her neck, cold droplets trickling down her spine. She shivered and prepared to 'Surprise' whatever it was that would no doubt soon be trying to surprise them.
"I wonder if we should take a peek into the barn. These horses and the vegetable will be needing a dry place to rest...can't have them wandering into the dragons den...so to speak...eheh..."

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

"Be careful if you wander," Telerin said before getting Whitefang's attention to stay close. He then walked over to Katherine and lifted up the man by his shoulders, "I will take him in to the others and come back. There is something near or in...that barn."
He then did his best to drag the man's body to the house while still trying to keep Whitefang close.

 

[Kahuna Burger]

"So..." She tried to lighten the mood as the half-humans magic had done to the area around them. "Come here often?"

Katherine flashed her a quick grin. "If I ever agree to hunt anything bigger than a phesant again, you have permission to dump a mug of Joe's finest ale on my head... What was I thinking?"

"I wonder if we should take a peek into the barn. These horses and the vegetable will be needing a dry place to rest...can't have them wandering into the dragons den...so to speak...eheh..."

At Telerin's comment, the half elf nods agreement. "Lets wait till the wounded are cared for then we can check the barn as a group. In all the Ghost-Night stories, its the ones who go off on their own who are in trouble." She winked at Aranel and took on the tone of everyone's nursemaid. "And then the elf maiden walked to the barn door... she slooowly opened it and peeked around..."

 

[Uriel]

Telerin carries the wounded man up the porch and inside the Cottage.
Bekkle exclaims 'Thas Darryn, Krimp's oldest, brother to the poor LAd lying here passed on, may th' Greenman keep him safe.' Bekkle pulls a small Vial from his satchel, upending some of the draught into Darryn's mouth.
The man coughs, blood-flecked bile runnign down his chin and his eyes open. Seeing you all, he is momentarily panicked, then he recognizes Bron Bekkle and his eyes relax. He notes his little sister standing next to him, wiping tears from her eyes and he even manages a small smie.
With a quiet and weak tone he says 'My Da and Mum, Bron...they...' Darryn breaks off, tears streaming down his face, his teeth gritted with Hate.'IT came an hour ago, such a east. It tore the head clean off of our cow, like it was paper...I wounded it, though...right in the guts with my Spear.I did Bekkle, like you taught me,spitted it like a Boar.' Darryn lapses into unconciousness and Bekkle looks up at Remi and Telerin.'That thing is out there, Lads. I been a'huntin it fer a month now, but someone needs to guard Darryn and little Ellin here. I hate to say it, but I thinkI'd sow ye all down if'n I was ta go on. I'll take 'em into the Cellar, that should be the safest place, should the rmfene return. Remi, you and Telerin here, and Katherine should be able to find that Ormfene, and Lady Aranel has eyes sharp as daggers, especially in this here dim light. I reckon you ken find this Monster and kill it once and fer all. I have somethin' fer ye, too...'

Bekkle hands over the Vial to Telerin, saying 'This has three draughts left, made by the Druid of Arglynn Vale, a friend of mine. It'll pull ye back from Death's Door, it will. And take my arrows, Remi. I have little use fer em hidin in a cellar, though I'll keep one, in case the beast gets back here. I'd like ta put one in his eye before I go down his gullet.'

<Telerin recieves a Potion of Cure Light Wounds 1D8+3, 3 Uses.
Remi receives 6 +1 Arrows. Loaners, of course, but Bron's words suggest he'd just as soon have you use them up if it helps complete your Hunt.>



While Remi and Telerin help Bron Bekkle with the wounded Darryn...

outside


Katherine, her glowing Quarrel lighting the area in a suffused haze, moves towards the Barn, her eyes sharp for anything trying to get the 'Drop' on her.

Aranel (having tied the Horses to the hitching post) stays close, not sure what Katherine was about, though not wanting to let her go it alone (or be left alone, for that matter).

 

[Pyrex]

'... And take my arrows, Remi. I have little use fer em hidin in a cellar, though I'll keep one, in case the beast gets back here.'

Remi nods to Bron as he accepts the arrows
"Thanks, I'll put them to good use. This thing has to be stopped."

(to Telerin)
"We'd best get out there before it decides to try'n make a snack out of Katherine and Aranel."

Once he's sure Bron can get the kids down into the cellar Remi will head back outside, stringing his bow on the way.

 

[Aranel]

She winked at Aranel and took on the tone of everyone's nursemaid. "And then the elf maiden walked to the barn door... she slooowly opened it and peeked around..."

Aranel laughed quietly. "And then the fiend of the deep pits of hell itself did slowly creep...murder in it's heart, through the darkest of shadows along the inner wall of the barn..." She added another peice of the story. Even as they edged closer.
Knowing her eyes probably were sharpest didn't much help as she didn't know exactly what they were looking for. Still, anything that went 'raargh' and tried to eat them was probably not going to be a friend. And if it was she was going to shoot him or her on principal.
"Curious as I am (Very, let it be known.) I wonder if it could be lulled out by a sothing song...into a trap of sorts." She murmured just loud enough for Katherine to hear.

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

Telerin nodded to the older man and put away the vial, "Thank you. I will make sure we find this thing..." he then turned to Remi and motioned outside, "Lead the way."
He then fell into step behind Remi, and urged Whitefang to follow them. The wolf would be very helpful in tracking this thing...though he had a feeling it wasn't too far away. He still wanted to check that barn.