Lone Wolf I: Shadows on the Dorn

[Andrew D. Gable]

The two lupine humanoids continue their squabble, which quickly turns into more than a squabble when the larger of the two takes a vicious swipe at the smaller one. The smaller one falls, and the larger returns to its meal, occasionally glancing up at the line of figures.

Jesabela reaches into her backpack and pulls out a length of rope, and she quickly formulates a plan to lay a snare for the beast...

Moon's Brand doesn't notice any trees (no climbable ones, anyway) although there is a rocky outcropping you could perch in. However, the Dhax would be able to follow you into the rocks.

 

[Krug]

Hoagar wonders what Jesabela is up to. "Well do it quick woman," he says. "Else we should just put a few arrows into the beast and be gone."

 

[Paido]

When the smaller Dhax falls, Jesabela flashes the others a cocky grin. Then she continues to explain her plan, while Moon's Brand finishes taking care of Silver Wind ...


All right, as far as EN World allows the necessary formatting :\, here's my preferred plan:

Dhax​

I​

I​

\/​

Rock & Silver Wind ---------Rope--------- Rock & Jesabela​

Hoagar & Moon's Brand​

The "rocks" can be anything behind which we might hide, each of us holding one end of the rope that lies on the ground between us. If possible, we'll try to hide or camouflage it (maybe there's longer grass, or we rub it with earth), but the trap would probably have to rely on Hoagar and Moon's Brand riling the Dhax up enough so that it charges them. As soon as the Dhax is close to the rope, we'll stretch it taut to catch it's legs.

(BTW, we'll lay that trap carefully, so the Dhax notices as little of our preparations as possible - maybe two of us can do that behind the others, using them as cover, and when they are ready, the others retreat behind the trap?)

As far as distances are concerned, each of us four should be close enough to reach the (hopefully) fallen Dhax quickly - would be good if we could attack it in the same round it trips over the rope. Especially Jesabela really should be capable of doing that, as such a situation just cries out for a sneak attack ...

The rest is up to you, Andrew - after all, you have the best idea how the terrain looks!


edit: A few notes more: As soon as the trap is set and ready, Hoagar and Moon's Brand should shoot at the Dhax to get it's attention and start making it mad. Should it hesitate to approach (or do it slowly), they just can continue shooting and taunting it. If the Dhax seems too careful, Moon's Brand could pretend to turn and flee to awaken it's predatory instincts - and she should flee limping, as if in pain. (Two advantages to that: Appeals even more to a predator, and she doesn't get too far away from the trap too quickly ...)

When the Dhax is close enough to the rope, it would be best if Moon's Brand gives Jesabela and Silver Wind the signal to spring the trap. (That way we don't have to peek out and risk being seen. And our coordination will be better.) Should it be necessary for her to run to lure it in, Hoagar takes over.

As for the reasons whom I put where: Hoagar and Moon's Brand seem to be our most dangerous ranged fighters, and Silver Wind will probably not have fully recovered by then.

And as a reason for going with the trap plan in the first place: True, there's only one Dhax left, but it is the largest of them, and it is still unhurt. Maybe I overestimate them a bit, but the less blood we loose while defeating it, the better for us - after all, we still have some way to travel before we reach "civilization". And I, for one, don't care much for arriving in Ragadorn in a wounded and weakened state ...

Okay, that's what I would suggest. What do you folks think?

 

[Relenoir]

Moon's Brand nods in response to the plan. "And you said you were a sailor, right? Maybe you should have been a hunter/ranger," she says with a smile, all the while patching up Silver Wind.

 

[Krug]

Hoagar goes with the plan. "Though I woudl think we could just hack it into pieces," he says.

 

[Paido]

"And you said you were a sailor, right? Maybe you should have been a hunter/ranger," she says with a smile [...]

Jesabela shrugs nonchalantly. "Yeah, well, what can I say? You pick up a few things on the sea ... Make do with what you have, aye?"

 

[Relenoir]

"I'll keep looking over my shoulder as I start to limp away, then fall down to one knee just before the Dhax gets to where the rope will be. When you two see me go down, pull the rope taut; I'll be able to spin right around from the kneeling position to plug some arrows into it," Moon's Brand says, strongly in favor of the plan. "As everyone gets closer, and the Dhax begins to get up, I'll move forward like everybody else to attack the foul beast with a hand weapon when I can't get a clear shot anymore."

 

[Krug]

This game is grinding to a halt...

 

[Andrew D. Gable]

Moon's Brand assumes a limp and ventures out into the sight of the last Dhax. It looks up and, as expected, gives chase; at the earlier agreed-upon signal, Jesabela and Silver Wind pull the rope tight, knocking the Dhax prone on its back.

Surprise round, you can get in one action this round before the Dhax fully recovers.

Apologies for being so long with a post. Work's being a bit of a pain in the posterior presently, I guess I should have posted something on the OOC thread about it... at any rate, posting on my end will be a little sporadic until about September 27 (next Monday).

 

[Krug]

Hoagar fires at the Dhax. "To Hel with ya!" he shouts.

No worries. Just glad it's still continuing.