It didn't take long for Ernst to find himself wandering about with Davor again. He felt kind of clingy, but - but, well, it was Davor. He of all people understood the need to hide behind others. Even if Ernst mostly did it physically.
They'd been watching a deer with periwinkle-colored argyle socks hanging on its (his? Deer with antlers were dudes, right?) antlers for the last couple minutes. Honestly, it was a little surprising that it hadn't already noticed them and spooked, but maybe - well, he kept looking at Davor and cocking his head, and seeing Davor's uncertainty reflected back at him. Who could really tell whether this was a chosen? Unlike a raccoon, a deer couldn't hold any sort of pen. The socks, though, and the scraps of yarn elsewhere...deer didn't usually go rummaging through people's supplies, right?
It wasn't that he wanted to attack it. But he wanted to know. Was it approachable? Bribe-able? Like Arthur had been? Ernst's fingers itched toward his shield, but it wasn't like he was going to come running at it and smashing a shield against its side. It probably wouldn't take it too well. Except - hey - where was it going? It'd taken off at a mad run, toward someone with light hair and light clothiing - almost child-sized -
"Watch out!" Ernst called, too bothered to check whether it really was Erica there. Anyone shouldn't have to face that unawares, and especially not someone small. That was when he charged in with his shield, letting the blow glance off its side in an attempt to drag its attention back towards himself. Hey, he was the bright pink-haired annoying one, who had a big shield, right? That deer didn't need to go for someone like - like her.
He wasn't watching its legs, which was his mistake - it kicked him in the thigh as he tried to cover the new group better.
Quote:
This enemy can be fought solo!
You venture a bit out into the swamplands, following a strange sound in the distance -- and before you can get too far, you spot a medium-sized animal, floundering around a bit among the trees. As you approach, you notice something strange: some shredded fabric still clinging around one foot, or around its neck, like the remnants of some long-destroyed clothing.
At this point, it occurs to you that this might be a transformed human being. maybe it's even one of you. And you must capture it.
Except it doesn't seem to want to be captured. Your approach spooks it, and it attacks you in blind fear.
Hit Points: 30 HP Damage: 4 HP each time you attack
If you bring this monster down to 5HP or below, it is injured and can be captured and brought back to the campsite for safe keeping until you can figure out what to do. However, if you drop it below 0HP, you kill it.
Either outcome, once finished witth at least 500 words each party involved in the battle gets 10XP and rolls 1d100 to collect loot according to the following:
1-40: You gain nothing but the victory of having beaten this opponent. 41-99: Moly Flower: a small white flower with a dark root. You're not quite sure what it's for, but decide to keep it. 100: Fine Wine: Why would an animal have a bottle of wine? Considering all that's going on, we strongly suggest you don't drink. If you act rashly and do, though, please PM and be blue for consequences.
Soldier of Song
Amorpheous
HP: 52/56 Deer HP: 25
Soldier of Song rolled 1 6-sided dice:
6Total: 6 (1-6)
Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2016 11:03 am
Harrowing situation to losing fellow Chosen to wayward magic and having them turn into wild, angry beasts aside -- this was, in Davor's unspoken opinion, not a bad bonding experience. It reminded him of his hunting days, a good excuse to simply take in all the sights and sounds of nature he never got tired of. But actually, this was a harrowing situation, and he wasn't about to get lost in nostalgia now, on a mission.
He couldn't say for sure whether this was a Chosen, reluctant to provoke it for no good reason, but eventually, just as Ernst seemed to realize, someone had to make a move.
It was the animal to act first, of course. It charged, and Davor moved with them. His legs weren't as long as Ernst's and the deer's, his strides nowhere near as elegant, but all the same, it took Ernst's first blow to distract just enough. Once caught up with the two, and not giving the deer a chance to attack his fellow Chosen further, Davor swung his hammer savagely into its side. The deer bellowed out in anger or pain or both, stumbling sideways and, for the moment, deterred from continuing its attacking on who was now definitely confirmed to be Erica. He would've waved if he currently didn't have his hands full with the beast.
Character Name:Davor Kozel Brief description of character: A bear of a man in both stature and apparent dexterity in tree-climbing, Davor is really more like a teddy than a grizzly once you get him talking. Just, good luck with that.
Erica was proud but she wasn't stupid. She could admit when she could use a little bit of help and she was grateful that Ernst and Davor had showed up (how was it that they just kept ending up in the same battles by chance?). That said, it wasn't like Erica was helpless. She had two very carefully and lovingly sharpened axes to throw. It might not be as efficient as just running up to the deer and hacking at it until it went from living, breathing animal to slab of venison, but being able to throw her axes at least meant that she could stay, generally, out of harms way.
Ducking behind Davor and Ernst, using the two taller men as convenient, if sadly susceptible to pain and injury, shields, Erica readied took a quick, steadying breath before lining up a throw and letting the axe fly.
The thing about throwing axes at soft targets were that axes got stuck in soft targets. She would need to retrieve it if her next throw hit true. "I'm going to need to get that eventually, so I hope one of you is ready to charge that deer with me."
"Lucky me for being the shortest. The two of you make much more attractive targets for those antlers," she said with a bright smile.
HP: 43/47
WEAPON: Throwing Axes DAMAGE: 5 DEER HP: 15/30
Character Name:Erica Li Brief description of character: Competent and practical, she's not really the type of person to be on your side, but you definitely want her to be the enemy of your enemy. Just don't expect any friendly conversation.
Oh, Erica. Ernst hadn't known that he'd missed her - and it was a relief to see her here whole, and in one piece, and human, of all states. But it was refreshing that she was honest instead of distressingly glib, and as usual she knew exactly what she was doing with her weapon. And how to use Ernst as a shield.
Well - he guessed that was kind of what he was here for. "I'm amazed you can even pick it up one-handed," Ernst noted, although maybe he shouldn't have said that when she still had an axe in one hand. But...yeah, he could help her retrieve the other one. He looked at the deer - which was very pretty - with a considering expression before continuing. "We can do that now. With me?" he added, counting down out loud before running bodily forward with his shield. It slammed into the stag easily enough, and Ernst had enough sense to realize it was looking dazed, now, rather than aggressive.
"Hey - can you understand us? We can bring you somewhere...safer. Away from Circe. And we'll feed you, and try to change you back." He held up the moly flower he'd managed to pick up from one of those kids. "We can do it."
