Night watch is so boring. Nothing has happened during the
whole trip. Nothing to do but walk round, get drizzled on, add the occasional stick to the
banked cook fire, smell the cattle, hear the cattle, avoid cattle left overs …
You have just completed your round of the temporary cattle pen, and are about as far as
you ever get from the center of the camp, when something huge (much bigger than a man)
crashes out of the darkness and bushes directly at you.
Enter a Bear
I raise the alarm by shouting then wrestle thing using my bear affinity(17) &
wrestling (17).
You shout a warning and then summon the strength of the bear and prepare to grapple
with the intruder. As the intruder breaks into the open you are struck by the
appropriateness of your affinity. Bear strength is definitely what you'll need while you
wrestle a bear (which has about 900 pounds in weight on you).
The bear spots you and rears up on his hand legs. Looks like he's prepared to wrestle
as well.
There is no immediate response from camp.
"Odayla!!give me the strength and skill to wrestle the bear as you did in God
time" and then I rush forward to engage the bear.
The bear rushes forward as well and with a clever feint you trip the bear and redirect
it into a convenient tree. Boom! The bear does not look pleased.
It rears up again and starts towards you and says "Another hunter!"
While I try to remember anything the Odayala Mythology about bear wrestling and talking
ones at that I stall for time "Actually I prefer to think of my self as a horse
thief." "If you don't want horses or Cattle I don't think we any reason to fight
each other."
I try to get behind the bear So I can get on his back were he can't bite me or claw me
as easly.
You and the bear maneuver and as you do so the bear says, "Well I certainly
don't want your cattle or horses. I just want to escape the hunter. Aid me to escape him
and I will grant you a boon."
And as this is happening, you start to remember something about the story of Odalya
hunts the Sky Bear. But if this were in anyway connected to that there should be ...
In the distance you hear the rising sound of a horn and the faint baying of hounds.
"Quick come with me." I lead the bear into the cattle pens.
"We will get the cattle to cover your tracks in the pens then you can leave by
another way. Push the rail down but don't break it, I will put it up after you and say I
repaired it later."
I lead the bear through the pen to another spot on the rail. Try to remember the myth.
I try to remember if Odalya catches the Sky bear.
Well, as you recall, after a long and tricky hunt, Odalya does catch the Sky Bear and
kills him, taking various attributes from the bear which he later distributes to his
worshippers. Of course, you also know that hero quests don't always go the way they are
supposed to.
Meanwhile, the bear follows you into the cattle pen (where the cattle are surprisingly
accepting of the bear's presence), and then exits from the other side
Enter a Hunter .
As you return back to where you first met the bear you hear a much closer blast of the
horn and a moment later a man riding what appears to be an elk (an elk?) comes crashing
out of the brush. A couple of very large dogs come bounding out after him.
"An Elk?" " Greetings Elk rider I am Snorri Horse-thief? Who art
thou?" "Who are you hunting, I hope not a horse?" "Are you on cattle
raid" "that is a fine Elk there you are riding""Nice hounds too"
" Careful you don't stampede the Cattle"
I stand between the cattle pen and hounds. I countinue to talk about meaningless thing
and try not let the man speak.
The hunter does try to interject himself into the rapid fire stream of your comments
and then pauses with a bemused look on his face, conceding defeat. He whistles to his dog
who head off, nose to the ground obviously trying to track the bear. They very quickly
come up to you and the fence and are obviously preparing to jump the fence.
The hunter meanwhile appears poised to speak a word the moment you give him a chance.
I go over to cattle pen and encourage them to come over hopefully oblitorating the
trail. I keep talking but do nothing new to delay the hunter. [Track:17, Know animals:17]
****Narrators Note:
I'm assuming that you are trying to delay this guy to give the bear time to get away.
Well, the dogs leap the fence and while your distraction is of some affect, you know
that it will be but a temporary delay at best.
Sure enough, a moment later the dogs set up a howl at the other side of the pen. The
hunter manages to interrupt you long enough to say "Farewell then sir, my dogs
have the scent and I'll more sure that the beast troubles you no more."
Well I follow a hunter not a trickster. I follow covertly. [Night vision:13 Stalk:17
Ride silently:13 Ride: 5w]
Well, there is no trick to following the hunter, you just follow the barking dogs and
the sound of his horn. Occasionaly you get within eyesight of him and you're pretty sure
he knows you're following.
In a short while the sound the dogs are making changes and a moment later you burst
into a clearing where the dogs have the bear back up against a tree while the hunter looks
ready to charge him.
You don't think that the bear has much of a chance.
Do you wish to intervene in the coming scene?
I ride up beside Bear and dismount.
***Narrator Note:
If you wish to fight remain mounted as you’ll be a better fighter.
[G- I stay mounted If I will fight better. It though as a Heortling I fought worse on
horse except when special skills taken. N- True, but you are an unusually skilled rider.]
As you ride up the 2 dogs pull back and the hunter stops his approach. The bear cast
you a grateful look and growls more manacingly.
The hunter calls out to you “Stand aside or you’ll suffer the same fate as
the bear”.
I do not attack the hunter first but wait to defend Bear. If the hunter readys a bow so
will I. If he fires I will fire back.
Conflict
The hunter snarls a command at his dogs and then he and they charge.
*************************
Narrators Note: Extended Combat Phase
1
***Snorri
Close Combat/Action Points = 17=17/34 (1 follower)
Attack/Armor - ^5/^3 (Bear Strength)
Other Magic in Effect -
***SkyBear
Close Combat/Action Points = 1w1=1w1/21
Attack/Armor - ^4/^4 (includes offensive and defensive magic)
Other Magic in Effect - (run away magic)
***Hunter
Close Combat/Action Points = 1w1=18/61 (3 followers) (-3 for multiple enemies)
Attack/Armor - ^6/^6 (includes offensive and defensive magic)
Other Magic in Effect - (agility magic)
*************************
*************************
Narrators Note:
First 3 rounds Results
a) (Snorri's Roll/Hunter's Roll,
Snorri's AP/Hunter's AP, bets of 6)
b) (Bear's Roll/Hunter's Roll, Bear's AP/Hunter's AP, based on bets of 6)
1) a) Succ/Succ-> ->S/S (34/56)
...b) Fail/Succ->Bump->F/F (13/52)
2) a) Succ/Succ-> ->S/S (25/52)
...b) Fail/Succ->Bump->F/F ( 5/48)
3) a) Crit/Fail-> ->S/F (35/38)
...b) Fail/Succ->Bump->F/F (-3/34)
*************************
The hunter charges the bear while the dogs face you. You find the dogs difficult to
fight but with a clever maneuver on your horse you manage to trample one and badly injure
the second.
Beside you the bear slumps to the ground. The hunter is basically unharmed though the
bear managed to wound his elk.
The hunters glares at you and says "The bear is down. Leave now and we'll say
no more about this. Stay on and it will be to the death."
***Narrators Note:
The hunter will no longer have subtracts for multiple opponents. Please recall that you
can use Hero Points to bump combat results in your favour (max of 1 bump/exchange).
“Thank you for you generous offer, It is appreciated but I can not leave a
fallen live ally behind"
I use HP to bump the first two rounds.
*************************
Narrators Note: Extended Combat Phase
2
***Snorri
Close Combat/Action Points = 17 =17/35 (1 follower)
Attack/Armor - ^5/^3 (Bear Strength)
Other Magic in Effect -
***Hunter
Close Combat/Action Points = 1w1=1w1/34 (3 followers)
Attack/Armor - ^6/^6 (includes offensive and defensive magic)
Other Magic in Effect - (agility magic)
*************************
*************************
Narrators Note:
Next 3 rounds Results
Snorri's Roll/Hunter's Roll, Snorri's
AP/Hunter's AP, bets of 6)
4) 6/8 Succ/Fail->Bump ->S/S
(35/29) (Hunter has Higher Roll)
5) 9/6 Succ/Fail->Bump-HP->S/F (35/24)
6) 6/10 Succ/Fail->Bump(H)->S/S (35/19) (Hunter has Higher Roll)
*************************
With a snarl the hunter leaps at you. Only by the most desperate maneuvers are you able
to avoid his powerful spear thrusts. Then, in a moment when the Hunter has pushed just a
little too hard you make a lightning counter attack and rip open the throat of his Elk.
The hunter leaps clear and prepares to resume the attack.
***Narrator Note:
You used 1 Hero Point (did not use one in round 4 (or 6) as that would not have changed
the result). Do you wish to continue using Hero Points in the next 3 rounds of combat
(please set the max HP you'll use in the next 3 rounds)? [Or you can retreat of course.]
"Let us call it a draw and tend to to our wounded"
Does the Elk look dead? if not and the hunter agrees to a draw and the elk looks in
worse shape than the Bear I will help the Hunter stuanch the wounds of the elk if the
hunter will let me help.
I continue using max 2 HP can I increase the bet to 10?
***Narrators Note:
You can choose to bet heavy (12 AP) or light (3 AP).
***Narrators Note:
The bear, the elk and the dogs are still living though bleeding. Whether they continue to
live depends on what happens next.
The hunter pauses, breathing heavily and replies “I must have the bear,
otherwise my clan will suffer. I beg you to leave it to me because I cannot leave it to
you.”
The hunter makes no move to back off.
***Narrators Note:
As an Odalyan, you now know that this person is trying to complete the Odalya Hunts the
Skybear HeroQuest. If he succeeds his clan will have good luck hunting for the coming
year. If he fails they will not.
"Let us keep your mount from dying while we talk" I dismount and go to aid
his elk. "I did not give Bear my word I would help him, but my clan is also facing
dangerous times and Bear offered aid. Who and where are your clan, Can you speak for their
aid in future if I help you now?"
The hunter replies "Allow me to finish the bear now as that is more important
than anything else. If you do this I will give you first choice of the kill plus I will
acknowledge a debt between us personally and speak in favour of you and yours in front of
my clan."
"Done" I try to save his mount. And try to remember what parts of the
Bear give aid in what. (Mythology of Odayla:17 Butchery:17).
I mutter a very fast prayer to Odayla asking forgiveness for interfering with a hunt
and for true aim. Making sure I'm out of the blast range this time, I fire another Thunder
Arrow at the stranger (5w) and use a hero point to ensure a hit.
May Odayla have mercy on my soul.
The hunter had not seemed to notice you but one of the dogs did, and the arrow intented
for the hunter instead impacts on a leaping dog. There it detonates with a tremendous
crash and flash leaving little bits of dog scattered about the neighbourhood.
The battle comes to a momentary pause. The hunter looking decidedly less than pleased,
turns and charges you, leaving the remaining dog and the very badly injured and bleeding
bear squared off.
I fire another thunder arrow (using a hero point if need be to ensure a hit) and begin
skirmishing with the hunter (ie. fire an arrow and move) using archery (5w), skirmish (1w)
and agility (1w). Subsequent shots will be with normal arrows unless they are ineffective.
Narrator Note: I interpret this as you wanting to maintain distance between you and the
hunter (skirmish 1w1 vs ride 1w1). If you are successful you may also be able to get off
an arrow shot. If you are unsuccessful the hunter may be able to make a melee attack. Also
note that you did hit the hunter last turn. The effect was the death of one follower (ie.
Action Point Loss). Also note that you are still suffering from the effects of the earlier
arrow blast though your agility will help to offset this.
At a pause in the battle you take stock of the situation.
A dangerous game of cat and mouse ensues with you desperately leaping around the
campsite, seeking a moment to release an arrow, while the hunter attempts to ride you
down.
Things went well at first (please delete 1 HP) with you badly injuring the hunter's
elk. But twice the hunter has managed to corner you. Once Ost saved you by distracting the
hunter but he nows lies unconscious or dead. The second time earned you a spear thrust in
the shoulder.
Now, without his Elk, the hunter is having some difficulty in cornering you but you are
unable to take much advantage of this as your shoulder wound hinders your archery. You
feel that you could probably indefinitely avoid fighting now but your unlikely to cause
much further injury to the hunter. Your shoulder is bleeding badly while the hunter is
limping from his fall from the Elk (though his hunting magic helps him move faster than he
should).
Meanwhile, the bear and the other hound have pretty much neutralised each other.
Neither seem to be in very good shape but the bear is bleeding badly from the wound (you)
inflicted earlier.
The hunter shouts "Leave me the bear and I shall leave you. You risk much by
opposing me in my quest brother."
I shout back "I risk as much by leaving you the bear. I tried to avoid this
confrontation, brother, but you have forced me in to battle and given me no reason to
stop. So I ask you again, who are you, what clan are you and what is your quest?"
I continue to avoid close contact using skirmish(1w1) and agility(1w1). If he continues
to attempt to close and the opportunity appears to get a shot, I will use a Thunder Arrow
(with a hero point if need be) at the hunter.
The hunter gives up the debate and charges you, swerving to keep obstacles between you
and him to hinder your aim. You make a desperate leap to the top of an adjacent rock and
gain a momentary view of the hunter. You shoot ... and hit the hunter in the chest (No
Hero Point expended). The resultant thunderclap knocks you from your precarious perch and
you land heavily.
Dazed, you stand, easy meat for any attack but none comes. You hobble over to where you
last saw the hunter and there he lays rapidly bleeding his life out on the turf. His
clouding gaze wanders to you and with a last gasp he says "And what will become of my
clan now?"
A final bubbling of breath and the hunter fades from sight.
You hear a desperate howl from the dog, who then launches itself at the bear's throat.
The bear falls but with a desperate strike from its remaining foreleg disembowels the dog.
Outcome
The hunter sighs in relief, cautiously walks over to the bear and gives in the coup de
grace. He turns to you and says "For this my clan will thank you."
After that, between the two of you, you keep the dogs and elk from bleeding to death
and after a moment the struggle to their feet in a dazed state.
Finally, the hunter leads you over to the bear and says "What will you
then?"
***Narrators Note:
Different parts of the bear give you different abilities (and what's best depends on what
you want). For example, the claws may help you in fighting or maybe climbing? (you only
get one of these abilities though), the heart your courage, the liver might let you
hibernate, etc. Basically, any bearlike ability has a corresponding body part and by
taking the part of the body you get the *one* ability. Feel free to make something up. In
most case you would gain a feat but in your case (since you already have bear magic) you'd
gain a stronger form of the ability.
I take a strip of meat from across the shoulder for great strength of Bear.
I ask about where his clan is and who they are. "I am Snorri Horse-Thief of
Amber Clan and Follower of Odayla"(have I heard of animal riders? I do not have
much knowledge outside of Heortland)
I avoid the dogs as much as possible. It not natural keep dogs.
The hunter waits for you to finish with the bear and then does what you recognise as a
sacrificial butchering of the bear, an offer for good hunting luck in the year to come.
I am Jenaara of the Elk People and know that I acknowledge my debt to you. I thank
you for allowing me to aid my clan and I will not forget your name or allow my clan to do
so.
And now I must go. Until we meet again Snorri.
And with that, the hunter, the elk and the dogs slowly fade from sight.
This page last modified May 03, 2001
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