Featuring (all Shirefolk hobbits except where noted): Dolphus, Midien, Teradoc, Clary, Thodobrus, Dolphus as Wild Boar (non-culture Orcine).

Road Through Grassy Plains
A breeze sweeps through the tall grass, causing you to glance around. You are on a wide, stone paved road that slowly rises as it goes west, into the Tower Hills, while towards the East the gentle rolling hills and dales of the Shire spread out. Three tall white towers are visible ontop of the hill.
Contents:
Thodobrus
Clary
Teradoc
Hobbit Campsite
Obvious exits:
West leads to North Tower Hill Path.
East leads to Lightly Wooded Grove.

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RL (Arizona) time is Mon Feb 26 13:52:20 2001 (+time).
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IC time is about 7 AM (breakfast time) on Thursday Wedmath (August) 28, 1422 S.R. ----
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IC Weather Conditions
Rain falls from the sky, dampening the land with a constant stream of cool precipitation on this Wedmath day.
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Hobbit Campsite
A small hobbit campsite. Several ponies and a large wagon (by hobbit standards) surround a small campsite.

Dolphus Burrows
A midsized hobbit, seemingly in his late forties, this fellow is neatly dressed and well-groomed. His hair, neatly brushed, is light brown and curly; his dark green eyes are situated just above a fairly small nose and a rather large mouth.

This hobbit's clothing is simple but functional: a brown wool cloak over a green shirt, and a pair of blue-dyed wool pants. His feet are as bare and furry as any other hobbit.

Teradoc Burrows
A young male hobbit, about three feet in height and of medium build. Sandy brown hair, frizzy and long, comes down to his jawline and poofs out several inches like a mushroom. His smooth visage is young but a certain aura of experience and sad wisdom cuts through it. The youth's mouth is thin-lipped and pink, and his nose is hooked. Combined with his sharp, ice-cold blue grey eyes, his face takes on a very bird-like resemblance.

Upon the hobbit's head is a dark brown felt hat which has seen better days. On his body is a tan long-sleeved shirt underneath a bright crimson waistcoat. An indigo cloak is drawn around his neck, fastened by circle of carved wood. Dark brown trousers, held by a thin leather belt, end at the lad's hairy calves. His feet are bare, the tops covered by a curly clump of brown hair.
Carrying:
Glithan Helm
Leather Jerkin
Sturdy Bow

Thodobrus North-Took =-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-=

A hobbit reaching his late tweens but not yet on the brink of it stands before you. He stands an entire 3 feet and 7 inches. Common enough for most hobbits, but the look about him is not one of similarity but that of uniqness. His face is rather well defined, and not rather round as most hobbit's are. His skin is a soft tan color, no doubt from him spending countless hours under the sun. His soft steel blue eyes peer out from his handsome face with a placid curiosity about them. Slightly longer dark brown hair falls to each side of his face slightly curly as if vines draping over a freshly built wall.

Upon his shoulders is a rather unique item, a cloak all the colors of the forest. Hues of brown, green, and black grace its soft thick fabric. Held in place by two simple brass oak leave clips with a small chain going in between them. Underneath his cloak is a dark green tunic, very simple especially for a hobbit, a pair of pants which share the same brown as the dark rich earth of the shire. And upon his feet, a pair of sandals... quite interesting for a North-Took to have. Around his waist is a thick leather belt with the open end slid through a metal ring then brought under in a knot and with the excess hanging lazily in front of the young North-Tooks legs.

=-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-=
Carrying:
A cooking pot
Small Leather Shield
Boffin Family Sword
Fencing Armor

Clary Smallburrow You look at Clary, a diminutive yet firmly build hobbit maiden, somewhere in her tweens. The rain has tamed her frizzy, sandy colored hair, clinging it to her cheeks and tiny drops of water leave tracks between the freckles that cover her face. A large drop is hanging on to the tip of a broad, turned up nose. Further up, slim eyebrows curve gently above two bright, hazel eyes that look attentively into the world around her.

A wide fitting yellow shirt is worn beneath faded green and somewehat oversized dungarees which show the marks of her trade in various colors of paint. Though a short leather cloak protects some of her from the rain, the legs become darker as they come closer to her bare and muddy feet. She carries a light, heavily used backpack.

Midien Took Midien Took, a young ladyhobbit in her early tweens and just around three feet tall, is before you. Thick well-kept locks of deep mahogany curls fall gently to her shoulders, several unruly tendrils often finding their way into her face. Large eyes of the same colour, so dark they may appear black at first glance, usually shine with a merry sparkle, framed by thick, dark lashes. Her skin is soft and smooth with a darkish tan-colour, as she enjoys being out and about and is often in the sun, full pink lips standing out a bit in contrast. Her feminine features differ greatly from her attire, as she wears a tunic of a deep forest green, slight leather lacings hanging loosely from the neck with a loose-fitting white linen shirt worn beneath it. She wears also a pair of black breeches, smallish buttons serving as closures where they belong. The belt about her waist might appear to be tighly secured, though it is hardly that... she is lightly framed for a hobbit and it is merely sized to fit. A thin chain of gold rests gently around her neck to just below her collarbone, and hanging gently from it falls the odd pendant of a single brass button.
Carrying:
Shield
Studded Leather Cap
Lady's Dagger
Blacksmith Apron

Wild Boar An enormous wild boar, with 6 inch long tusks and mean little piggy eyes.

~~~

[Teradoc] The early morning mists flow gently over the small clearing where hobbits are sleepily crawling from their tents in search of food and warmth. They are greeted with air that is actually moist, fat, sporadic raindrops falling down to the earth with a loud plopping noise. The sun, in the east, is a mere fleck of light over the Shire, illuminating the home of these hobbits and sending a stabbing pang of homesickness throughout many of them.

One of those very hobbits sits, leaning against one of the few trees in the field, staring eastward with a hunk of bread and dried meat, drinking occasionally from a skin of water. He sighs loudly and continues to watch the sun rise over his homeland.

Dolphus Burrows sits hunkered in a little ditch near his tent, looking up at the three towers in the distance. In his hand a metal cup; he takes a sip of whatever's in it and sighs winsomely. "A lovely place for a holiday are these hills, I should say," he remarks to any caring to listen. "And the vista really is spectacular. I greatly anticipate the hunt."

Slowly dragging herself from her tent, Midien finds herself a spot beneath a large tree that is relatively sheltered from the morning drizzle of rain, yawning slightly behind a slender hand as she leans back against its trunk. Her expression shifts to one of slight annoyance as raindrops begin to fall lazily from the leaves above into the cup she holds, but with a sigh she but silently watches them intermittently plunk into the water she had poured to drink.

[Clary] A hobbit maiden crawls out of one of the tents, yawns widely and looks at the misty morning and the silhouette of the hobbit leaning against a tree. "Mornin' Sir," she yawns again, "Ye 're up early." She turns as she hears the other one speak, and stops midways to gaze at the magnificent sight of the three towers, rising as vague silhouettes up from a rolling white blanket. "Aye, tha' 's wonderf'll"

Glancing up at the hobbit lass, Teradoc smiles slightly and says, "Not as early as others. They've prepared some tea and a bit of warm food to eat." Indicating the mess with an outstretched hand, he glances over to Dolphus and the towers rising in the distance. For a moment, Teradoc watches them... until, with a shiver, he turns to the meager meal in his lap and munches on it quietly.

Draining his cup, Dolphus leans over and places it inside his tent, then stands up and stretches. "Well then," he says in a loud voice, looking out over the camp, "I say we get going, mix it up with a bit of hunting, eh? There's plenty of game out there, no reason not to go on after it, I suppose. Or is anyone still eating?"

[Thodobrus] Now reaching the outskirts of the camp the young bounder throws back the hood of his cloak. Small droplets of water being thrown backwards onto the ground behind him. Upon his head it seems as though he wears a rather crude, yet effective metal cap. And seen intermittantly as he cloak flows backwards because of the wind are plates of hardened leather. As he reaches within at least fifty feet of the small gathering he starts to call out to them, then holds himself back and just begins walking again coming closer again to camp.

"Ah," Clary sighs, "tha'd be time, could 'ave a little somethin' t' eat", she feels her stomach as to estimate the amount of food required to get it back into shape. She drops to her knees at the 'table' and has just started on a leaf of bread 'n butter as Dolphus' makes a remark about leaving. "Ugh," she almost chokes, "Wait! Me is eatin'" Clary looks up at Dolphus, "Please?".

Setting her cup aside just outside her tent, Midien looks up at Dolphus as he announces his intentions. "Sounds just fine to me when everyone's done... Hope this misting lets up sometime today, though... The mud can be an awful pain..." Slowly, she rises from her place at the foot of the tree, discreetly brushing a bit of slightly damp, sandy ground from the backside of her breeches.

At Dolphus' suggestion, Teradoc is just finishing up his piece of bread. He says, "That sounds like a plan to me, cousin," in a somber, rainy-day voice. Standing and dusting off his rear-end, Teradoc walks slowly over to the tent he was in, hoisting his bow over a shoulder and placing his cap on his head. He turns around, his long, wet hair whipping around. His cloak whirls around him and he pauses, looking at Clary. He says, half-joking, "We can't wait for -everyone- who decided to sleep in, can we?" Smiling, he leans down to touch his toes and starts a series of calisthenics.

"All right..." starts Dolphus, nodding to Midien and Teradoc. "We can get going as soon as Miss... Smallburrows, was it? Well, when she's done we can go." He steps over and leans into his tent, and pulls out a short sword, placing it in the scabbard at his belt. "There's boar, of course, to be had... dappled deer and fiana, goral sheep, coneys, phesants... and who knows? Perhaps we'll run into some elves in the area, eh?" He checkles.

[Thodobrus] Moving further up the road he is brought to the camp-site. Walking by a few tents quietly he asks the small group of hobbits not really trying to recognize any of them. And unable to do so because of the few trees in the area blocking his way, "Good day to you all, I take it this is the encampment for the Hunt?" he grins as he turns a corner around one more tent to be brought into view of the small gathering.

"Oh," is all she can find to reply with her mouthfull, not that she seems to take much notice of the hunters, with breakfast needing all her attention. Finally, with a firm drink of tea, Clary washes away the last bits of her breakfast. "Aye, me's all read' t' go now." But, despite her words, she crawls back into a tent, partially at least, to come out again moments later, dragging a light bag with her. "Well then, " she says pulling the straps over her shoulders, "shall w' see 'ow ye find them boars?" She stand up straight and grins at Teradoc "But lea' th'm fairies out, will ya?"

Though her face contorts only slightly at the idea of meeting up with a boar, Midien smiles nonetheless at the prospects Dolphus projects. Walking the few feet to her tent, she drags her things out and begins to get ready to go, returning to the gathering of hobbits as she does so, and sees Thodobrus upon looking up and smiles to him as she secures her dagger to her belt. "Thodo! Hello!"

Teradoc raises an eyebrow at the young hobbit girl nearby. He pulls his bow from his shoulder and begins to examine it closely, finally pulling the string from his pack on the ground and bending the bow. As he slips the bowstring onto the weapon, he says, "I'm sorry? Fairies?" He sounds a little confused as he lifts up the bow and pulls back the string. Satisfied with the tautness of the string, he nods and sets the bow on the ground, leaning on it.

"Thodo..." starts Dolphus, looking at the newcomer to the camp. "Ah! Bounder North-Took, how good to see you've made it! We were just about to leave," he says, nodding to Clary with a smile. "Well then! Are we all ready to go off?"

Nodding satisfied as she finishes securing her dagger's sheath to her belt, Midien looks up to Dolphus and nods agreeably. "Looks like it.... I'm ready when you all are..."

"Elves, ye said Mr Burrows, but you was kiddin' 'f course", she smiles at Teradoc, "Me hopes, ye did," but quickly turns to the newcomer.

"Mornin', Sir, Clary Smallburrow, at yer service"

Midien brushes several drops of the drizzling rain from her forehead as she stands with the rest of the hobbits, watching as all who wish near readiness to leave in search of a good hunt. Her dark eyes look out over the surroundings of the camp for a moment, but return with a sigh to Dolphus... or anyone else, for that matter. "Any idea where we ought to head?"

Dolphus steps forward to the middle of the camp. "All right, then! We're off! First off, we split into groups, for mutual safety: I'll go off the road to the north, with Mister Sackville, Mister Hornblower, Miss Lightfoot, and Mister Bunce," he says, pointing to several hobbits sitting roundabout. They stand and nod, brandishing their weapons and walking toward each other. Dolphus continues. "You, Mister Proudfoot, go south off the road with... Mister North-Took, Mister Burrows, Miss Smallburrow, Miss Took, and Mister Twofoot. Are we all in undertsnding, then?"

Midien, nods, brushing several drops of the drizzling rain from her forehead as she stands with the rest of the hobbits, ready and waiting for the excitement to start. Her dark eyes look out over the dreary surroundings of the camp for a moment, and return to Dolphus with another affirmative nod.

"Aye," Clary straightens her back and looks at whom she thinks might be her companions for a while, "Tis fine, wi'h me," she adds while making a few adjustments to the straps of her backpack.

"All right," says Dolphus affirmingly, adjusting his helm and sword. "Off we go! Take care of them, Mister Proudfoot, then." He smiles, and with the four other hobbits with him walks off to the north of the camp.

Proudfoot nods to Dolphus as he leaves. "Right then. Come on! The boar won't wait." He tramps off to the south, motioning for the others to follow.

Not but a few steps behind her group's leader follows Midien, eyes allowed to flit every few moments about the landscape around them as they walk through the rainy mist.

She does not wait to long, Clary, and sets out southward following the Proudfoot on a small path through the fog. "Com' on", Clary's voice resound across the rolling hills. "Where ye be takin us, Mr. Proudfoot," she hollers out to him.

Coming out of the tent putting his cloak back on, and straping the short sword to his side, Torvo Bracegirdle stands at his full height of 3 feet! Streching his arms he reaches high in the air and looks around for anyone or anything in the area.

"Don't ask questions! It's my way or not at all. Just follow me." Proudfoot tramps southward. "You too, you there," he calls to Torvo. "Come on."

Midien looks back for a moment to Clary and Torvo, though she remains as yet silent, herself. Her attentions are obviously drawn in another direction than Proudfoot's barkings. She continues to follow near behind him, keeping her eyes on the land over which they head.

Looking around with tired eyes Torvo nods his head slightly and walks over to the spot he was told to go to, seeing Midien he breaks a little smile and nods his head slightly, then he turns and continues to walk a little to the area of the group.

Grinning, behind the Proudfoot, to her companions, Clary follows quickly, and rather more lightfootedly. Soon enough she catches up with him and Midien and silently walks behind then, most of the time at least, as she frequently strays away.

Mister Proudfoot growls, and starts to walk off to the south, paying little heed to his companions. "Off we go, quicken your pace." He doesn't bother to turn around to address them.

Thodobrus follows closely behind the group to the south as he readies his shield and keeps a close watch on all the area around them. Soon he matches step beside Midien and grins whispering slightly to her, "I didnt know you liked to hunt." chuckling slightly to himself he moves his attention to the surrounding details although every now and then glancing back to the young Took lass.

This time, Midien's eyebrow rises slightly at their leader's grumblings, though she still keeps silent and her expression is only shown with his back turned to her as she does her best to keep up with his quickened pace. She then shakes her head and smiles to Thodobrus beside her and a chuckle escapes her lips as well at his remark. "A bit odd, isn't it?...Hope this year fares better than the last time I came."

Walking around calmly, Torvo just hangs his head yawning keeping up with the others that are going to the south. With his hand on the short sword that sits on his side he is ready for anything or so anyone thinks.

"Ye been 'ere before?" Clary whispers to Midien, "me thinks it's great fun already". She is then silent as the Proudfoot maintaince a pace which leaves little breath for talking.

After a few minutes, the party reaches the bottom of a hill, the camp now out of sight. "All right," says Proudfoot, "now ready your weapons. There might be some game to be had around here, so be on your guard."

Wild Boar has arrived.

Nodding to Clary on the side, a smile spreads across Midien's face as she replies to her. "Aye.. It is great fun... but caution is necessary, though.."

Sounds emanate from behind a cluster of bushes: feral grunts and squeals. The bushes begin to rattle as though possessed, then suddenly stop and fall silent.

Midien wields the dagger with ease, ready for a challenge.
Midien puts on Leather Shield.
Midien places the small studded leather cap on his head and pulls it on tightly.
Midien You buckle up the blacksmith's apron, feeling protected.

Thodobrus wields Boffin Family Sword.

"Loo", Clary gasps in a whisper, stopping at the sounds. She looks around, despite her words not seeing any game yet. She does see Midien take out her knife and takes a few steps sideways to get out of it's way, "Carefull wi'h tha'" she whispers.

Thodobrus moves silently and ready for any challenge the sound of metallic friction can be heard as his short sword is drawn and the rather large weapon is brought into his right arm. Looking to Midien he grins, "Stay behind me and ill make sure nothing can get at you.." he says rather confidantly as the bushes begin to shudder his eyes dart there quickly, readying his sword for a charging animal.. but none was to be found.

"I'll be all right, Thodo..." She replies to him with a smile, and though she then chuckles slightly at Clary's skiddishness, Midien's eyes quickly dart from both Clary and Thodobrus to the rustlings in the underbrush as she produces her dagger from its sheath.

"What's that?" asks Proudfoot, falling silent and looking all about. "Ah, heh, well... no matter... on we go..." He continues to walk forward.

WIth hearing the noise Torvo wakes up and swings his bow out with a arrow around it for easy shooting,"That doesn't sounds to pleasent I must say! I can tell you that one or more of us will end in the Healing house!"

Torvo pulls out his bow with a swift movement from under his cloak, stringing a arrow.

Turning only but slightly with a bit of a start at Torvo's words, dark eyes flashing slightly with an odd glint of undefinable emotion, though obviously not of anger or irritation, Midien remarks in a whisper, "I hope we will not be so unlucky!.." Her eyes remain fixed intently on the brush as she follows Proudfoot along further towards the south.

Without a sound, hardly even breathing, Clary takes Thodobrus advice, even though it was directed at Midien, and moves behind them, not neccesarily away from the sounds. She sighs relived as the Proudfoot throds off, but her eyes gaze still at the bushes when she slowly follows him. "Ho now, Mr Bracegirdle, don'cha be talking 'bout no 'ealing 'ouses just yet."

Suddenly a huge wild boar crashes out of the bush! Grunting and snarling, the beast rams into one of the hobbits in the back of the group, knocking him over. The hobbit manages to stagger back up, but the pig-beast continues to barrel about the hobbits, grunting!

Wild Boar snorts.

Midien's eyes widen considerably as the beast bursts forth from the thickness of the underbrush, noticing it as it appears through the drizzling mist.

Spinning around as the boar comes crashing out Torvo looks at it with wide eyes and hides his bow wielding his sword as quickly as possible to get a better attack on the boar.

Torvo hides his bow back under his cloak.
Torvo wields Sword of the Delvings.

Looking quickly before the group Thodobrus locates the boar barreling through the small group of hobbits, readying his shield after he has enough to gather enough courage he moves forth with his sword point forward over top of his head he charges the Boar with quite a loud war cry if you could call it that. His feet finding the right footing as it moves him right on for his opponent

[Torvo] Watching the Board with careful eyes, sword rasied up with the tip shinning in the light that is available he continues to stand and watch with calm and carefulness.

Proudfoot screams as the boar crashes out of the brush. "Help! Help!" He runs northward up the hill. "Help, I want my mummy!"

The pig turns and grunts, then charges toward the charging Thodobrus with a malicious squeal.

Wild Boar snuffles, watching Thodobrus out of his little eyes, then runs at Thodobrus full tilt, tusks aimed. Wild Boar: Your attack against Thodobrus lightly wounds him!

Wild Boar:
Thodobrus attacks you with his Short Sword!...
Wild Boar: ...and he hits! Ouch!

ARB: You've been injured for 13 hp's by Thodobrus's attack... ...you have 47 left. Please RP this injury accordingly.

Wild Boar snorts a challenge, then leaps at Thodobrus, sharp hooves flashing.
Wild Boar:
Thodobrus dodges your attack.

Wild Boar: Wild Boar - Triggered.

Wild Boar: Angered by his attackers, the boar swings his tusks as though to attack, then turns tail and runs.

[OOC note: I had to leave at this point, and the rest of the folks continued to hunt the boar. Eventually, Torvo succeeded in killing it.]