Dann keeps his mouth shut and his eyes wide open, intrigued.

OOC - Answers...ish:
1+2. There are approximately 12 young males dressed in plaid similar to other Borderers seen in Mimirs Well and Rosmuillean they carry spears and appear to be hunting.
3. They seem very determined and more than one of them is injured, mostly cuts and bruises but some bear claw marks and are not looking too healthy.

As to anything beyond a group of folk doing very badly at hunting a massive bear...nothing appears 'odd'.

Dann and Lann do not recognise the plaid but note the hunters are all quite young, possibly too young to be recognised by their clans as yet.  It is possible they are still on their Wilding.

In reply to GM (msg # 160):

'Shall we help the Bear or borderers?' Lann asks.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:34, Fri 17 Nov 2017.

Drake asks his question without looking away from the scene of hunters and prey. "See anything strange Lann? Signs of...sorcery...perhaps?"

In reply to Drake Taubron (msg # 162):

Lann shook his head decisively.

Drake nods without a word. He continues watching the drama play out...

In reply to Drake Taubron (msg # 164):

The plaid clad youngsters edge closer to the clearings edge and as one break and run forward throwing their spears at the wounded bear.

Four of them find purchase, others either fail to penetrate the thick fur and hide or miss entirely.

The bear roars in pain and rounds on its attackers, it charges scattering a few, one does not make it out of the way and is broken under the creatures great weight.  The bear does not slow and charges into the forest mowing down young pines as it does so.

Most of the hunters give chase, though a few stop to see if they can aid their fallen.

"Let's help..." Drake stands up from his covering, draws his bow, and gives chase together with the hunters. Where he finds opportunity, he lets fly some arrows at the raging bear.

11:21, Today: Drake Taubron rolled 6,1 using 1d20,1d6.  Arrow attack & bypass.
11:21, Today: Drake Taubron rolled 17,5 using 1d20,1d6.  Arrow attack & bypass.
11:21, Today: Drake Taubron rolled 9,3 using 1d20,1d6.  Arrow attack & bypass.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:08, Sun 19 Nov 2017.

In reply to Drake Taubron (msg # 166):

Lann joins the chase, firing at the bear when he gets the opportunity to.

As soon as Drake fires, Brannon joins in: their cover is already blown. He fires towards the bear, and murmurs a prayer to Brigantia under his breath...

08:44, Today: Brannon Darrow rolled 4,1 using d20,d6. Arrow attack, armor by pass.
08:44, Today: Brannon Darrow rolled 15,3 using d20,d6. Arrow attack, armor by pass.
08:44, Today: Brannon Darrow rolled 11,1 using d20,d6. Arrow attack, armor by pass.

Dann runs behind, his sword still in hand but not his shield. He decides not to use his bow or javelin for now.

Drake, Lann and Brannon move forward firing at the bear, and see two of their shafts sink into the creatures hide the others hit one of the many trees or disappear into the undergrowth.

Jon and Lute run forward, Jon looks at the dagger in his hand and then at the bear and decides to lean back against a tree and watch, Lute begins weeping heavily.....

Dann moves up with his blade ready, he notes that the hunters seem to have little experience and are faring very badly indeed....he is impressed by the size of the bear...much larger than the brown bears he has seen on the shores of his home territory...and the fur is much darker in colour...

The hunters continue their chase throwing and retrieving their spears, with few striking their target.

After another 50m or so the bear comes up against a fallen oak and is forced to slow while it considers going around or over, two of the hunters fail to recognise the bear has stopped and run in too close.....two slaps of its paws and they are broken upon the crowberries.

The bear looks up and sees the hunters surrounding it, it huffs quietly and a resigned look comes into its eyes as it roars its defiance at them shaking the trees around it.

Drake slows his pursuit, coming to a halt a safe distance from the bear and its band of young hunters. He casts a curious glance at Lute's weeping, but turns back quickly to the injured and trapped bear.

Glancing curiously at the hunters, Drake notes their attire that is typical of Borderers in the region. Their youth and obvious inexperience do not escape him. It must be some kind of training. Or perhaps a test of adulthood. Shouldering his bow, he hangs back, turning aside to his Borderer companion Dann. "Do you know what's going on here? Some kind of test of manhood? The youngsters look like they need some help though...would it insult them if we do intervene?"

"They are not trained hunters. It might be some kind of test, yes, but this bear is not normal, I am sure of it. If this is a test, the people who set it were not being friendly." answers Dann. Without another word, he tries to approach the wounded warriors if they can be reached without getting too close from the bear.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:20, Mon 27 Nov 2017.

Brannon readies another arrow, watching the bear carefully, ready to fire should it move towards Dann.

In reply to Dann of Clan Valin (msg # 172):
Lann casts see enchantment to see if the bear or hunters are enchanted

This message was deleted by the player at 13:08, Mon 27 Nov 2017.

Drake looks at the young Borderers. He spies one young man, youthful in appearance, yet larger and better built than the rest, who seems to be the leader of the small band. He calls out to him. "A cornered beast fights the hardest. And I have no doubt yonder beast will take several more of you with it before it succumbs."

He turns and surveys the other young Borderers. "Most of you are wounded. A few badly. And there are some who will never walk again, or live to see tomorrow."

"So unless you have a good reason for killing this great bear right this moment, I suggest you leave it be and allow it to escape. Track it down and perhaps take it by surprise in its weakened state and kill it by stealth later."

"Tend to the wounded among yourselves first."

Drake gestures to his companions - Dann, Brannon, Toirneach, Jon, Lute.

"We would be happy to help...defuse...this situation. With yonder bear. If this is what you would like..."

He glances at each of the other young hunters, then turns back expectantly to the well-built Borderer who seems to be their leader.

The young man span about in shock as he was addressed, " Where the hell did ye dra from?"

" Get away wit yers....ye cannae understand...and you'll be the death of us if we're seen talking."

Another youth loped up, " Got some new friends, Boyd?"

The bigger youth look panicked for a moment, " Nae, Aiden. You've seen yerself they jus' come up on me bare'an a moment ago."

" Aye....I seen that....I seen that.", the wiry one said with a smirk.

Boyd rounded on Drake and the others with a fierce grimace, " Get away wit ye!  Yer nae wanted here!"

He turned back towards the penned bear which was swaying side to side on its massive paws and champing its great jaws, " Get in there and kill it! We've nae long nou."



" Aye, Boyd. Would you like your friends to help?

Boyds head swung back and forth between the bear and his taunter, his face pale and harried....

Face impassive, Drake steps back from the cornered bear and the young Borderer hunting party, keeping his hands down and relaxed, and far away from his weapons. Slowly making his way to the edge of the clearing, he motions for the rest of the Company to step back as well. He looks to Boyd with a "it's all yours" look, indicating the bear and the entire situation.

The Mercenary settles down to watch the scene play out.

Dann is still willing to look at the wounded bodies of those who were beaten by the bear, but will not otherwise interfere.

Boyd ran back to assist his fellows in casting spears at the great bear, as it roared at them in fury.



Dann moved up and checked over the bodies, the plaid was local possibly of Colms clan...but these were far from his folk and he couldn't be sure.  They were both dead, their bodies crushed.

In reply to GM (msg # 181):

From a stand of trees to the north the companions hear the words,

"Large game!  Best if you back off!"

, called out in a deep Thulish accent and the sound of a large crossbow being racheted.


OOC:  Please form an orderly line and make your ways over to the Southern Pagans thread.