The Lychester woods were thick with gnarled trees and long shadows. Before the twisting trail had even disappeared around a bend behind them, the party found it had already dwindled to little more than a game trail. At first the Tullisons and Ser Naton’s men rode with them, and the conversation was boisterous, as Ser Naton boasted of the accomplishments to come. Soon, the men came to a split in the track at a broken oak.

“As good a spot as any to part way Ser Adham announced, “I’ve spoken with Dunstan’s man Ser Mathers, and he seems inclined for an agreed signal while we hunt. A single loud blast of horns for a quarry found, two for any need to return urgently to camp, and a repeated triple-blast if some ill-fortune demands we call off the challenge and come to one another’s aid; every great wood has its share of perils, be they of beast and man in the woods, after all.”

“Aye, aye,” Ser Naton agreed dismissively, “but you’ll hear no such simpering from my horn this side of the seven hells.”

The two parties soon separated, with Ser Adham and his two young squires riding along with the Blackfin men, and the Tullisons and Ser Naton finding their own way. As the parties separated and rode deeper into the woods, its members were given the opportunity to strike up conversation, to assist Gerhart in the tracking and orientation within the forest, or to see if they can spy worthy game of their own.

Already the light of the sun grew dimmer in the thick foliage, as if the journey into the woods were taking the men into some fey realm, far removed from  House Lychester, or the thrones of men entirely.
“A magnificent day for such a venture,” Ser Adham noted, amiably, “surely a good omen for my own nuptials on the morrow.”

[OOC - Four options here for each PC:
- Initiate a Standard Intrigue with Ser Adham [essentially just doing the first round of the Intrigue in this section, which might be continued later if the opportunity arises]
-Assist Gerhart’s Survival Rolls [adding half your survival score to his rolls, max of two PC’s on this]
-Roll Awareness [Notice] to keep an eye out for game or potential threats.
-Another option cleared with the GM]
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 00:07, Thu 20 May 2021.

Seemingly in good spirits, Berion was all smiles as he chatted amiably with everyone as they rode deeper into the woods.  However, he couldn't help but roll his eyes in exasperation at Ser Naton's boast.  After all, it was that sort of bravado that caused men to behave rashly and ignore what would otherwise be common sense.  It was something he had seen far too often on the battlefield, and more often than not it ended with a lot of good men dead.

Hopefully that wouldn't be the case today.

Once the groups split, however, the knight's mood seemed to quickly rebound as he and Ser Adham continued their jovial chat.  "It most certainly does!  And congratulations again my friend, surely the Seven must smile upon you both!"

Berion Knollwood rolled 8 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 5,2.  Persuasion (Charm)

Ser Adham rode well, maintaining an easy seat as he leaned back to joke with his young squires, and converse with his family's guests. He seemed content for the moment to rely on Gerhart, who led from the front and was seeking signs of recent tracks.

Ser Adham frowned for a moment, as though seriously considering the probability of Ser Berion's sentiment, "I do hope so," he replied earnestly, "I have met Lady Sylvia Connington on two occasions, which is two more than most grooms who marry into the bloodline of another region. She strikes me as swift of wit and beautiful beyond compare. Her father is King Arrec's Master of Laws and a powerful lord in his own right."

"Many folk of the Riverlands have notions about such a match," Ser Adham noted, "I would hear yours, if you have a mind to share it.

[OOC - a Standard Intrigue with Ser Berion has begun, but Ser Adham has not taken an action to influence Ser Berion]

A warm smile engulfed Berion's face as he bowed his head slightly towards the young nobleman in acknowledgment of his point before replying.  "Then you are indeed a lucky man my friend, for while beauty may ever fade, and a house's fortunes may ebb and wane, a keen mind is forever."

Falling silent for a moment, Berion's expression turned pensive as he considered his words carefully before replying.  "You're not wrong there.  The obvious answer would of course be someone of beauty and means, and no doubt that there are plenty here today who would say just that."  Of course he wasn't so crass as to name Ser Naton directly, but given the man's prior outburst it wasn't a hard leap to make.  "But as I said, both of those can be fleeting."

Blowing out a heavy breath, he flashed the Lychester heir a sheepish grin before adding "So at the risk of sounding like a child with his head in the clouds, I'd look for someone with a quick wit and noble heart, as nothing can take those away."

Turning his gaze to the sky for a moment, the red drained from the young knight's cheeks (though the smile still remained) as he took another deep breath before turning back to address Ser Lychester, his eyes twinkling with barely constrained mirth.  "As for the exact particular, I haven't the foggiest I'm afraid.  No doubt my sister has more than a few thoughts on the matter however, and I'm sure to get an earful later.  She knows best after all.  Or seems to think she does at any rate."

The Lychester heir nodded, with a slight grin he replied "You are wise to say such, I am sure, and perhaps in the Lady Sylvia I have the peculiar blessing of a fiance suited for both the sage and the fool, as she possesses a wit that will not dull, and a beauty that shows its full lustre in the spring of our years."


Adham smiled at Berion's words. "Your sister sounds like my own, Iris; ready with a quip or a barb at a moment's notice. No doubt the two will get along famously in our absence, with all manner of suggestions for us both when they have determined with one another our best course of action. I am just as glad not to hear more of the politics of it, and hear in your professed ignorance more virtue than vice." He nodded before calling out a advice to Gerhart regarding a nearby spur that might provide better vantage on the valley he seemed determined to head toward.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:06, Fri 21 May 2021.

Thoren rode with Berion and Adham, keeping reasonably quiet but keeping his eye out on the surrounding environs, his eyes open for beasts or threats. Sailing the rivers, it was not unusual to keep abreast of such, and while he wouldn't be riding in a joust at any time, he didn't embarass himself ahorse, though clearly he was one more comfortable aboard a ship or a boat than an animal.

Still, it was rude to remain completely silent, and though he was clearly not as silver tongued as the young knight they rode with - frankly, he had been told that he made people uneasy - he thought to add his own thoughts.

"You are both the futures of your families, respectively. As a man married some years now, I say you could do little better than to marry a woman strong of wit. A marriage is an alliance, not merely between houses but between people. She will be a weapon by your side in any contest you go forward in, though she may not be in the field of battle. The weapons we lot contest with in this world are different than that of our wives, but if their wits are sharp they can help steward your progeny into increasingly better opportunities than could any sharp sword."

His eyes scanned the area around him even as he spoke.

OOC:
Awareness: Notice 21

08:53, Yesterday: Thoren Blackfin rolled 21 using 5d6, dropping the lowest dice only with rolls of 5,5,6,5,1.  Awareness (Notice).
This message was last edited by the player at 15:31, Fri 21 May 2021.

"Why do I have a sinking feeling that them getting along famously will come entirely at our expense?" Berion quickly quipped as he flashed the young Lychester heir a wink before falling silent and allowing Thoren to speak his piece.

When the Blackfin nobleman finished, Berion sat quietly for a few moments, his expression distant.  He was clearly lost in thought.

Shaking his head, as if to clear the fog from his mind, Berion gave Thoren an approving nod, before turning back to Adham and smiling once more.  "Well there you have it my friend!  As you said, you are truly blessed."
This message was last edited by the player at 20:18, Fri 21 May 2021.

Ser Adham nodded in appreciation at Thoren and Berion’s words, “I am glad, Sers, for my father and Ser Lyonel oft speak of the matter as a political affair, and the house retainers are either tight-lipped or,” he paused, the tips of his ears reddening slightly, “overly enthusiastic in their support.”

From the front of the group Gerhart spoke up, his voice gravelly and direct. He had discovered recent spoor of a stag and judging by its trail, it was one of great size. The trail led deep into the old growth of the forest.

The Hunt - Part Two

As the party ventured further into the forest, the foliage catches much of the sunlight above them, so that only a mismatched patter of light streams through into the twilight of the forest floor. Gerhart is confident in his tracking ability, and after less than an hour of careful tracking, raises an arm to indicate alarm and a call for quiet. Ahead, barely perceivable in the distance, on the ridge of a spur leading into a low valley, a great beast stands proudly, one ear twitching in the cool air as the many tines of its antlers create a slight whistling in the breeze. The stag's hide is a silvery grey, and in the dappled sunlight of the forest, nearly luminescent

OOC -
PC's Choose one of the following options.
Coordinate the pursuit [Max of one]
One of– Survival [Hunt], Warfare (tactics) or Will (Coordinate) DC 9.
Each degree of success grants a +1B to a pool of dice that can be used by other NPC’s or PC’s, though only +1B can be awarded for any given check.

Take the beast by surprise from range
First Stealth [Sneak] with a +1D bonus due to the poor lighting DC 12
Then Marksmanship with a -1D Penalty due to the poor lighting

Chase it down ahorse
First check Animal Handling [Ride] DC 9
Then Fighting [spears]  with a -1D Penalty due to the poor lighting. Make additional check for each degree of success on the Riding check beyond the first.

Hang back to keep an eye on things
Awareness [notice] with a -1D Penalty due to the poor lighting.
Hang back to pursue things of greater import [take the opportunity to continue an ongoing intrigue]

With Gerhart's excellent tracking abilities, he wasn't surprised that they came upon such a magnificent find within these woods. Positioned as it was on spur leading into a low valley, that would give it certain chances and direction for escape.

He looked at the others with him, and gestured his indications of a best approach using hand signals that would be apparent, and though used largely by men in battles, made sense enough in this context in terms of how he thought best they might coordinate their approach.

OOC:

Warfare: 15

Two Degrees of Success! So two checks can get a +1B each from this.

14:26, Today: Thoren Blackfin rolled 15 using 4d6 with rolls of 3,6,3,3.  Warfare.

There was no need for Gerhart to signal Berion to be quiet, for the sight of the majestic creature before them quickly robbed the young knight of the capability to speak.  However, despite his rather noticeable sense of awe, he quickly recovered, enough at least to catch Thoren's signing and give a nod of confirmation.

His muscles tensing in anticipation, Berion's eyes narrowed to slits as he waited for the attack to be signaled...

Animal Handling 14.

Fighting (Spears) - 17 / 16 respectively
This message was last edited by the player at 00:05, Mon 24 May 2021.

Darvil smiled as he rode in on his rouncy. He kept his hunting bow slung around him, with his quiver by his side in case he'd need to take a shot at the stag.


Would using a bow instead of a spear for chasing it down be acceptable?

16:49, Today: Darvil Blackfin rolled 18 using 4d6 with rolls of 6,5,3,4.  Ride 4 (after +1B).

13:34, Today: Darvil Blackfin rolled 5 using 2d6 with rolls of 3,2.  Spear Attack 2 (-1D).

13:33, Today: Darvil Blackfin rolled 7 using 2d6 with rolls of 5,2.  Spear Attack 1 (-1D).

This message was last edited by the player at 17:35, Thu 27 May 2021.

With hurried whispers, the party advances to take the creature first by stealth, and then by speed. Gerhart and Thoren whispered quickly to one another and communicated their shared plan with a few quick hand gestures to the others.

With a single blast of the horn, the hunters surged into action. Ser Adham, Ser Berion, and Darvil each circled wide, giving the stag less of a chance to spot their early approach.

When Thoren's signal came, Gerhart struck first, having snuck into a good vantage. Despite the gloom, his arrow would have struck true, save that the beast shifted its weight at the last moment, leaving the arrow buried in the thick beard of fur at its throat rather than its eye. With a great call of alarm the beast surged away from the emerging calls of pursuit.

The calls of hounds leading Ser Thoren, Gerhart, and the dismounted squires forced the stag the Great Stag off the slope of the spur and into the natural valley.

From left and right, the horsemen came, their boar spears catching tiny flashes of broken, dappled sunlight as they flanked the beast on its way into the valley.

Ser Berion took the first pass; striking the beast mightily with a blow that would have shattered ribs with the cross-shaft alone, and left a long trail of blood as the beast continued its ragged flight. Ser Adham the second, scoring a meaty hit with his own spear that tore the weapon from his hand.Next Darvil came, riding ably, but struggling with the unfamiliar weight of the boar spear while mounted; twice he struck in quick succession, but both times managed only a glancing blow that failed to penetrate the beast’s hide, bloodied though it was. Ser Berion finished the beast, driving an already-bloodied spear into the beast’s side.

With a great crash the beast collapsed in the middle of a wide clearing, far better lit that the confines of the forest the party had just passed through. Now still, the raw size of the beast was near breathtaking, standing a full twenty five hands high, and with a score of tines and prongs arcing from its antlers. Ser Adham whistled softly as he approached, having fetched his spear from the edge of the clearing where it had fallen free, “As great a prize as any claimed within these woods in a hundred years Ser Berion, and cannily driven to ground, Ser Thoren, Gerhart and Darvil, I daresay we have made a formidable showing against Ser Naton and the Tullisons.”

[4XP for each PC present, 1 Glory for Ser Thoren for taking effective command of a succesful hunt, 1 Glory for Ser Berion for striking the killing blow]