She takes a long, slow breath.  "Well.  He's smart, but he's still just a fox.  I know how to set snares.  Maybe if you can make a long enough diversion, he'll watch you.  That will let me set up some snares.  Then we can try to drive him through them."

“What’s to stop him from eating me while I create a diversion for you?” Tristan thinks of all the obnoxious sisters he used to live with down on the farm.

She rolls her eyes.  "It's just a fox.  You're probably bigger then it is."

Tristan considers calling her an animal other than a fox.  But finally he relents.  “Okay.  Any advice for what I should do for a diversion?”

She groans.  "I don't know.  Go out there.  Hoop.  Holler.  Dance a jig.  Just be noisy and get it's attention."

She points to the west, towards two large oak trees.  "I'll set the snares between those two trees.  Go off in the opposite direction until you can't see them, making noise all the way.  When you can't see them, stop and do something really loud for a while.  Then come running back.  I should have everything set up by then."

Tristan sighs, but does what she says.  He begins calling out theatrically for help, trying to look helpless and scared while he heads off in the opposite direction.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:54, Fri 29 Mar.

You head out, calling for aid in the voice of a trembling waif.

You lose sight of Petranilla, as she ducks between the two trees she indicated and seems to start doing something.  Then you are headed into the woods, and unable to see anything.

You can hear the rustle of leaves and the snap of branches.  An owl hoots.  A breeze kicks up and sends a cobweb fluttering into your cheek.

The moon shines brightly for a moment as you step into a space where it's light can fall between the overarching branches.  For a moment, it almost feels pleasant out here.

Then a cloud passes over the moon.

Everything goes quiet.  Even the breeze stops blowing.  The only thing making noise is you.

And then something else starts making noise.  A loud pop and snap.  A stick on the ground snapping as something steps on it.  Off to your right, about thirty paces you figure.

Then another twig snaps.  Fallen leaves rustle as something passes through them.

And for some reason, it sounds like something large.

There's a thumping sound.  Like huge feet are pounding across the forest floor.  Heading your way.

Something seems to be coming.

I stop making noise and try to get away.  Do I spot any good places to hide?  I’m rapidly losing faith in this Petranilla person, not that I had much to begin with.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:26, Fri 05 Apr.

The lumbering is coming closer and closer...

Scanning around, you see two trees you feel you can climb up with little trouble.  One to your left and one behind you, in the direction the lumbering is coming from.

You could dart off to your right as well.  There are some rather tall bushes over there.

Of course trying to run back to Petronilla's trap is also an option.

I’ll try running back to Petronilla’s trap, although I rather suspect she has done me wrong.  Still, I try to execute the plan of luring the beast.

It seems you're both right and wrong.

Petronilla is there, tying a strip of cloth she tore off her skirt onto a stake she's driven in the ground.

She stares back at you, obviously surprised.

"What? You should be dead-"

She stops as the thing chasing you comes into view.

It's not a fox.

It's a large boar.

She obviously wasn't expecting that.

But you think she has set up some kind of trap where she said she would.

Let me know if a map would help

I run towards her, and past her, if I can.  Now I’m deliberately trying to lure the boar directly to her and I don’t give a damn what it does when it reaches her.

She really shouldn’t have said, ‘you should be dead’.

Yeah.  I thought that would get under your skin.

Make me an Athletics/Qik check please.  Stress die.

Thanks

16:08, Today: Tristan rolled 7 using 1d10-2 ((9)).

That may be your best roll of this game

Petronilla blinks as you hop...actually leap...past her.  It takes her by surprise so much that she seems to have forgotten about the boar.

It plows into her.  YOu hear her scream as the boar gores her with its tusk.

Still running?  Or staying to watch?

Still runnning.  I know that old fable about curiosity and the cat.

You hear Petronilla scream and the boar grunt.  Then there's silence.  You continue to run.

As you push further into the woods, you think you can hear soft voices.  From where they come, you can't say.  You're not even sure you are really hearing them.

...you left her...

...left her...

...her.  no more...

...poor thing...

...someone's guilty...

...guilty guilty...

You can see a break in the trees up ahead.  It looks like you're coming up to the foot of a hill.  You can climb it or skirt around the base to the left or right.

I’ll climb it.  If I can, while I do so, I try to get an idea of where those voices are coming from.

You scurry up the hill. It's at an incline, but you're young.  You tough it through and pull your self up onto the crest.

Someone's stuck a torch into the ground at the top of the hill.  Huddling beneath it, trembling, is a fox.

“Hello, Mr. Fox,” I say quietly.

The fox glances at you and then back around.  It slowly, and warily, gets to it's feet.  Paws.  Whatever.

Two things happen simultaneously.  |

First, you hear the growl of dogs.  Big dogs.  The noise seems to surround you from behind.

Second, a large spear thrusts itself into the ground beside you.  It's a huge spear.  You doubt a normal man could handle it.

The fox tenses up and goes low to the ground.  As if it's going to rush away.

You can tell someone besides the dogs is standing behind you.

I turn and look, while simultaneously getting ready to run.  (I know, difficult... but I try it.)

By the way... am I still in the form of a human boy?  I'm wondering if I've been changed...

So, I'm trying to do three things at once here.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:25, Thu 25 Apr.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 88):

Yes.  You are still a boy

Behind you is a large, rough looking man.  He's wearing leathers and some kind of ornate helmet covered in stag antlers.

Around him, a pack of large hunting dogs...more like hunting wolves...are growling at you.  Their eyes are glowing a reddish color.

You hurry down the hill as the man pulls the spear out of the ground.  Beside you, the fox dashes along.

Do you have an Area Lore ability?  I can't recall.  If so, please make a Area Lore/Int test for me please.  Thanks

OOC: I have an Area Lore, but it’s from my exploring childhood and I don’t know if it applies to where I’m at now.  Should I still roll?

Yes.  In this case, the specific knowledge may transfer