Maneback Hunting in Silvervein - RPLOG
From Rusted Promises
Participants
Date
22/9/478
Log
Light rain falls onto the trail that curves through the forested valley, though the weather could be far worse. There is no sign of the pack yet, however some distant howls can occasionally be heard from somewhere nearby.
Fenris rides along on the back of his enormous purple buffalo. "What do you think brought the manebacks down this far?" he asks, checking the large, long-bladed spear strapped to his back and looking around at the rainy landscape.
The plant being walks across the valley, a gentle smile on his face and a salamander on his side. "Hmmm, lovely rain." he says as the rain showers the young being's flower hair, "Hope you are ready for a fight, Zuri. Manebacks tend to be aggressive when in packs." he tells his companion with a smile.
Natska walks along next to Fenris, Cassidy at her side. The jaguar gives her head a small shake, then glances up at Fenris. "Could be anything. Other predators pushing them out. Searching for food. The jarls are related to manebacks, as well, perhaps they were misidentified."
Cassidy shuffles alongside Natska, holding an umbrella over their heads as she trecks through the pass. "Maybe. If they're from the north, I do not know what would be causing it, honestly. Can't imagine they have much competitors aside from other manebacks. There's not THAT many varied things until you get really far north. At least, not that I have seen."
A deep howl can be heard through the bickering of the rain and the unnerving feeling of being watched is spreading through the group.
Cassidy pauses in her tracks, furrowing her brow. "We're already being watched," she says, slipping one of her throwing knives from its holster. "And I would like to get further before we start getting hounded," she flicks her wrist, hurling the knife towards the underbush. She hated to kill it, but she supposed that was what they were here for anyway.
Zuri smiles at Rokarion, nodding at his comment. "Of course I'm ready for a fight! Mind, I had to leave my usual weapons back home, because.." He would happily have continued on his distracted ramble were it not for Cassidy suddenly stopping and flinging a knife at a brush. He blinks. "Huh?" He scrambles to grab his shortbow and notches an arrow just in case another fight happens. "Did you get it?"
Fenris hops lightly down from his mount to stalk toward the bush. "Well spotted," he compliments Cassidy, bending down to examine the downed maneback, "How is this one so far from the pack?" He loosens his spear in its bindings to let it slide into his hands as he looks around.
Rokarion nods his head at Zuri, "Ah, left them..." he attempts to say before their conversation is interrupted by Cassidy. "Hmmm, being watched by the manebacks or someone else?" he asks as he looks at Zuri, putting a hand on his shoulder as he begins casting a calcified flesh spell.
Natska frowns. Her ear flicks and she looks around, then nods at Cassidy. "I don't think the others will be too far away..."
"Probably not," Cassidy agrees, looking towards the others. "It was a maneback. Just one. Why it was this far? I don't know. Maybe it was a sort of... Scout? Seems odd for a maneback, but I've encountered lone manebacks before. Bring my knife back, would you?"
As if on command, there is another howl to be heard right after Natska finishes her sentence. Only this time it is echoed by a whole choir and the first sounds of rapid movement can be heard around the group as suddenly two relatively small manebacks pounce out of the undergrowth and onto Zuri and Rokarion. The small salamander is knocked over as the beast bites into his arm, but remains relatively safe thanks to the calcified flesh spell that has been cast earlier. Rokarion suffers a similar fate, having been knocked over by the surprise attack and having a maneback attempt to chew on his magically protected calf.
Zuri yelps as he's pounced on so suddenly that he barely had the time to react. Pinned as he is he cannot make good use of his readied bow. He lets go of that weapon and, since his right arm is currently being chewed on by the wolf he raises his left hand at the creature and tries to grip its flank while weaving a little bit of Fire Math into his touch.
Fenris plucks the knife from where it is lodged in the emaciated maneback's throat to pass back to Cassidy. "Looks hungry," he says, "Hunting has not been good, it seems." His head jerks up at the sound of the howl and surprise attack. The tiger gently flips Cassidy's knife to her as he whips his spear into action to slice into the attacking pack.
Rokarion lets out a soft not-so-surprised eep as he falls down on the ground, the plant being having just enough time to weave a quick spell to quickly raise some of the dirt to cover his calf as the maneback attempts to chew on it. "I don't like needless cruelty, but you forced the issue." he tells the maneback with a hint of guilt in his gentle tone. With that, Rokarion quickly draws a circle in the air with his finger as he attempts to arouse the ground underneath the maneback, planning on impaling him and lifting him in the air.
Natska tenses and turns as the group is attacked, her long sword sliding from its scabbard. She lunges forward and chops down at the maneback's exposed neck, trying to help Zuri get free.
Rokarion rubs his calf as the maneback biting it is no more. The plant being begins attempting to stand up as he notices another one of the manebacks rushing at him. "Give me a moment to take a breath, would you kindly?" he says in irritation as he leans down to touch the ground, muttering an equation as he attempts to control the dirt underneath the charging maneback, attempting to make him sink into a muddy prison.
The maneback that was attacking Rokarion is swiftly, yet brutally killed by the earthen spike the plant being created, while the one on Zuri, which had initially let go of the Salamander, due to the heat, is swiftly decapitated by Natska. The sense of victory does not last long however as two more of the canine creatures sprint at the group, one of them jumping up at Natska and finding an exposed spot in her armor, where it gives her a nasty bite. The one headed for Rokarion is in for a nasty surprise however, as its paws sink into the ground and get stuck thanks to his magic.
Zuri rolls out of his supine position, throwing Natska a thankful smile after springing back to his feet. He watches as one of the manebacks tries to charge at Rokarion, and draws both daggers to charge back at the creature, twin blades slicing through the air to both thrust at the beast simultaneously.
Fenris bellows a nonsense word command to his shaggy buffalo, sending it stampeding into the pack while he himself charges into battle, his long spear arcing toward the beast attacking Natska.
Rokarion takes a deep breath, the plant being excessive use of divine maths in such a short period of time causing him a light headache that keeps getting worse. Shaking his head, Rokarion decides to let out another spell as he bites his lower lip and begins drawing three different geometric symbols in the air, attempting to wrap his allies in a layer of earthen armor and soothing water magics to ease their wounds, and of course protecting himself as well.
