Monster Hunter - Presented by S:ARG (low/mid fantasy, medieval, fantasy)

[Azseth]

THIS RP IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY S:ARG.
This RP is currently CLOSED to non-S:ARG members.
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Link to OOC

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The Kingdom of Trayv has stood for over 400 years, the family ruling over the realm without reproach since the day it came into power. Isolated from the rest of the other kindgoms by a large sea, Trayv is left to it's own and rarely are they visited by the realm's Greater King. Backed, at least outwardly, by the Church of Verzol, the two parties hold absolute power over the entire area.

Over the last couple hundred years, as the ruling family seemed to grow more mad and more paranoid, they retreated further and further behind the palace walls. Rarey now, if ever do the royal family members venture out. Outside the walls, there are small cities, towns and villages that farm, fish and produce food for the kingdom, but they are mainly left to fend for themselves as the Royal Army is too busy defending the walls of the capital from imaginary enemies or threats based on little more than paranoia.

Then the monsters came. Slowly stories came, but most were thought to be nothing but stories. The Royal Army was sent to investigate a few times, and once contact was made and casualties were taken, the Trayv's decided they could not afford to spare soldiers who could be protecting the family for matter such as peasants and farmers dying. Instead, they decided to rewards those who protected themselves with gold and gifts and favors.

The era of Monster Hunters had begun. Ranging from former soldiers to criminals to mobs with pitchforks to those legitimatley raised to do nothing BUT hunt monsters, it's a chaotic world filled with death and danger and darkness.

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Concepts and important stuffs.

1. This RP is FAST PACED. That means ANY player should expect to post, at LEAST, very least TWICE a WEEK.
2. As with all my RPs, if you do not move, other players will move you, think of you like an NPC. Again, I expect this done tastefully and in minor ways and not just because. ASK ME IF THIS IS UNCLEAR!!!
3. READ THIS part, in ORANGE text in regards to any of the SLs I host.
4. Create shit. Make things happen. Submit monster ideas to me. BE PART OF THIS WORLD!
5. When I create the OOC thread, it's for OOC related to the RP only. If you want to shoot the shit or chat, do it here, or in another forum please.
6. This is key I think. None of our characters should be over powered. I want this group to depend on one another. They may excell in their role, but not be able to solo kill most monsters. I will let you know if there are issues with this.

1. Magic is mundane. Less destructive fireballs and acid bolts. More wards, dwoemers, repels and healing. Other spells augment people and things physically. Keep offensive spells to a minimum.
2. This is a LIGHT fantasy, perhaps mid.
3. Antagonists are monsters right now, not the Royal Family.
4. Monsters will be up to us to create. Again, like #4 of OOC, make stuff happen when recquired.
5. While I plan on playing most of the monsters, if there is interaction with your character, feel free to do what you want, so long as it's nothing absolutely crazy and understand that I have final say on monster actions.
6. Create NPCs. I am NOT the only one running them.

I'll create a char sheet of my own for you all to use as templates.

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The town of Blackstone was days away from the capital and they'd sent word that there was a monster two days prior. Word may not just be getting there, but truth be told, the villagers didn't expect help. Instead, they also sent word that they were in dire need of a Hunter, so far that word hadn't garnered any results.

At first, there was growling in the night, off in the distance accompanied by the horrible feeling that something was watching, always just out of sight, but always there and causing the hair on the back of ones neck to stand up. Then one night it was spotted, a humanoid…thing. Hairy, vaguely resembling what one would think a werewolf would look like but more squat, more animalistic.

The next night it chased a girl to her door and when she locked herself in and her family woke, the thing ran back off into the night. A group of 3 men went out with 2 dogs and never came back that night and the thing wasn't seen again.

The next night, they found the door of a small home destroyed and the elder could inside…well, they weren't found so much as what was found of them. At that point, everyone began moving in groups and sleeping in larger groups and while there were no attacks, the people knew it was out there at night, stalking, waiting…growing hungry.

A few days later, a girl going to a well for water left and never returned and the group searching for her found only a bloody mess and rags near the well.

Since then, the town has become a ghost town, filled with fear and despair. No one went anywhere alone, people spent little time doing anything productive. They hid, and they lived and hoped for a Hunter, deciding that if nothing changed in the next few days, they would all just leave, and hope to find someplace safe...
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[Zhaliora]

Judas made it to the village several hours ago with Emma. It was a random stroke of luck that they chanced upon the village as they had missed whatever runner had left the town days before. But monster hunters all had different methods of finding work. Some waited near the Capital, some simply killed monsters and presented the corpses and others, like Judas and Emma wandered. They would catch runners, see flyers or hear criers and sometimes, like today, they would chance upon a village.

The pay for this job was good, which wasn't always a good thing because pay was generally indicative of the thread of the monster. However, as there was no science to assessing monsters, sometimes the pay was not too accurate. Based on the stories they heard from the villagers though, this one would be no push over. The tracks that Judas could find were odd, looking canine but there were only two, with an occasional claw mark that seemed more like a clawed hand on the ground. However, the thing most odd is that they based the size of the creature at nearly 6 feet and stocky, but it's tracks appeared light, almost as if a rabbit or some other small creature left them.

"What're your thoughts Emma?"

Emma examined the tracks left by the beast. "I don't really know, to be honest, they are too light to be a big creature, but the size says otherwise." Emma scanned the area, looking for some other clue as to what may have been leaving the tracks. "Hey, Judas!" Emma shouted from some trees in the background "There are scratch marks on this tree, have a look." Emma stroked the trunk of the tree, mumbling a few words while waiting for Judas to arrive.

"Yeah, this is very unusual for sure. Also makes it hard to tell how long ago it was here." He glanced around casually. He was confident the thing wasn't near. After hunting for so long, you could almost feel when it was there, if it was watching you or stalking you. It wasn't absolute, but it was more common that you could feel it than not. He was saving up for an enchanted ring that would allow him slightly heightened senses, that was his next goal, and he wasn't far off.

"Glad it's not raining again today, would have washed these tracks right away." He gradually met up with her and watched her for a moment, adjusting his gear for a moment. His shield was strapped to his right hand and he had no weapon in hand. His shield was almost never slung or put up, that was a thing with him.

After finishing her detection spell, Emma looked towards the approaching Judas. "These marks were made around three days ago and the beast left in the northern direction." she frowned and muttered quietly "If I only had more training, perhaps I could have been able to know more." But just as quickly as the frown had showed itself on her face, it disappeared again and was replaced with her smiling face. "Oh well, I too am really happy that it's not raining right now, it would have made it really hard to find these marks after all, and my cloths would be all wet again, leather becomes so heavy when it's wet." Emma sat down, resting her back against the trunk. "I am so tired, we have been tracking for the entire day without rest" she said while she stretched her body. "Too bad we don't have a job right now, I really miss a warm and comfortable bed to sleep in, instead of a tent and a sleeping bag."

"This IS a job, you mean we don't have any money," he chuckled. Well, HE had money, but whatever he spent on food, or bed or women couldn't be spent on his ring. And Judas WANTED that ring. "And you spell slingers, you're so soft" he joked. "Wet this, heavy that. Like I always say, cry in the training room, laugh on the battlefield." He leaned over her, his arm on the tree as he scanned, not in much of a hurry.

"When I was in the Army, we were given lots of stuff, beds, food, girls, whatever. But I always saw it make the other guys soft. We were supposed to be strong warriors, hard and stout. Most of them wouldn't have lasted a day outside the wall, they'd have sat under it crying. I guess that's why I'm still here. They ate and drank and whored, then put on some mail and a uniform, I trained. Then, I found myself standing against a tree and rambling about shit that doesn't matter," he chuckled at himself, suddenly feeling slightly self-conscious. He debated offering to train her, help mould her into something a little...tougher, but opted against it, at least for now, they had other things to worry about.

"Don't remind me" she chuckled back "I know that we have no money" Emma closed her eyes and rested against the trunk. "If my old master saw this, he would be mad at me for not still standing up" she said with a happy grin on her face as she recalled her old master's words. "I miss the army somewhat, it was nice there, part from the other soldiers tried to get into my pants, your squad included" she said and opened her eyes again, only to find Judas leaning in over her. "If I remember correctly, you even tried once, some bet was it?" she chuckled. "*sigh* Guess we should get back to tracking down this beast again, at least until it gets dark" she looked up towards the sky; it was getting darker "or should we find a good campsite instead before it gets completely black?"

Truth be told, there wasn't anything that Judas missed about the Army or the Capital except the training afforded. They had gear, they had good Masters at Arms and they had facilities. Early in his life, Judas was born and raised outside the wall, so he was not raised in the posh and upper-class setting; it was something he gradually attained. That early life, being a child growing up with only the things you worked for and could provide yourself, which was why he felt so strongly about helping those who could use it, those who couldn't defend themselves or hide behind walls.

When Emma spoke about "that time" he got very uncomfortable and looked away, his cheeks turning a light shade of red. It was a bet, and it was one of the few times he was in his cups and he had other guys egging him on. That part of him, the part that actually TALKED to a female, or displayed interest in them or pursued them rarely made its way to the surface. When he spoke, he avoided the situation entirely. "Let's go a bit further. I've never been scared of the dark." One thing he DID have was a thumb ring that was enchanted to give him the ability to see at night, better than some animals, and so far that investment paid off MANY times over. He extended his hand towards her to help her rise.

Emma grabbed Judas extended hand and got up on her feet again. "Thank you Judas" she said with a smile on her face. "All right then, let's get going, guess I'll have to trust in that ring of yours again. Ahh man, I really wish I could cast magic to enchant more items, and not just persons and some items" she jokingly complained and started casting the night sight spell on her own eyes, her pupils changing into those of a cat's. "I am probably never going to get used to these eyes, they feel so, foreign." She then started purring and she nestled closer to Judas and meowed like a cat, lightly scratching her "paw" against his cheek. *meow?* she said and tilted her head.

He cleared his throat and stiffened up awkwardly, not really wanting to push her away but definitely taken aback by her being in such close proximity. The touch on the cheek and bit of flirting put him even more at ease. He turned his head away from her touch, feigning as if he were scanning. "We should get going. It's uh, getting dark. Like you said. Interesting spell." He stammered out whatever came to mind, very much desiring some space and to be on the move, anything except this awkward situation.

"Haha, you're so cute" she said while she brushed against his shoulder with her hand. "But, yeah, let's get going then" she said and walked over to her dropped backpack and picked it up again. "Due north we go!" she cheerfully said while taking long strides in the northern direction, following what her spell had told her about the path of the beast they were tracking. She took one quick glance behind her to see if Judas was following her, then she kept looking at the trees and on the ground after further scratch and paw marks. After a while, she spotted more scratch marks on the trees, and some clothing on the ground, stained with blood. "Judas, I found some cloths, perhaps they would fit you" she said and held up the blood stained rags. "But I think you'll need to wash them before you wear them, they are all blood-stained."

"Yeah, I say that we leave those there." He studied them and looked around, very happy to be free of the uncomfortable situation. Everyone had always teased him about his clumsiness around females and he never got past it. He adjusted his sword belt again and continued slowly forward, studying the ground. His tracking was limited to physical information, so he looked and smelled when necessary. "It doesn't look like something died here, that rag was probably in a claw or stuck somewhere. At least we know we're headed in the right direction. Would you feel ok camping out tonight? Looking around, we either are staying out or need to head back to the village."

He wasn't sure what to do, it was always safer to stay inside, but that trek would cost them time. But sometimes, that time was worth not staying out in the wilderness where a confirmed monster was stalking about...

Emma took a good look at the rags and chanted the same detection spell that she had used earlier. "According to my spell, this was left here two days ago, and the tracks keep going north. I think that we would be safe if we camped outside tonight. It took us so long to find these tracks, and with the weather being so unstable, I don't want to lose the beast again. We have already lost it once in that rain a few days ago. Besides I want it brought down fast, before it kills more of the villagers, they don't have the power to defend themselves." Emma looked around, the area was easy to defend and with low-branched trees if they needed to escape up into them, also there was a small stream of water nearby. "I think this site should be a good place to set camp. Can you set up the tent while I gather some firewood?"

"Yeah. Can't wait til you can afford your own damn tent," he muttered as he dropped his own gear and the two of them started to set up camp in relative silence, at least for the duration of the set up.

"So, oh great hunter, what is for supper? I am starving" Emma asked Judas when they had finished setting up the camp and some firewood was ready to be lit. Suddenly a small breeze blew through the camp and Emma was able to smell her own body odour for a second. "Bleah, I really need to take a bath. I'll take a bath in the stream nearby while you hunt for food, all right?" Emma said with her biggest smile and then fetched her bathing supplies from her backpack and walked off towards the river. "Brr, it's cold" she muttered and channelled the cold resistance spell her master had taught her and got undressed and then got into the water, washing away the dirt from days of traveling.

[Herion]

The wind was blowing gently, spraying sea foam across the deck of Maiden's Sorrow as the ship sailed quickly through the ocean. Valen La' Verne had spent the entire trip atop the ship, residing next to the main mast of the vessel, passing the time strumming songs of old and conversing with other passengers on the ship. Despite good conditions, the journey has begun to wear on Valen midway through the third day, as he had never before traveled by sea. The young man missed having his feet on solid ground, rather than be stuck above an endless abyss. On the dawn of the 7th day, Valen could see the land of Trayv on the horizon or so he was told by the crew of Maiden's Sorrow. Valen was also informed of the particular plague in the land of Trayv; monsters.

"This land of Trayv is not to be taken lightly my boy, it is home to things you cannot even imagine," the ship's cook said to Valen one evening, "Tread lightly or you may not return home. All over the land, rampant beasts terrorize villages without remorse, and prey on the weak. I would advise your immediate departure, 'cause you look child without hair on his chest." Valen only smiled as the cook belittled him. The young bard felt confident he would be able manage, because the stories couldn't really be that bad. Monsters were creatures of myth, most likely blown out of proportion. Valen saw it only as an opportunity to solidify his name in the history of music, as a bard. Smiling at the cook, Valen thanked him and returned to his spot atop the ship.

Maiden's Sorrow made land fall at a port town located between what he was told the capital city and the town of Blackstone. Thanking the members of the crew, Valen gathered his possessions and made his way off the ship, starting his journey towards fame. On his back, Valen strapped his bow and quiver and attached his dagger to his belt. Hanging on his side was his well-worn lute, an instrument he has cherished since childhood, coming from a large group of performers. As Valen placed a foot on solid ground, a wave of relief flowed over him and stress faded from his body. He was not a creature of the sea, and he praised all things good Valen was safely on the ground. Shaking his blonde hair, the young bard took his first steps into the country of Trayv.

As he started down the road, Valen saw a lone figure in the distance moving at incredible speed towards him. Standing to the side of the road, a messenger came to a halt infront of him.

"You there! Can you use that bow?"The messenger shouted at Valen, to which he nodded. "Very good then. The town of Blackstone needs some assistance. They are plagued by a monstrous beast, and you will be compensated for your help. Without another word, the messenger continued off leaving Valen standing the dust, baffled at the messenger's requisition on his services. Turning to where the messenger came from, Valen unstrung his lute, began playing and walked down the path. "I'm sure I'll be fine." Valen laughed to himself as he began to walk.

[Hymusia]

The earth beneath her feet, the wind in her face and the feel of her muscles burning as she stretched them in ways few humans ever used their muscles. Few humans needed to use them the way Illia [I](Ill-ee-ah) did, though species classification was something she had not bothered with for years now. The flash of her silver pelt as she darted between tree's and the feel of mud between her toes and fingers, it was enough for her. The sun was gentle that day but no matter that for she had prey today and prey was chased and caught no matter the weather.

This particular prey had entered her woods at the rising of the sun and since that time the wild girl had followed him. Dogging his shadow and leaping from behind tree's and into bushes, unseen by the prey she followed. He seemed in an awful hurry to get somewhere and the woman was curious enough to follow him. When he did spot what appeared at a glance to be a hulking wolf he let out a girlish scream and ran face first into a branch. Illiah ad to stop and sat back on her heels with head tilted in a quizzical manner. What a useless hunter this one made, surely only stock for prey, yet weren't these people supposed to have more grace?

It was true she had not seen a two legged, aside from the birds, for many a long year but she didn't remember them to be so clumsy. With a curious sound that almost sounded as a growl she watched the oddly gawky human spring back up and run further. While her feral mind tried to wrap around the human mystery she inadvertently gave him a ten second head start and he'd burst out of the trees to run along the path instead.

With a small sigh and a shake of her head, which sent beads clacking and chiming, she righted herself and once more gave chase. The way she ran was much like an ape, she used the balls of her feet and the flats of her hands, bounding with an awkward grace to her. Her furs rustled with the movement but more worryingly was the bow strapped beneath the pelt and the spear she managed to carry in one hand as she ran. No doubt these being what the man saw as he'd popped back up, as well as the blood covered lower half of her face and the mud that smeared her once pretty features.

She remained in the tree line, darting between roots and following the man's path, though staying just out of his sight and hearing so that eventually, she watched him calm down and further that saw him burst into a port village. She skidded to a halt, slipping from the tree line into the road and with a quick glance around behind one of the large shipping containers at the edge of the road. The man she chased had found another but she could not peer enough around the crates to see what this other was. Carefully she began to climb the container, slinking low against the box and listening to the conversation.

It was all too quickly done with and her prey had moved on, leaving just a blonde creature, all on his own, in the middle of the road. Illia canted her head in confusion and kneaded her hands in a rather feline way against the box. It was her way of showing her confusion and uncertainty. What was the prey talking to this other prey about? Was it about her? She had not properly heard a word that was uttered between them, only one had reached her ears as she climbed to her vantage point. Monster.

As the boy prey went to move off back the way the skulking beast had come she made a decision, without a thought she raised her rear and readied her body before pushing off the box and aiming to land on them ans back. If he fell with her weight she was as likely to skid off of him and have to right herself quickly as she was to stay atop his weight and regardless of which she stayed on fours and growled, offering only a handful of intelligible words. “Ki kote ou ale? Ki kote lachas pou?”

[Herion]

Valen began to sing his song about a fat ogre, taking in the landscape around him. The area was lush with trees and wildlife, so much so he could swear he saw bushes moving all around him. At that moment, Valen La' Verne decided that he liked Trayv, and that all the fuss about monsters had not affected a large portion of the country. That opinion of Trayv was about to change, and it was about to change very fast.

Valen was just about to hit the chorus of the song, The Fat Ogre, when he felt an immense pressure slam against his back. His lute flew off to the side of the road as he crashed into the ground, landing on the hilt of his dagger. Letting out a groan, he saw what he could only describe as "a thing" slide over him and land on its feet. The thing uttered a few unfamiliar words and stared at Valen's crumpled form on the ground. Shaking his head, Valen rose to his knees and met the eyes of the thing before and came to a realization. This "creature" looked oddly human and seemed to be wearing a wolf pelt for clothing. Staring in disbelief, Valen jumped to his feet and shouted, Is this what all people of Trayv are like? I guess that messenger was a foreigner like me!"'

He quickly ran over to wear his lute had fallen and placed it over his shoulder once more. Valen turned towards the woman before him and stared once more with an inquisitive expression. Taking a step towards her, the young bard was hesitant to go further, as this thing had just assaulted him without reason. When he was about 3 paces from her, Valen took to one knee and continued to stare as he had before. In his homeland, people were civilized and not wild creatures roaming the land, attacking for the hell of it. He has not heard stories of the wild people of Trayv but, it only gave him an idea for a song. "I'd like to play my new composition for you, miss," Valen said with a cheery smile as he began to hum a melody.

"The land of Trayv, home to many, including creatures of the day, in and outside of fine cities..."

Valen paused has he thought about the lyrics he had just sung. They didn't make much sense and he decided he would return to it later when he had a moment to think, so he returned to the animal woman. "What exactly are you ma'am? Are you the daughter of a lion and a wolf? Or perhaps one of these monsters I have heard so much about?" He resisted the urge to pat her head as he stared at the wild woman before him. Valen made note of the claw like hands and feet, which obviously helped her be as agile as she appeared.

[Hymusia]

As she landed dust got caught in her nose, shaking her head and swiping it with the side of her hand she sneezed quietly, a small and rather cute 'tchee' noise that escaped her lips and rather conflicted with her thus far 'scary' demeanour. As if disgusted with the noise herself she shook from head to rump while keeping her muddy green eyes on the puffed up parrot in front of her. She didn't trust two legged people, all those coverings, always something to hide. When was the last time she'd even seen one? She wasn't sure she'd stopped counting time long ago, ironically she wasn't sure how long.

As he moved to fetch his rather rubbish bludgeoning weapon she snarled, lowering further on her arms with her legs curled beneath her, ready to throw her forward again if needs be. She didn't fear his weapon, he was clearly no fighter of any kind and his weapon seemed basically flawed. Too heavy at one end with a handle that was difficult to grip. Whatever person had taught him to make weapons was a very poor one indeed. It was a surprise he had stayed alive so long with his rather obvious outfit and his basic flattened stick.

When he in fact did not come to hit her with it but dared to come closer she slid back one leg and pulled herself backwards by it, until she was resting on the ball of that foot, the other leg in front of her though that too sliding back just as slowly. She once again snarled, her lips pulling back to reveal pink teeth, no doubt stained by the same blood that coated her face. Why was the parrot getting so close to her and what were those noises coming out of it's face hole? Her brow furrowed in intense concentration but she pretty much drew a blank, the man was trying to torture her with some kind of resonance and vibration attack. Which made her hiss and draw back, swiping forward in a threatening motion with a hand.

When he finished his feeble attack he sprouted more words and she blinked utterly dumb to what he had just said. Clearly whatever manner of prey this was it was not a threat, it did not even have the natural defences most had and it's bright colours didn't seem to denote any form of toxin. With it crouched this low as well it had made itself rather prone, all she had to do was skewer it if it made one wrong move.

With confidence returning she began to pace around the creature in a slow circles, keeping a distance of five to ten feet in each direction. Taking in its appearance with a certain curiosity. It's claws were stubby and weak, while hers were not made for rending they were sharp and jagged and blackened from dirt both above and below the nail. One leg slid in front of her and she rocked forward, grabbing a handful of his hair and yanking it to her face so she might smell it. Salty, like the sea but pretty like flowers as well. She rocked back again and then began to talk once again, in her oddly deep but predatory tone which rasped on certain tones due to lack of use. “Fouri ou a kout, fatra, pran sant flè. Ki kouvri klere tankou zwazo, pa gen kouvèti bon, prwa estipid. Poukisa ki lach tankou plim, plim zwazo mat, vole pa? Ki sa ki bwa plat se? Bwa pa bon pou lachas. Ki sa ki sou de pye?”

As she spoke she continued to pull at him, pacing to a point and then grabbing the sleeve of his tunic, lifting it up only to drop it with a wrinkled nose and a shake of her head that sent beads and bone flying about her cheeks. Pulling away in the same swift motion that had bought her close, second she went for the lute, poking it and plucking the strings without intent, the noise I made caused a small yip and a snarl to follow before she rocked back and grabbed instead at one of his boots and tugged on the top of it. Giving it a curious sniff before once again leaning away and pacing back to the front of the man the distance between them kept, if not increased a little ways. “kote ou ale? Ou lachas mons? Ou pa lachas, mwen lachas! Ou zwazo, estipid zwazo.”

[Azseth]

The two woke up early and broke down camp with no significant events. After taking down a wile chicken and eating, Judas himself went to bath and then spent the rest of the night before bed tending to his gear. They chatted about nothing in particular and then Emma went to bed while he stayed on watch.

The night was uneventful all the way until watch change and they both slept for a bit when the sun was up and there was little danger. Then they ate breakfast and set on their ways.

Picking up where they had left off, they followed the trail and got back into the hunting mind-set. "I haven't come across a creature like this before, or at least I don't think I have. What about you?"

"Neither have I. I've only come across the small dog-things, noting of this size" Emma said while taking a closer look at the tracks. "The dog-things are easy to dispatch, but they always come in groups, this one is walking around alone, and from the information that we've got, it's strong and fast. I don't know about this one Judas, I wonder if we'll be able to take it down."

"I'm sure it's not the first time you've wondered that though," he answered as she slowed slightly to look down at the tracks. He continued forward but not so quickly as to leave her behind. Normally he wouldn't have fretted but this thing was known to attack during the day as of recent. "Just keep to the norm. Stay behind me and do your thing. In the event it gets by, do your repels and whatever other tricks you have up your sleeve."

Per usual, he had his shield slung to his right arm and his left arm was empty. Many fighters made the mistake of holding onto weapons for too long, actually tiring themselves without noticing it. His shield though, he was used to that, trained at it being there and sometimes when training, would hold it up for hours just because.

Few people knew this, Emma included, but most of his clothing had excess weight to it and he also wore a pair of ankle and wrist cuffs whose only purpose was to add weight. They could be shed at a moment’s notice and allow him to move faster when needed, but helped restrain him when sometimes adrenaline would kick in and make him go all out.

"Haha, it might not be the first time," she laughed, but then her face turned grim "but this time, I'm serious, I'm worried Judas." Emma sped up so that she was walking next to Judas. "I think you'll have to drop those precious weights of yours the moment we find it." Emma suddenly stopped, frozen in place. "Judas, look at that" she said and pointed towards a nearby tree, it was ripped clean off near the bottom and an animal carcass was lying on the ground.

In his typically dry sense of humor that rarely conveyed anything too negative, replied with a small chuckle "well. That's not good." He looked around and noticed the blood was dried slightly and the large doe, what remained of it, was cold. That coupled with the fact that last night they'd heard no tree splintering or falling told him that this thing was at least a day away. Not picking up on the fact that the tree being destroyed as if it were silk is what Emma was trying to convey, or just choosing not to focus on it, he continued on. Speaking as if it the scene behind them never happened, he went on "I am very close to that ring, this may be the one that puts me with enough to land it. It'll help us both out a lot."

"Aren't you missing the bigger picture here? *Sigh* Fine, forget it" Emma said when Judas just went by the tree and then caught up to him again. Emma gave the tree one last worried look. "Guess there is no way to talk some sense into him now, he's set his mind on this, damn it all." Emma's usual cheerfulness and optimism was nowhere to be found, she was honestly scared and that Judas ignored the most potent proof on how strong the beast they where chasing is did not sit right with her. She had little choice however, her time on her own before she met up with other hunters and before she teamed up with Judas had taught her that lone is weak. If she went back to the village, if either of them found the beast or a group of other beasts, they would probably not make it. They had to stick together, even if she did not like the situation right now.

"Have you found any fresh tracks?"

He had been been walking and half paying attention at the thought of his ring when he realized that Emma was talking, catching only the last question. 'Pay attention, stupid. Can't buy a ring if you're dead.'

"Eyes on the prey, not on the horizon," he muttered and regained his focus. "A few, nothing fresh."

Then he stopped. He knew Emma would see him and, if she hadn't felt IT, would notice the sudden cease in movement and taken the hint. His hand went to his sword, but that was the only immediate movement as he waited, knowing that drawing his sword was movement to be seen and that drawing a sword made a sound.

The sun was still rising behind them and the wind was blowing in their faces lightly, so as the thing came into view, it couldn’t smell them or see them immediately, both of which were planned. The thing had an extremely peculiar gait to it, somewhat like a hyena as it's back legs were shorter and bent. It appeared to be capable of moving on it's back to legs, but it obviously had a preference to all fours. Even bent and moving on all fours, the top of it's head came roughly to the ribcage of Judas, and he could imagine it would be quite taller than him on it's hindquarters. Very soon, it would catch sight or smell of them, but he waited…

Just when Emma was about to ask Judas if he even was listening, he gave a quiet response. "*Sigh* So he was lost in thought after all" she was just about to give him a light smack in the back of the head when he stopped and his hand went for his sword, but he did not draw it. Emma could feel it, probably even stronger then Judas. She had always felt the monsters somewhat familiar, but she could not place the feeling, it had been in her mind ever since she met her first monster.
Emma lifted her spear from her back where it was hanging from a sling and readied herself from behind Judas. The beast looked in their direction, at first curious, but then a predators fire lit in it's eyes and it started charging at them in it's crooked way of walking. "This one is definitely bigger then the dog-things" Emma said and then laid her hands on Judas armour and shield, and then her own spear and cloths, casting the hardening enchantment. "I got your back, like always, but I still have a bad feeling about this." The beast was now only a few meters away and it leapt through the air, landing just a few feet away before raising to it's full size and started growling, like a beast trying to exert dominance.

Humans made mistakes in combat, like yelling and wasting air and energy. They were predicatable and rash. And animals made mistakes too. Maybe "mistake" wasn't the right term, but regardless, when the beast landed and he could feel his skin get that slight TINGLE telling him he was under the affects of a spell, Judas waited.

Then the monster stood and growled and that would have scattered most men, and even some hunters, but not Emma and Judas. The moment the thing stood, Judas saw the opening and took it. He rushed forward and instead of drawing his sword immediately, he SNAPPED a dagger out and at the beast and it slammed deep into the lower thigh of the beast.

Most people would have aimed for the vitals, and most of those would be swiped away or dodged. Most didn't see the point of wounding legs. A typical hunter was after quick, easy kill and Judas had seen plenty of them die because of it.

The legs carry the body. The legs bleed. Blood loss can kill, or slow. Judas wasn't the fastest. He wasn't the strongest. His weapons were not the sharpest or best quality. He compensated for all this by being able to outlast any ONE or any THING he'd ever fought. Yes, he was highly trained, and deadly, but that training was more of his ace card.

Leading with his shield, he finally drew the sword and closed with the beast.

The beast howled in anger and pain when the dagger hit it. Emma knew this was the time for her to act, she crouched down, touching her feet and legs and chanting a few words, the enchantment for speed and nimbleness. Her plan was to distract the beast or strike at it while Judas was keeping it occupied. Right after her spell was done, she sprung into action, circling the beast to the left. Once she got into a better position, she cast one of her few ranged enchantments, strength increment, onto Judas, he would need it more then her. After she had cast the spell, she waited for an opportunity to strike.

While she moved to the flank, Judas knew it was his job to keep the monster's focus on him, so he came into quarters with the beast and threw out a lazy sword stab which the thing swatted away easily. Judas then hopped, left, then right and then forward with a more precise stabbed and the creature stayed with him. The first few attacks were to test his opponent, look for weaknesses or tendencies, judging reflex speed. The monster glanced at Emma on two occasions and each time Judas increase his attack speed and at this point, the real games began, the part of combat that Judas loved.

The monster tried to move in a way that kept Emma and Judas in his sight and to counter that, Judas had to move faster to the side, wanting to put the creature between the two and unable to protect itself.

Almost seeming to sense the plan, the monster suddenly attacked Judas with an animalistic fury, raining down blows that were mostly dodged or absorbed by the shield. One attack snuck through and while the claws didn't pierce the mail or leather, the attack spun him around.

Not trying to stop the spin or recover, instead Judas went with his momentum and rolled, quickly gaining his footing as another blow from the things claws RIPPED through the air where he'd have been had he tried to regain his footing, a blow that at best would have sent him sprawling.

Emma saw that Judas had a hard time with the beast but she ignored it, for now. "Stick to the plan, it'll work out, it has to" she took a few deep breaths and then sprung out from her hiding place and charged at the beast from the rear, her feet making almost no sound. When she was within striking distance, she launched herself at the beast, intent on piercing it's heart, or hoping to do that at least. However, the beast almost casually struck out with it's left arm and swatted her out of the air, sending her flying to the side, landing some feet to the left of Judas. Emma spat out some curses and then got on her feet again. "All right, that won't work, time to try something else." "Judas, plan B!"

'Plan B?'Seeing Emma get launched, Judas went on an all out attack, hoping to wound the creature, but also draw it's attention from her. However, it stomped a foot and when Judas went to lunge, the ground under his feet shifted from some sort of spell or ability. As he lost his balance, the monster lept and hit Judas full on. He'd barely managed to get his shield up, but the thing pinned it down and was about to take a big bite out of his face when Judas managed to get his sword up. He didn't stab the beast, but he did lodge the sword in it's mouth and teeth so that it couldn't close it's mouth.

All he could do was sit and avoid claw swipes while the thing pressed into him, trying to force it's teeth into his face while trying to bite through the steel sword or shake it's mouth free. "Plan fucking B! GO NOW!"

Emma once again attacked the beast from the rear and pierced the beast deep with her spear, hoping that it would get off Judas and perhaps even kill it. She pulled out the spear, and kept stabbing it, however, the beast seemed to treat Emma like an annoying insect as it kept trying to bite through Judas sword. "Plan B isn't working that well!" Almost as if it picked up on the words, the beast swiped at Judas, finally hitting him in the side and the sword slipped out of its mouth, cutting at the flesh. "OH NO YOU DON'T!" Emma screamed just when the beast was about to bite Judas face off and pierced the beasts cheek with her spear, making it impossible for it to close its mouth. Finally, the beast paid some attention to Emma and the spear stuck in its mouth. It tried to splinter the spear, but opted for smacking away Emma, hoping that the spear would follow. When the spear was still stuck in it's mouth, the beast gave Judas prone body a hard blow, making him spit blood onto the ground before putting one claw on the spear, and sunk its claws into the wood, and started pulling at the spear, dislodging it from it's mouth. "This is really going all to hell" Emma thought as she slowly crawled away from the beast, her eyes never leaving it for a second.

Just when it looked like the beast was about to leap onto her, a dagger flew through the air, and hit the beast in it's other leg. "What the hell are you doing Judas!?" Emma shouted at him while the beast turned around, walking over to the now standing stature of Judas.
"Come on beasty" he said while shaking, the wounds taking their toll on his body. The beast charged at him, smacking his shield and sending Judas flying through the air and the beast followed after him. It started hitting Judas to wound him, like a predator playing with its prey. "No, leave him alone" tears started flowing across Emma's face. "Leave him alone!" Emma got up and walked over to where her spear lay, picking it up, she was dragging one leg behind her. "Don't you dare kill him!" The beast paid little attention to her approaching, still intent on breaking Judas body. "He can't die yet" magical energies started flowing around Emma, shaking the ground a bit. "I won't allow you to kill him, he's mine!" The beast turned it's head towards Emma, it's expression went from excitement into something akin to fear. "LEAVE HIM THE HELL ALONE!" Emma's magical energies struck out at the beast, however, it made no physical impact, but it's expression turned into one of terror as it slowly started backing away from the approaching Emma and the prone Judas. When Emma was next to Judas body, the beast fled, running as fast as it could away from the pair…

Emma was stunned, "why did it back off?" She then looked at her hands, some kind of energy seemed to flow across them. "What is this? Is it what scared the beast away?" She looked around, before spotting Judas body on the ground "Judas!" her tears started flowing stronger again. "You aren't dead are you? You can't be. I am here now, open your eyes" she lightly smacked Judas cheek, the only response she got was a low grunt. Do not panic child, what are you supposed to do in this kind of situation? "Master?" she asked and looked around her, but there was no one there. "What I am supposed to do?" suddenly it clicked in her mind, and she quickly stripped of Judas chest armour and put her hands onto his chest. "Come on you damn spell, work!" she said before channelling the magical energies into Judas body. Little by little, the wounds started closing, the biggest ones left small scars while the smaller ones left no marks at all. "You're finally safe" Emma smiled before she collapsed on top of Judas.

Judas was in and out of consciousness for a few moments, the real world mixing with dreams and thoughts and at some point, he could have sworn he was riding a dragon. Eventually, the dragon rolled in mid-air and he was thrown off, spinning end over end in a panic. Eventually, he steadied as he fell and felt comfortable. He relaxed and closed his eyes as if going to sleep.

Then he heard his father yelling to him from the kitchen. "Jude, I'm not gunna tell you again. Wake up."

He opened his eyes and the reality of what just happened hit him suddenly. He was aware of Emma on top of him and while 99 times out of 100 he'd be completely taken aback and perhaps even shove her off, he simple shook his head, wondering where the monster had gone.

"What the FUCK…is plan B Emma?"

"Heh, who knows?" was the response he gotA from her tear stained and smiling face. "Can I rest here for a while? I am very tired. Thanks" she said and fell asleep lying across Judas prone body, still smiling.

Having little idea what happened, but knowing that he didn't see a dead monster, Judas took a few moments and carefully stood up, easily carrying Emma. He looked around and surveyed the scene, the past moments little more than blurs or confused thoughts. He went to grab his gear that was strewn about the place, carefully juggling Emma in the process, and when he finally picked up his shield, he set off towards the town to regroup...

[Herion]

Valen listened intently as he listened to the random jumble of sounds and phrases exited the beast-woman's mouth and smiled at her. He could tell that she was sizing him up, looking for any threat he may pose to her well being. Valen leaned closer to her as she approached him, cracked a smile and let out a yelp as she violently pulled his head towards her. The creature was sniffing his hair, which Valen hoped was a good sign in dealing with her. He tried to pull away from her grip when she rocked backwards and continued to utter the same guttural language in a frantic manner. To his surprise, she began to pull him away down the road and let go of his hair.

Next, the wolf-woman grabbed his arm and began to examine nearly everything about him. First, played with his tunic finding no interest in the material he assumed. Second, the woman snatched his lute and startled herself as she pluck foul sounding strings. Lastly, she tugged at his worn boots. It was odd that she was the one who found him curious, as she was the strange member of their party. As she spoke, rather growled, again Valen approached the woman until his was in front of her and sat down. "Maybe if I tell you about myself, you can see that I am not a bad guy."

I was born Delso which is a land across the oceans full of life and love. I was born to a loving mother and loving father, as I am sure you did as well. They raised me in an atmosphere of performance, amongst a group of traveling performers, people who have seen the world and made their name in it. Growing up, I heard all sorts of stories and tales about adventures, something that I couldn't do with my family."

Valen paused as he thought about his next words. This speech was most likely useless, as the woman didn't seem to understand anything he had said before but perhaps she would understand at least something he said. "That being said, I wanted to leave and have my own adventures, but not because I hated playing the lute. I wanted to make my own name, like those of my companions. That's when I heard whispers of this land, and the beasts that plague it. It's actually my first time away from home." Valen stared up into the air as the realization of the comment hit him. He was alone, in a far away land without any support from anywhere. The thought was one he hadn't considered before this very moment.

Valen took the time to determine what exactly she was. The woman was covered in the pelt of a wolf, eyes still intact as well as a fine layer of mud coating her entire body. Her hands and feet were well worn and her body was a pallet of multiple scars and old wounds. These were most likely due to the atmosphere she was raised in, one that Valen couldn't possibly imagine. He hoped she was an enigma in the land of Trayv, otherwise he would be lost during his entire trip. The Delso native smirked as he thought of large colonies of animal people, growling words and language at each other and fighting wildly amongst them selves. If this were indeed the case, Valen was unsure whether they would accept him....or eat him. "Perhaps the land of Delso will learn the new history of Trayv, a land full of beast people who are plagued by beasts!" Valen exclaimed out loud.

Standing to his feet, Valen looked down at the creature who was unsure of him, and picked his lute off of the ground. It was time to began moving again, as there was much that needed to be done if he was to become a figure of legend. "Well, I am on a journey and you're welcome to come, if you'd like, Valen La' Verne said as he offered her a hand.

[Hymusia]

Whatever this creature wash e was no threat to her, likely no threat to anything else he'd see in the darkened wood. Curious that he'd come wandering so close to the edge of her home with nothing but the weird noisy paddle to defend himself with -for, with his coat so closed she could not see the daggers he carried-. To her slight surprise the man approached her and sat down in front of her, with a furrowed brow she slowly copied the man, parking her rump to the ground and crossing her legs in front of her. her hands between her thighs stopping the relatively minimal scrap from revealing too much in such an unlady like position. With a near canine style tilt of her cranium she watched the man, mimicking the odd motion of a hand or a flick of the head. He began speaking again but his words came too fast for her and so her mouth, while mimicking shapes, produced no sounds while her brows furrowed deeper until they were all but joined in the center. her jaw slackened, then tightened as she tried to pick out certain sounds, they seemed familiar after all, nostalgic even.

"De...lso." Uttered the she beast, brows still furrowed and her nose briefly scrunching up in disgust at the sound in her ears. ''Ill-ee-and-rah.'' Followed by a pat of her own chest, she knew not the country but assumed it to be his name and nothing more. He spoke other words that seemed familiar, family, home, adventure, journey. She recognized them but there meaning alluded her and eventually she stopped trying to understand what the man was saying. Instead she rocked forward, a dirt encrusted hand over his mouth and once again chittered away in her strange dialect. ''Ou pale zwazo twòp. Fè mwens bwi, pa gen okenn chante, estipid zwazo, n 'al jwenn kounye a. Nou ale kounye a jwenn lachas wi?" She snorted once he stood from his place on the ground, backing up a step or two and lowering in case the strange stupid bird decided to attack.

When he offered her his hand she glared at it as if it were some kind of ugly threat rather than the offering of peace it was. She looked it over, gave it a sniff and then bit one of his fingertips. Light enough not to draw blood but enough to be felt. Stupid bird, what would she do with a hand, it wasn't edible! Whirling around sent the pebbles jangling and the wolf skin following her, she did not run off but with body stooped low she did dart off a few feet, turning her head to find out if he were following or not. if they were off to fight monsters and journey she knew the best place to start. Though why any one would want to hunt monsters was beyond her, it was best to avoid them in her opinion. Tricky things and hard to kill, with natural advantages that things like the bird would not be capable of fighting with his stupid stick. "Zwazo, vini, vini."

[Azseth]

Judas walked on, carrying Emma and heading back to the village. It had been about an hour now and he was close, but he continually looked over his shoulder and hoped that the monster wasn't coming back for him. At this point, he wouldn't have much to do except fight and hope he could get a lucky blow in.

The nice thing was that he could head directly to the village now, not walk around in random patterns like the monster was so wont to do. It seemed to move at a whim and the only time it showed any real sense of direction or purpose was when hunting.

Even though Judas was healed, most likely from something Emma had done prior to her passing out, he was sore and bruised. This was one of the reasons he needed more gear, it was more obvious now. He also debating spending some time learning some basic spells. While everyone wasn't necessarily capable of high levels of sorcery, with study and time, anyone could learn spells, some useful and some not so much. He'd been debating it for a long time, but it was more time and potentially more money to invest.

Finally the town came into view up ahead and almost as if on queue Emma stirred slightly…