Gravislayer

Monster hunter,

The journey towards the wood was rather pleasant, sea changed into land and mist into clear weather. Roland grew with each step more confident and so he moved light like a feather, his steps getting more and more springy. It seemed that no weight was pushing him down, that he was in his element. Indeed, Roland grew up close to woods like this. Hoards of Kelbis and Aptonoths. A faint smile appeared on his face as he saw a young Aptonoth playing between the bigger ones. Normally Aptonoth were very friendly and calm but if something were to threaten their offsprings, it is even known that they challenge Wyvern like Rathalos. Needless to say it always ended badly for them.

"Challenging a Rathalos in this kind of environment?" Roland let his eyes wander, both of them had their point but he had another idea how to challenge him if it would ever come down to it.

"In the open fields you are lacking cover but trees and bushes will be easily set ablaze by the breath of the sky king." A short pause was created as Roland looked at the tree tops far ahead of them.
The high cliffs and the season were creating a heavy upfront which soared above the tree tops. The wood itself was rather protected by the wind but above the crowns?

Roland pointed toward the tree tops which are rustling in the salty wind of the sea.

"The woods would even be more dangerous. The high draft would allow the Wyvern to leap huge rounds without much effort, he would cook us alive with his breath or shredding us with his claws while flying his rounds."

His fingers first pointed on the card and then towards a high cliff, it was probably the same destination or atleast a close one to the cave.

"The cliff. It is whirling up the strong wind of the sea. The wind current would force him to land sooner or later. The bad thing is probably the lack of space there but it can also be used to someone's advantage"

Roland but then grew awfully quiet during the mention of the Deviljho. It wasn't the mention of the creature who undoubtedly was one of the greatest threat. It was his never ending hunger which consumed monsters, farms and cities alike. It was highly adaptable adapted endangered whole ecosystems with his presence, a true abomination!
While hunger drives this monstrosity among monsters, hunger has also driven the human monsters which are still consuming Roland's sanity.

The resemblance of Moga Wood and Kokoto Woods, the calm and friendly herd of Aptonoths, it was like a stab in his chest.

"Let's just get going" came the grumpy answer as the question was utterly where they should head.

The march towards the cave now showed a distracted and angry hunter which quickly changed as he saw the claw marks. It was now curiosity. Big claw marks like this. Jaggi used them to mark their territory but the claws must be as big as Roland's arm, if not even bigger. Truly terrifying!

With a short 'Shnik ' the long gunlance unfolded in Roland's hand. Unlike most users Roland wielded it more like a long sword. The heavy axe blade worked as as a counter weight and the form of the gunlance also resembled more an helmbarde than an actual lance. It was thanks to the form that Roland's could maintain an aggressive and quick fighting style with such a weapon. Either way, he was ready for trouble and with a serious face he nodded first towards Jacque and then towards Reema.

"Let's get some mushrooms" he said in in a grave like voice.

Monster hunter,

"What are you waiting for?" echoed the deep voice of Roland from behind the mist. It has already been around an hour since he awakened, old behaviors from his life as a farm boy, hard to get past by even thou he started this new life.

Be stood up with the first rays of light fighting the dim, clamp and wet mist.
He washed himself with a spoonge and cold water. Then he armoured himself in his trusty Jaggi armour. The set was complete but Roland decided to leave the helmet, it restricted his vision and the weather was mild enough to set such a protection aside. Pouches came next! One with tinder and firestones, one with a grindstone, one with firepowder for his gunlance, one filled with vitalising herbs and the last one filled with tasty, salty dried meat. Last came the water pouch and a small bagpack. He attached his small mining pike and his gutting knives to the bagpack, levering the weight, well this happened around 1 houre before Reema woke up.

Now he waited in the mist and moved the moment she finished the talk with the villager.
He awaited awaited a reply and jumped up and down a bit, he was worried that the humid air would damage the armour but luckily it didn't. The scales fit perfectly and slided into each other like the tooth in a Velociprey jaw. Jaggi scales are flexible but sturdy and offered a good protection and maneuverability for beginners, most people tend then to wear them additionally with steel plates but Roland preferred heavy leather. The scales are sewed perfectly onto the fatty leather garb and so reduced the sound of the armour to a minimum which was important for the hunt.

It was all set and he was ready to hunt!

Monster hunter,

Roland took her hand but at the same time shook his head. Monsters, like wyvern, have earned his respect more often than any human ever did. He challenged them for that reason, that was why he searched a fair fight because it was clean. There aren't any ties attached, no bad blood, no ideology or history which could justify the fight. It was a simple hunt, a job!
When the monsters overpopulated or started to attack settlements or farmers, it was their job, as hunters, to bring them down. Sure some aristocratics payed a high fee for a Rathalos head on their wallet it is still up to the hunter if he took that job offer or not.

"You asked for my reason to hunt, so let's put it this way!" Roland replied to the huntress as she offered him her hand.

"Monsters have given me more reasons to like them, than any human did so far. I hunt what I need, I will kill if necessary but I won't do it for sports! I will use every part of my prey and honor it with a honest fight."

He now took her hand and shaked it.

"If that is a good enough answer to you, I will gladly accompany you tomorrow "

Monster hunter,

Roland spoke his head towards the women's response as he remained rather emotionless during the word of Jacque. He only said what Roland's already knew, his whole body spoke for him, they way he talked, the way he walked, his build and even his glare. It was obvious, the only thing not so obvious was his relationship towards monsters. Surely by the way he spoke about them, the eagerness, the anticipation, the small hint of childish curiosity, it was sure monsters meant more than just work to him. Roland just wasn't sure if it was the way like a feyline acted towards a rat, the thrill to play with one's prey before you finally kill it, or if it was respect towards something bigger. It surely wasn't the fight he lived for but he would give away his intentions as soon as the others revealed theirs. It was like Jacque acted privately the same as on a hunt. He lured someone in with light conversation, just to land a critical blows with a question or a meaningful glare. Or Roland was just over thinking things!

Anyways Roland decided to make the fist move.

"The reason to hunt?"

'Well killing monsters is easier than killing human' was the first answers which came into his mind but he knew that this wasn't an answer he should give and that it wasn't true either. He wasn't sure quiet sure. It never was the way that the mute hunter forced this way upon him, his father did neither, neither his mother. He wasn't born, raised, privileged, educated, trained, destined, choosen, forced or told to be a hunter. Neither was it the opposite.

“I refuse to answer that question on the grounds that I don't know the answer” he said with a surprising confidence, it was just this moment that he realised it himself.

"But if you are asking me if I feel right about this? Well! I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be.”  His deep voice uttered before he quickly added, "If that is of any help to you, that's it".

'Damn i sound like a God damn wizard from a fantasy book' he rather quietly mumbled to himself so that nobody (hopefully) would hear it.

Monster hunter,

I hope I play Roland's not too stereotypical. First time to play an introverted character for me.

Monster hunter,

During the exchange of the female huntress known as Reema and the hunter known as Jacque, Roland munched his dried meat quietly as he leaned over his food like a Velociprey Alpha, so that it remains untouched by it's goons. A calculating stare going from Reema to Jacque and vice versa without even a hint of blinking.
He studied their behaviour and valued them. Not so much of their hunting ability but more the ability of how much he could trust them and maybe even rely on them.

Roland so also noticed the curious look in Jacque's eyes as he examined Reema, he was a talkative fellow and Roland had the feelingthat Jacque occasionally digged his nose into things that some people would seem as too private to reveal. Surely as far as Roland judged him so far he did not meant any ill will while doing so, it was just a trait of his personality and as long people tell him that they would keep things rather to themself, Roland was sure, he would understand and respect that.

Roland was rather suprised that the female huntress picked up the stare so precisely and answered rather casually even thou her stare would even freeze a blango.

Between a bite of the chesse, bread and a great sip of his butter beer Roland's answer came with his deep voice but a bit muffled from his beard and the continously chewing of the food.

" Lived in the grasland near Kokoto village. Farmer's child. Had some Aptonoths. Hunter took me in." Between each sentence he either munched or took another bite, his eyes wandering between the two hunters.
Finally he swallowed whole and leaned back completely, seemingly more relaxed as he let out a small burp which he covered with the back of his hand before his mouth. Some foam of the beer still resided within his beard.

"Uff. Ah, yes, I prefer my trusty gun lance, got it from my mentor as... a parting gift. I rather try to get the monster off guard, using the moment of suprise. Many monsters act aggressive when something new enters their territory and so they rarely try to flee, furthermore they act differently when attacked. I am using that to my benefit. It is a fair fight on equal ground, for both, monster and me! Well I mostly come up with strategies on the fly anyways."

His eyes now layed upon Jacque, interested what he might say.

Monster hunter,

"Nice to meet you Jacque" Roland replied warmly. It took him a second that introducing ones name normally indicates that you also have to give yours. It grew more and more complicated for Roland's to socialise himself, being around people always had been a problem for him.

"Roland" it was a short and bitter pause that followed in which Roland remembered that he was the last of his family. "just Roland" he muttered a tad more quietly than before and pushed the door open which lead towards the mess hall.

Roland stopped abrupt as a wave of smell and comfortable heat engulfed him in a whole warm embrace, it was also the female huntress which startled him, who seemed to directly addressed the two newcomers.

"Ah oh.." he said in a quiet charmant way, so to say.
"Oh...ah" he then continued as he realised that the female hunter was equal if not even more builded than he was. She was a sight to behold, some might even say a beast to behold but as wild as she looked like she was also kind of beautiful.

A sudden growl of his stomach reminded him that he emptied on the ship a while ago and so he regained some of his stance.
"My name's Roland" he said with the confidence of a three years old who just busted butt naked into a family reunion. To advert from him he turned towards a feyline and exchanged some words in their native language, the Feyline got huge difference eyes and began to speak quickly from excitment that a hunter would now their language. Quickly he brought him some bread, cheese, dried meat and a beaker full of butter beer. The feyline sadly placed directly opposite the female huntress. Roland simply tried to play the calm not talkative card to avoid social awkwardness.

Monster hunter,

I will post tomorrow, was busy with valentinsday!

Monster hunter,

@MonsieurShade

Roland nearly tripped as he heard another voice, it was a deep voice, yet somewhat strange to it's tune. Roland turned around just to see a tall man, his brown skin and tall statue showed that he wasn't a native. Roland guessed he would be for the southern isses but that was a guess into the blue. The man overthrowed Roland in height but his lean, muscular build stood in contrast with the rather fleshy body of Roland. While both seemed to have endured manual work, the lean build was that of a fisherman while Roland's board shoulders hinted towards the farm work he did in his past.

So while the strange, born skinned man would weight around 80-90 kg, Roland would best him with additional 10-20 kilogrammes even thou he was shorter.

And it was exactly that weird though that Roland's mind created and let him pause for one second too much, just to create a short uncomfortable silence. You know, those kinds which let you wonder if either you said something wrong or the person you talked to is just utterly mute or useless.

Roland blinked three times before he finally answered "Uhmmm there was a goldfish I wanted to catch but my rod broke just a while ago, so I guessed, I could try it differently".

It came across his lips without thinking and so Roland was a tad suprised as he heard his own words leaving his mouth. Roland then directly moved his head from left to right.

"But you must be mistaking me! I just got here, I freshly arrived via boat. The maiden at the counter therefor mentioned other hunters, so it isn't me! Maybe there might be another one?"

Roland looked around as he would be in search of the potential other hunter and then shrugged helplessly.

"We might meet him anyways! You know I will....change and then grab a warm butter-beer to get the wetness out of my bones, I would not mind companionship right now"

Espacially companionship which isn't laughing about him. There are some people you like immediately, some whom you think you might learn to like in the fullness of a time and some you simply want to push away with a sharp stick. Roland had all urges at the same time towards this new person. He wasn't a fan of persons to begin with.

Quickly Roland headed inside his cabin and atleast took off his armour, stashed away his gunlance and so revealed a woolen tunic and leather pants, the tunic was red with yellow patterns, typical from his heritage. He just grabbed a towel and dried himself a tad while he would arrange his armour carefully on the small table, allowing it to dry.

"This must be Thursday" said Roland to himself, sinking against the wall. "I never could get the hang of Thursdays"

Moments later he stepped out of his room with a dumb smile on his face, the towel, wrapped around his shoulders and his light steps leading him towards the feline kitchen.

Monster hunter,

The water splashed heavily against the steady moving hulk of the ship, it travelled quickly across the sea to the final destination of Moga village. During the up and downs created by the waves of the elements, water and wind, merry tunes sound from the working crew of the ship as they align their working speed with the rhythm of the

song

Up jumps a Daimyo with his crooked legs
Saying "you play the cribbage and I'll stick the pegs"
Singing blow the wind westerly, let the wind blow
By a gentle nor'wester how steady she goes

Up jumps a Ludroth with his chuckle-head
He jumps on the deck saying "pull out the lead!"
Singing blow the wind westerly, let the wind blow
By a gentle nor'wester how steady she goes

Up jumps a Gobul so flat on the ground
Saying "damn your old chocolate, mind how you sound"
Singing blow the wind westerly, let the wind blow
By a gentle nor'wester how steady she goes

Up jumps a gold salmon so bright as the sun
He jumped down between the decks and fired off a gun
Singing blow the wind westerly, let the wind blow
By a gentle nor'wester how steady she goes

Up jumps a Lagiacrus, the biggest of all
He jumped up aloft and he's pawl after pawl
Singing blow the wind westerly, let the wind blow
By a gentle nor'wester how steady she goes

Up jumps a Plesioth, the king of the sea
He jumps up on deck saying "helms a-lee!"
Singing blow the wind westerly, let the wind blow
By a gentle nor'wester how steady she goes

.

On the reeling stood a great figure of a man, his brown mane being gently caressed by the wind, he stood there normally yet royally, his eyes pinned on the horizon and maybe even the Moga village even if it would be out of sight for a normal human's eye. His senses were sharp as the axe blade of the gun Lance behind him, the waves themselves seem to ease up thanks to his presence. Charisma, Strength, willpower those were attributes one would directly use to describe that figure. To describe that hunter! That hero!

But this story isn't about him, it is about the tiny figure curled over the reeling and vomiting every little rest out of his body. He was sweaty, the song drummed in his ears, making him dizzy. The waves seemed to mock him as they moved along with the rhythm of the breathtaking music behind him. To make it short, it was he'll for this young man.

With each up and down he gaged, with each breathe of the salty freshly ocean breathe, he gaged, with each new line from the song, guess what? Yes! He gaged. Even thou only liquid exited his mouth anymore, he still felt as it was only the beginning. But what was the reason behind this?
The man was called Roland, a hunter in search of a job! He was born in the grasslands and so never set foot on a boat. He could ride ages on the wavering back of an Aptonoth and so he foolishly thought a boat wouldn't be any different. He has never been so wrong! His whole body ached as he forced himself to look up from the waves as the cry of a sailor man rose his weary awareness.

Moga Village!

This village searched for a hunter and since most villages in closer range to the guild's headquarter are already filled with hunters, it was this wild land, this fisher village who was in desperate need of a hunter. A hero!
And with that in mind Roland's once again vomited into the waves.

"Uugh... should have known there was still something left" he burbed to himself, his throat sour from the acid.

Roland harboured little doubts, if he had to hunt while being on a boat he could directly cancel it, on a boat he was of no use but the sight of the village calmed his mind a bit. He saw Aptonoths carrying cargo and dried meat being offered aside of smoked fish. Traits of land and sea being combined in this village and so, once again full of himself he stood up the moment the ship reached harbour. He stood directly at the reeling, eager to jump aboard, as the ship suddenly halted as it tugged against the pier. A small shock went through the ship and Roland's legs, weakened from the journey, gave in and catapulted him into the shallow water.

With laughter the crew gave him a hand and pulled him out.
What a start! He lost his dignity, nearly all his money and was already the laughing stock for half of the harbour.
Roland gave a friendly nod towards the crew who was still laughing vigorously and took his trusty gun Lance and shields and quickly searched for the guild hall.

He was soaked to the bone as he entered the guild hall and placed his wet guild pass onto the counter with the female assistance behind it.

"Oh another one?" Her melodic voice chirped the moment she turned around. A short moment of shock, then laughter and finally realisation!

"Oh excuse me" she chuckled but quickly regained her natural self.
"I am rather suprised so many hunters would gather at a guild like this" she gave him a warm smile before her arm reached to one of the many rooms designed for the hunters.
"Well only had one hunter in the past, so the rooms are rather spartanic! Just pick a free one. Towels are stored inside the Chest" she warmingly added.

Blood rushed towards Roland's head as he grunted something from the lines of "Thank you" or "What a nice welcome" and directly headed towards a free room.