stveje

Dark Age (playtest): The Lands of Pendragon

So it had been ruining fields at least, and thus the hunt itself wasn't perhaps unjust. But something was clearly off about its appearance.

Nin gave a small nod at Tristan's question, as well. It seemed he'd seen her concerns. Something wasn't right about this.

The question now was what they were going to do. Nin looked at Tristan, trying to see if these revelations inclined him towards any particular course of action.

Dark Age (playtest): The Lands of Pendragon

"Of course. I'm certain Merlin's words left no room for doubt, in any case," Nin says diplomatically. "One last question. What can you tell us about the creature's appearance, before the prophecy? Where did it come from, and what was it doing before Merlin spoke its fate? It must have caused quite the stir at the time."

This, of course, was what she really wanted to know.

Dark Age (playtest): The Lands of Pendragon

Nin seems more thoughtful. "Do you know Merlin's exact words?" She didn't expect he would. Doubtful this young knight had heard it first-hand. "'A member of King Pellinore's blood will hunt the creature' is easily fulfilled, in fact it has already been fulfilled or we wouldn't be talking right now. It also doesn't specify when, or that it will be King Pellinore herself. 'King Pellinore will catch and kill the creature' on the other hand would leave little doubt."

Dark Age (playtest): The Lands of Pendragon

"For now," Nin says, equally unconvinced. "I am sworn to keep others safe, be it from King or from Beast, and I intend to do so. But you're right, for now we can only follow and hope we see what needs doing before it is too late to do it.

"Just be wary, that is all I ask," she adds.

*

"No we are definitely not poachers," Nin says sullenly at the mere suggestion. She says no more about who they serve; if Tristan hasn't seen the need to share that information, Nin sees none either. Perhaps it is best to keep their cards close to the body, for now.

"She seems very intent on hunting this beast herself. Why is that, if I may ask? It cannot be just any ordinary beast, or she could have tasked any skilled hunter to hunt it for her."

My second question from sizing him up: What does Mort expect us to do? Probably not much beyond the obvious, but asking anyway.

Dark Age (playtest): The Lands of Pendragon

[I'd like to pause our conversation with Mort until we've concluded our own, since it seems like one might affect the other]

"I see no reason we have to deal with the badger at all," Nin says, shaking her head. "It is only causing trouble because it was driven out of the forest by the beast. Taking care of the beast should take care of the badger as well. Moreover, leaving Pellinore to her hunt could itself cause as much damage or more as the badger. At the very least, the badger is the lesser concern right now.

"No. Our focus must be on Pellinore and her hunt for this beast, one way or the other. What I wonder is, does the beast cause destruction by its very nature, or would it calm down if no longer hunted? And why is the King hunting it? Because it was already a danger and needed to be put down, or simply because of a prophecy? You see where I'm going?

"If the beast is hunted because it's a danger, we must help King Pellinore catch and slay it as quickly as possible to prevent even more damage. But if the beast is only a danger because it's being hunted, and it's only being hunted for sport, is the real beast not the hunter, then? You say she disquiets you. Perhaps you are not wrong to feel as such, even if you can't explain why, exactly, you should feel as you do."

Dark Age (playtest): The Lands of Pendragon

"I can ride," Nin says matter-of-fact. "Though I am more accustomed to goats," she adds.

"I am not sure what to make of any of this, and that bothers me." Nin hates everything she can't make sense of. Such things can hide a trap or a trick or just important facts that one ought to know.

"The beast is the source of the corruption of this place, though I also believe it may be possible to calm it, challenging though that might be. But this King is determined to kill it, that much is clear. Perhaps at any cost, which makes her as dangerous as the beast itself. I am certain, at least, that we want no bystanders near the battle when those two meet."

"I think we should learn as much as we can about both King and Beast before deciding on a course of action."

*

She sizes Mort up as he approaches and speak to them.

4+1+2 = 7

I'd like to ask a question of my own: Is he trustworthy? And I'm holding my other question for now.

Dark Age (playtest): The Lands of Pendragon

Nin grumbles and grouches at the surprise affection but takes the offered hand and mounts the horse quickly and without another word. She's not going to be left behind. She would've liked to ask a few questions of King Pellinore, but that'll have to be done from horseback, then.

Dark Age (playtest): The Lands of Pendragon

Nin pokes her head out, somewhat ruffled and probably covered from head to toe in dirt. "No need worrying for me," she said, eyeing the party of King Pellinore. "As for tracking a beast of such destruction, I doubt you need much help with that, but I would gladly join you and hear more about this hunt of yours, and the beast itself."

Dark Age (playtest): The Lands of Pendragon

"Run, as quietly as you can," Nin whispered to the beast, then slid off its neck and back on the ground. She'd stopped it from trampling her and Tristan in its panic and rage, at least. Whether she could eventually tame it completely, and whether to attempt it ... that'd have to be seen. With the arrival of the hunting party, it seemed the wisest thing to take a step back and learn more before making that decision.

Dark Age (playtest): The Lands of Pendragon

To calm a beast you must stay calm yourself - Nin knows this well from her experience with goats - and you can't reason with someone who's gripped by a panic, you just have to wait it out.

So Nin stays as calm as she can while holding on, making soothing whispers and waiting for the beast to calm down enough for a chance at rational thought to break through.

Meanwhile, she tries to do what the beast cannot in its current thrashing: take careful stock of the situation and their surroundings.

Take Stock: 4+6+2 = 12

* What is my best way out of here?
* How may I best preserve my strength?
* Which of my enemies is the biggest threat to me?