The Harbinger of Ferocity

animal randomness

A lion cub, humble as that may be.

Post a random fact about yourself.

The increasing closure of most everything has been an ever aggravating inconvenience. I cannot be so much as mad at it even, the closures are not only expected, they are things of ultimately minor importance in the grand scheme, but all of this has been irksome. Repeatedly going against the grain, rubbing the fur the wrong way in short, additive strokes. Annoying through and on to the end yet doing nothing meaningful unto me. It is a great time of appreciation instead, that I can recognize how trivial these types of concerns are and moreover, continue to act and fulfill those things I need do regardless of the rest of the world, appreciating that which is meaningful and important in contrast.

Post a random fact about yourself.

When I was often deprived of sleep and subject to extended periods of fatigue, I would begin nonsensical fantasies and stores that ran off of continuous train of thought, writing them incoherently to remain alert and awake. They often became sharply critical and philosophical if not rambling.

Post a random fact about yourself.

I do not believe I could ever see myself living in some place that was year around warm and or tropical.

Post a random fact about yourself.

I am hopeful that when the storm of hysterics ends and the chaos associated with it over the past few weeks and those to come at last passes, that people will have a greater appreciation for what it was they had before and what is to come. I hear no shortage of complaints in my life but all too little appreciation. May it be that this time of trial and tribulation removes the blinders.

D&D 3.5e - The Marches of the Savage Realm

Shield resting against the armor of his greaves, heart reaching out across the divide to the heavenly cosmos beyond the physical world, the troubled spark that Beaumont sought was still very much a part of himself. It took a few moments after his incantation and prayer, the kind that forced him to focus beyond the equally hushed words the giant spoke. At first they rung dully within his ears as the fallen paladin felt the touch of his god for the first time truly in ages, that Erithar still acknowledged him, that his mightiness and glory, his forgiveness was very much alive - how this quest was surely right and noble. All the surge of aspiration and emotion came back to him at once and gripped him, until of course he suddenly realized he was looking almost blankly upon the stern face of the woman who made him but a dwarf before her. Her brow cocked in curiosity and clearly anticipating, awaiting some sort of answer.

Before he could mumble one, her expression turned more to a scowl as she noticed what she had worried about earlier, those dens in the field nearby were not empty. Soft impressions around them moved through the field now and her pupils dilated, her pulse quickened; the enemy, whatever it was, was at last here and hurrying upon the ground toward them. Before she could speak, the little vermin attacked, their attempted surprise ruined by her watchfulness that alerted the rest of their entourage. Two of the almost dog sized creatures leapt at Renault, who wisely stepped back, only to find one biting at his shin from behind and drawing blood, while both Vah'lux and Quentin were equally swarmed. With a kick, the barbarian drove one of the creatures back, avoiding it's bite, whereas the soldier's shield did its work and easily pelted off their efforts.

This in turn spurred Tracan to draw back the string of her bow, watching the field shift before her in almost a pattern of five trails leading toward them and soon right to those in front of her. Following one, she let her arrow fly, only for it to plant into the dirt just where the mottled grey little thing had been, its body launched a few feet back by the largest of their group keeping it away from her; Vah'lux having harpooned and slain the other snarling rat with a single thrust of her blade before then.

Effects

Initiative Table
Renault - 16
Vah'lux - 16
Creatures - 12
Tracan - 11
Gorosk - 11
Quentin - 1

The five dire rats attack, their attempted surprise round ruined by the goliath barbarian. Vah'lux gains an attack of opportunity with her glaive due to it having reach before the first of the dire rats can even reach her or Renault. She slays one with her attack, leaving only four.

Two rats attack Renault, one attacks Vah'lux, and a third goes after Quentin. All of the rats miss their attacks except for one, which bites Renault for 3 piercing damage. Tracan attacks the left rat snapping at Vah'lux's boot but misses her shot with her bow despite beating the concealment.

@BangoSkank@Hellion@Lauder@Lord Wyron@TyrannosaursRex

Post a random fact about yourself.

It concerns me some that in reflection the lyrics from Sign of the Gypsy Queen, the fifth verse, containing the lines "Heed the spirit that brought despair, trouble's comin' without control, no-one's stayin' that's got a hope, hurricane at the very least, in the words of the gypsy queen.", were what came to me in the coming of the new year. At the time I thought little of this, of course, but this is not much different from my experiences in the past where certain things come to me. I almost cannot help but feel this was an omen and that I was fool not to pay it more mind, resigning myself instead to discounting it as paranoia at there seemingly being nothing, at the time, and that it was "too modern". Lest I forget that things will speak in a myriad of ways and methods with any tools at hand.

I suppose this deserves more elaboration. When things come to me musically and when I listen to them, rarely, I post so in another topic here. However, I had already posted that song and thought it inappropriate to do so again despite them being hugely removed in time from one another.

D&D 3.5e - The Marches of the Savage Realm

What the goliath was rewarded with in her staggering stare out into the fields was twofold. First, from her vantage point and height, it became evident the boar had been up to their business rooting in the earth, tearing up the remains of the crop that had gone wild in the absence of man. Second, it was that what they had been rooting around had made the earth uneven, another given she expected with no second thought on the matter. The last, however, was that there was not just ragged gouges into the earth from turning tusks and kicking hooves, rather something different altogether; the earth was pulled in at the center, mounded about around it. The field seemed to be littered with burrows now, fitting for a place that was open among the woodland, yet it was obvious these were no mere burrows of a fox or hare or anything of that variety and that they were instead far larger with wide mouths.

The boar too had been standing clear of them, at least enough that when the entourage of five bodies arrived inexplicably, they withdrew at the sign of commotion and threat. This ultimately played into something else, something that had crossed the child of the mountain's mind. Was it some sort of elaborate trap? Nature was rife with cunning deceit, just nothing ever this coordinated without orchestration. It instead was paranoia and dismissed as much, but the thought did not leave her that had she not taken a moment to survey, she might not have initially noticed the large burrows and surely whatever lived within them.

Tracan, in the meanwhile, plucked the string of her bow idly and watched the boar flee. It was a relief to her and made her tenseness at this uneasy place relax and relax enough for her mind to surrender for a moment. Three less animals to kill. Her thoughts traveled to in that time, thankful that the beasts chose to save themselves rather than be butchered. But something about all this was just wrong, the woods hadn't started to devour all the remains of the farm and she knew that. The real question was why not? Sure, the bandits probably burned and salted the fields, maybe poisoned the water if they felt cruel and to make a statement, slaughtered all the livestock they couldn't steal, who knew and who cared, it was passed, but this was all just off. Something worse was at work here and it made her sick to her stomach to wonder what it was.

Effects

Vah'lux discovers the field has multiple burrows pitted into it that are difficult to see for those not of her height and stature. She credibly now believes some sort of reasonably sized burrowing animal or animals are here too outside the boar now.

@Hellion@Lauder

D&D 5e - Hoard of the Dragon Queen

Regrettable and unfortunate to hear, hopefully there will come a return sooner than later from us all, @Hekazu. Unless something extreme takes place, consider me prepared to begin whenever once again. Do take care of yourself in the mean time.

Post a random fact about yourself.

No matter how many times I write or rewrite anything, I always feel as though I could have written it better.