Chapter One: The Great Hunt Begins. Fredrich rolls over sloppily as the mead from the previous evenings festivities was indeed potent enough to eat through his gullet. Stretching, with a great yawn, he rubs the sleep from his eyes. Wondering what foul smell is wafting from the back of the longhouse, he crinkles his nose in disgust and dismisses it as one of Matilda's brews. Seth and Torrin, having cleaned up the mess from the broken pot, and noticing Fredrich's waking, scurry out the back of the longhouse to avoid any possible guilty entanglements. Placing his fur lined boots on.. one by one.. "Time is not kind today" he mutters to himself as he does the last of the fastenings. Hanna flits by.. "Want some fresh eggs dear?" in her usual domestic tone. "Mila brought them by fresh this morning.." The thought of eggs on top of mead turns Fredrich's stomach a bit, letting go of a barely audible swallowed burp in the process. "No thanks,
argh" Hanna knowing full well what she is doing smiles slightly and turns her back so Fredrich wouldn't see her face.. "How about fish cakes?" Fredrich's constitution.. now fully strained.. replies in the exact same tone as before.. "No thanks you woman.. don't you have a tree to fell?" Struggling with his bearskin tunic and his feet.. he stumbles slowly to the front of the longhouse. Covering his one good eye as if to protect it from the morning glare.. he scans the village.. Most of the early risers are awake already.. the woodsmen are in the stands of deep pine.. Mila and karl are arguing.. Seth and Torrin have begun to beat each other with wooden sticks, practicing for manhood. He glances to his right at the Great Horn.. a true treasure of the village. Some say that it is ivory, others that it is simply polished bone, whatever the case, it is older than anyone here.. even Matilda.
After taking in the view, Fredrich stretches one more time, stomach settled and strides to horn pulling off it's protective leather cover. The Horn itself is about four feet long, with a medium bend, much like a tusk. Engraved on the Horn, in stunning detail, are pictures of the Clan hunting embedded in some kind of dark stone. The engraving tells of the story of the slaying of some foul beast.. back when foul beasts still roamed the land. Perhaps, the horn is from the beast itself? The craftsman who supposedly constructed the Horn is long dead, no one is sure.
It is time for the hunt.. the storehouses (one unused longhouse) are nearly empty having had a harsher than normal winter, but spring is nearly here, at least the sun seems closer. Mila quickly grabs Fredrich's arm, cups her hand and whispers something into his ear, standing on her tiptoes while doing so. She smiles gives Fredrich a sucker punch to the shoulder and seems to be content with whatever the result, hopping down the small set of stairs and heading back to one of the smaller longhouses.
Bahwooooo BahwooooThe horn has been sounded... the sounds of axes in the woods cease.. and within the hour all are gathered facing the bigger of the three longhouses. 22 people in total. ((all of the named npc's))
Fredrich, already an imposing figure seems even grander while standing on the longhouse steps. Hanna is not seen at the moment, but she is probably setting up 'hunting packs' (iron rations, smoked fish, skinning tools, flint and a small clump of tinder) for those six that are to be chosen. Matilda opens the door to the longhouse holding the 'board of choosing' nothing really more than a flat sanded piece of cedar 1' x 1', that is used to cast bones upon. The old woman mumbles something inaudible as she painfully crosses her legs, sitting 'indian style' on the rough ash planks of the short porch, board on her lap. Producing a black leather bag, that was attached via a thin sinew to her sagging waistband, she begins to chant, and roll around on her haunches, a leaf stuck in a whirlpool. The chanting louder, harder and more intense... the bones are cast.. all are so silent as to hear what they couldn't see.. the bones and runes crash loudly on the casting board.. rattle slide and finally rest... Fredrich leans over to her, stooping as to hear. Standing back up he peers out over the crowd, locks eyes with Ianna and in a bellowing voice proclaims "Ianna, you shall be first of the hunters this day, may the gods smile upon your courage!" <12>
Ianna you do hear a smattering of hushed surprise as your name is called.. but then you catch Mila's eye and she gives you the thumbs up and a wink
"the second chosen.. shall be Vladimir! , the third of their number Tarn!, fourth.. <louder chanting from matilda almost urgent> Rame! <rame is visibly shocked> Fifth is Bodulf! and to lead the band.. the final member" he leans down to gather Matilda's words.. "Jon <points @ Jon> you are the huntmaster.. make us proud and fill our bellies!" Fredrich laughs, his constitution now in check, and turns lowering his head as he re-enters the main longhouse. The crowd begins to disperse heading out to do their daily tasks.. some can be heard questioning Ianna's choosing. Most are just muttering under their breath about it. But they are the old, you are the young.. it is your world.
Jon, gathers up the chosen under a large oak tree, looks most of you in the eye <not Tarn> "What a sad sack of shitbags we have in front of us today.. he looks you up and down.. plan on huntin' with an axe Vlad? alot of good this will be.. bunch of sad sorts.. Go see Hanna, and grab your packs.. for the gods' sake find something to HUNT with and meet me back here quickly! got it?" a few more choice words as he turns around nearly knocking Rame over with his shoulder, then finishing the job with a push.. <11> making rame <10> lose his balance and trip in the mud.
Condition Bodulf
Ianna
Vladimir
No injuries, gained blueprint: nitting poultice, gained item: Winterberries, akake powder
Tarn
PAGE 1 please post actions, i will allow two actions to be posted this page, the first posted will be for the 10 or so unaccounted minutes before the gathering, the second for immediately after the discussion with Jon.
also, tell me what you think.. will this be fun? can you get into it? constructive suggestions are also welcome.. any questions on mechanics?
Author
Topic: "Do you have a couple hours to waste?" Chapter 2, Page 1 (Read 18975 times)