[The Great Hunt and Feast.]
[This session took place June 15, 2002. We were playing Champions 4th Edition with the Second Edition Fantasy Hero supplement.]
Player Characters
Tim, a Wizard - male human from the Free City of Freegate, graduate of Outlands University
Dangar Stonekleaver - male dwarf from the Northern Dwarven Kingdom
Kyle Logan – male human thief and stowaway on the Yardbird
Wendell Dorshield III – male gnome, Captain and Architect of the Yardbird
Malwyn – male High elf fighter and military expert
Darkfox – female human thief from Freegate, secret ID of socialite Karlyn Gryphshaw
Session Begins:
The Next Day
The gnomes finished working off the passage debt accumulated to Afrah, the Nereid, turning her room in the catacombs into a work of art. The gnomes then packed everything up and the Yardbird continued flying north, travelling along the backside of the Great Nef, between the desert and the Worldspine Mountains.
Four Days Later
Over the next several days, observers on the Yardbird discovered several geographic abnormalities in the landscape below (unusually round meadows, two new "scoop mountains", some ruins). They also observed a good deal of wildlife. It was decided that a stop for hunting to replenish the meat supply aboard the Yardbird would be a good idea.
The Yardbird dropped anchor and a “temporary hunting camp” was established. The camp was an assortment of pavilions, tents, and kitchens that would do most restaurants proud. The cooking staff aboard the Yardbird deployed their mobile ovens and stoves in anticipation of a successful game hunt followed by a feast. While the camp was being assembled, three small hunting parties were established, each headed by one of the Outlanders (because the gnomes had never gone hunting before, only read about it).
The first party was led by Malwyn, who required that any gnomes hunting with him must be able to start a fire they could cook over. This started an impromptu fire-building competition amongst the six gnome volunteers. Malwyn took the winner with him (an inventor gnome named Hershel).
Darkfox took the two gnomes who failed to make fire (accountant gnomes) and a female gnome bodyguard named Rebecca, who had the foresight to bring a boarspear (sized for gnomes).
The final hunting party was led by Dangar, who took the remaining three gnome volunteers and Kyle (who could not pass up the potential for humor). Tim decided to stay aboard the Yardbird and continue his studies while Wendell managed the setup of the camp.
Malwyn and Hershel’s hunt was cut short when they encountered a bear that was hunting the same prey they were. The bear noticed their scent and started tracking the elf and gnome instead. Malwyn and Hershel readied for the bear and awaited its charge. When the bear finally saw them, it charged them, bellowing fiercely. Both hunters fired their bows at the bear several times before Hershel hit the bear in the eye and killed it. Hershel then promptly puked. Malwyn cleaned the kill and they dragged the bear carcass back to the hunting camp. Malwyn choose not to explain the whole "drink the blood of your first kill" thing to Hershel.
Darkfox, Rebecca, and "the losers" eventually found a mother boar and her piglets. The mother boar caught the scent of the hunting party and charged them. Darkfox shot arrows at the boar, Rebecca readied her spear, and "the losers" panicked and froze, unable to shoot their bows. Rebecca managed to catch the boar on her spear but failed to kill it. She and Darkfox (who pulled out her sword) fought the boar until it was dead, getting injured in the process. Once the mother boar was dead, "the losers" snapped out of their panic and shot some of the fleeing piglets. Darkfox and Rebecca bound their wounds and then this party headed back with their kills.
Dangar and company took a long time to find anything to hunt as Dangar made a lot of noise. They eventually found a meadow with a small herd of antelopes grazing in it. Dangar took position with his crossbow and axe and sent the gnomes out to flank the antelope and drive them to him. Kyle, spotting a flaw in the plan, moved 20 feet away from Dangar and watched.
The gnomes circled around the antelope and indeed scared them into running towards Dangar. Dangar shot one and then grabbed his axe, ready to sweep any that came near him. He attacked the first three antelope, killing two and injuring a third, but then got trampled by the rest of the herd, which could not change direction as fast as they would have liked. The herd split into two groups, running in opposite directions, half heading towards Kyle (who was doubled over in laughter at this point). Kyle stood up straight and screamed at the top of his lungs before the herd got to him [he made a Presence Attack to convince the antelope to avoid him]. This spooked the herd [he rolled high enough on the dice], which reversed direction and trampled Dangar again, knocking him completely unconscious. The hunting party gathered up their kill (and Dangar) and headed back to the camp.
A great feast was held in honor of the hunters, with recognition for Hershel and Rebecca. The scent of the feast drew some displacer beasts, but they were spotted by lookouts on the Yardbird and killed/driven off quickly.
Session Ends.
NPCs Met
Hershel – gnome inventor, now also known as either “the Hunter” or “Bearkiller”
Rebecca of the Guard – gnome bodyguard
Happening Off-Stage
[Nothing in my notes on this front.]
DM Discussion
[This session was impromptu and not something I had planned. That said, everyone had fun and two of the gnome NPCs developed some character. They started showing up somewhat regularly after this.]
[I did resume tracking in-game dates once the Yardbird reached the Northern Dwarven Kingdom, so those should resume shortly.]
Flight of the Yardbird
Previous session: Session 5
Next Session: Session 7 [not edited yet]
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