38th Ymiden, Early Morning, 717 (note - due to travel time participants will need to be free from 37th morning to 39th afternoon.)
The early morning sky was clear of cloud cover and a painted pale blue that promised of a bright sunny day as the sun slowly broke the horizon. If the weather held - and all indications showed it would - the day would be a warm one that cooled down towards evening. Today was a perfect day for a hunt, to prepare for the Hunters Moon feast due in three trials. It was tradition that only that which had been hunted or grown in the three trials before is eaten in the feast, a large affair in the middle of Scalvoris Town.
Kali had heard about the traditional event, and it had greatly perked her interests. Whilst the animals they hunted may not benefit her from a hide perspective, the prospect of a good group hunt had the woman's string fingers twitching. The word of mouth was that a troupe would be heading into Sweetwine Woods, named as such for its over populace of Sweetwine Vines and a day's travel from the township. The woods were rumoured to be rich for hunting and gathering, and particularly beautiful at this time of year with the blooming of various flowers and such. It sounded like exactly what the Sev'ryn huntress needed after the harrowing events just under two ten-trials past.
Besides, social events in Scalvoris so far had proved a rather wonderful and enlightening experience.
Those who had volunteered for the hunt had gathered just outside of Scalvoris Town gates on the morning of the 37th, horses and wagons welcome to both carry people and supplies to the woods and possible kills back to town. A large burly woodsman by the nickname "Bear" had been called out as their guide, a befitting name for the bald and beaded human with arms like tree trunks. His daughter Talilah accompanied them, a scrappy little thing in comparison to her father, ten arcs old and having a wild mane of fiery hair and freckles.
Kali brought her sturdy chestnut mount, riding him easily at pace with the group, her sleeping roll tied to the saddle over his rump. The travel between town and the woods providing a good chance for people to chat amongst themselves. According to Talilah (who had heard from their friends cousin, who heard from their friend, who was courting the bartender who's best patron swore on his mothers grave one night after a few Mint Cocoa Dirts), the woods were home to a small family of Stagrein. Kali held very little faith in this 'insider knowledge', but humoured the girl with questions about the beasts and whether they were fair game. When the group made camp, the brunette stayed close to familiar faces as they sat around the campfires making plans for approach and suggested entry points. The woods held plenty of animal tracks and trails, leading in from the sparse outter edge and getting thicker as it led to the river the woods expanded from. If anything, at least they could go fishing if they had no luck with the beasts.
The group had made camp only a quarter break away from the woods entrance, and so in the very wee breaks of the 38th morning, those participating in the hunt left with their required possessions and made way to the edge of the woods with Bear and Talilah leading on their horse drawn wagon, watching the sky change from a deep starry indigo to a periwinkle blue as the sun began to rise. A slight morning fog hung around the woods, something that would burn off by around midday. The Sev'ryn huntress had worn her hunting attire, a short sleeveless linen tunic dress with a built in hood that sat loosely around the arms and v-neck front to allow for freedom of movement. The edges were embroidered with a green geometric triangle pattern and the lower half finished with a hafrein fur trim. On her legs she wore thin dark leather breeches, and her black armguards. Around her waist was a black woven leather belt that held her her water skin and toolbag. Her hunting knife was holstered to her upper thigh with a leather garter style holder and her quiver strapped on her back held twelve short bow arrows. The young woman had pulled her black tresses into a tight braid and held her bow loosely in one hand as she stood by the woods, looking around for tracks on the ground and telltale signs of animal entry points.
"So, for any of you who've not been through the woods before, listen up." Bear addressed them in a deep quiet rumble.
"We got loads of Sweetwine Vine in this place, and whilst it won't kill you as such, I don't recommend eating the stuff." Looking at Talilah, he ruffled the girls already ruffled hair with a grin.
"Tal here will be coming with you, and if you manage to bring something down, she'll scoot out faster than shi..mud off a shiny shovel to get me, so you don't have to drag the basta...beast back to camp." Brandishing a huge woodcutters axe over his shoulder, Bear nodded to the group as though to say 'you point the way'.
Kali turned to the group, having been looking at the edge of the woods as Bear spoke. She pointed with her bow at two well worn game trails.
"We can enter through the left path, or the right. This one," She pointed to the right. "Appears to be more commonly used. I would probably suggest it is the better path for us." Turning blue eyes back to the group, she waited for the others to vote their choice.
The early morning sky was clear of cloud cover and a painted pale blue that promised of a bright sunny day as the sun slowly broke the horizon. If the weather held - and all indications showed it would - the day would be a warm one that cooled down towards evening. Today was a perfect day for a hunt, to prepare for the Hunters Moon feast due in three trials. It was tradition that only that which had been hunted or grown in the three trials before is eaten in the feast, a large affair in the middle of Scalvoris Town.
Kali had heard about the traditional event, and it had greatly perked her interests. Whilst the animals they hunted may not benefit her from a hide perspective, the prospect of a good group hunt had the woman's string fingers twitching. The word of mouth was that a troupe would be heading into Sweetwine Woods, named as such for its over populace of Sweetwine Vines and a day's travel from the township. The woods were rumoured to be rich for hunting and gathering, and particularly beautiful at this time of year with the blooming of various flowers and such. It sounded like exactly what the Sev'ryn huntress needed after the harrowing events just under two ten-trials past.
Besides, social events in Scalvoris so far had proved a rather wonderful and enlightening experience.
Those who had volunteered for the hunt had gathered just outside of Scalvoris Town gates on the morning of the 37th, horses and wagons welcome to both carry people and supplies to the woods and possible kills back to town. A large burly woodsman by the nickname "Bear" had been called out as their guide, a befitting name for the bald and beaded human with arms like tree trunks. His daughter Talilah accompanied them, a scrappy little thing in comparison to her father, ten arcs old and having a wild mane of fiery hair and freckles.
Kali brought her sturdy chestnut mount, riding him easily at pace with the group, her sleeping roll tied to the saddle over his rump. The travel between town and the woods providing a good chance for people to chat amongst themselves. According to Talilah (who had heard from their friends cousin, who heard from their friend, who was courting the bartender who's best patron swore on his mothers grave one night after a few Mint Cocoa Dirts), the woods were home to a small family of Stagrein. Kali held very little faith in this 'insider knowledge', but humoured the girl with questions about the beasts and whether they were fair game. When the group made camp, the brunette stayed close to familiar faces as they sat around the campfires making plans for approach and suggested entry points. The woods held plenty of animal tracks and trails, leading in from the sparse outter edge and getting thicker as it led to the river the woods expanded from. If anything, at least they could go fishing if they had no luck with the beasts.
The group had made camp only a quarter break away from the woods entrance, and so in the very wee breaks of the 38th morning, those participating in the hunt left with their required possessions and made way to the edge of the woods with Bear and Talilah leading on their horse drawn wagon, watching the sky change from a deep starry indigo to a periwinkle blue as the sun began to rise. A slight morning fog hung around the woods, something that would burn off by around midday. The Sev'ryn huntress had worn her hunting attire, a short sleeveless linen tunic dress with a built in hood that sat loosely around the arms and v-neck front to allow for freedom of movement. The edges were embroidered with a green geometric triangle pattern and the lower half finished with a hafrein fur trim. On her legs she wore thin dark leather breeches, and her black armguards. Around her waist was a black woven leather belt that held her her water skin and toolbag. Her hunting knife was holstered to her upper thigh with a leather garter style holder and her quiver strapped on her back held twelve short bow arrows. The young woman had pulled her black tresses into a tight braid and held her bow loosely in one hand as she stood by the woods, looking around for tracks on the ground and telltale signs of animal entry points.
"So, for any of you who've not been through the woods before, listen up." Bear addressed them in a deep quiet rumble.
"We got loads of Sweetwine Vine in this place, and whilst it won't kill you as such, I don't recommend eating the stuff." Looking at Talilah, he ruffled the girls already ruffled hair with a grin.
"Tal here will be coming with you, and if you manage to bring something down, she'll scoot out faster than shi..mud off a shiny shovel to get me, so you don't have to drag the basta...beast back to camp." Brandishing a huge woodcutters axe over his shoulder, Bear nodded to the group as though to say 'you point the way'.
Kali turned to the group, having been looking at the edge of the woods as Bear spoke. She pointed with her bow at two well worn game trails.
"We can enter through the left path, or the right. This one," She pointed to the right. "Appears to be more commonly used. I would probably suggest it is the better path for us." Turning blue eyes back to the group, she waited for the others to vote their choice.
