Sleeping Rough

[Kreans]

Kreans left the shaper's workshop with the greatsword strapped to his back. It was kind of the Lord to gift Kreans the blade he'd made, currently it was beyond his ability to wield effectively but when he could it would be a great increase to his power. To the Skaldi it seemed as though he'd made a good enough first impression with the Lord if he had been willing to gift a portion of power in the weapons and armour that he created to him in the tasks that he'd been set. Each piece was above what he could currently make and so would increase his power substantially, now that he had some proper armour to protect himself and a few weapons to use he felt he could fight without fear.

While the Lord had offered him a play to stay he still felt unsafe sleeping in an area surrounded by so many humans, he'd observed no issues with him being a Skaldi so far but there was no telling what the humans may try under the cover of darkness. For now he'd prefer to sleep outside on the planes where he could see all around him rather than in the confines of the human city surrounded by those that could do him harm. Once he was an hour or so's walk from the city proper he would set his pack down on the plains grass and dig out a small section of turf and upend it to form his firepit. While he coudl go without the luxury of a firepit he saw no reason to, he was still close enough to the city that there shouldn't be any bandits and he was confident in his ability to subdue the local wildlife should it rear it's head at him.

The Skaldi would start by gathering up some dry grasses and what wood he could from nearby, placing it in his makeshift firepit and arranging it properly before he removed his flint and tinder from their pouch even. From there it was a simple matter to strike them inside the small structure he'd made until the embers would catch and he could have a fire to keep him warm and assist him in driving off some predators.

---

Rolling to light a fire
Normal (0) Knowledge (20) Camping I (5) Threshold: 25

OWwjOHPV - 71 - Failure
- 45 - Failure
- 87 - failure
- 82 - Failure
- 36 - Failure
- 5 - Success

---

In theory anyway it should have been so simple, and yet he found that the spark just wouldn't catch on what he'd assembled. It took far more tries than he was comfortable with for the spark to finally catch in the dry grass and then longer than it usually did for him to build it up to any sort of size that he would consider adequate for warmth while he slept. While he did have his makeshift roll mat and even a cloak to sleep in neither was as comforting as a nice warm fire.·····

[Kreans]

Now that he'd sorted out a fire for himself, some slight extra warmth and the safety of it threatening off most predators that would come for the large Skaldi, now he needed to sort out some food. He had some rations that he'd previously prepared in his pack but they wouldn't last him much longer, so he'd have to go back to what he did best and hunt for some prey that he could turn into his food. The bones that came from his prey and the leather would also be useful considering the Shaper had not made him a helmet, whether that was because he had his travelling cloak on or the man had simply forgotten one either way he was currently without any proper protection to his head which left at least part of him exposed to a cheap shot if one of the many humans around decided they didn't like a Skaldi sleeping in their midst.

Kreans unstrapped his spear and removed the small hunting trap before, he'd use part of his own power and part of that borrowed from the Lord in order to secure himself some food and some resources needed to make sure that he was adequately prepared for the journey once again. It took him nearly no time at all to look for a decent spot amongst the tall grasses to place his trap down and then he just had to wait, returning to camp and performing maintenance on the rest of his weapons and armour while he gave it time to work.

---

Rolling to hunt
Normal (0) Knowledge (20) Hunting II (10) Hunting Trap (15) Threshold: 45
6l_ZnFdh - 14 - Success

- 48 - Deer

- 21 - Success
- 79 - Failure
- 88 - Failure
- 27 - Success

Successfully hunted a Deer, 3 meat: 3 bone, 3 fur, 3 leather. +1 bonus bone from Prey Knife

---

When the Deer caught site of the Saurian stomping over to where it was trapped it began screaming, the sound came to an abrupt halt as Kreans took it's neck in his hands and snapped it with a vicious jerk, laying the animal down on the floor before untying it from the trap and setting to work on it with his prey knife. There was a good amount of meat on the deer as well as a lot of bone and leather to work with, the fur he had no use for currently but was sure that he could find one later on, he'd use every piece of this animal that he had killed's power in order to further his own. ·····

[Kreans]

With the Deer having been taken apart with his usual precision and blood now soaking up to his elbows Kreans returned to the fire and piled up his takings by his pack, washing off the worst of the blood with a trickle from his waterskin before drying his arms on the nearby grasses. Now he certainly had enough meat to eat tonight and prepare some more rations for himself for his journey going south, he was far more prepared for this return journey now than he had been on the way up wearing only a leather vest and carrying the very basic and powerless spear that he'd been forced to use up until now. Now he returned fully armed by the Shaper and with a job to ful fill so that he could earn the Lord's trust and become his apprentice, so that he could learn how to make the Shaper's power his own and further himself.

For now he'd settle himself by searching the grasses looking for some plants, he'd learned that some could be made into bandages and the like with very little preperation should he come into trouble from his training with the Alliance. There were other plants that could help him in certain situations or even just were edible should he desire a change or an accompaniement to his current meaty meals. In short there was plenty to look for that would help him pass the time for now and if he could find any then they'd be of use to him at some point in the future it was likely, he had a very rudimentary grasp of herbalism and it's like but he could at least remember the drawings of the plants that he'd been told to look out for for their various uses.

---

Rolling to gather
Simple (30) Knowledge (20) Herbalism II (10) Threshold: 60

gX4Hxz4g - 99 - Failure
- 58 - Success
- 99 - Failure
- 35 - Success
- 98 - Failure
- 38 - Success

---

Kreans would tear through the path with his large claws gathering up anything that looked as if it could be one of the plants he'd been previously shown, there was very little that was delicate about the process as he simply picked up anything that looked right and ignored the rest. Keen eyes surveyed the grounds around him and while there were large footprints and battered stems left in his wake they always seemed to just avoid anything that could be considered more interesting than simple grass. ·····

[Azuloth]

Something Stalks the Skaldi. Something small but determined. It moves, but it blends in with its surroundings. It gives off a sweet scent, like Dragonfruit.

[Kreans]

Whether it was that the location was wrong or that he didn't properly know what it was he was looking for, either way Kreans was finding nothing more than Dragonfruit, depositing them in a pile by the rest of his equipment for now. The Skaldi had meat, he had fruit, there was food enough to last his travels to Morith assuming that he could cook up all of the meat properly, at least he was well provisioned now even if he hadn't managed to find any of the herbs that he'd been looking for. Should anything manage to wound him he'd be in some trouble away from towns, he didn't even have the necessary materials to make himself a paste to fight off disease or staunch bleeding. There wasn't much that could severely harm a Saurian such as he, of that he was quite confident, but having some would be good for when he met a foe more powerful than he, Kreans still wasn't sure what else lurked in the lands of men that he had yet to see.

A quick meal followed by some large gulps from his waterskin followed the fruit picking, he was under no timescale other than to arrive back in the morning and so could afford to sit and eat rather than having to eat as he worked. The work he undertook for the most part was unnecessary anyway, while he definitely did need some sort of head armour the rest of it was merely practise so that he could develop his skills and to pass the time. Once he'd eaten Kreans would set out once again to hunt, more meat was never a bad thing.

---

Rolling to hunt: 
Normal (0) Knowledge (20) Hunting II (10) Hunting Trap (15) Threshold: 45
Hunting
XozIYP|p - 93 - Failure
- 91 - Failure
- 74 - Failure
- 49 - Failure
- 69 - Failure

Perception
Rolling to see if he notices the stalker
- 40 - Unknown

---

It seemed to him that the cry of his murder of the deer previously may have driven off the rest of the prey in the vicinity, there were tracks and signs of passing but nothing wandered past him or his traps. Eventually the wildlife would return to the area but it'd take some time, Kreans kept a mental note that in future killing it quietly would be better for the success of the rest of his hunting, that way the animals wouldn't be startled into fleeing. 
·····

[Azuloth]

Battle Data

SPOILER: Click to show

-Monster (Stealth, undetected)
-Kreans (Unaware)

Monster: Hit threshold vs Kreans: 60 (x2 from Surprise: 120)
-SKill attack: 1D100 => 16 HIT!! 1D15 => 2 FACE (60 Dmg, non-critical)
-Move
-Move

Results:
-Kreans takes 60 dmg

---

Kreans was still unaware of what was stalking him. Something hard and bristly smacked him across the face out of nowhere, leaving a sizable bruise and roughing up his scales there. His cheek would swell and his left eye would nearly shut from the swelling. Then there was some rustling in the bushes nearby, but nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary.

---

Monster:

[Kreans]

Kreans would let out a hiss of pain as the bristly appendage smacked against his face. It came out of nowhere and seemingly dissapeared straight away as soon as the contact was over. Whatever it had been had came and went so quickly he'd had no time to even decipher what kind of creature it actually was but at the same time he was more concerned with defeating the creature rather than figuring out what it actually was. As his cheek began to swell and his eye began to swell shut his hiss of annoyance grew directed at the position of where he had seen the creature go after hitting him.

The spear came from his back, clenched in one large claw and yet not being made to look like a child's toy like most of the human weapons he'd bought so far, instead it was perfectly sized to his large Saurian form in the same way that the shield he drew out next was also. Each was gripped tightly in front of him, the shield ready to block should the form appear again, eyes scanning the bushes for any sign of the creature so that he could hunt it as he would any other creature.

---

HP: 360/400 (-40)
SM: 77/80 (-3)
MP: 172/172

Action 1: Search for creaturemRJ|HZR9

Action 2: Search for creature

Action 3: Block with shield

Action 3.5: Block with shield




·

[Azuloth]

Battle Data

SPOILER: Click to show

Initiative
-Monster (Stealth, undetected)
-Kreans (Aware)

Monster: Hit threshold vs Kreans: 60
-Skill attack: 1D100 => 70 MISS!
-Skill attack: 1D100 => 21 HIT!! 1D100 => 28 Block Failed (18) 1D15 => 1 Head (Non Critical) 60 Dmg
-Move

Kreans
-Creature Located
-Block attempts were unsuccessful.

Results:
Kreans takes 60 Dmg.
Monster Located.

---

Two more green whips came lashing out of the brush at Kreans. The first missed him as he was moving about looking for the monster. The second attack gave its position away, and perhaps its nature. The whip whacked him squarely in the head, a non-critical blow that would result in a bruise under his scales near the top of his head. The brush appeared to be moving itself into more brush. It appeared to be hiding behind what was a large azalea bush. But it was obvious once Kreans got a good look at it. The plant with a big purple flower on its crown, and bulbous body, was smiling at him. It's tongue was barbed and slaked with lime green saliva. Its eyes were narrow slits near the sides of its bulbous body. The roots were arranged almost like feet. They sank into the earth with ease.

A common Snapdragon. Not an actual dragon, to be sure. But a creature that was named for its ferocity and the whip like snaps of its vines when it attacks.

---

Snapdragon:
Stats--
Type: Beast Str: 20 Vit: 18 Agi: 20 En: 4 P: 2

HP: 360/360
Stm: 36/72 -30 -6
MP: 41/41

Dmg: 25
DR: 10

[Kreans]

It wasn't long before the second and third appendages came flying out of the bushes at him, the first missing him by enough of a margin to be comfortable and the second connecting solidly with his head and causing another hiss of pain to escape his clenched teeth. Unfortunately for the creature the connecting attack had given it's position away entirely, while the cost may have been a bruise to the head it definitely wasn't too high for a chance to destroy this creature.



And when he got a good look at it, what a horrible creature it was. He'd never seen such a thing, a plant sporting a large purple flower, a body and a mouth that smiled hungrily at him, the barbed tongue seemed as though it could hurt if he let it but then he had no intention of allowing this thing to live anyway. It seemed able to move somehow despite it's roots sunken into the ground, likely some sort of nature magic allowing it to but that wasn't something that he knew much of. What he did have quite a bit of experience in was killing things, and so he set to on the plant beast with his spear, holding his shield out in preperation for anymore of those green whips as he thrust twice at the creature.

---

Kreans
300/400 (-60)
SM: 68/80 (-9)
MP: 172/172

Action 1: Attack with Spear
Action 2: Attack with Spear
Action 2.5: Block with shield
Action 3: Block with shield

Weapon used:
Excellent Spear
Dmg: 122
Reqs: 20 Str, 14 A, 10 K
Effects: Inserted Jade
*Piercing, Slashing*

Applicable skills:
Crushing Blows
Description: Skaldi strength flows through and is shown always in combat
Effect: When attacking Kreans deals his strength stat as additional damage
Cost: 3SM per attack
*Brawler I, Saurian*

[Azuloth]

Battle Data

SPOILER: Click to show

Initiative
-Snapdragon
-Kreans

Snapdragon (Hit threshold -vs- Kreans: 51)
-Attack: 1D100 => 96 MISS!
-Attack: 1D100 => 1 HIT!! 1D100 => 65 (Block Failed) 1D15 => 2 (Face, non-critical Blow) Dmg: 25
-Attack: 1D100 => 27 HIT!! 1D100 => 81 (Block Failed) 1D15 => 2 (Face, non-critical Blow) Dmg: 25

Kreans (Hit threshold -vs Snap Dragon: 49)
-Attack: 1D100 => 52 MISS!
-Attack: 1D100 => 45 HIT!! 1D15 => 5 (Side) Dmg: 122 -2.5 (DR 10 -75%) = 119.5
-Block resolved
-Block resolved

Results:
Kreans takes 50 Dmg.
Snapdragon takes 119.5 Dmg.

---

The snapdragon made a noise like the trilling of a lizard, and slapped its vines forward to hit Kreans. The first slap missed, as Kreans had been wary of it. The other two slaps hit him in the face. It was like Kreans had cheated on the Snapdragon or something. Did he deserve the pummeling? Only Kreans could answer that question. As the beast made ready to strike again, it felt the whoosh of wind pass it by, the spear tip had come close to it. For a moment it was relieved, until the second thrust pierced through its side. The blade easily sliced through the armor-like bark that encapsulated its soft, fleshy cellulose. It screeched in pain.

---

Snapdragon:
Stats--
Type: Beast Str: 20 Vit: 18 Agi: 20 En: 4 P: 2

HP: 240.5/360 -119.5
Stm: 33/72 -3
MP: 41/41

Dmg: 25
DR: 10

[Kreans]

Kreans whipped his head from the first slap of the vines, the action making him unable to respond as the second and third whips of the barbed vines connected with his scales. Each slap of the vines was more of an annoyance than any real pain, although the bruises and scrapes to his face would likely be a testament to the fact they did still hurt somewhat.

Almost straight after the vines hit him his own spear made contact and sank deep into the surprisingly squishy plant that was attempting to defeat the Saurian warrior. It let out a pained screech that was like music to the Skaldi, allowing him to ignore his own minor pains and focus on the prey that he was to defeat today and turn it's power into his own. Kreans aimed a feral smile at the creature and drew back his spear once again, ignoring the shield at his side and instead just plunging his spear once, twice and then thrice at the beast with his impressive strength in a fit of bloodlust at his chance to fight for the first time proper since having left his tribe. Combat was his way of life and having a chance to practise his craft after a few weeks of inaction brought the joy back into life, made his blood run faster, colours seem sharper and his feelings more alive.

---

Kreans
HP: 250/400 (-50)
SM: 56/80 (-12)
MP: 172/172

Action 1: Attack with spear
Action 1: Attack with spear
Action 1: Attack with spear

Weapon Used:
Excellent Spear
Dmg: 122
Reqs: 20 Sr, 14 A, 10 K
Effects: Inserted Jade
*Piercing, Slashing*

Applicable Skills:
Crushing Blows
Description: Skaldi strength flows through and is shown always in combat
Effect: When attacking Kreans deals his strength stat as additional damage
Cost: 3SM per attack
*Brawler I, Saurian*

[Azuloth]

Battle Data

SPOILER: Click to show

Initiative
-Snapdragon
-Kreans

Snapdragon (Hit threshold -vs- Kreans: 52)
-Attack: 1D100 => 7 HIT!! 1D15 => 3 Neck, Non-Critical: 25 Dmg -106 = 0, Invulnerability Save
-Attack: 1D100 => 86 MISS!
-Attack: 1D100 => 17 HIT!! 1D15 => 1 Head, Non-Critical: 25 Dmg - 0 = 25 Dmg

Kreans (Hit threshold -vs Snap Dragon: 49)
-Attack: 1D100 => 60 MISS!
-Attack: 1D100 => 9 HIT!! 1D15 => 3 Neck, 122+20= 142 -2.5 = 139.5
-Attack: 1D100 => 52 MISS!

Results:
Kreans takes 25 Dmg
Snapdragon Takes 139.5 Dmg
Snapdragon Takes 20% Bleedout (72 Dmg)
-Correction to Snapdragon HP-

---

The snapdragon reacted to Kreans' strike on its side with a rapid flurry of slaps. It's vines reached out to hit him, one striking him in the neck, but his armor absorbed the blow handily. The plant material didn't even chip any of the bone the armor was made from, and it was more stung from it's own strike than anything. The second slap went too high, with Kreans ducking just under the blow. The final slap whacked him across the top of the head, making the Skaldi see little birdies for a moment.

As Kreans righted himself, he reacted in kind, lunging at the creature and stabbing with his spear. The first lunge missed, as the Snapdragon threw itself left. The second lunge made while it was recovering found purchase in the monster's neck. A gout of green fluid sprayed from the wound. Just as Kreans tried to finish it off the creature moved to the other side. If a plant could look afraid, it did.

---

Snapdragon:
Stats--
Type: Beast Str: 20 Vit: 18 Agi: 20 En: 4 P: 2

HP: 8.5/360 -139.5, -72, -20 (correction)
Stm: 30/72 -3
MP: 41/41

Dmg: 25
DR: 10

[Kreans]

Kreans' vicious assault of the creature seemed to do the trick, the first of it's own pitiful attempts at aggression planting fully onto the bone armour that covered a large amount of his form, the impact barely registering in it's weakness. It's second attempt was easily avoided with a duck down and the third hit home on the Saurian's head that caused his head to flinch back as he took a second to shake his head and clear the stars in his eyes.

It was only a momentary lapse however and his spear soon found the plants odd flesh once again, of the three thrusts only one hit home but it was worth it for that hit, green fluid sprayed out in a way that Kreans could only assume meant he had hit something vital in the creature's body. It didn't look as though there was much fight left in it, now he was close to the satisfaction of a good kill after combat, something that the warrior hadn't felt since a time before leaving his own tribe in the south.

Once again the spear was raised, Kreans tightened his grip on the haft and plunged it down at the creature once again, anticipating and enjoying the kill that he was sure was about to come.

---

Str20/Vit20/Agi18/Ch15/St15/T15/D15/EN15/P15/K20
HP: 225/400 (-25)
SM: 44/80 (-12)
MP: 172/172

Weapon Used:
Excellent Spear
Dmg: 122
Reqs: 20 Str, 15 A, 10 K
Effects: Inserted Jade
*piercing, Slashing*


Applicable Skills:
Crushing Blows
Description: Skaldi strength flows through and is shown always in combat
Effect: When attacking Kreans deals his strength stat as additional damage
Cost: 3SM per attack
*Brawler I, Saurian*

[Azuloth]

Battle Data

SPOILER: Click to show

Initiative
-Snapdragon
-Kreans

Snapdragon (Hit threshold -vs- Kreans: 52)
-Attack: Vine Slash: 1D100 => 99 MISS!
-Attack: Grab & Drag: 1D100 => 28 Hit!! Kreans is wrapped! Arms and Legs Immobilized
-Attack: Vine Slash: 1D100 => 5 Hit!! 1D15 => 3 Neck (Dmg: 25+35= 60 - 106= Invulnerability Save)

Kreans (Hit threshold -vs Snap Dragon: 49)
-Attack: Cannot Resolve -- Arms bound.

Results:
Kreans is Immobilized (Arms and Legs)
Snapdragon Dies
Kreans is released

---

In a last ditch effort to survive the Snapdragon swung its vine out wide, it harmlessly smacked into a tree. Then as Kreans grew closer it shot its vines out to grab his arms and legs. An effort that was rewarded with success. As it found purchase it squeezed and began to pull Kreans towards its mouth. Another vine slap bounced off his neck armor harmlessly. Breaking out of the grapple and killing the beast would be more difficult now that he was bound. Or so it had thought. Instead, it perished as the last drop of its life's blood expelled itself in a high pressure spurt from its neck wound.

---

Snapdragon: DEAD
Stats--
Type: Beast Str: 20 Vit: 18 Agi: 20 En: 4 P: 2

HP: 0/360 -72
Stm: 7/72 -3 -20
MP: 36/41

Dmg: 25
DR: 10

[Kreans]

Even as alien blood spilled across their small battlegrounds the creature didn't give in, it swung the vines out once again, missing by a wide margin likely due to it's failing strength and hitting a nearby tree in the process. Kreans' sharp teeth flashed as he considered the kill in front of him, looking for the moment when he could plunge his spear into it's hide and claim it's life for his and it's power for his own.

As he sprung in for the final thrust of his spear its vines succeeded in wrapping around the Saurian's large limbs, constricting around the muscled appendages and dragging the far larger Skaldi towards it's relatively smaller body and mouth gaped wide open to receive him. Struggling and trying to dig his claws into the ground yielded no real results as he found himself still drawn into the embrace of the deceptively strong plant creature, raging against his bonds the whole time and barely noticing the pitiful slap that bounded off of the armour around his neck.

It seemed that the creature's body gave out though, the torrential bleeding coupled with the effort of dragging the huge Skaldi causing it to surrender what little life it had left from it's body and the vines around Kreans to go limp. In quick measure the Skaldi tore them from his body, releasing himself from the ghost of it's grip and poking it with a clawed foot to ensure the foe truly was dead before placing spear and shield back to their respective holders. The thrill of battle was still upon him, excited breaths slow to calm as he surveyed the creature in front of him, now that it was no longer moving about and an immediate threat he could take the time to figure out what it actually was, he wasn't sure if he'd seen it's like or not before but he had the time to examine it's corpse further now.

Now that it was dead he would attempt to take what he could from the creature, draw the power from it to supplement his own, learn it's vital points incase he should ever face another and harvest what useful materials he could from it to help him in the future.

---

Attempting to figure out what the creature is?
Simple (30) Knowledge (20) Monster Identification (Unlearned) Threshold: 50
OL1t3xAS


Then attempting to loot the corpse