A hunting party with Yennefer [asorceress]

[allbedestroyed]

This couldn't have happened at a better time. Things were as in control as they'd ever been. A reality that is sure to be shattered sooner rather than later, but one that makes it incredibly easy to leave behind for a bit. Try as he might not to show it, Muldoon can tell that Hammond is a little relieved at the prospect of getting a break from the warden. Muldoon cites 'personal matters' as an excuse for the suddenness of his departure, and his boss doesn't question it overmuch. After all, it's not like Muldoon has taken much in the way of leave for the past few years.

Once work is in order, he just needs to gather his supplies. Weapons mostly. He's relatively certain the African bow and spear will be dismissed as too fragile by his new acquaintance, but they're what he's got and they pack a bigger punch than one might expect. His trusty hunting rifle at least looks sturdy.

Having thought everything through several times over, there is only one thing that he remains somewhat uneasy about. He's used to his clothes, to wearing the practical shirt, shorts and long socks that allow him to deal with all the unpleasantness swamps and jungles bring. The idea of wearing anything heavy is the least appealing aspect of this whole endeavour.

The deadly monsters he's quite looking forward to.

So it's only with minor trepidation that he returns to the designated rendezvous point. Thankfully being a seasoned traveller, his pack is light but for the weapons he's brought along.

Comments

[asorceress]

Yennefer's gaze is fixed on the werewolf's form, watching it carefully and preparing in her mind a variety of ways to subdue or, if it came down to it; kill it. It might be a human, but that hardly mattered if it decided to attack. Besides; humans could be just as dangerous and bloodthirsty as any of the monsters they were likely to encounter during their journey.

Once it moves behind a tree, Yennefer is still and silent for a moment; listening and waiting. She hears the sound of the creature moving in a direction away from them, retreating further into the denser part of the forest. There's no guarantee it won't catch their scent and come after them at any point; but the idea of following after it deeper into an area with even less visibility doesn't appeal either. She glances back at Muldoon, then motions for the them to move forward.

She stops after a few paces, once they're sheltered behind another large tree; looking back in the direction where the werewolf had retreated. "It might decide to track us at some point, but I'd rather not wander through that part of the forest just to seek it out and eliminate it. We'll need to remain very vigilant," she says, keeping her voice low. "Keep your spear ready."

[allbedestroyed]

When they move he keeps pace with her. For someone as tall as he is he can move surprisingly quietly. Whether it will be enough for the creatures of this world is another question entirely. For now his focus is to take her lead, to learn from her what habits keep a person alive in a world with werewolves and swamp monsters.

Once they reach another natural pause behind a thick tree, he keeps his voice low to ask, "Will it avoid the kikimora's territory?"

They're stuck between two deadly predators. If the werewolf cares to avoid the other local hunters then moving swiftly into the kikimora's territory works in the favour. Otherwise they may potentially have to fend off two dangers at once. Either way, he'd like to know which is the most likely.

[asorceress]

For a human, she's relieved to find he moves with enough silence and ease that she doesn't have to worry too much about whether or not to place an energetic shield around them using her magic. It would cost her a certain amount of concentration she'd rather utilize to traverse the forest and stay alert.

"It won't go near the swamps," she answers quietly. "The kikimora would tear it apart and have a proper feast if it did wander too close." The idea that they're now heading toward such a creature would seem like madness to most, but it's what they're here to do. And they've come prepared, which gives them some advantage.

Her magic being the main advantage, as without that she wouldn't be attempting this. The risk would be too high. She waits another few moments, just to be sure; and when it seems clear she leads them onward through the trees. "The swamp is ahead, you'll know once we're close by the smell." Which just sounds so appealing, she knows, but it was the nature of swamps - stagnant, humid, filled with muck and the rotting parts of various creatures the kikimora decided it didn't feel like eating.

[allbedestroyed]

For quite a few people, none of what Yennefer says sounds good. For Muldoon, it's all wonderfully informative. Everything she shares gives him something useful, which isn't something he can say about every hunting partner. None of it puts him off in the slightest. If anything, it just makes him more eager to press on.

Soon enough he can smell their approach, and then feel it. The cloying scent of plant decay and thick humidity feels like it clings to his skin. It's a different kind of swamp to the ones he's visited, but the atmosphere has a familiarity about it. Not that it stops him from wrinkling his nose a little.

The ground becomes softer underfoot and is so damp in some places that it's difficult to distinguish it from the water that appears in large, murky bodies. Muldoon scans the area as best he can in the dimming light. It would help to get a sense of where might have mostly land and where is mostly water, but that's not the easiest task as the sun sets.

When they get a moment, Muldoon mumbles, "I take it a torch is a death wish?"

[asorceress]

The atmosphere of the swamp settles over everything with a familiar heaviness she's not entirely fond of, the air thick with various scents that twist her features. Flesh, in various stages of decay. If anything managed to wander this far, the smell alone would typically trigger an instinctive fear response to flee; but still they both press on.

It doesn't take long before her boots are coated in muck, but she steps carefully, winding to avoid the places where the pools are wider. "Unfortunately yes, any light source will act like a beacon straight toward us," she answers, pausing a moment to look around. "Kikimoras typically wait beneath the water, still enough that you can barely see any ripples to indicate their presence. Step very carefully and avoid the larger pools. They rely on ambush, mostly; and typically the sight of them alone tends to terrify humans enough that they forget to even run." She continues forward, one foot after the other as she leads them down a narrow path of solid ground surrounded on both sides by pools of varying sizes.

"If we continue to follow the scent of decay, the stronger it gets, the closer we are to where it's likely hiding... keep watch on the water," she warned, then quietly murmured an incantation beneath her breath; her invisible spell settling over them. "This will help to lessen the impact of our steps, it won't be able to feel our approach through the shifting of the mud and sands."

[allbedestroyed]

Muldoon nods his thanks for the spell. He wants to ask more questions, to interrogate Yennefer about its natural predators, its territorial and hunting habits... But the darkness seems thicker here, and his eyes become fixed on the water, looking for any sign of movement. Or for any hint of freshly disturbed dirt. Perhaps even an indication of a fresh kill... Though nothing seems fresh in this place.

He stops in his tracks as a thought occurs to him. "Can you light things from afar with your magic?" So that she can follow his train of thought he asks, "Can we use light as a lure? Set a trap?"

[asorceress]

Yennefer's senses are fixed on the water before them, sharply attuned to any tiny movements; expecting at any moment that the creature will reveal itself in one way or another - either by the subtle ripple of water, or by ambushing them. She knew of a few spells to repel and attack, but his question has her stopping and turning around to face him as she answers. "That is an excellent idea."

She wishes she'd thought of it earlier, but that was the benefit of teaming up with another person; even though his world was vastly different from hers; his mind worked the same way as any other hunter - figuring out the best means to outsmart the creatures that would happily rip them to shreds.

"I'll set up a lure to draw it out, then use my magic to attack and subdue it. Be ready with both your spear and your bow. It will be overwhelmed, hopefully, by the both of us attacking at once. Aim for it's neck and head, it's eyes." She glances toward his rifle. "The rifle should be used as a last resort, due to the noise it might draw. But if it comes down to it, by all means; use it."

With that, she creates a small ball of violet light from her palms; sending it a fair distance ahead of them where it hovers just above one of the larger pools, the deepest one they'd come across so far.

[allbedestroyed]

The way she stops to look at him so suddenly, Muldoon half expects to be educated on the foolishness of such a suggestion. Being told quite the opposite is a relief in more ways than one. In so many aspects the kikimora has the advantage in this place. Having some way to gain even a shred of control over the situation is exceptionally helpful. Even more so when that method provides both a light source and a clear point of reference in the dark.

All of Yennefer's directions are taken with a nod of agreement. The weak points, limited and likely the most difficult to hit, are noted carefully. Just before he makes to go, Yennefer effortlessly creates a ball of light in her hands. Muldoon's inexperience with magic is plastered all across his fascinated expression as he watches it float away. He actually has to blink out the light from his eyes before he refocuses.

Now in the more familiar territory of a trap, Muldoon hurries to reposition himself. They don't know where the kikimora is going to come from, but their best chance at getting it down is if they cover as many angles as they extremely limited team can. He's suddenly grateful for the full length trouser Yennefer provided as his feet sink into the water and muck. By the time he stops, content with his position, he's on the far side of the violet orb, at an angle rather than crossing to the other side of the pool.

Muldoon readies his spear and crouches, half braced against a dead tree. It provides him a shred of cover, so he'll take it. He's not sure if Yennefer can even see him properly, but he nods his preparedness anyway.