Ranger Archive
Thread: Outdoorsman 2.1 Hunting Tale
Entering the town, the hunter paused and squinted his eyes in the sickly glow the phosphorescent streetlamps were exuding. He hadn’t been in town for a while now, and his head was pounding with all the clamor and brightness of the big city. He started making his way towards the cantina, hoping to grab a few refreshing drinks and ease his mind from the past month in the wilderness by seeing a local entertainer performance. On the way, he stopped off at the local bazaar, hoping to find a newer weapon to replace his old, worn one and sell of his sizeable stack of natural resources. While browsing the markets, he overheard a local farmer complaining about a rabid creature terrorizing the country side. From the description of the creature, it sounded big…and dangerous. He knew that hunters were dangerously low in supply and he might be the only one in the area who could handle such an animal. Still, he had finally made his way back to town and it would be a shame to have wasted it...on the other hand, the local merchant also mentioned the sizeable reward the local authorities were offering for this creatures head. The ranger weighed his options carefully before slinging his pack over his shoulder and heading towards the closest explorers terminal. He was sure his trusty weapon was good for one more fight, and there was always time for music and dancing later. It was time to hunt.
The terminal was overcrowded with contracts, most of them for small prey and petty pay. And then, there it was. He saw that indeed, it was a payoff worthy of such a hunt. But where to begin? The terminal gave no specific location…only the description of the creature he was supposed to kill. However, the terminal also listed the location of a retired local hunter. Deciding that more information was needed, the Ranger quickly moved out to find this hunter. Perhaps he knew something a little more concrete. The hunter quickly found the old man and asked if he had heard anything about this creature. “The old man looked up and smiled. “Another young buck looking for a trophy. Sure, I’ll show you on your map where you might find him, though you might he might not be so happy to see you…nor you him.” The hunter smiled wanly at the old man and left. There was no time to lose.
The creature was quite far from town, and was always on the move. The Hunter decided to ride out to the location upon his trusty Cu’pa. He rode throughout the night, and upon reaching the area the old man had told him about, he dismounted. The moonlight was muted through the cloud cover, and an eerie pall hung over the entire valley. The creature was nowhere to be seen, even in a clearing this large. He stopped and listened for the sound of a call, but all was quiet. Even the insects were quiet. Strange. He knew that this creature he was looking for had been here, but how long ago he couldn't tell. He had to find more information before he could resume his hunt.
There, a hundred meters out! A fleeting shadow amongst the treesducked in and out of view. The Ranger felt his blood go cold, as it always did before combat. He slipped quietly back into the wood line, out of view. Perhaps it was nothing more than another hunter attempting to bring down this large critter. However, with a creature this large, he wasn’t willing to take any chances. Lucky, he hadn’t been in town long enough to change out of his tattered ghillie suit. He rummaged through his backpack, looking for the materials he would need to conceal himself from view. As he put camouflage on himself, he knew that luck had favored him this day, for being undetectable during the crucial first seconds of combat could mean the difference between life and death. Whether it was the dangerous animal or simply another hunter who wanted to make trouble for him, the hunter would be ready.
The Ranger made his way through the forest, stopping only to watch the shadowy figure he saw ahead. Crawling through the underbrush, he was undetectable. His skin tingled as he approached. He moved slowly forward, one hand reaching towards his weapon. He raised himself to one knee, preparing to engage the creature as soon as he saw it. Suddenly, the moonlight shown full through the cloud cover. There, dangling from a tree was the bloodied corpse of a small animal. Clearly, his prey was close-by. But where exactly? Using years of training, the hunter began to scan the area for any pertinent information. There were several sets of tracks, most of them from creatures large enough to be dangerous. But which way to go? He studied the broken twigs and trampled grass carefully. Ah…there! One set of tracks left the grass stained with blood and glistening in the moonlight. This was the creature he was after. But it appeared that the creature had a good head start on him. He had better get moving if he wanted to be the first to bring this creature down.
The hunter grabbed his gear and got moving. Leaving caution to the wind, he began moving quickly through the dense underbrush to the clearing ahead, Knowing his target was elusive and quick, he began to move at a sprint. He had to move quickly since this creature showed no remorse for killing and was headed towards a small town. He knew that peoples’ lives depended on his success, and he pushed his body as hard as it could. There was no time to lose.
Running through the wilderness, the Ranger had hardly realized that the weather had quickly made a turn for the worse. Rain was now falling heavily on his shoulders and he was soon soaked to the bone. Looking over his shoulder, he saw the storm clouds approaching from the West. He had seen this type of cloud before and he knew that there would be little hope of finding his creature in the maelstrom. These storms were dangerous, blowing debris about and often crippling the unfortunate adventurers who failed to find cover before the brunt of the storm had hit. The Ranger muttered under his breath. He had sold most of his materials to a merchant before he left and he would need some materials to create a campsite. He knew this area was rife with wildlife and he began to look for a few small creatures whose corpses would provide the materials necessary for a proper shelter. Looking back at the clouds he knew it was time to harvest as quickly as possible.
The Hunter knew that there was no time to set up an extravagant camp this time. He was working against the clock, and he didn’t need all the amenities of a field base. What he was seeking was shelter from the approaching storm. Working with his crafting tool, he began shaping and bending the bone and hide he had harvested. He soon realized that mere hide and bone would not protect him from a storm of this magnitude and he began fastening all the joints with a little steel that he had at the bottom of his pack. He reinforced the walls of the structure, to ensure that the weather could not get in. Finally, he set his collapsible cot inside the main tent. He was going to have to stay the night. Besides, he knew the creature, like him, would be seeking shelter. He would continue his hunt tomorrow.
A thundering sound shook the Hunter from his sleep. The sound of rainfall has made him woozy, and he had found himself unable to keep his eyes open. He listened carefully, and realized that the storm had stopped. Light shone through the tiny slit in the structures doorway. It was morning and the sun was shining. There it was again! The entire structure was shaking now! The Hunter soon realized that this wasn’t thunder, but likely the creature he had been seeking. He hadn’t covered his scent as he was making this structure, and the creature he had been dutifully tracking was now tracking HIM!!! He sprang out of bed and began preparing for battle. He put on what little armor he owned and took out his weapons. He laid them on the ground and inspected them. They all appeared to be in working order. Now he brought out a handful of small, hand-made devices. He filled the pockets of his bandoleer with these devices and took several more out of his pack. He slung his backpack over his back, grabbed his weapons and stepped into the sunlight. He was greeted by a creature the size of a Rancor, with teeth as long as his forearm. Knowing that every second in battle counted, he took out one of the small objects from his bandoleer and threw it. This small trap could mean the difference between life and death for the Hunter.
The Hunter saw the creatures movements slow to a slow crawl. Moving deftly over the landscape, he evaded the claws of the beast by a few steps. He heard the creature struggling to break free of its bonds behind him and he knew that this would not be an easy fight. The creatures’ skin appeared thick enough to resist most blaster fire, and the traps could only slow it down so much. The creature appeared to be incredibly strong and resilient, but he knew that creatures this size were often much tougher on the outside than on the inside. Knowing that he had precious little time to waste, the Hunter drew his bow as the creature began to charge. He aimed right for the heart and let the arrow fly. The creatures’ roar pierced the air as the arrow hit its mark. The Hunter almost smiled with satisfaction as he saw the blood begin to flow. He knew that the creature was hurt, and scared. Few hunters took the time to find the weak spot of a creature. This one fact set him apart, and he knew it would bring the beast down
As the creature stood, eyes darting around as if the creature was contemplating running, the Hunter took another trap and flung it towards the creature. The trap exploded over the creatures head, trapping him with a thin wire mesh that was glowing brightly, even in the sun. Seeing the creature outlined against the sky, he took aim again with his bow. Again the creature let out a scream of pain and anger as it was pierced by the arrow. The creatures’ beady eyes caught those of the Hunter, and he knew the beast was staying. The ground shook again as the creature closed in upon the Hunter. He knew to look out for the claws on this beast and he watched the hands closely. The beast swung wildly, and the Hunter quickly rolled away. He dropped his bow and drew his dagger, jabbing the blade into the belly of the beast as he moved. In a moment of excitement, the Hunter pounced in, preparing to make the final blow with the dagger, right into the creatures’ heart. The creature, however was not dead yet and as the Hunter felt his dagger pierce the flesh of the creature, he felt the creatures’ teeth pierce his armor and tear into his shoulder. The Hunter felt his arm instantly begin to tingle and he recognized that this creature was also extremely poisonous. He had dealt with various poisons over the years, and he knew that he was in no immediate danger as the creature collapsed at his feet.
The Hunter took inspected the creature and determined that the hide of this creature was too tough to use for any practical application and the meat was foul and soft. He drew his dagger again and removed the head of the creature. This would insure that he had proof of his kill; as well as provide a nice decoration for whomever he could sell it to. As he stored his weapons and began making preparations to leave, he realized that his arm was still throbbing. He knew his body would eventually fight off the poison, but that anything which slowed his movement could prove fatal. He moved a bit into the woods and began scouring the area for herbs or plants he knew would help his body fight off infections and clear his mind for the journey ahead.
Satisfied with his hunt, the Hunter decided it was high time he took a rest. He knew that the city would provide a few comforts, but he also knew there were likely just as many headaches waiting there: merchants demanding the hides of rare creatures and chefs needing large quantities of meat only found on creatures that were small and often with very little meat on them. He drew his fingers together and whistled across the plains. Soon, his trusty mount came into view over the hilltop and paused obediently for its’ master. He fed his animal some of the tasty herbs he had found and climbed aboard. The mount seemed appreciative for the meal and set off quickly over the hillside.
The Hunter rode his mount until the sun began to set over the land. Night was fast approaching and he was happy to see the silhouette of a small structure before him through the brush. He climbed off his mount, and walked through the woods on a path that was all but imperceptible. As he exited the trees, a tiny cabin was there to greet his eyes. It was small, and the wind gusted through it, but it was the closest the Hunter had to a home. Tying his mount out back, he entered the structure and started a small fire. The light reflected off the many trophies the Hunter had collected, over the old weapons he no longer used, and over the scattered objects collected from a lifetime of travel and adventure. This was home. The Hunter collapsed on the cot and considered adding this most recent head to the many on his walls. Ahh, but that was a question for tomorrow and the Hunter fell fast asleep for the first time in a moon.
The Hunter opened his eyes to the sounds of birds chirping outside. He went to the window and saw the sun rising over the horizon. Grabbing a saucer and some feed, he fed his mount and headed back indoors. Without a second thought, he grabbed his fishing rod and strode out his back door. 20 feet from his back door was the best fishing spot on this planet, and he had been to all of them. He cast his line and began to fish, an activity he had done since before he could remember. Each year he had gotten better and he was again looking to break his record this year.
The Hunter fished until the sun was almost directly overhead. The simplicity of the sport had always appealed to him and helped to clear his mind. He knew that while a new trophy would make him feel good, credits were a necessary evil in this day and age. He went back inside with the day’s catch (he would break his next time, he told himself) and grabbed the head of the animal and latched it on to his mounts’ saddle, coaxing it to move just a little faster so he could make town before nightfall.
Reaching town just before dusk, the hunter tied his steed at the front gate, picked up his trophy and meandered into the city hall. His face was full of cool exhilaration as he stared into the faces of the locals. They were all gaping at the gargantuan head stuffed under his arm. With admiration and relief the Mayor handed the reward to the Hunter and hefted the trophy over his head to show how his administration had triumphed over the beast. The mayor turned to the Hunter and offered the Hunter a feast in his honor, but the Hunter only smiled and politely bowed out. Looking up at the “hunters’ moon”, he made his way back towards the Cantina for the show and the drink that he had earned.
