A wide ravine where a shallow, gentle river flows. Years of drought and silt deposits have built this area into a fertile delta. The river remains low and dry most of the year, staining its waters brown and creating muddy shores.
"It was stressful," Larkspur agreed, tilting her head at the mention of a 'tincture.' Was that like an oil? "I don't know what that is or how to make one... my feathers are pretty sensitive and easily damaged. It's gentle on feathers, right?"
She'd tried using some of the harsher things on her wings once - and had stared in horror as her feathers fell out for months afterward. She was so lucky that the attempt had been made not too long before a heavy molting, so the damaged feathers were quickly discarded by her body while new feathers had already been in the process of growing back. It had only taken a few months to recover from the experiment, but she'd been wary of putting anything but sand and especially dry earth on her wings ever since.
"The few of the land from the clouds is worth all the fuss and mess of preening," Larkspur agreed solemnly. It was always a delight to watch the trees be reduced to dark little dots speckling the landscape.
She raised her gaze, scanning the far side of the bank (that she was admittedly, reluctant to go too close to given the powerful smell of scent-markers in the area). What did sea-glass look like? Just ordinary glass? Or would it have impurities that granted it some kind of special tint? Metal would be easier for her to identify - silvery, shiny and obvious even within the dirty water flowing past her paws.
Character Diceroll 1: Success Diceroll must be above 500 to be successful.
0 was added for Perception.
550 was added for Level 3.
0 was added for A. No Enchantment.
7 was deducted for C. Vagrant Penalty.
NPC Diceroll 1: Success Diceroll must be above 500 to be successful.
0 was added for Stealth.
509 was added for Level 0 (50/50).
0 was added for A. No Enchantment.
0 was added for A. No Buff / Penalty.
It was the smell of freshwater that coaxed the young deer from the protective shielding of the lush forest. It loathed to leave the place that fed it, sheltered it, but when a young buck needed water and the only water was out of his shelter, out of the shelter he ventured. It looked around at first, approaching the water cautiously and lowered its head. So far there was nothing, but a deer without a herd could never be too careful.
It was this reminder that there was no other watching his back that encouraged him to lift his head and check the area again.
Character Diceroll 2: Success Diceroll must be above 500 to be successful.
0 was added for Perception.
524 was added for Level 0 (50/50).
0 was added for A. No Enchantment.
0 was added for A. No Buff / Penalty.
NPC Diceroll 1: Fail Diceroll must be above 500 to be successful.
0 was added for Perception.
486 was added for Level 0 (50/50).
0 was added for A. No Enchantment.
0 was added for A. No Buff / Penalty.
She didn't know how to make tincture. "Well if we could find some wild rosemary- or even grow the herb I could show you how to get some. We would need to hang and dry the herb for a day or two first though. Then boil in for around ten or fifteen minutes- let it cool, and we have a good run for your feathers there." He gave a sideways grin. "One thing I have enjoyed in my travels is all the learning." He admitted.
Balthazar had noticed Larkspur freezing too late. The young male deer that had stepped from the forest saw him before he could hold his breath. Great! Balthazar thinks in annoyance. How could he let prey slip through his grasp so easily, like a blumbering pup! Stupid idiot! He thinks, but he doesnt have long; so Balthazar leaps into action. Managing to get a glide going so that he lands behind the buck, with a growl and a snap of teeth he sends the deer reeling toward Larkspur; as the buck has yet to notice her due to its poor eyesight.
As Balthazar ran behind the deer he attemps to get cliser, powerful, bone crushing jaws snapping at the deers hind-legs hoping to get a mouthful and cause it to fall- and if it didnt fall from his teeth perhaps he would scare it enough to stumble.
---
(OOC note); if his first roll is a success then he bites it and it falls. If it FAIL he misses.
If second roll is a success the deer stumbles, if it fails its still running toward lark :x
NPC Diceroll 1: Success Diceroll must be above 500 to be successful.
0 was added for Dexterity.
517 was added for Level 0 (50/50).
0 was added for A. No Enchantment.
0 was added for A. No Buff / Penalty.
NPC Diceroll 2: Success Diceroll must be above 500 to be successful.
0 was added for Dexterity.
502 was added for Level 0 (50/50).
0 was added for A. No Enchantment.
0 was added for A. No Buff / Penalty.
Larkpsur almost relaxed her body when the deer spotted the giant - she wasn't upset by it, she could always hunt later, and she couldn't really blame him for not noticing, not seeing. He was massive compared to any creature she'd seen so far in life, a being so large in this thick layer of trees was bound to be noticed. But then the giant follows the direction of her gaze and springs into action. Larkspur crouches down reflexively, pack hunting tactics flooding back in as she waits to see the outcome of the impressive pounce.
She needn't have worried.
The giant's powerful jaws closed fiercely around the now fleeing creature's legs, knocking it to the ground. It released a pained wail, going sprawling away from those dangerous scent markers at the same time Larkspur launched forward herself, sinking her own teeth into the creature's thickly muscled throat. The iron tang of blood spilled into her mouth, her stomach rolling with the reminder of how long it had been since she stopped for even a little snack. A low growl of effort rumbled out of her throat as she forced herself to bite harder and harder until she felt something break, and the poor creature finally fell still. She released it, panting, and shook her head.
"Ow," she said aloud. Her jaws weren't all that thick, not really meant for trying to crunch through a large predator by full force. She worked her maw a little bit, trying to ease the ache from the pressure, before nodding appreciatively at Balthazar."Good pounce. Don't think I would've made that."
Balthazar lapped at the metallic tang left on his lips from crushing the bones in the deers legs. Watching as it fell to the ground. Fumbling and fussing as it tried to stand in vain. It wasn't long until Larkspur jumped into action , her jaws clamping firmly down on its neck, pressing harder and harder until a sickening crunch rang out and the stag fell still.
His ears twitched at the sound of her growls. For a moment he waited at a distance and let her relish in the kill. Balthazar could only watch as she stretched her jaws after crying out in slight pain. Most wolves seemed to have issues with doing what she had without help so he was impressed. "You did well Larkspur, the biting will come easier the more you do it." He tried to reassure her, movong closer to the deer's neck. He sat and waited. "You can take your fill of flesh then I'll get blood- if you prefer things separate."
He wasn't exactly starving at the time and knew there would be enough blood left over. "You know I think taming or making friends with a snake could benefit you Larkspur. Help keep birds and such away from your coat and they cling well, for flights. I used to have a bat once myself. He got lost though- I'm not exactly sure what became of him."
"Thanks - usually I don't go after deer older than yearling," she said ruefully. Half because of her obvious, smaller stature and far weaker jaws, and half because the larger the wolf, the easier it is for them to buck and land those sharp hooves in her chest and outright kill her. Not to mention that the antlers of a proper buck could stab through her rib cage and pierce her heart with alarming ease. "Hope so. Almost don't even want to chew."
She lowered herself to the ground, tucking her limbs beneath her own body as her tongue passed over her muzzle with discontent from the ache.
"We can eat together, I don't mind," she said easily, beginning to nose the corpse for the softest part. Eventually, she sank her teeth into the thinner belly of the deer and tugged a few times until the fur tore away, revealing fresh meat. She tugged again to open up a larger space, which made her hunger (faded from the soreness of her jaws) surge back to the front of her mind. "That scent-marker's got me nervous - don't want to run the risk of someone from that territory showing up and assuming we're poaching. Eating together is faster."
Her piece spoken, she used her front teeth to tear open the meat a little more, getting a chunk to stick out, then sank her teeth into the flesh. She sighed a bit in relief as she barely chewed the first few mouthfuls, then settled again - flying was energy intensive, she was practically always a little hungry after a long flight, and she'd been flying since dawn that morning. She nosed her way deeper into the body, listening absently to the giant continuing to talk.
She pulled her mouth back, passing her tongue over her blood smeared muzzle in consideration, "I've considered a snake - a strangler that could hold tightly to me when I fly. Although... I don't know how I'd appeal to a snake. With mice, perhaps?"
She frowned when Balthazar mentioned his lost companion, adopting a sympathetic expression as she absently tapped into her second sight. There was a kind of dark blue melancholy clinging to the giant's body. It swirled lightly around him, so that was a good sign. Vague, sad memories rather than grief, deep and painful and cruel.
"I am sorry to hear that - perhaps he'll appear here. Stranger things have happened - Reed said she got to me drinking from a well."
Balthazar sighed softly to himself, looking over Lark's jaws as she flexed them. They did appear sore and tender as she moved, but nothing he was sure wouldn't go away eventually. "I am pretty good at picking herbs and making salves for things," the vampire offers as he lingers over the bleeding deer, yet to take any morsel for himself. How long had it been now-- a day?
His focus was more on Larkspur now and helping her. After all, she was already doing him a big help in finding Reed and Sunglass!
"I think some Clove Oil and Boswellia will help-- one or both." He tilts his head and leans down to sniff the deer 'Yes it would be smarter to eat together-' the thought was a great one! Balthazar didn't hesitate any longer and dug in with his fangs, sucking away at the sweet liquids in his mouth.
As he drinks he thinks, looks up, abd speaks briefly, "We could forage for it in the Trees. Or forage wherever, unless you wish to go without it." His shoulders roll in a soft shrug that show he cares little either way- Balthazar only wished to help.
Each drink from the stag was filling him with a sense of new found strength.
He pulls away from the food finally, having his full and lapping his maw and teeth clean. Watching her as she contiued and finished her fill. "Either way, we should head away from here-- I want to find Reed, and just like you I think if we stay here too long others might come looking around, wondering what's happening." He didn't like large crowds. And he didn't intend on retailing his story of getting lossed.
Balthazar shook his pelt and sighed. Here went nothing- the sun was going down, which could help save some strength along the way. "Snakes love mice- and certain movements. Some can be tricky to appeal with, but good help." The vampire muses, waiting for Larkspur to lead them. He didn't want to think about his familiar- he just hopes Fyn was out there and alive at some point. If not still-- but the vampire couldn't dwell; he had no choice.
A bubbly, boyish, laughter bubbles in his chest, laughing at mentions of Reed. "Aye, I suppose she is right! She's a smart lass..." Hes shaking his head in almost disbelief, "did you find her in a well?" His brow raises, curious.
----
? DICE roll ?
Balthazar is going to make TWO NPC rolls for Dexterity and Perceptions.
SUCCESS 1: roll 1: They are able to travel coastal, Balthazar can stay in the shade and save his energy. (8/8 hp)
SUCCESS 2: they forage successful for 2 plants to make a salve. They must store and save to dry (or make a tea).. If lark wants to (or it can be a successful roll to find her a familiar?)
FAIL 1: Balthazar can not cross over Costal and avoid the sunlight, it takes strength and dexterity. --1 hp (7/8)
FAIL 2: they are unable to turn up any herbs / familiars-- forage unsuccessfull.
![[Image: pirate-pups.png]](https://i.ibb.co/GHJmDw3/pirate-pups.png)