The Kingsroad; 598

[The Stranger]

The boar headed to the southeast again. It is moving quickly, it will be difficult to catch it on foot Ashurgi is sure.

[Fel]

"We must mount up to catch this prey, his speed is great. He is still on the path southeast," Ashurgi said, moving to get his own horse.

[Sam]

Steffon leapt onto his own horse's back, and four of his knights did the same. Each bore a long spear, though also wore a sword at his waist, and every one of them carried a torch. Steffon signaled to follow the Summer Islander, and then the six men sped off after the boar.

[The Stranger]

They begin to ride quickly through the underbrush, Ashurgi checks the signs every few minutes to insure they have not lost the trail.

[Please attach Riding statistic to next post]

[Sam]

Steffon follows the tracker closely, guiding his through the close-packed trees.

[Apprentice Animal-Handling]
[Novice Lance/Spear] --> If we catch him and it comes to it.

[The Stranger]

Riding swiftly though the forest, Steffon's horse takes a misstep, there is a nerve-wracking snap, and the horse screams and stumbles to the ground. Steffon is able to jump free to avoid being crushed.

[Sam]

Steffon swears bodily as his gelding goes down, but is able to avoid taking an injury in the fall. His men stop to wait for him, and one offers him his own horse, but Steffon declines. It is clearly a fool's quest to continue this hunt in the black of night. He orders the small group back to the camp, where the will wait until sunrise and begin to follow the trail again.

Steffon attempts to examine the fallen horse's leg without being kicked, to see if it must be put down, or if the break is clean enough to be set and healed.

[The Stranger]

The animal is in tremendous pain, and will never run again. With months of tender care, it may be able to stand and stud, but perhaps not.

[Sam]

Steffon draws his dagger and moves to cut the horse's throat, and orders everyone back to camp. Once there he sends several servants out to retrieve the horse, to cut it apart and salt the meat, just in case.

[The Stranger]

They return to the camp after the horse is slaughtered.

[Sam]

Steffon impatiently waits for the sun to rise, so he can resume the hunt for Hogzilla.

[The Stranger]

The next day the sun rises, and the party may once again pursue their quarry. Ashurgi picks up the trail where it was last spotted, headed Southeast.

[Sam]

Steffon mounts a new horse, and leads the hunting party behind the tracker, trying to estimate how far away the animal could have gotten in the hours before dawn.

[The Smith]

The King seems to just be enjoying his time outside of the keep.

[The Stranger]

They reach an area of clearing, where high grasses are covering both sides of the bank of a small creek.