⇨ THE HUNT

[ringleaders]

Who: Everyone!
When: Day 173, the Afternoon
Where: Heartstone Manor Courtyard
What: Everyone goes into the forest with arrows, swords, and horses and is told to hunt and the kill the biggest beast they can find. Best kills win a prize! Or, if you'd rather not, you can wander around the forest and pretend to hunt instead.
Warnings: Violence and ethical quandaries.

BEASTS OF BURDEN↴ Come the day of the Hunt, everyone will be brought to the courtyard forest and provided with arrows, bows, and blades as requested. Magic and other weaponry can be used to hunt, but it is suggested by the Prince that the best kill is the one done in a gentlemanly manner, which probably means he will be most impressed by those using the tools provided. The "Best Kill" will be determined from a mixture or whatever beast the Prince decides is best, and the method in which it was killed. The less damage done to the body the better - tearing the body apart will receive poor grades. The corpses are not yours to eat or keep, and all must be returned to the Prince at the end of the day for judgment. The servants are especially nervous, tense, and solemn today, and unless they have no choice, most of them will be trying to give the courtyard a wide berth. Those that have to serve will have stony expressions, or at best will be trying to put on a cheerful face. If casually asked why they are upset, most of them will say something vague about the Hunt making them nervous, and how dangerous it is to participate. OOC: Those who make top levels will have a chance to be randomly selected for a couple particular plot events, so be prepared for that.

Comments

[ringleaders]

The peryton makes a louder snuffling sound, gently stamping one of its feet. When that doesn't work, it will finally let out a bellow.

[otoko]

To that-well, Gongenzaka slowly opens his eyes, his meditation state fading. So long, pretty blue aura- Marishi still appears relaxed, despite the other turning his attentions on the peryton.

"....I, the man Gongenzaka, am not here to create harm," he announces calmly; and while his words are strong, he keeps his voice quiet. "...If you wish, we can continue our meditation elsewhere..."

"Hmnn. I'd rather not move, frankly...it's quite nice and quiet here," his partner chuffs in reply. She does, however, turn to stare quizzically at the peryton some. "....Something doesn't seem right about this though."

[ringleaders]

The Peryton huffs through its nose, pawing at the ground with a hoof a few more times, only pausing to look around for signs of danger.

After another moment, it butts its antlers into the ground softly, kicking up dust.

[otoko]

Alright. Now something's odd. Gongenzaka doesn't stand-he sort of feels like that will...cause troubles in itself. He nods to Marishi however-she'd be far smaller than the Peryton after all, and so the cheetah stands slowly, nodding her head. "....It may be best to make sure the three of us are as alone as we think," she notes, before coming toward the dirt. She stays a couple feet away, before pawing at the dust.

Gongenzaka will nod-And conduct his energy sensing spell. While he tries to feel for who is in the area, he'll naturally pick up on the Peryton before them; and if it's not completely an animal, maybe he'll catch that?

[ringleaders]

It doesn't read much differently from the way that Sans does, or how Lambert does more recently. Or, at least, there is a similar trait there, and it has more in common with a humanoid than a normal animal.

muffled holy shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit

[otoko]

Gongenzaka freezes.

Marishi does so as well-and both immediately speak at the same time. "...You're no 'animal', are you..!" they hiss, in shock and horror alike.

Gongenzaka doesn't stand, though he barely refrains from doing so. Instead he begins to somehow look pale beneath his fur. "T...To hunt even typical creatures for no purpose was already unforgivable enough..!"

"We've been sent in here to commit murder..!"

...

They should probably focus- "....Forgive me, for how I, the man Gongenzaka must ask this-but do you understand our speech?"

"...One hoofbeat for 'yes', perhaps?"

[ringleaders]

It snorts out air, and paws at the ground again. It's not clear if it was exactly "one" hoofbeat but... well, it basically did what he requested, which is more than an animal would do.

[otoko]

"That's quite enough for me..."

"...We must notify the others then...." ...Except Gongenzaka looks a bit conflicted. "...but then, there is a chance you yourself will be targeted as well..."

"...I can't imagine there is any other way to help you at this point other than to see you through to the end of this 'hunt', for that matter... ...unless this can be reversed to some extent?" Marishi asks, nodding toward...All of the Peryton, really.

Gongenzaka huffs at that. "Zecora herself is a zebra whose only 'human' trait is the power of speech-communication, personally, is my largest worry," he adds. And with a nod to the Peryton- "...I, the man Gongenzaka, am going to stand-if that is alright with you."

He feels proper warning is a good plan, right now.