Private Eastern Brisshal Bears in the woods? More likely than you'd think.

[Brutus Dahlgren]

The town was abuzz with rumors. It'd started when one of the huntsmen disappeared, then the men sent to look for him vanished. Old man Stankins was not having it, so he turned to one of the aces he kept up his sleeve just in case. Brutus found himself sitting in the towns main tavern, sat across from the southern gent cosplaying a vampire slayer listening intently.

"So you think it's a bear?" Brutus asked raising an eyebrow.

"Or something worse." Stankins replied dourly, sipping his ale. "I have it on good opinion that it's likely killed three men. The bear is a running theory to keep panic from spreading."

"A bear or worse." Brutus replied after downing his ale. "Got it. I'm assuming you want it sooner rather than later?"

"Yes sir, preferably with you heading out today if possible."

Brutus raised an eyebrow. "That'd leave me without my partner."

"I'll see if I can't rustle up some back up for you, sound good?"

"That would be appreciated."

...

Brutus found himself waiting at the edge of town around noon, leaning up against a sign posted at the crossroads. His canon leaning against his side as he idly tapped his fingers on his side impatiently. Hopefully he would meet his hired help soon, he was itching to get this show on the road.

 

[Alonso Thorlion]

"Okay, I get it ... yes, it's on the way I understa- ... alright. Alright fine. I'll go help take care of it."

How did he get wrapped up in this? Doing good deeds was fine, but the guilt trips bubbling inside of him were obnoxious. Damn that weakness of seeing villagers in desperate need of help, this time involving a bear. Well, at his level a mere bear should not be too difficult in taking down. This Stankins fellow even mentioned someone else was already ahead of him and with a meeting place to boot. It solved the issue of wandering around with no aim just to find one person.

Brows furrowed the closer he got to the crossroads sign. Something on the taller side was leaning against it, two things actually. More than likely that involved who he was going to meet. A partner who used larger weapons seemed logical, something akin to a greatsword. Actually, was that a canon?

That looked like a canon. And the other tall thing was not an object.

Alonso's eyes widened for a moment as he walked up to what was clearly another Beastfolk man. Now, the Felis himself was tall, but his eye level was just about at this man's collar! "Er, hi. Take it you're the other guy out to deal with this apparent bear problem," he asked. Looking over the stranger for a moment, the canon wielding man was on the muscular end, and of course, fairly tall. On the other hand, Alonso himself was tall in the regular sense, but his width was ridiculous by comparison that outshined most doorways!

And not in the romance-novel-underwear-model wide sense either.

@Brutus Dahlgren

 

[Brutus Dahlgren]

Brutus' eyes widened as the bear of a lion approached him. He'd met all sorts in this game, elves, machines, even other beastfolk, but this man was the second he'd ever met who'd embodied his certain sense of...

Aestetic.

He was also a mountain of a man, though not as tall as Brutus but packed enough mass going sideways to match him in weight. A grin curled across his lips as he reached out and shook the mans hand with a firm clasp and single shake.

"Yo! Brutus Dahlgren at your service. I am in fact the other...bear slayer. Though, Im not sure what we're actually fighting. Tge bear thing us mostly conjecture at this point, it could be orcs, goblins, strange esoteric plant creatures, or even two bears." A slight sense of dread crossed his mind as he listed off these options. This man didn't strike him as a healer, perhaps he would be suprised, but if not they would need to tread with care.

@Alonso Thorlion [phone posting, I apologize for lack of formatting or any typos]

 

[Alonso Thorlion]

By all accounts the lion might even weigh more with how much muscle and fat he had on him. Aesthetics were not the reason for them to meet up, however, and despite having some eye on Brutus it was not the time for asking other questions. Reaching out his hand, Alonso gave firm and strong handshake in return. His size was not just for show, and it helped he was one of the veteran players to better encompass strength.

Releasing his grip, he pulled back his and rest his hands on his wide hips. "Name's Alonso Thorlion. I figured whether not it was an actual bear was still up for debate. If anything an actual bear might not be as much of a problem compared to other things we might encounter." In his mind, he still did not know whether Brutus was a new player or not. Or even if the other man was a player at all! Still, it was better than nothing, and they can always discuss an actual plan in the meantime as they got to know each other more.

Alonso cleared his throat and glanced at the cannon. Logic stated that was something his companion used in some capacity, whether it was for shooting or for beating some poor soul over the head with. "Mind if I ask what you do? Since we're standing here starin' at each other. I'm mostly a melee fighter who fights unarmed, but I know some spirit magic as backup," he said. A good way to start the conversation. Either that or he took games too seriously half the time.

@Brutus Dahlgren

 

[Brutus Dahlgren]

"I mean..." he motioned to the canon. "I'm a bit of a jack of all trades type of guy. I excel at range, give me space and time and I'll blow just about anything to smithereens. But if they get to close," he hefted the canon, took a couple hops back to create ample demonstration space, and then WHAM. Smashed the canon into the ground. "I clobber em over the head. I'm also a trained bodyguard, usually I stand in the back covering people who're a little more...squishy. I've also got a bit of pyromancy, but I only usually bust that out for plants or enemies that are resistant to physical beatdowns."

Spirit magic was technically a support mastery, or at least, that's what Brutus thought, so if anything the two of them would at least have some healing. "Though it sounds like we're basically gonna be fighting back to back. I'll make sure nothing gets the drop on you, you make sure nothing gets the drop on me, and we should be fine."

Should was the key word. If this was a bear it'd be fine, anything else and they might just be in for a little more than they bargained for.

"You wanna take point down the trail or should I?"

@Alonso Thorlion

 

[Alonso Thorlion]

The Felis allowed ample time for his new partner to explain his own mode of combat. If anything the other Beastfolk's style also allowed for some form of adaptability depending on the situation. A relaxing revelation, at least. While Alonso was not someone who thought much about ranged options, he still placed the idea in the back of his mind just in case it was needed down the road. Maybe if his more rage induced state pulled out a tree or something he can work with that.

But now was not the time to ponder his own capabilities further. He knew what Brutus can do, and the other giant of a Beastfolk knew what Alonso is capable of for the most part. "Just know that if we need to running is still an option we can take. If anything that shouldn't be taken like a coward's way out, since here your own safety is just as vital," he said. This was not a typical game where the Flee command was left to rot in the dust. It was there to be used, and anyone who thinks they can face tank a difficult and nigh impossible fight like a poorly written anime protagonist was just going to be turned into an idiot.

Rolling his shoulders, he motioned his head towards the trail. "I'll take point. If anything happens I can at least take a couple hits before we have to buckle down and fight smarter. Even the beginner areas are a real pain in the ass sometimes," he added.

With that, the berserker pivoted on the ball of his foot and started heading out. He allowed some trust in his new companion, and if he was about to be stabbed in the back then the feline can just dish out something in return. But that possibility was lower on the list of scenarios to consider. The words going around of not killing other players were at least taken seriously. "Just keep your eyes open. If this is an actual bear it might not be a regular one if it's this much of a problem."

@Brutus Dahlgren

 

[Brutus Dahlgren]

"Gotcha, if things are dicey we can always live to die another day. Come back with reinforcements."

Brutus would nod along, motioning for the man to take point and following after him. He wasn't used to having someone his size working with him, let alone someone who also looked like they could take as many hits as he could. It would be refreshing to not have to worry about being the shield for once.

Today he was the spear.

The man was almost wider than the trail they were walking on, and Brutus would privately muse to himself that such bulk must be uncomfortable to bear, surely? Banishing the notion from his head, he simply kept an eye open for anything and everything.

"On the bright side, if they think it's a bear, hopefully we'll know its coming right? Something that big's got to be louder than fuck and easy to spot right?"

If it wasn't a bear, they ran the issue into possibly dealing with some form of trap. This could be a troop of assassins, a large band of goblins, or some sort of Apex hunter out in the woods. Either way, he would be ready to blow it away.

@Alonso Thorlion

 

[Alonso Thorlion]

"You'd be surprised. Honestly I don't doubt the possibility they were just antagonizing the wildlife and leaving the thing alone will just solve the entire issue," the Felis replied. So many news articles of animals being put down all because of some dipshit came to his attention over the years that it made his eyes roll. By no means was Alonso the sort to start hugging trees and living free among nature, but he at least had some level of goddamn respect. Though he did wish he had this level of physical might in the real world to wrestle some bigger things. Maybe even make a show out of it.

Fantastical thoughts had their place, just not now. If was desperate he can always go wander the internet later after he logged off. Somehow he never did get a chance to fight an actual bear in the original run of the game, but if game logic stood the test of time, a normal bear may be counted as a weaker mob. But he was not about to get his hopes up. Glancing back to Brutus, he said, "Did anyone even give a better description other than a bear? Will be good to know just so we can be prepared."

He reached up to his neck with both hands, craning it left and right to stretch it out. Even smaller stretches helped out in the long run. Age continued to be less of a factor in game, at least for the players, but he did realize some more wrinkles had appeared on his character's face. A good sign though of his eternal combat with life.

@Brutus Dahlgren

 

[Bright Kat]

Things That Go Bump in the Forest

The banter and the footsteps of the two men trudging down the path easily drowned out the light rustling of the creature that was following them, beady eyes peering through the leaves and branches. It was surprisingly quiet for its size, owing most likely to its higher intelligence than most creatures of its type.

As the men conversed, it got closer and closer, until the taller man slammed his cannon into the ground with a huge wham. The creature ended up backing off, giving them a little more space to converse and continue down the path, and it continued to watch as they got closer and closer to the lair of the beast.

The men were walking right into danger, and it was at this time that the creature began to sense that it was not hunting them, but that they were hunting it. However, it wasn't a meal or victims that the creature as looking for, it was more if its kind. Sustenance was plentiful in these woods. However, powerful allies were not, and these two giant, muscular men, rivaling even the creature in it's prime state, would make perfect allies in the end.

As the men seemed to take a break on the trail, the creature made his way to the nearby den, rallying those he had awaiting in a slumber. They roused, blinked in frustration, but with a roar were set right, and set to march. The roar could be heard by the men, but the creature would prove quicker to reach them than the other way around as it trampled a smaller tree, roaring as intimidatingly as possible and standing up on its hind legs.

Werebear and Cursed Humans Encountered!

Werebear Stats:
LP 4 DC 100 30

Additional Info:
After taking 2 LP of damage, the werebear will Enrage, and Retaliation Damage will double. Werebear will retaliate even if the player attacks a Cursed Human.​

Cursed Humans Stats:
LP 1 (Each) DC 50 10 (Special)

Additional Info:
There are 3 Cursed Humans helping the Werebear. Starting on Round 2 of posting, each player will take 10 damage from each remaining Cursed Human that has not been dealt with (incapacitated or killed).​

See Auto Monster for combat assistance.

@Brutus Dahlgren @Alonso Thorlion​