If you go down to the woods today

[hlif]

WHO: Asher Hardie; open
WHAT: Hunting bears!  And maybe other things but mainly bears.
WHEN: Pre-dragon attack on the camp
WHERE: Emprise du Lion
NOTES: Language most likely.  Bear slankets will be on offer from the spoils upon returning to Skyhold.

It's the cold in Emprise du Lion that spurs Asher into action, that particular sort of cold that gets into your bones and can kill someone if they're trapped for too long.  There are plenty of problems to be dealt with, Red Templars chief amongst them, but Asher can let others with more of a personal grudge deal with them first because the wildlife here is bold, maybe because of hunger, maybe because of other reasns because wolves tend not to have bright green eyes.  Whatever the reason, someone has to deal with the other threats that might get bold and decide to come down to the camp and it's what he's spent most of his time doing so far, when he's not propping up the bar in the tavern that is.

Hunting's more fun with company, and so he puts the word about the camp, that he's looking for a few others to come up high into the hills with him where the game is thickest.  The promise of pelts might be an incentive here - it's one of the coldest places he can remember being and he's used to the cold, even one that's come on as hard and fast as winter has here.

The crew isn't the typical hunting party but everyone tagging along wants to be there, and Asher's in good spirits as he leads them all off just as the sun is coming up over the horizon.

Hopefully it'll just be bears and wolves they're fighting today and nothing that's going to fight back with more than claws and teeth.

Comments

[hlif]

“You’ve been in Thedas five minutes compared to the rest of us.” It’s not lecturing because Asher can’t do lecturing, he’ll never be that sort of person, it’s more like the advice you get in a tavern from someone who’s seen it all, and with his line of work then Asher feels entitled (as he so often does) to dole out something approaching it. Asher’s seen some shit and then some, he knows Thedas well enough to know that the thing you’re not looking for is the thing that comes up to tear you a new arsehole.

And right now the sky itself has an arsehole so, y’know.

Speaking of which, Asher only chances a look up, more intent on whatever might be coming for them, where Bronson is and how intent his head is on the ground. “Some warriors have abilities but usually it’s tapping into something deeper inside ourselves or drinking something that makes you more than what you were before it, like I did. I’ve been making my living by fighting since I’ve been fifteen, I like to know who I’m with and what they’re capable of. Doesn’t matter who they light their candles for but you learn to be prepared.”

That means getting his axe in hand the instant his mabari goes still, hackles up, low warning growl in his throat.

[dragoon_pride]

"Perhaps I've not been here long, but I've been a warrior for far longer. That experience hasn't let me down yet in the last world I randomly found myself in."

New and unusual enemies are just a challenge to be met and defeated, really, and he's looking forward to whatever he may come upon. He's just come from endless war, too, so he's seen a thing or two himself. Though he nods, liking the attitude of not minding who he sides with or not... it's pretty much been Kain's feeling since he's been here. He wants no part of the social conflicts, he just wants monsters to fight, and maybe some evil to vanquish. That last part will come in time.

"Ah, good... looks like our first challenge is approaching." Taking the mabari's actions seriously, Kain listens, hearing a low growl... definitely sounds like a bear, and a large one at that.

[hlif]

“‘Far longer’, how old are you? You look about twelve.” No, no he doesn’t but Asher has lived a hard life and it shows on his face, he’d probably be rich if he had a silver for every time someone pegged him as late thirties rather than late twenties, but his brothers both have that same look as him, even one of his sisters has sprouted up tall though she’s slender as a sapling. “And I’m not even touching this other worlds thing, sounds like a mage problem and they’re all welcome to it. You’re all stuck here for the time being at least but I’d be careful who you mention that around, Templars and Chantry folk might start calling you unkind names and get their knickers in a twist.”

But let him know if you do, he’ll laugh at them and knock heads around if and when it’s needed.

“D’you need the higher ground for your jumping?” Asher asks in a low voice, barely audible in stark contrast to his earlier chattering. “I can get it to focus on me if you do, just mind that they rear up plenty here.”

[dragoon_pride]

Kain looks a bit weirded out by that, after all, he's never been told such a thing about his age or looks before; he looks very much a man of twenty one. Other worlders are so strange sometimes, that's all he can figure. He's experienced a lot of rough things himself, after all, he's no untested warrior, much the opposite. "I"m twenty one years old, and It's been years since I proved myself a man and earned full knighthood. You don't want to ask about what I've experienced since then."

Anyway. He'll show himself a man in combat if that needs to be proven. He stares ahead, keeping an eye out - not to mention listening carefully - for the bear's position, its movements. His own voice is low as he nods, it's a good enough strategy for him. "High ground isn't necessary, but it can help provide an advantage... I say we do this plan."

[hlif]

“Fair enough.” Asher’s seen some shit he doesn’t talk about to anyone except the people that were with him and that’s only when it’s a bad night, when someone is awake and twitchy; he’s the boss, he takes them into those places so it’s only right that he’s the one sitting up to hear it until his eyes burn when he blinks. “Just thought you’d be a bit more weatherbeaten considering you apparently jump, warriors here? We tend to look like shit pretty young.”

Exhibit A: Asher Hardie and his face.

“Right, Bronson’ll mark you some of the way.” The hound barks because he’s a mabari, he understands. It’s all the warning gets before Asher throws his head back, axe raised as he lets out a bellowing shout, something that doesn’t even sound wholly human. The bear roars back a challenge as Asher slams his axe down into the ground, enough send snow and dirt flying into the air. It’s Kain’s opening to take, because the bear is already on the move.

[dragoon_pride]

Kain smirks a little bit. "It's apparently one of the traits we have on my world... we age well." Seriously, though, this seems to be true, even moreso for people like Cecil with moonpeople heritage. It's perhaps not a bad thing in some regards, not showing the wear and tear of the endless war he's just been through. But... he definitely isn't used to being somewhere he has to prove himself. It's a challenge he accepts, anyway.

There really are a lot of things he's still getting used to, in this world.

Kain nods agreement. "Very well." With that, he's ready to launch into the attack. Already he can tell he's going to appreciate Asher, that berserker roar that he shouts, the way he doesn't hold back. Kain has similar feelings, putting his all into a fight. Like he's about to do... now! Kain takes to the air at once, soaring far above into the sky before he comes down to strike fast and hard with his lance toward the bear. He definitely wounds it, but this is a big, tough bear, not about to go down after one stab.

[hlif]

"Thedas breeds hard people, lurching from one crisis to the next; half the natives and the wildlife want you dead, and you being from a rift you might be wanted more than most." Thedas doesnt do well with different, with things that don't follow the path dictated by the Chantry and it might be a saving grace that they're in no position to really start howling for the heads of the rifters.

Usually giving his all to a battle, he does look up to watch, to shake his head and almost turn as if the Boneflayers are going to be around to point and laugh with him. He can imagine the low mutterings of his two dwarves about it. But it confuses the bear, not used to danger coming from above and so he swings, aiming for the shoulder of the front leg to start crippling it to mean there's one less weapon involved.

[dragoon_pride]

That's something which Kain has certainly noticed, the suspicion that everyone here seems to hold toward... most everyone else in a way. He'll definitely have to continue that conversation sometime later with Asher, after the fighting. He' seems like he'd talk about it honestly enough.

For now, though, the battle with the bear. Kain leaps aside after landing with a strike, giving Asher room to make his attack. Flipping his lance around, Kain charges in to start stabbing with a ground assault. The bear, of course, is enraged by all of his, and growls loudly, lunging out with its claws.

[hlif]

Bronson barks, darting in and out with Asher because man and beast have known each other a long time, long enough that the hound knows exactly when to move and Asher knows how to cover his blind side. The angrier the bear gets the better though that does mean it rears up, towering over the both of them and Asher nods at Kain, jerking his head before he runs to get in under it while it’s still standing.

The belly won’t be exposed for long but Asher’s axe can rip a clean slice into it and up to where the ribs join at the sternum, Kain’s lance hopefully able to cut deeper than even a greatsword if Asher manages to cover him if he takes the shot and has to pull it free. The belly is the easiest area to tidy up when he’s working pelts anyway, it’s the back that people care about.

[dragoon_pride]

Kain can definitely appreciate now what these war-hounds of theirs are capable of doing. He’d heard some about them, but it’s all the better to see it in action. Must be really useful having an ally like this on hand. Not only one that’s capable but also doesn’t fill the air with useless chatter, only barking. Nodding in return to Asher, Kain narrows his eyes at the bear as it rears up.

Perfect target. He wastes no time, a well-aimed thrust of the lance jabbing straight into the bear’s belly, the beast roaring and already beginning to lose its strength.

[hlif]

Honestly, Asher's realising just how much he misses the crew, the way they can take down something like this so quickly; a mage to drive it with fire, archers to bother it and distract it, thin flashing daggers or smaller double axes to keep it from knowing where to swipe, and a Asher's own heavy weapon alongside someone shorter with a shield. They'd be clearing out the Emprise easily if they were together.

Instead they're probably in Denerim, stopping at the Pearl before moving on to Gwaren.

With another swing, mindful of Kain, Asher aims for the ribs, a solid strike that hits the bone. The shock of impact jangles up his arms to the shoulder, to his back teeth but the bear can't roar so well now, not with Kain's lance in the belly, with one half of a ribcage caved in, maybe finding the lungs if Asher's lucky.

[dragoon_pride]

Kain twists the lance where it's embedded in the bear, feeling the life further draining out of it with that action. With a sure and steady tug, he drags the lance out, blood spilling out as he does. Between that and Asher's latest attack on the ribs, they've got this. Sounds like he may have gotten a lung, too, that's a good sign.

"I'd say..." He watches as the bear finishes struggling. "It's done for."