Ashlyn Olovyn
Posted: Sun Dec 29, 2019 1:34 am
Baldur's Gate : The Sword Coast Chronicles : NWN2 Persistent World
Neverwinter Nights 2 Persistent World BGTSCC Discussion Forum
https://bgtscc.net/
Ashlyn Olovyn
Page 1 of 1
Re: Ashlyn Olovyn
Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2020 6:41 pm
A hunt through The Reaching Wood...
The sun still sat well below the horizon, but the sky took on lighter tones as it crept closer to day break. A thick mist lay like a blanket across the valleys of the lush forest, so thick it almost muted the sound of the woods as it woke up. The sounds of the forest birds, flitting about the boughs of the old trees fell to the forest floor as they began their morning symphony.
Beneath one such tree sat a lone elf. She smiled as she took in all that was taking place around her. She was nestled in the bulging roots of this old oak for a reason, though it was hard not to get lost in the beauty of nature as it started a new day. A few distant barks and yips broke the tranquility of the morning moment as her attention shot in the direction of the sounds.
Gnolls.
Reaching to her belt she produced a twisted wand of ash. Gliding it along her elfin form, she whispered a few arcane words as she slipped from sight. In a single motion she tucked the wand away and readied her bow with an arrow nocked. Making her way through the woodland she came to a well used and defined trail. Taking a few moments, she sat and took in her surroundings. Letting her keen eyes fall over the setting she noticed a few things...
The tracks that littered the trail were not only those of her quarry. There were the occasional deer or large cat prints, but mostly large gnolls tracks and those of the hunting hounds they keep. From the looks of the freshest tracks it was a small hunting party.
Her eyes darted up to the nearby trees and brush. Folded over in the direction of eastern travel. It looked as if the gnolls were letting the hounds crash into the underbrush from time to time. Perhaps they are trying to flush something out, or maybe they just don't have control over the will of the beasts. Either way, they were going to be a problem. She could hide herself through magic, yet her scent would still play a factor with these hounds.
Finally she let her lithe fingers slip into a track that lay close to her. One that was obviously fresh from the paw of one of the larger gnolls. Still warm. They couldn't be far ahead. Though she couldn't hear them. Her mind raced, thought after thought pouring through in but an instant. Have they already caught my scent? Have they taken a more stealth approach and are closing in on what they are hunting? So many scenarios played out as she stepped from the side of the trail and started to move along it.
As she drew closer to a small ridge along the path she could hear a rustling through the brush. Quickly the elven archer dipped from the path and positioned herself behind a few boulders not far away. Peeking over them to see what was coming, she saw it. A hound of enormous size bounding through the woods, stopping every so often and sniffing at the wind. Closer and closer it drew in on her position.
She would need to make quick work of the beast if she hoped to remain unseen by the hunting party. Slowly she reached into her quiver drawing two more arrows. Laying them across the riser of her bow on either side of the arrow already nocked, she calmly and steadily drew the string back to the anchor point on her cheek. With one fluid motion she released the air in her lungs and let loose the group upon her target as it came in close enough for forceful impact.
The arrows landed inline along the hound. One piercing the hounds throat, severing it's larynx. The second hitting home in the kill zone of the beast, through the vitals and into the ground behind it. The third severing the spine of the wolf, it's hind legs falling out from under it as it slumped to the ground where it stood.
She sat still behind the boulders, watching the hunting hound gurgle on it's final breaths and listening for anything coming. A look of disappointment washed over the young elf's face as she promptly heard several barks and yips getting closer. She quietly cursed herself for never paying much attention when her father was teaching stealth, as she retrieved the same ashen wand from her belt and whispered those arcane words once more. As she faded from sight, two large gnolls and another hound found her recent kill.
Within seconds the hound had it's nose to the wind as the gnolls looked over the arrows near the dead beast. The larger of the gnolls yipped and barked to the other as it snapped the arrow at mid shaft and howled. The second drew it's over-sized bow, licking it's lips as it readied an arrow. The larger of the two, readying it's spear. The hounds eyes scanned the area she was in with it nose still sniffing the wind.
Knowing she'd have to act quickly or become their dinner she drew three more arrows from her quiver. Training her sight on the hound she waited until the gnolls attention was away from her, then released the arrows upon the wolf as her invisibility fell away. Like deja vu, the arrows all hit their mark, dropping the wolf where it stood. Both gnolls spun to see her as she reached back to her quiver pulling two specially enchanted arrows.
The gnolls barked and frothed at the mouth with fury, as they saw a lithe form of an elf standing a distance away. The gnollish archer drew his bow back and released on her. Sudden pain could be felt along her thigh as the arrowhead sliced a deep cut in passing. The larger of the two charged, trying to close the distance with it's new enemy.
Wincing from the pain, she steadied herself as she set the arrows to string. The shafts were pocked with through holes, set at an angle. As they set to flight an eerie sound of screaming could be heard like that of a banshee. Once they found purchase and released their magic within the hide of the hulking archer, it dropped it's bow and ran into the woods yipping and whining as it went.
This caused the larger of the two to stop it's charge and bark loudly at it's fleeing companion. Furious, it turned back towards the elven archer as she readied to release another onslaught of arrows. The snarling monstrosity dug in and continued it's charge, bounding with it's spear towards her with murderous intent.
It was close enough now she could smell it. Foul and rank. It's eyes bloodshot, drool falling from it's tooth filled maw. She quickly drew a wand of oak and gold as she spoke an arcane phrase, within seconds she was gone. Moving through space to appear on the other side of the gnoll, some distance away.
The gnoll howled as it threw it's head back in rage, stabbing at the air where it's prize once stood. Growling and breathing spittle from it's mouth as it turned to scan the area. It was too late. In it's hesitation the elven archer loosed a flurry of arrows in it's direction. It's eyes grew wide as they found their mark, severing the gnoll from it's life.
The green clad elf looked about the area, trying to discern what the hunting party was after, but was unable to come up with anything. Content that whatever it was, it got away. She pulled a scroll from her satchel and whisked herself away to the Friendly Arm Inn to see to her wound and relax from the excitement. Another hunt would come soon enough....