Chapter 3: Departing for Hawthorne
Nerris spoke with the Twinleaf chief and his counsel and make aware that they would be leaving the village. The chief seemed to actual show some genuine sadness about her departure. Max really was surprised how deep the game mechanics ran. The village chief insisted on throwing a feast making them the guest of honors. The village quickly erupted into fervor as giant vats were brought out and the feast preparations began. "Hey Max, we're going hunting for a Gargoboath for the feast. Come on" yelled Nerris and they headed into the woods. Nerris whistled and the sound of several large creatures came running towards them. Max pulled out his sword and readied to attack when several large hairy hexapedal creatures came crashing through the brush. Nerris hopped on one and took off in the forest. Max followed her lead and soon was rushing through the forest on the back of one of these creatures. Max had to keep ducking as he was almost knocked off several times by low hanging branches. Soon they heard are roar that was both hollow and piercing. They dashed through a river and leaped over a ridge and a beast like a giant porcupine with a wispy tail came into view in a depression. The group split up and charged from opposite sides closing in on it. The Gargoboath quickly noticed their presence and let out a ear-piercing cry then its quills began to rattle and the launched from its back and new ones began sliding out to replace them. One hit the guy in front of max and he fell off his creature and landed stiff on the ground. "Watch out, the quills are laced with a neurotoxin that paralyzes you for a while" yelled Nerris. Max pulled out his short bow and started firing at the monster. They pierced its side and curled up in a ball and started rolling away. They gave chase and continued to fire shot that bounced off its quill shield. Nerris moved closer to Max and they planned out how to take it down. They were heading towards the bottom of a ridge so the beast would have to go left or right. They came around its side and they kept in on from turning one way or the other. They were playing chicken with a rock wall and just before it was too late, they turned but it was too late for the monster. Its momentum carried it right into the wall. With a loud thud it lodged itself into the sheer earthen wall. Nerris leaped from her beast and shouted a command in a language max didn't understand. The earth gave way and trapped the poor creature beneath a pile of dirt. They strolled over to it trying to wiggle it's way free and delivered the finishing blow. They hauled its body back to the village and were greeted by several large bonfires. The pulled the beast into camp. Soon the clan's cooks had it skinned and cleaned. The put it into a cooking pit and raised a fire beneath it. Soon the smell of the sweet meat filled the air. While the meat cooked, musicians started playing drums and woodwinds and music filled the air. Max watched as the villagers twirled around the fires and was really looking forward to the beast they killed. Someone bumped his shoulder and saw that it was Nerris. Her eyes glittered in the firelight Max realized she had been crying. "Are you ok" he asked. "I know I shouldn't but I still feel bad for leaving them. The other tribes have been more confrontational about our hunting grounds and there is a new group of warriors in training to find and whip into shape. This was my home. They took me in and I was family. Look at this feast everyone who is anyone is here. All for me. It's just hard you know". Max silently nodded. "Well who knows maybe we'll have to come back for some side quest" he said to cheer her up. She smiled and nodded. A thunderous horn sounded, and all drew silent. The chieftain stepped forward. "We gather here tonight to celebrate the departure of our brave protector Nerina. Just as the river diverges at the fork so does her path diverge from ours. Let's us only hope one day we'll meet back up and can flow together once again. Now let us feast". Everyone cheered and Max heard Nerris give a sniff. Food and spirits flowed freely as the revelry became akin to a Bacchanalia. Even Max the Stoic found himself drawn into the music and dancing. Eventually the night became a wonderous blur.
