[Wher Run] Meet Me On The Battlefield

[The_Muffin_Puppy]

At this stage the honks and bellows of whers had become normal in the Weyr. For the past few sevendays the pack had been having their runs, but the most dominant females were still yet to run. Today it was Rolestosk's turn. She had practically trotted out of her den. Tosk was a good guard, so she wouldn't have her run while she was on duty. Meaning it wasn't long past dusk when she marched out of the Weyr proper.

After two and a half decades, seeing Rolestosk out on her own was hardly a surprise to the guard's on duty, and any of her pack sisters would be able to tell immediately what was going on. Walking proud she walked away from the wher. There had been a lot of males around recently, which was normal for when runs happened. Rolestor had made a point to look at some of the prospects and send her mental images for appraisal, but Tosk couldn't really know without testing for herself. That was what today was for.

Pushing up onto her hind legs the green wher bellowed from deep in her chest. Landing back down with a thud she waited for a few moments before pushing up and calling once again. This continued for a good fifteen minutes. Wher's couldn't between, so she needed to give her suitors time to come from wherever it was they were loitering until she called. Once she was happy that her challenge had been declared, Tosk flopped down into a laying position. It was time to wait here for her challengers. It was time to do her pack well and weed out any weaklings so that her packsisters would get the best mates and the pack would get strong eggs.

Rules
- NPCs and PCs of all colours welcome
- Fort whers, visiting whers, even wild whers welcome
- Tosk is a physical girl, so expect a level of sparring

Gameplay
- Three rounds (There might be more if there's a tie at the end of round three)
- Each wher gets 20 points to split between Strength, Stamina, Speed, Dexterity and hit points.
- Hit points determine how much damage your wher can take in this run. Up to you whether a 0 means they're too hurt to go on, or it just got too rough for them to want to continue.
- Each round a stat will be chosen. Tosk will roll a number of 4-sided dice equal to that stat. Males will also roll. They get points if their roll is higher than Tosk's.
- Each round lasts 48 hours or until all competitors have taken part.
- Posts without rp won't be counted.

Tosk's Stats
Hit points: 4
Strength: 6
Stamina: 5
Speed: 3
Dexterity: 2  

[TawnyAngel]

CrackFang had been drawn closer to the human den than he would usually venture, even with most of the flying beasts gone from the sky it was no place for a wild blue - there were many females, and they did not usually welcome male company. Usually. For the last many suns however they had been calling for mates and CrackFang had been happy to show off his skill to them all, he had even been chosen by one of the females and hoped to be lucky again today. Today would be harder though, the green who was calling would be more dominant, and competition no doubt fiercer.

CrackFang was fine with that though, he was easily equal to any larger male! Huffing and bellowing his response to Tosk the mottled off-pattern blue cantered up and took his place amongst the growing gathering of males, posturing here and there to make sure they all knew he meant business.

Blue CrackFang's Stats
Hit points: 4
Strength: 2
Stamina: 5
Speed: 5
Dexterity: 4  

[Revel1984]

Brown Herosk (Heromi) NPC's (for now) - Fort Natives

Basic things to know about Herosk

- Is big for a brown
- is dumb as a brick
- Is stubborn
- isn't easily put off when things get tough
- did i mention he's dumb?
- doesn't know when to quit
- Likes when his handler's children dress him up, he's a sucker for kids
- doesn't much like other whers, especially males
- is possibly known for getting into scraps/fights with other male whers, whether he beats them or they beat him doesn't matter, he just likes the fight.


Basic things to know about Heromi

- Is in her mid 30's
- has several children, by at least two different fathers, both of whom are still in her life and the children's
- is open minded
- despairs when her wher gets into yet ANOTHER fight
- gets along well with others on the outside but keeps to herself much of the time.
- isn't afraid to get her hands dirty in a scrap, or do the hard work that needs to be doing
- she can bench press most average men
- has been known to throw boulders

~~~~~

Herosk didn't say much, but then he never did, he was hanging around, just waiting for the action, dominance issues with other males here and there meant he wasn't really with the main body of male whers when the call came from the green... Welp.. that was that, it was TIME. He got up, shouldering a couple of smaller blue males out of the way that had been interested too, giving one such a GLARE that they'd shrank back from him, yeah that one wasn't anywhere NEAR worth fighting, or thinking about again, so Herosk promptly forgot him, he only had eyes for GREEN hides as he arrived, claws raking the ground as he eyed up the competition.

Hit points: 6
Strength: 5
Stamina: 5
Speed: 2
Dexterity: 2  

[The_Muffin_Puppy]

Blue Scimsk - Herd Guard

Scimsk's Stats
Hit points: 3
Strength: 3
Stamina: 4
Speed: 5
Dexterity: 5

Being a blue (and not a big one at that) Scimsk spent virtually no time neat the Weyr. With no clutchbrothers to remain bonded too either he was a lone wher. It suited him fine. Male whers generally weren't social, and he had his herdbeast to look after and they were all he needed when it came to a pack.

Once the Weyr's pack had started calling though he had been drawn more towards the Weyr. Scimi allowed it and so the blue was largely left to roam. His cows didn't live close enough for him to reach the Weyr quickly. Pardoning him from his guarding Scimi had allowed him to venture close and dig a burrow of his own. He would stay until the season ended and then happily return home. Scimi had said it was like a holiday for him. He would be happy to return to his cows though.

When a deep call rang through the night Scimsk shot from his burrow and loped towards the call. Perhaps not giving as much thought to saving his energy as he should. He answered Tosk's call as quickly as he was able. Meaning that when he reached the larger green he was panting, but no less eager than the other competitors. There were a lot of males here. It would make Scimsk uncomfortable if he weren't solely focused on the one that had called him there.  

[The_Muffin_Puppy]

So these were the males she was to choose from? Tosk lay waiting for her suitors to gather. Not showing any hint of being impressed by any of them. She waited and the group grew and still she watched. A snap of teeth here and there as the anticipation began to stir up the males. It was rather entertaining. Well, as entertaining as males got that was.

Deciding she had given them more than enough time to get themselves together Tosk climbed to her feet. The green made quiet a show of stretching and getting ready for the challenge ahead. All the while she ignored the males that had gathered for her. Stretching in a languid manner and seeming altogether uninterested.

Finally the wher gave herself a shake. Alright, time to get this show on the road. They were out of the Weyr proper, but she needed a little more distance between her and everyone else. Roaring at her suitors to command their attention the green pivoted and set off at a gallop away from them. For the time being she needed distance, prioritising a flat and straight run. Let's see how far and how fast they could follow her.

Tosk's Stats
Hit points: 4
Strength: 6
Stamina: 5
Speed: 3
Dexterity: 2

Round One: Roll Speed  

[TawnyAngel]

Oh it was that one.

CrackFang snorted and tossed his head contemptuously as he caught the scent of the brute brown, CrackFang did not like other males much in general but he liked that one much less than most. He didn't have much attention to spare for him though or for any of the rest of the competition, it was the green who had called them all here who mattered! As she climbed to her feet the wiry blue let out a low clicking noise, the red in his eyes beginning to give way to violet - it was time!

As the green took off so too did CrackFang, his clawed feet digging grooves into the dirt as he powered forward into a gallop.

Blue CrackFang's Stats
Hit points: 4
Strength: 2
Stamina: 5
Speed: 5
Dexterity: 4  

[The_Muffin_Puppy]

Blue Scimsk - Herd Guard

Scimsk's Stats
Hit points: 3
Strength: 3
Stamina: 4
Speed: 5
Dexterity: 5

And it had started! Scimsk was eager to go and get away from all the male posturing, so once Tosk started running he was after her like a shot. Fast! He could do fast! Scimi said he was fast. That fast was what blues do! Maybe this green liked fast. That was good. Scimsk could do fast.

The blue wher bound forward barking his enthusiasm. He wasn't really taking this as gravely as some of the other males were. It was all in good fun as far as he was concerned. Run, chase, show-off, maybe win, go home and everything is good. There was no need to be all serious about it.  

[The_Muffin_Puppy]

She ran and they followed. Such was the way these things went. Rolestosk wasn't the fastest green in the pack by far, she favoured strength. Still running was a good way to get rid of those that were only there to posture. If they couldn't keep up with her then what right did they have to take part in the Matriarch's run? Absolutely none as far as Tosk was concerned.

Glancing back she was pleased to see the herd had thinned. Her dash had clearly left some far enough behind that they'd decided it wasn't worth it. She noted the remaining males, about half a dozen still on her trail. That was good. She wanted to get rid of the weak ones, but it wouldn't do if only one remained this early.

Tosk had tested their speed, now it was time to test their mettle. Spotting a good location she banked left towards a rocky outcrop. It would be fair to assume that the green planned to make her suitors climb. It wasn't uncommon for females to take rougher terrain. Rolestosk, however, had a different plan in mind. As she reached the outcrop the green used it as a spring-board. Jumping and pushing off she turned herself fully around to face her following. Without missing a beat the green charged, head down and full weight of her bulk behind her. The pack needed strong mates as well as fast ones. Time to get the weak out of the way.

Tosk's Stats
Hit points: 4
Strength: 6
Stamina: 5
Speed: 3
Dexterity: 2

Round Two: She's Charging - Tosk rolled Strength

Option 1: Dodge - Roll Dexterity
OR
Option 2: Brace - Roll Strength

Round 1 Results
Blue Crackfang: +5
Blue Scimsk: +2  

[Revel1984]

Herosk had gotten into a fight with one of the other males, it hadn't been HIS fault the bronze had bumped him out of the way, but he was sure as hell not going to stand aside at that insult, as such he had totally missed Tosk taking off, two males running after her. Her roaring masked by the bronze he was tearing chunks out of. He finally noticed and had shoved the ichor splattered bronze to one side and had chased after, though he lagged FAR behind the others, he made up for in stamina, what he lacked in actual speed and caught up by the time she charged, he didn't even have time to really get out of her way so he rolled with the 'punches' so to speak and just braced himself.

Herosk's stats

Hit points: 6
Strength: 5
Stamina: 5
Speed: 2
Dexterity: 2  

[TawnyAngel]

Oh, uh-oh, nope!

CrackFang had not survived as a wild wher by taking stupid risks, and him standing still in front of the green was definitely a stupid risk - he would become a FlatFang if he tried that and so the blue skittered out of the way of the oncoming female and tried to wheel around ready to give chase again. It would be fair to say that it wasn't his most graceful moment ever but at least he hadn't been laminated to the ground.

Blue CrackFang's Stats
Hit points: 4
Strength: 2
Stamina: 5
Speed: 5
Dexterity: 4  

[The_Muffin_Puppy]

Blue Scimsk - Herd Guard

Scimsk's Stats
Hit points: 3
Strength: 3
Stamina: 4
Speed: 5
Dexterity: 5

Scimsk had not been expecting Tosk's sudden change in direction. Once the green started running back towards them, her head down in a clear charge, the blue floundered for a moment. His claws scrabbling in the dirt to slow his forward momentum. By the time he managed to get all his feet under control the green was almost on top of him.

Acting more on instinct than making an actual decision, Scimsk threw himself to the side, rolling through the dirt to avoid the warpath he had now found himself in. Tosk shot by and the blue scrambled in the dirt to get his feet underneath him again. Eventually, much dirtier than he began, Scimsk was on his feet and racing after the green once more.

Scimsk: Dodge - Roll Dexterity  

[The_Muffin_Puppy]

Most of the group scattered out of her way, and Rolestosk contentedly barrelled through the rest. The green crowed her triumph as she left the gaggle of males behind her. Hides of all colours had hit the dirt either to avoid her or from the force of her charge. It thrilled her as some males clearly decided that they were done now. The grouped thinned until it seemed only three males were in pursuit. Throwing all her strength into her running Rolestosk felt as the strain began to set into her muscles. Soon enough she would be spent and her mate would be chosen, but she had one trial left for them.

Turning sharply the wher headed higher up the mountain, climbing and leaping on the tougher terrain. It would take strength and skill in equal measure to pursue her here. The strength to drive upward when perhaps they had already spent the most of their energy. This would be her final push for them. To see who could reach the peak with her. Only those that could would be worthy of her consideration.

Clawing her way over the edge the green paused, sides heaving as she dragged in deep breaths. Turning to look down the cliff she eyed her remaining suitors. Two blues, and one brown. One wild, and two not. It all depended on who reached the top, but there was no harm in considering her current options.

The wild blue seemed to be in the lead for the moment. She wondered if he could keep it. He had dodged her charge, but there was definitely something to be said of a wild wher bold enough to get this close to the Weyr. Tosk wondered if he would even still be around by the time her packleader ran. Perhaps the others would have chased him off by then.

Looking to the other blue she wasn't especially impressed. Some of her sisters would like the seemingly carefree way the blue had pursued, but Rolestosk was putting these males to the test, not playing games with them. That one too had fled out of her path, although with less practised grace than the other blue.

Her only remaining suitor; an ichor splattered brown. He had not been in such a state when he arrived, which meant it was another of her potential suitors' ichor that now coated his hide. Although she valued his strength and ferocity it was also concerning. She did not see the fight, he had lagged behind to fight. Was a wher that valued a fight more than the chase worthy of her packleader? Perhaps. Only the matriarch had the right to decide.

Stepping away from the edge Rolestosk put some distance between herself and where the males would be arriving. She would choose from those that reached the top, but there was nothing saying that she would choose the first to reach the top, as any male foolish enough to approach her without invitation would soon find out.

Tosk's Stats
Hit points: 4
Strength: 6
Stamina: 5
Speed: 3
Dexterity: 2

Round Three: Stamina

Round 2 Results
Brown Herosk: +0 (0)
Blue Crackfang: +0 (5)
Blue Scimsk: +0 (2)  

[The_Muffin_Puppy]

(Forgot Tosk's roll)  

[TawnyAngel]

Although his muscles ached the sight of the green still barrelling ahead of them and the thinning of the competition drove CrackFang onward, upward, leaping from rock to rock, scrabbling on loose scree, and where no path presented itself just outright clawing his way upward. As he neared the summit with almost all of his energy spent he bellowed; a challenge to the two other males still in pursuit, and a sign to the female who had stepped out of sight that he was still coming.

Some tense moments later he heaved himself over the edge, and here it seemed the chase was to end. Breathing like a bellows CrackFang stepped away from the edge, eyes trained on the green for some sign of her intentions. Had he done enough to impress her?

Blue CrackFang's Stats
Hit points: 4
Strength: 2
Stamina: 5
Speed: 5
Dexterity: 4  

[Revel1984]

Herosk was more than pleased to be one of only three still running with Tosk, he was less pleased the other two were blues, one moreso, he hated that one wild blue but his focus was on Tosk now, especially after messing the start of the run up by tangling with a bronze, however strong he was, SOME of the ichor on his hide was his own, it had been a BRONZE after all.

Oh well.. this wasn't the best for the large brown, strength and stamina he had but climbing wasn't really his strong suit, pulling his bulk upwards wasn't easy, though never let it be said Herosk was a quitter, the green was his goal, he would get there, somehow. So upwards he climbed until he was over the ledge, eyeing the blue who'd made it before him, lips curling into a warning snarl, even as he rose to his full height and arched his neck in an attempt to impress Tosk with his physique ... and his determination, he was here, among the few, even if he had gotten off to a bad start, it hadn't stopped him from being here, now.


Herosk's stats

Hit points: 6
Strength: 5
Stamina: 5
Speed: 2
Dexterity: 2