Rangering!, Friday, Period Five [ 06/05 ].

[berserkerminsc.livejournal.com]

An astute observer might notice that Minsc was not actually in the platemail that he usually seemed to practically live in. A knowledgeable on might recognize that, in fact, he was in just chainmail, which was a lower armour class bonus just not the same. But someone had taken the liberty to rend his platemail off of him and he hadn't had the chance to get to the Gig to fix it yet.

Not that he was complaining.

Oh, no. Definitely not complaining, which was nice. Last time that happened, it was done by a wyvern, and the results were not quite as nice, but just about as bruising.

Anyway...



"Bad guys!" Minsc started out jubilantly. "We all have them; if you don't think you have them, then you'll probably find out just how wrong you are when you are lying in your bed with a sword sticking out of your chest and wondering, 'how did this get here?' We talked about a ranger's ability to be particularly good at slaying a specific kind of bad guy. My favourite enemy, for example, is the gnoll."

So, of course, now there was a gnoll standing near Minsc in front of the glass. "As I ranger, I have studied these vile and disgusting creatures ad nauseum, literally, for years upon years, so that when they hear the name Minsc, they cower in fear."

He looked at the gnoll.

"I said, they cower in fear!"

The gnoll snarled and cowered.

"Much better. Now because of my research, I know that their sensitive weak spots are here!" He thrust a sword into the gnoll. "And here!" And again. "And here!" He swung his sword high and very neatly decapitated the monster. Neatly until its hyena-like head hit the ground and little spurts of blood went shooting out of the neck, sprinkling Minsc's bald head a little before the body collasped at the knees and the headless corpse fell to his feet. Minsc drove his sword into the back of his fallen enemy, and put a foot up on him in victory, and he chuckled. "Although that last one is most people's weak spot!"

He yanked the sword out, cleaning it off as he talked. "I also know that gnolls typically travel in packs, so it is smart to bring assistance. I know they like melee so I keep so arrows on me in hopes to get a few while they are charging. I can recognize the signs of their recent migrations by seeking out travel patterns, diet hunts, and tracks. I can even pick up their scent from miles away, not that that is hard, because they are smelly, malodorous cretins!"

"These are all the sorts of things a ranger must know about their enemy. To know your enemy is to know how to defeat them! I have asked you to look into enemies and learn about how to defeat them, so share! And, if you like, show up what you've got in encountering them! And then, if you've got some extra time before class ends, take up to sparring or some target practise, and keep those skills honed!"



[[ OCD a'coming has decapitated...your mom. ]]

Comments

Re: Fight your Enemy! -- 06/05.

[berserkerminsc.livejournal.com]

One of the other kobolds nudged the other one, and they sniggered in agreement. They snarled particularly fiercely as they leaped off the rock, waving their own swords and creeping in so that they now had Eric surrounded.

Re: Fight your Enemy! -- 06/05.

[notasuiciderisk.livejournal.com]

Eric swore to himself, but he brought the sword up again, falling into the ready stance, doing his best to hold it as he wondered how the hell he was going to get himself out of this.

Re: Fight your Enemy! -- 06/05.

[berserkerminsc.livejournal.com]

And then, on some unspoken count to three, the kobolds all lifted their swords, let out a yip-yap of a call, and then jumped up into the air to ambush poor Eric.

And then with a little pop, all three of them disappeared in thin air.

Re: Fight your Enemy! -- 06/05.

[notasuiciderisk.livejournal.com]

Eric stayed alert for a moment -- he had that, at least, going for him -- before he relaxed, only barely managing not to drop his sword from his now-numb hand. "I... guess I failed that one?" he said, trying to catch his breath.

Re: Fight your Enemy! -- 06/05.

[berserkerminsc.livejournal.com]

Minsc gave Sir Eric a smile. "That one, perhaps," he said. "You have much to learn, but, really, that was not bad at all for a beginning, Sir Eric."

Re: Fight your Enemy! -- 06/05.

[notasuiciderisk.livejournal.com]

Eric nodded, sheathing his sword. "Thanks," he said. "I... I guess you've noticed that I haven't really had much experience?"

Re: Fight your Enemy! -- 06/05.

[berserkerminsc.livejournal.com]

Minsc chuckled a little, not unkindly. "I've been working with fighters my whole life, Sir Eric. I've got a keen eye for them. But when kobolds can tell, too...well. But you did well. You stood your ground, and there's technique somewhere in those moves."

Re: Fight your Enemy! -- 06/05.

[notasuiciderisk.livejournal.com]

"Thank you, Sir Minsc," Eric replied, blushing just a bit. "Arthur was teaching me a little on Wednesday, I guess it helped. I'll try harder for next week."