953/The Bells - Pristine Horns Necessary

The Bells - Pristine Horns Necessary
Date of Scene:	03 April 2020
Location:	Plains of Asgard
Synopsis:	Despite the challenge and sheer rugged defiance of the Skirranas creatures, Sif and Heidi both succeed in gathering four necessary horns.
Cast of Characters:	Sif, Heidi Ingerdottir

---

Sif has posed:
Granted, it was with some concern that Sif left the temporary quarters of the Magus of Asgard at 501 1/2 Hill Street, but she kept them to herself. No need to weaken Loki's sense of self-esteem by accidentally insinuating that she was uncertain if his wards could withstand another attack by the odd shadow-blob creatures. Her ears still ring with the echoes of their eerie cries even though she's now on Asgard and no longer on Midgard.

The weather today is grey though not gloomy; the clouds hanging low are soft and the air fresh rather than cold. Typhon flaps against a sudden down-draft and Sif glances over at her fellow rider. "Have you faced any Skirranas before, Lady Heidi?"

She speaks of the wooly-coated, single-horn grazers that roam the plains of Asgard in small bands and are known for their short line of sight and shorter tempers -- 'scary noses' by translation and well-earned. Sif is armored for bear, to use a Midgardian phrase, silvery and red alike, with Brumeoalfold at her hip and a quiver's worth of arrows slung across her chest; her bow hangs at her other hip. "We need four of their horns in fine condition for Prince Loki's work."

Tucked into the warmth and security out of the wind is a small bejeweled creature: a hummingbird, with head-feathers as bright as a ruby and tail-feathers brilliant as turqoise. It is a construct sent specifically by Loki to...well...be there as he can't be. the wee creature barely sticks its long beak out to see just what's going on before retreating beneath the high neck of Sif's under-armor leather again.

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
"I have experience with them, unfortunately. After a night of celebrating the engagement of one of my friends, her betrothed decided he was going to prove his worth in front of all of his friends," Heidi says.

The flaxen-haired Asgardian rides atop Eira, though she mostly leaves the flight in her steed's keen control. Her gaze stays on Sif. "He was, as it turns out, not so impressive after a night of drinking and certainly didn't escape unscathed. So I've seen a bit of what the creatures can do, but I've never fought one myself."

Sif has posed:
A foolhardy attempt on the part of the betrothed and even if Sif is of the mind that his decision was extremely unwise, she still winces to hear of it.

"Then you are at least aware of the danger that we ride into -- rather, fly into. I proposed our winged mounts rather than the war-mounts to be above their charging ability. Our trouble may come of not only felling the beasts, but doing so cleanly without injuring their horns. They are heavy of skull in the front and the first part of them to hit the earth tends to be their horns. I would hazard that any large scratch will make them worthless to the Prince's efforts."

Distantly seen now, on the expanse of greenery stretching for miles and miles between cities, the herd can be seen as bulky dots. Sif points them out.

"Our luck comes of the Prince's need coinciding with a necessary culling. They are overbred in this area and traveling caravans have been at risk of destruction in their travels between cities. I presume your aim with your bow is as lauded as I have heard?" Heidi gets a friendly if small smile in her direction. This is the Goddess of War asking, after all.

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
"So I suppose the key will be to keep them from ramming their horns too terribly," Heidi seems to be trying to formulate a strategy in her head. "You are right in that an air approach will lessen some of the possible horn damage, but we will have to keep them from perhaps running into rocks, or perhaps each other."

As Sif mentions her aim, the younger Asgardian offers a rarely seen confident grin. "I can tell you, Lady Sif, that there are no lies in that particular tale."

Sif has posed:
"Well that it is no mead-fueled fantasy, since you are correct. We will need to fell them quickly, before they blindly begin to run into objects or even one another. Their hides can be split by their own horns, but not easily, elsewise they would all be dead come their annual rut."

Directing Typhon with the shift of her body on his back and the tuck-back of her booted ankles, Sif begins prepping her bow. "I thought an aerial approach would be appropriate, though we do not have the sun to our advantage today." The clouds get a good glowering as though the Aesir warrior might influence them with willpower alone.

Alas, that is another Asgardian's forte.

"Regardless, stoop from on high and land an arrow into an eye socket. They will most likely collapse to their side and preserve their horn. Is my logic sound?"

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
"Your logic is sound for the first pair. Should our aim ring true, we'll each be able to fell one rapidly, but the moment we do the others will likely rampage," Heidi prepares her bow, sliding an arrow out to examine it. She gaze slips from it over to Sif.

"To get a shot in when they're running wild will be quite a challenge." There's a long pause. "Although I've never been one to shy away from a challenge, /especially/ where archery is concerned."

Sif has posed:
Now Sif grins. It takes the customary coldness away from her sharp features and paints them pleasant -- not totally present, given her smile also contains elements of adventuresome edge.

"That is why I asked you along, Lady Heidi. I suspect your aim will be true. Mine own will be as well and as such, we are nearly guaranteed success. Yes, they will startle," she agrees, " -- but bear in mind that not at first, I think. They do not fear attack from on-high. We will come and go as a breeze, fell the first without recourse. The second, perhaps...after this, even their dull brains will suspect trouble."

Using an arrow of her own, she points with the sharp tip at what appears to be a swampy area spanning several acres. "Should they get to rampaging, I suggest we attempt to herd them in the direction of the marsh. It will slow them without giving them cause to collide with harder elements."

The pegasus are almost upon the herd now. Their spring coats haven't fully grown in yet and they look like dry hairballs at best save for the gleaming horns growing out of their nasal palates. The males carry the biggest horns yet, but the trick is finding the younger males, those with horns in best condition and not yet scratched by rut.

"Ready?" calls out Sif, nocking an arrow.

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
"Then, if you are up to the challenge, I suppose we shall simply have to see how quickly we can finish the task," Heidi is more grins than smiles now at the prospect of a /challenge/. This is the type of thing that gave her an opportunity to shine--and she wasn't going to let a pack of ugly beasts stand in the way of her glory.

Letting Eira keep the course steady while she prepares an arrow, she lines up her shot, a glance briefly flashed in Sif's direction. She nods. "On your mark, Lady Sif." She's ready to let loose as soon as the signal is given.

Sif has posed:
Grazing on the greenery of spring, the Skirranas herd is oblivious to the death on high flying with silent spread of white wings. Sif steers her pagesus into an approach glide and somehow, even Typhon knows to be silent. She spots a young male separated off from the main herd to an extent, his head dropped as he nibbles at a clump of grass. A wordless point at this particular target with a finger off of her hold on her bow and Sif then nods sharply, signal to shoot.

Her arrow flies to lead before the pegasus's shadow crosses overtop the bulk of the wooly animal. It lifts its head sharply, appearing almost confused at first. The arrow sticks out of one eyesocket but it's not downed yet, tough beast.

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
Heidi hadn't anticipated the fact that they wouldn't go down with one solid shot. She doesn't realize there's a problem until she's taken her shot and another of the creatures is struck but doesn't fall. Her gaze moves to the one Sif shot, then scowls. At least now they know their one-in-the-eye method isn't going to work.

Which meant it was time to improvise. Swiftly, Heidi reaches back and nocks another arrow, giving the creature a once over. She fires, this one a shot towards its neck in an attempt to see if it's weak there or if it's too close to that bony skull to be unprotected.

Sif has posed:
Sif's creature lows once in concern and takes a shuddering step forward. The herd lifts its collective heads and stares not only at him, but at the one sporting two arrows from Heidi now. Another arrow sings as a faint shadow crosses over the herd again and now the first creature targeted collapses to one side with a fantastic thud. Impact rumbles the earth.

Heidi's creature also falls, though not without taking a few stumbling steps, and thankfully it also lands shoulder-first on the grass. This means they're halfway done with their quest!

It also means the herd begins to think about panicking and beginning to stampede. Sif utters a blistering expletive to herself and waves her free hand at Heidi as she brings Typhon around again. "I think we will be able to fell the third, but not the fourth before they flee. There, the one with the missing patch of hair upon its shoulder. I claim the left eye, you target the right!" Again, another young male on the fringes, slowly ambling back towards the group with their fussing rise of sound. An arrow is nocked and Sif lets it fly.

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
Heidi's got a sharp eye for these sort of situations. Fast-paced precision is something she's confident in. As she regroups and brings Eira close to Typhon again, she looks at the indicated creature. Another arrow is nocked, her arrow sent sailing towards the creature's right eye.

But the prospect of that fourth creature getting away bothers her. They needed /four/, not three. And if the problem was running, well. The second she's got that arrow off, she nocks another one, gaze sweeping over the herd until she finds one towards the back. Looking for what might already be a slow one, she takes a shot at one of the creature's back legs. If it were slow, then they wouldn't have to worry about it fleeing before they could get up to finish it off.

Sif has posed:
Heidi's arrow lands home and this particular bachelor-creature falls as well. Sif holds her breath as it appears that their efforts might be in vain; the creature begins to drop face-first towards the earth. However, the lifted hind foot of a herd-mate kicks it under the chin on its way to collapse and instead, the horn lands pristine along with its bearer.

But now? Oh yes, the herd is beginning to stampede. Heidi gets to hear another few curt expletives from the Goddess of War as she brings Typhon around in time to see the younger Asgardian's arrow sing down and into the hock of one of the creatures. It bellows and begins a three-legged gallump after its herd-mates, horn shining in the wane sunlight pouring down.

Sif too aims an arrow for the lamed creature's head, but it throws its skull to one side and, instead, the arrow flies through the thin tulip-curl of its ear like a piercing. The Aesir warrior growls frustration.

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
It's going to be a lot harder for that final creature soon enough. Heidi brings Eira around to the other side, her next arrow aimed at the other hind leg. The idea is to slow it to a crawl and give Sif enough time to get a shot or two in to finish it off. Fate, though, is a fickle mistress.

"We should do this more often!" Heidi calls, cheerfully.

Sif has posed:
"If you are enjoying it, the next culling is in a few months!" calls back the Goddess of War as she swings wide yet again. Typhon's feathers reflect the sun in pearly hues as his hard bank brings both him and his rider abruptly down within bow-range of the creature. Another arrow is nocked and let fly; it buries itself into the thick muscle of the neck behind the creature's cheek-plate and now, hobbled severely, it bawls for the retreating herd in vain.

"Damnation! Keep it distracted!"

Because that is Sif suddenly ditching from Typhon's back with Brumeoalfold pulled and gleaming! Apparently, she's convinced this requires a more physical approach now. A tucking roll as she lands and now she's thrown herself at the creature again, letting out a war-cry that echoes. Its head turns and it bawls back, dropping the enormous horn to menace in retort!

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
Heidi grins at the words. "I meant that I enjoyed fighting together, Lady Sif!" Her laugh, though, fades away as it seems the last creature just isn't going down like it should. She's about to say something again, but then there's Sif bringing herself fully into the battle. She raises an eyebrow, but she doesn't question the hands-on approach.

"You have a face even a mother couldn't love!" She screeches at it as she brings Eira around behind it. For good measure, she nocks an arrow and aims it for its flank. Wouldn't take him down but it'd sure be distracting if her yell wasn't.

Sif has posed:
Heidi's arrow embeds right into the Skirranas and its bulky hindquarters. The sting makes it turn its head back towards the sudden impact and Sif's sword embeds into the thick, almost mane-like hair along the ridge of its neck. The blade's keen edge makes it a good way into the creature, but not enough to sever the spine. Now, clinging to the grip of Brumeoalfold like a burr, the Aesir warrior is whipped about as the creature tries shaking her weapon's grip free.

"Shoot it -- AUGH -- in the -- OOF -- other -- OMPH -- EYE!"

Glimmering, the wee hummingbird flies free of the shelter of her leather armor and darts back and forth at impossible angles, chiding the creature with high-pitched beeps. How very dare!

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
Well, there's not much of a choice at this point. Given the position of Sif, there was indeed a risk of her being shot as she does happen to be close to the where the arrow is targeting. That, of course, isn't much of a risk given it's /Heidi/ doing the shooting. This action-oriented shot from a flying mount? It's like she was born to make that shot.

Bringing Eira around forward the creature, she makes sure that she's in the best position to make the shot--she's good, but she always looks to increase the odds. Once she thinks she has an idea of how the creature will move, her newly nocked arrow is sent flying towards the other eye.

Sif has posed:
Another loud "OOF!" leaves Sif as the creature swings its giant skull back to slam her yet again against the flat plate of its shoulder-blade. Still, the Goddess of War does not relent. That's //her sword anyways//, GIVE IT BACK! Shaking its head again, it pauses to try and bring up a front foot to dig at Sif. This allows a window for Heidi to take her shot.

The final arrow feathers into its other eye and with a slow droning cry, the creature throws its head one last time. Momentum brings it to collapse to the opposite shoulder as Sif's current cling. However, it does dislodge the enchanted sword from the musculature and send both it and its holder flying a short distance.

Sif tucks and rolls again before fetching up against a small boulder. She coughs once and rather than looking to herself, she checks Brumeoalfold over. Yep, all fine, just gorey and dusty now. Rising to her feet, she holds up a fist of triumph towards Heidi on her pegasus mount in the air.

"Success is ours!!!" she cries, bedraggled and spattered in blood and not one bit bothered by it. The hummingbird returns and buzzes at her ear before settling again on the edge of her vertical collar, its negligible weight tucked against the base of her ear.

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
"As if there were any question!" Heidi raises an arm in the air with a cheer, though it's brief as she moves to land a short distance away to approach Sif. "It has been /far/ too long since I've had that kind of excitement. I honestly thought there'd be more on Midgard. I suppose there aren't quite as many creatures like these in need of hunting there."

She stretches her arms out before looking down at the creature. Well, the one closest to them. "I imagine we'll be needing to carve the flesh away to get to base of the horn? I admit, I am not so familiar with Skirranas anatomy... /is/ this an easy process or do we need to lug these creatures somewhere?" That is much less appealing a prospect than hunting them down.

Sif has posed:
Sif walks to meet the other Asgardian halfway. Sunlight glistens red off of sections of her sword's blade, so recently clean and now in need of it once more. She smiles close-lipped at Heidi.

"There are no creatures on Midgard as the Skirranas, nor the Bilgesnipe. If there are, I am not privy to their existence." She closes the distance to the fallen creature and rotates its head about by the horn unscathed. "I believe I can remove the horns with my sword. It is an irony in their size that their flesh in unable to be consumed without a month's cooking first. Within it is a poison even sickening to our people. A carcass could feed many, but not with ease. It may be that they are better left to the skrapvaugr." Wild wolf-like creatures with jaws like steel bear-traps and teeth strong enough to puncture Asgardian armor. "Unless..."

Sif takes a moment and thinks. "I know of a family who raises the great war-hounds of Asgard. They will be pleased to take the meat and bones alike. I will send a missive once we have returned to the palace," she decides, by raven without a doubt.

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
"That seems like it would be a boon to them," Heidi agrees. "It's unfortunate the creatures cannot be used elsewhere, really. What is it that Prince Loki needs these horns for? I can't fully imagine a use for them." Then she pauses. "Oh, it's a magic thing, isn't it? I have recently met several magic users and the more I think about it the more this /does/ sound like something they'd use. Don't ask me how it works, though."

She grins broadly. "I will certainly leave the highly skilled and complicated magic to those like Prince Loki and be content with this. I can't imagine it to be quite as exhilarating."

Sif has posed:
Heidi answers her own question and the Valkyrie nods to confirm her suspicions. Magic indeed. "Magic has its own charms, but yes, I agree. I would rather be in combat with a great creature such as this than seated before a tome reading runes and attempting to not misspeak lest I turn the spell upon its head and myself into a frog," she jokes. "Each following has its arts and its masteries to learn." This is spoken with a glance towards the hummingbird as best she can manage without bumping the little thing from her collar's edge. The little creature beeps again and blinks, still looking around in avian curiosity.

"For now, let us collect the horns and return to the city that we might send the hound-keepers word. We must hasten against the scent of blood on the wind. No doubt the skrapvaugr will scent it and arrive soon enough."