PDEE: A Gomphotherium drops by

Mark returns to the Trout clan for some more Palaeo Diet mischief:

At about the same time the Grey Wolf party was encountering the Glyptodonts in the lands beyond the East River, the Trout Clan faced their own problem, with a beast that had dropped by their home territory. A huge Giant grazer had appeared in the rocky area from which the Trouts had - only last year - finally driven away the cave hyaenas. The area is already becoming a prized foraging ground, especially for snails and other tasty small critters, and the Trouts aren’t about to see it invaded and laid waste by some shovel-toothed hefalump.

A hunting party is organised to drive away, or kill, the intruder (Photo #1). The hunters comprise two men armed with spears, three with clubs, and the leader, Crocus, who carries a burning brand.

They approached cautiously. The terrain comprises rocky outcrops, which the hyaenas had favoured for their dens. The Trouts can scramble at reduced rates through these, but the Giant Grazer cannot. No one is sure what to expect (Photo #2).

Crocus and the hunters confer. They decide to make use of the cover provided by the outcrops, to creep up and ambush the monster (Photo #3, misnumbered #2).

A couple of turns later and the hunters are skulking closer, using the cover to sneak forwards. There have been a few mishaps though, but the Gomphotherium has either ignored them or moved casually away. Crocus is beginning to worry that the monster may keep ambling, out of the rocky terrain and onto the flat, featureless prairie. That would make it much harder, and way more dangerous, to stalk. He decides to use his firebrand to try and scare it back towards the rocks. He deliberately lopes out in front, and as hoped the monster turns and moves away, avoiding the fire. Then the spear-armed men seize their opportunity and attack.

This is less successful. The first spear man moves into range and misses his throw, and the Gomphothrium attacks, though not causing any damage. Seeing this the second spearman loses his bottle and fails both his activation rolls, and the Gomphotherium holds its position (Photo #4).

The three club-armed hunters watch with interest from the other rocky outcrop. One of them, bolder than the others, lopes out to try and draw the beast away from the hapless spearmen. Surprisingly this works and it moves away a bit. At this, the rest of the club men advance to join their brave friend (Photo #5).

It’s a new turn now. The hunters are closing in on the beast, but have come out of the safety of the rocks. The closer spearman activates first. He throws a spear, and misses. The beast moves away. The hunter is still just in range and tries again, misses again, and the beast keeps moving away (Photo #6).

Once again Crocus intervenes, trying to steer the monster back towards the hunters. It works and it Flees back towards its pursuers (Photo #7).

Now the Club men line up their attacks. The first man attacks, hits, and it’s a successful well-placed attack. The Gomphothrium takes 2W (Photo #8).

The infuriated and pain-maddened beast attacks, and the hunter is wounded. But then the second club-armed man darts in to deliver his blow. He also hits, taking the beast to 3W, and this time the Gomphotherium roars loudly. This panics all the hunters within 1M, who hastily retreat 1-3S (Photo #9).

The spear armed hunter who hasn’t activated yet now gets a rush of blood to the head. He ambles up into spear-throwing range, risking a beast reaction: it’s another roar, but the hunter isn’t impressed. He hurls a spear, which misses. The beast reacts by attacking, but fails to wound the hunter (who seems to have discovered and been nibbling a patch of special mushrooms). The hunter throws a second spear, and the Gomphothrium staggers and falls, dead with 4/4W (Photo #10).

The Trout hunters rejoice. Only one hunter has been injured, and none killed. The mission has been accomplished. The hunter posted on top of the huge carcass is the one who delivered the fatal blow. He’s still away with the fairies … (Photo #11).

Cheers from Pattaya,
Mark