🐺Journal Entry 2 - A Successful Hunt

The next morning, I headed toward the coast at first light. The first animal on my list was a Pelican—marvelous creatures found on the shores of Pieland.While a Pelican is not a dangerous bird, it is a beloved companion to the Pielanders. Their affection for these creatures runs deep, and as such, any attempt to capture one might lead to angry Pielanders putting up a fight. Something I would rather avoid.

I waited till the sunset, then under the cover of dusk, I crept along the shoreline. The Pielanders, in a deep slumber, remained oblivious to my presence. I moved with the grace of a shadow, eyes keenly aware of any stirring in their seaside dwellings. It didn’t take long till I spotted a lone Pelican, perched peacefully near the water's edge, lit up under the moonlight.

My approach was careful, every step a testament to the lessons learned in battle against much more dangerous foes. I held my breath, with my net in hand, as I got closer. Once in range, I threw my net toward the bird, and it fell over the Pelican. As the net landed, the bird flapped its wings and tried to leave, but it was too late. The Pielanders remained blissfully unaware as I secured the creature and made my leave. Perhaps one of the easiest catches I’ve ever had. I wondered why this animal was on the list for me to catch. Perhaps the Pieous really thought the Pelican to be as dangerous as an Owlbear or an Arctic Wolf. I suppose you don’t get too many Pelicans in the Three Vapours.

Next, it was the Owlbear on my list. I journeyed north, to the Chasm of the Undead, where shadows cling to the edges of the cold cave walls. Once I arrived at the entrance of this haunted hellhole, I felt the icy chill and repugnant odor that only the Undead Slices can stomach. I would do my best to avoid making new friends with any of the Octopies in here—I’ve heard too many stories of these Slices to take the risk.

The Owlbear is an interesting creature. A mutant combination of an Owl’s head with a Bear’s body. It’s no surprise they can only be found in the depths of the Chasm of the Undead. In any other part of the world, they would be hunted and killed for being an abomination. Their very existence is an offense to the Guardians. Yet, here, they live in relative peace amongst the Undead Slices.

I took a hidden route into the Chasm, letting me avoid the Vampier lookouts and the Zompie grunts. Before long, I stumbled onto a few Expieriment Octopies. This Slice took in the Owlbears as… well, sort of like a pet. Can monsters have pets? Regardless, I knew if Expieriments were around, it wouldn’t be long before seeing an Owlbear. I waited in the shadows until the time was right. After a short while, I heard the unmistakable sound of an Owlbear squawk. It comes from a combination of the hoot of an Owl with the roar of a Bear. It’s hideous. As soon as that squawk pierced my ears, I stepped out from the shadows, facing the creature. It eyed me with a mix of curiosity and ferocity, deciding if I was friend or foe. It’s a look I’ve seen in many wild animals. I keep my breath calm, I maintain eye contact, and I wait. I’m standing just a mere few feet in front of the target, but I hold my ground, watching.

The Owlbear turns its head from side-to-side. Inquisitive and scared. It might be the first time it’s ever seen a foreign Slice. The creature began to bare its teeth. The fear turns to aggression. Perfect, just what I want.

You see, the Owlbear is a dangerous beast. Razor sharp claws, arms unfathomably strong, and it can tear the filling from an Octopie in seconds. Yet, they are far from the top of the food chain for one simple reason—they are predictable. Owlbears attack by lunging toward you and grabbing on. Once their claws are in you, it’s game over. Therefore, it’s widely recommended by all good hunters that you don’t try to take one alive. However a great hunter would recommend that you focus on their head. Because, before they charge, they dip their head ever so slightly. If you know what to look for, it makes capturing them as easy as… well, as easy as pie.

And that’s what happened. The Owlbear, while maintaining eye contact, dipped its head. It was brief, and only for a second. A lesser hunter wouldn’t have noticed. As soon as the head began to rise, I grabbed my net and threw it in the air, aiming for in front of the beast. The Owlbear began to lunge at me as the net went up. Its back feet left the floor and before they touched the ground, the net landed squarely on top of the beast. Another successful capture. I quickly hurried back the way I came, leaving the Caverns and the Undead Slices behind. In and out, just like that.

The 3 targets of the Huntmaster

Next, I headed north. The Arctic Crust, with its snow-covered forests and biting winds, played host to the final challenge—the Arctic Wolf. The most dangerous entry on my list. And not just because of the frightening creature, but because it meant traveling to the icy wilderness of the Arctic Crust. As I ventured into this snowy wasteland, my senses attuned to the Arctic weather. The harsh conditions there make survival a bleak outlook for any Octopie. The upside was that hunting and tracking was much easier here without other Octopies around. It didn’t take long before I found tracks resembling my prey.

I followed the tracks for a short while, until I encountered the target - A lone wolf. The beast, a vision of untamed majesty, stood on top of a small mound, overlooking the white expanse of the arctic. Its fur, a blend of silver and midnight hues, blended seamlessly with the winter landscape.

I began my approach, moving toward the mound in a crouched position as fast as I could. The Arctic Wolf's ears twitched, catching the faintest disturbance in the otherwise silent afternoon. As I closed the distance, the crunch of snow beneath my boots gave me away. The wolf, sensing the encroaching threat, lowered its stance, muscles coiling like springs. It turned to me with eyes that mirrored the wilderness itself—untamed, wild, and ready to kill. Unlike the Owlbear, there was no confusion in this animal's eyes. Time seemed to suspend, a breath caught in the frosty air, as we faced each other.

My tentacle squeezed my grip tightly around my dagger, whilst I stayed frozen in place. After a deep breath, and took one more step, and as my tentacle landed and the snow crunched beneath, the beast dove toward me. I drove my dagger towards it as it lunged onto me. The dagger found its mark in the wolf's hind leg, a calculated strike that elicited a pained howl and stopped its attack. The wolf fell to the side as I rolled away, blood oozing from the puncture. We both stood quickly, staring each other down.

The wounded wolf was circling around me. I pull out my sword, ready for what would come next. Eyes ablaze with defiance, the wolf attacked in a fury that echoed through the silent forest. Fangs clashed with steel, and claws scratched armor. The Arctic Wolf was in a fight for its life.

The struggle unfolded in a raw exchange of blows and screams. The creature's strength waned with each passing exchange of blows. All I had to do was play defense and stay alive. Being unable to run or put weight on its back legs hindered the beast’s power. Eventually, the wolf began to succumb to the wound. It fell over, panting. I used this moment of vulnerability to tie a rope around the wolf's snout and legs. As soon as the prey was securely wrapped up, I treated the stab wound. I padded on some snow to stop the bleeding, and then applied an herbal remedy to the skin to prevent infection. I did my best to ease the beast's pain, but the Wolf would continue to whimper for some time.

In the aftermath, as the Arctic Crust embraced silence once more, the Pelican, Owlbear, and Arctic Wolf were now all in my possession. With the wolf in tow, I begin to navigate toward the heart of the Pieous lands.