The Hunter's Challenge

[Hellwalker]

Posted on message boards across the nation in every city and settlement, as well as at every well-known shrine to the Beastlord, a simple note in unremarkable ink appears within the next few days. The only thing attracting attention to the note is the large red imprint of a beastly claw stamped to the bottom of the parchment. The note reads:

”The time to separate the strong from the weak in Cormyr has come. In this time of strife it is more important than ever to establish your place in the food chain, and so over the following month the Hunter's Challenge will be open to all who wish to prove themselves – not only before the Beastlord as well as peers and rivals – but before all of Cormyr.

In the Hunter's Challenge contestants will fight a succession of increasingly stronger beasts summoned from Fury's Heart itself up to a total of 16 beasts. Contestants will then be split into one of three categories depending on their performance:

* Novice – slay the first beast
* Adept – slay the sixth beast
* Master – slay the eleventh beast

The only rules for the Hunter's Challenge are as follows:

* Contestants fight alone. The Challenge seeks to test the strength of the individual.
* No use of healing magic, medicine or other wound mending is allowed. Every drop of blood lost stays lost until the winner has been decided.

When the Hunter's Challenge comes to an end in a month's time as of this posting, all contestants will be summoned to participate in the Hunter's Proving. Participants will be split into groups according to the category assigned during the Hunter's Challenge, after which they will fight in the untamed wilds until only one remains standing.

The only rules of the Hunter's Proving are as follows:

* No use of healing magic, medicine or other wound mending is allowed. Every drop of blood lost stays lost until the winner has been decided.

In order to encourage growth in Cormyr, the Church of Malar sponsors rewards for those brave enough to participate in the Challenge. Each contestant's name and number of beasts slain will be posted for all to see in the Shrine of the Beastlord in Suzail, and they shall henceforth be known by the title befitting the strongest beast slain in the Hunter's Challenge. The following rewards are for the strongest to claim:

* All those able to defeat all 16 beasts of Malar in the Hunter's Challenge will be awarded with the boon of Malar's blessings, administered by Beastmaster Acamas, on a single occasion for whatever endeavor the recipient wishes to undertake.
* The winner of the Novice Hunter's Proving will be awarded a Bulette Exoskeleton Helm blessed by the Beastlord himself, in addition to claiming the title of Novice Hunter, their name announced across Cormyr.
* The winner of the Adept Hunter's Proving will be awarded a White Dragonfang Dagger blessed by the Beastlord himself, in addition to claiming the title of Adept Hunter, their name announced across Cormyr.
* The winner of the Master Hunter's Proving will be awarded a Displacer Beast Hide Mantle blessed by the Beastlord himself, in addition to claiming the title of Master Hunter, their name announced across Cormyr.

Individuals interested in undergoing the Hunter's Challenge should request an audience with Acamas Oribasus at the Shrine of the Beastlord in Suzail.

For the glory of the hunt and for the strength of Cormyr!”

Next to the claw sigil at the bottom, the note is signed: ”Acamas Oribasus, Beastmaster of Malar”.

//The Hunter's Challenge is open to all characters between January 15th and February 15th. PM me or Mirrir Tharasvin (Pedantry Inc) ingame or on the forums to arrange a meeting at the shrine or elsewhere and/or post a reply to this thread with a note left by your character at the shrine. There's nothing stopping several players at once from taking the Challenge, but each will participate individually. The more the merrier! Rosters for the Hunter's Proving and an exact time will be announced when the Hunter's Challenge is over, but will likely take place in the weekend following the Challenge's end in a month.

OOC questions are best left as a PM ingame or on the forums, but most importantly; your character does not have to be a Malarite to join! This event is for anyone and everyone, whether they're in it for the prizes, the glory, or just the fun of it.

For (IC) results of other contestants, follow this link.

For Frequently Asked Questions and OOC discussion of the event, follow this link.

Special thanks to DM Hawk, without whom none of this would've been possible!

[PhatDorf]

*A woman in black and red platemail armour adorned with symbols of Kossuth marches into the shrine, and leaves a note on top of one of the spikes and then leaves with little delay*

[Fenix]

A man clad in a black cloak, with lightly silvered armor comes to read the notice, nodding quietly. He mutters something beneath his breath, incoherent to anybody in range, seemingly as if just speaking gibberish. He looks about then moves away quietly, writing on a parchment from his pack.

[Dobian]

*A woman in green cloak and hood reads the notice with a look of disgust, then walks away*

[probablyamage]

*An Elf pauses by the notice in Greatgaunt and spends many minutes drawing a detailed picture of a bow on the bottom right corner of the notice with the words "too late the change the rules!" and a happy face next to it.*

[quelunia]

*A man standing close to 6 foot large of muscle and adorned with an owl bears claw on one hans and a dire wolf pelt for a cloak approaches asking a commoner nearby to read the message upon hearing it he slices his hand and makes his mark on the message*

[quelunia]

*A man standing close to 6 foot large of muscle and adorned with an owl bears claw on one hans and a dire wolf pelt for a cloak approaches asking a commoner rearby to read the message upon hearing it he slices his hand and makes his mark on the message*

[FORSETIS]

*Butcher reads it over, then draws a happy face on it*

[Lady Frost]

*Zoe may or may not have seen the poster as she walks someplace at that one time.*

[Pedantry INC]

Mirrir begins moving through Cormyr, visiting inns, squares, markets and campsites. She speaks of the Hunters Challenge, bidding those that wish to test themselves, those that wish to prove their strength, those that believe they are fearless, to come and face the beasts of furies heart to earn their bounty.

She answers questions presented and encourages those that lack certainty to seek to test themselves, for no matter the rank, every participant in the challenge wins at least one reward, even if it is only to learn their limits that they might evolve to surpass them.


Possibly amusing to some, though while Mirrir generally maintains a lazy casual attitude, now and then her sizable red wings twitch, causing her to lose step or wobble to catch her balance. This little occasions reveal an expression of irritated frustration.

[Deleted]

*Padding up to a notice in GG, a solid looking man in leathers studies the note. With eyes reflecting sorrow and weariness, he tags the note in an open space*

Dain Jarlin

[Hellwalker]

In the dark depths deep beneath the surface, in a place known as the Unfortunate Orc inn, two hunters put up a poster announcing the Hunter's Challenge to the denizens of the depths, providing further specification on how to reach Suzail from down below.

[Deleted]

*A woman in green leathers stops to read a sign.*

"All these Malarites together in one place," she says. "Why not kill them all?"

[Hellwalker]

//Weekly bump (1/4)! Come one, come all! We're still taking new participants until February 15th. The more the merrier! Read above for more details.

Results Thread: Link

OOC Discussion/FAQ Thread: Link

[Wyvernvapor]

Caerwyn Arn scratches his scruffy chin, looking over the sign at a crossroads. After pondering the writing for a time, he mutters to himself.


"Curiosity killed the Caerwyn..."

[Deleted]

A rough looking man, in dark chain and a hood looks over the various marks and signatures, before adding his own to the bottom, with an almost out of place flourish

-Merrigan-

[Hellwalker]

//Weekly bump (2/4)! We'd like to remind you all that while contestants of all levels, faiths and creeds are still all welcome, we've a special shortage on low (1-12) level characters for the Proving! Thus; we encourage new players/characters to come take the Challenge! Don't be afraid you're too low level to have fun - there's no such thing! Read above for more details. The Hunter's Challenge is open to all till February 15th.

Results Thread: Link

OOC Discussion/FAQ Thread: Link

[irene]

Near Marsember a tall, black haired woman carrying a trident, walks down the sloping hills to the sea, her weapons and armour still covered in blood, hair and burned flesh. Her grey eyes gleams as she looks towards the sky, the air filled with the harsh cries from the circling seagulls.

"Mhmm... yes.... a day of glory indeed."

She raises the trident and looks across the sea, the waves rolling slowly inwards, crashing against the shore, slowly eating away of the land.

"Great Queen of the Deep, Mistress of storms and waves, currents and maelstroms.... today you gave me your fury and your power, that I could fight for your greater glory! And all of them, all seventeen fell to my blade! Aid me now in the final proving as well, that all may know that your strength stands unrivaled in all Cormyr. Then we shall have a First Tide as has not been seen in this land since before the Time of Troubles!"

She removes the blood-spattered armour and weapons and dressed in only what she was born in, still carrying the trident, she strides into the sea. She throws herself into the rolling waves, reveling in the might of the ocean and the glory of the realm of Umberlee. As she emerges from a dive, suddenly she breaks out in laughter and shakes her head....

"Poor old Entori."

[Hellwalker]

//Weekly bump (3/4)! Only one more week remaining until we stop taking new participants! If you've been lurking around until now and mean to take the challenge, get those PMs/tells sent and we'll schedule the session ! As always, characters of all faiths, creeds, and -levels- are welcome. The more the merrier! I'd also like to drop an extra word of encouragement for new players/characters in the lower levels (10 or below) to come take the challenge! Read above in the OP for more details. The Hunter's Challenge closes on February 15th, at which point the Proving will be announced and scheduled for participants.

Results Thread: Link

OOC Discussion/FAQ Thread: Link

[Dobian]

Salina looks over the sign. "Wonderful, a good opportunity to flex my powers, old and new," she says.

[The Tallest Dwarf]

A green-robed Gnome studies the sign,utters a cantrip and waits as a thin leatherbound tome pops into his hands.He then scribbles something inside with an equally eldritch quill that appeared between the sheaves of paper.

[moira]

A large platemail clad half orc nods to herself and places a cloven malar panther skull with her sigil on the alter accepting the challenge, felicity butterflystomper gazes around with mild interest and leaves.

[Hellwalker]

//Final bump (4/4)! Only 2 more days remain until we will no longer be taking new participants for the Hunter's Challenge! The Challenge will be closing on February 15th, this Saturday, but we will be accepting contestants up until around 5pm GMT on the 15th. If you're one of those last minuters, now is the time to step up and send me (or PedantryINC) a PM ingame or on the forums so we can schedule your PC's challenge promptly! As before, all levels are welcome but we have a special shortage on Novice Hunters (lowbies well below 10)!

I will be doing my best to make myself available for as long and often as possible for the next two days, so do not hesitate to send me a tell if you have a character that wants to participate!

Also note that on the 15th in GMT evening time I'll be officially announcing the Proving on the forums; and those who have already taken the Challenge, I humbly request keep their eyes open as we'll need to schedule a time together for the Proving. Due to the amount of players participating, each participant's feedback will be important, as it is my goal that every single one of you will be able to attend . For reference, each of the three Provings will OOCly be a separate event as scheduling them all simultaneously should prove next to impossible (15+ players involved).

So please, stay tuned for more information concerning the Proving. We hope you've enjoyed the event thus far, and here's to what follows .

Results Thread: Link

OOC Discussion/FAQ Thread: Link

[Hellwalker]

Somewhere in the trackless wilds, in a once peaceful glade now echoing with the cries of men and beasts alike, a savage man stands alone in the aftermath, a pleased grin on his face, as if he could still hear them even now. The grass all around him is disturbed, a crimson tint defiling the once green clearing; the spectres of battles long gone surrounding the savage. His eyes hungrily absorb the scene, gaze darting from place to place, as if he could still see the struggles for survival taking place before him. The monstrous clawed hand defying his otherwise human appearance twitch excitedly with each imagined blow. All that is truly heard in the trial grounds that day, aside from the sounds of nature at play, are his ecstatic words...

”A vision realized; Your will is done, Great Beast... and what a glorious thing it is to behold in the flesh. Oh, the Proving is going to be -such- a mess!”

The eager grin is slow to fade from his harsh features, before he adds, as an afterthought:

”Now... preparations must be made for what comes next.”

//The Hunter's Challenge is now closed which means we're no longer taking new contestants for the Proving. Thank you to everyone who attended, and I hope you had as much fun as we did!

For the announcement thread of the Proving, see this thread: link

Specific times for the Proving will be forthcoming in the next few days hopefully; scheduling is taking place as we speak. For the scheduling threads, see the links below:

Novice Proving Scheduling: link

Adept Proving Scheduling: link

Master Proving Scheduling: link