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[center][h1][color=black]𝕬 𝖓 𝖙 𝖆 𝖊 𝖚 𝖘[/color][/h1]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/b1nhSeq.png[/img]
[h3][i]Salt Lake[/i][/h3]
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Antaeus's attention was drawn to the erratic change in the trail between the brush and the salty shore, but from here he couldn't see enough of the details through the grasses and branches. Giving it some thought for a moment, however, he could only come to a few conclusions. The first that sprang to his head was that the White Stag had gotten into a fight, but raised one more question: what kind? Had it been fighting with another creature, defending itself from a predator? Or had some other stag challenged it for dominance? Antaeus couldn't really see that second one, but then again maybe the White Stag didn't command the kind of awe from its own kind as it did from people. Either way, if the creature had been fighting Antaeus would feel slightly more confident--it might be wounded or tired, and thus easier for him to handle.

Another option could be that it had fed here and dug at the ground to find roots or seeds, or marked its territory with waste. Antaeus knew dogs and cats would often do that and then scrape the ground over it as if out of politeness. But he didn't feel like that was likely--he'd seen deer droppings before and they didn't seem too concerned about whether or not anyone would be inconvenienced by such things.

The only other prospect the boy could imagine was that perhaps it was mating season. That might explain some of the other deer tracks around the Stag, maybe he was leading his herd of females. Maybe the disturbed area of the ground had been made such by a, uh, rather frisky coupling. And that could tie into the theory about fighting, too, as male deer would of course fight over females just like the males of every other species. 

But ultimately speculation wouldn't serve any purpose. Using these ideas as a baseline, he just needed more information, so he could decide where to go from there. Glancing around once more but recognizing it was time to just breathe and take the plunge, Antaeus headed through the brush to investigate the erratic patch of earth. He realized he would be in the wide open, so he didn't bother moving slowly anymore, and went ahead and slid one of his javelins out of the side pocket of his pack just in case, holding it firmly in one hand.

[hider=Rolls/Action Log]
Antaeus performs an Investigation Check.
1d20 + (-1) INT
[url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/rolls/11826]Result: 10[/url]
(([i]LOUD SWEATING[/i]))
[/hider]
[hider=Inventory]
1 Quest Book - 5 lb
1 Shovel - 5 lb
1 Miner's Pick - 5 lb
1 Block and Tackle Set - 5 lb
--Pulleys
--Cable
--Hook
1 Climber's Kit - 12 lb
--Pitons
--Boot tips
--Gloves
--Harness
1 Set of Clothes, Common - 3 lb
--Roughspun Tunic
--Roughspun Pants
--Ragged Boots
1 Belt Pouch - 0 GP
1 Hunting Trap - 12 lb
1 Backpack - 5 lb - Holds 30 lb
1 Waterskin - 5 lb (full) - holds 4 pints
1 Tinderbox - 1 lb
1 Hempen Rope - 10 lb - 50 ft
2 Javelins - 2 lb Each
6 Darts - .25 lb Each

Total Encumberance: 71.5/240 lb (Light)
[/hider]
[hider=Quest Log]
+Bookie has agreed to write a letter to Captain Ork at the Garrison. I should kill an animal in the forest and take it to Captain Ork to prove I'm adventuring material.
--The animal can be anything from the Forest. Bookie suggested a deer or a boar.

+Barthen has requested me to hunt a White Stag in the Forest, and has given me a free hunting trap for this purpose. If I don't succeed I should probably bring the trap back.
[s]--I should try to find the Redchaser, she might be able to help me.[/s]

+Barthen is paying 1 GP per pound of Medicinal Herbs from the forest.
[/hider]