Iron Powder and Spellcasters

   Chapter 120 Orion

  The north and south of the Senas Union are mountains, and the terrain generally climbs from east to west. People living on the coast therefore call the Palatu people the plateau people.

   Langtun Town, on the southwestern border of the Land of Galloping Horses, is nearly 1,400 meters above sea level and is located in the pine oak forest belt at the northern foot of the Jinding Mountains.

  In the forest to the south of Langtun Town, a giant coniferous tree with thick conifers clasped into the sky and obscured the sky. Only speckled sunlight filtered through the gaps in the canopy, nourishing the weeds and shrubs in the forest.

  For thousands of years, all natural things have grown, died, and decayed here, and finally turned into humus soil several feet deep.

   The hut of the hunter Ralph's house was built in the depths of such a dense forest, and there was only one path that the hunter stepped on leading to human society.

   After receiving Ralph's warning, Gillard, Winters and Sergey immediately followed Ralph and his son to Orion's cabin.

The    wooden house is simple and ordinary, and there are several wooden barrels with an unpleasant smell outside the house, which seem to be containers for tanning hides.

   "Two adults, please see." Ralph took out an animal stump from the house and presented it to Girard and Winters: "It was found on the animal trap this morning."

   Winters is now no longer trying to correct the villagers calling him "Lord", which Girard seems to have long since gotten used to.

   It looks like this part of the stump once belonged to a deer, but now only the hoof to the thigh bone remains.

   Winters could only see so much, he didn't feel anything out of the ordinary.

  Girard also asked in confusion: "The trapped prey is cheaply picked up by the beast. Although it is unlucky, it is also a common thing. Why is it related to the wolf disaster?"

   "It's related!" Ralph, who was clumsy at words, became anxious and impatient: "Please look at the stubble on the thigh bone!"

   "How do you. He. Mom talk? Your mouth can't talk. I. He. Mom will sew it for you!" Sergey's anger suddenly jumped up, he couldn't tolerate anyone being disrespectful to his old brother.

   "It's okay, it's okay." Girard immediately appeased the two.

   The old hunter Ralph did not reply, but lowered his head and apologized to the mayor. On the contrary, the little hunter Bell clenched the wooden bow in his hand and glared at the old Sergey.

Winters took the deer leg and carefully observed the broken bones. He really couldn't see anything wrong: "Mr. Ralph, we are not hunters, and we don't understand what you take for granted. What exactly does this deer leg have? What is the problem, you have to explain it to us carefully."

The old hunter pointed to the cross section of the bone and explained with gestures: "Two adults, this bone was bitten off alive. The deer stepped on the clip and couldn't move. Some kind of beast killed the deer and then bit the deer's legs, dragging the deer to death. The rest went into the woods."

   "What's so weird about that?"

"Ordinary beasts can't stop biting the thigh bone of the deer! Because it can't bite!" Ralph the hunter spoke quickly and looked anxious: "My lord! This is an extremely strong adult stag, and the leg bones are even harder to chew, but But it was directly bitten off! I can imagine how strong the bite between the upper and lower teeth of this beast is!

   After listening to the hunter's words, Winters re-examined the stump leg in his hand - if he could bite this kind of bone, he could tear off a human arm.

   Winters frowned and asked the old hunter, "Is it a wolf?"

"Wolves can't do it! A wild beast like a wolf can only bite the deer to death and eat it on the spot. The wolf doesn't even have the strength to drag the stag's body away, not even a group of wolves! Those who hunt and kill are the old, the weak, the sick and the sick. It is absolutely not an ordinary beast that can kill such a large adult animal, it has to be a beast like a tiger and a scorpion!"

Talking with his mouth was not enough, the old hunter ran back into the house and took out two smooth white femur sticks: "Look, my lord, this is a handle made from the leftover thigh bones of deer eaten by wolves. Wolves love to eat marrow. , I won't let it go if I bite it off. But you can see that these two bone rods are intact except for the tooth marks!"

   "Then why did you say it was a wolf disaster?" Winters was at a loss when he heard the other party deny it was a wolf.

  Old Sergey explained embarrassingly: "Sir, we call this place a 'wolf disaster' when beasts hurt people."

Only then did    Winters understand, he nodded and asked the hunter: "You mean there is a large beast that is haunting this forest now?"

   "Yes! But it's not quite right either!" The old hunter tugged at his hair angrily and muttered: "I don't know how to explain it to you, and I don't know where to say it, anyway, something is wrong in the woods these days!"

   After spending a year with the soldiers at the bottom, Winters gradually understood that some soldiers who had not received grammar education were extremely lacking in language ability. They speak without the point, and even stumble upon their retelling. It takes patience and the ability to grasp key words from the cluttered narrative.

   "No hurry, you speak slowly and say what comes to mind." Winters patted the hunter on the shoulder, moved a wooden stake and motioned for Ralph to sit down.

   Hunter Ralph glanced gratefully at the resident officer, and after thinking for a while, he rambled on.

   Listening carefully, Winters struggled to discern the key message.

"...As a result, from a while ago, it was difficult to see deer, deer, fox, and rabbits running out of the woods like crazy... Our father and son were trapping under the animal trail, and we caught a lot of good things at first... But recently Many of the goods that have arrived have been dragged away by wild animals and eaten clean, and the location is closer to the outside every time... Yesterday I found footprints in the woods that I have never seen before..."

   "Wait." Winters was refreshed and interrupted the old hunter: "Have you found the footprints?"

   "Yes, my lord."

   Then you still talk so much nonsense? Winters couldn't help but murmured, and he immediately ordered Orion Ralph: "Where? Take us to see!"

  Led by father and son hunters, Winters, Girard and Sergey headed deeper into the forest.

  This is a truly inaccessible place, the deeper you go, the quieter and deeper the forest becomes. The chirping of birds and insects could not break the endless silence of the forest, only the rustling of the wind blowing through the leaves could be heard.

   Looking back, Winters has been unable to find his way.

   But father and son hunters knew the forest like the back of their hands. It seems that there is at least a forty-year-old hunter Ralph walking fast in the forest, and quickly found the position in his memory: "This is it!"

  It has been sunny after a rain three days ago, and the footprints in the mud have been preserved.

   He pushed aside the bracken that was blocking his view, and a terrifying paw print was revealed.

   Seeing this paw print, all three except the hunter father and son took a deep breath. With one palm and five claws, the entire paw print is nearly twice as long as Winters' shoes.

   Hunter Ralph is right, the beast that can step on this kind of paw print can never be a wolf. The wolf is only food in front of such behemoths.

   Just seeing this paw print, the peaceful and peaceful forest in Winters' eyes suddenly became dangerous and murderous everywhere.

  The horses became restless. The two terriers Gillard had brought with their tails tucked in, whimpered.

"Beasts will urinate everywhere to warn their fellows." Ralph pointed to the two hounds who were shaking their tails and said firmly, "These two fox terriers must have smelled urine, otherwise they wouldn't have been scared like this. !"

   "The Holy Body is on!" Old Sergey exclaimed as he approached the paw print, "What can grow so big?"

   "Are there any other footprints?" Winters asked.

  Ralph shook his head: "No, I only saw this one."

   "Then it's best not to stay here for a long time, let's go back to Ralph's house first." Winters didn't bring any weapons, and didn't want to stay here for a second. He looked at Gillard: "Mayor Mitchell, what do you think?"

   "That's right, let's get out of here first."

  Ralph and his son led one after the other, and the five returned to the Orion's cabin.

  Gillard and Sergey were both in their fifties, and they were exhausted from walking through the woods for too long. On the contrary, the hunter father and son walked briskly, and their expressions were as usual.

  Girard gasped and asked the old hunter, "What is it? Can you tell it from the footprints?"

   "Five claws, it looks like a bear." Ralph replied solemnly: "But the paw print is so big that I don't even know what it is."

   "Do you think there will be another wolf disaster?" Girard asked again.

Ralph considered for a long time, and finally said: "Beasts usually hide from people, let alone run into the forest area so close to people. But this big guy's range of activities is getting closer and closer to the edge of the forest. I think If it runs outside, it will encounter people sooner or later. Once it tastes human blood, it will definitely start to hunt for food. But maybe it will turn around and go back into the deep forest. Oh, but if you ask me, my lord, I will not Know…"

   After listening to the hunter's words, Girard looked at Winters: "Mr. Montagne, I think we may need to call up the militia."

   Winters was stunned for a moment, and then he came to his senses: he, the stationed officer, was in charge of militia affairs.

   "You think you need to form a crusade?" Winters asked rhetorically.

  Gillard nodded silently.

   Sergey slapped his thigh excitedly: "That's right! Damn it. Damn it, what kind of beast he is! As long as he eats a gun, he won't be afraid to kill it!"

  Winters Montagne never considered himself a Palatine, but at this moment he really entered the identity of the officer in the town of Wolftun Town.

   His brows furrowed: "Convening the militia can at least give the villages a little self-defense capability, I think it is feasible. But whether to send people to hunt and kill this beast, I want to hear the opinions of professionals."

"Mr. Ralph." Lieutenant Montagne looked directly into the eyes of the old hunter and said solemnly: "Don't worry, I will be responsible for what you say. But you have to tell me the truth... As a hunter, you feel that the militia is dispatched to kill this man. Is a beast doable?"

Second Lieutenant Montagne spoke earnestly, Ralph gritted his teeth, and plucked up his courage to answer: "My lord. I can't refuse you to give me a face. I'll tell the truth, the forest is really big, and I don't know that. Where is the thing. If you really want to kill it, the whole town has to go out to hunt, and if you are not careful, the thing will run away.

   Ferocious beasts have spirituality. Once they can't kill it, it will become more difficult to deal with after holding grudges. What's more, it hasn't hurt anyone, let alone provoke it. I think it's enough for everyone to be careful now, and if it really hurts, it won't be too late to kill. It would be better if it returned to the depths of the forest on its own. "

After listening carefully,    Winters looked at Girard again: "What do you think?"

   "This is also a safe way." Girard agreed: "That's it for the time being."

With nothing more to say, Winters, Girard, and Sergey prepared to leave the Hunter's Lodge.

   "Mr. Ralph, I don't think you should stay here for a few days. You should go to your relatives and friends in the village to stay for two days."

   The old hunter nodded gratefully.

  Winters smiled again and said to the little hunter: "Boy, come back to archery next Sunday, next time I will prepare the prize you want!"

  The little hunter Bell curled his lips in disdain. This kid has amazing archery skills and easily won the prize from a group of adults - half a dozen quills. But the half-daughter obviously doesn't like these things.

   Seeing that this half-boy who is in retrograde period, Winters finds it interesting instead. He nodded in greeting, and lightly stabbed the horse's rib to bid farewell to the Orion father and son.

  …

   On the way back to Wolftun Town, Winters, Girard and Sergey chatted all the way.

   "Why do you call a beast a wolf plague?" Winters is still a little puzzled: "Is this a dialect of Plato? What is the origin?"

   "It's not Palatu, it's our dialect. That's what Dusa Village and Hedong and Hexi villages call it." Girard replied with a smile.

Mentioning this matter, old Sergey was full of pride: "This place has always been plagued by wolves! In the early years, the peasants who lived here did not suffer lightly. Later, we, Dussac, were placed here, which was cruel. I killed all the big wolves and the little wolves. I still have a pair of wolf skin knee pads! Finally, the wolves are driven into the mountains and the last thing is to stop. Hey! , the wolf will take you away'!"

"Mayor Mitchell, Mr. Sergey, forgive me. If I'm not mistaken, you're all from Dusa, right?" Winters couldn't help asking the question he had been puzzled for a long time: "How come What about the settlement of the Senus Alliance?"

   Ever since he heard the odd name Girard Pleninovich Mitchell, Winters had already suspected Girard of being a Dusa.

"Of course we are Dussack! Can't we be separated from the peasants at a glance?" Old Sergey laughed, and he recalled: "Why did we come to you? After more than 30 years, we were still serving as errands to the old emperor, and we will be…”

   "Vladiminovich! That's enough! Don't talk about it!" Gillard obviously didn't want to talk about this matter, so he stopped old Sergey's memories.

   Sergey was very obedient. Gillard called to stop, and he stopped talking immediately.

   Seeing that Gillard didn't want to talk more, Winters also changed the subject: "Mr. Mitchell, I'm a little curious...Why are you called Mr. Sergei...Vladiminovich?"

This question can obviously be answered, Girard explained with a smile: "Sergey's father's real name is Vladimir, and Vladiminovich means Vladimir's son. He also calls me Pleni. Norwich, because my dad's real name is Plenis, that's what we in Dusa call it."

   Winters laughed and said, "Should my name be Gravinovich?"

   Unexpectedly, Gillard and Sergey looked a little embarrassed as soon as these words came out.

  Gillard remembered something else, and asked Winters: "Did you just let the Ralphs go to relatives and friends for a few days?"

   "Yes, I think the two of them are probably in the most dangerous situation right now."

   "I'm afraid they have nowhere to go." Gillard said worriedly.

"why?"

"Because that little doll is of the Heard people." Old Sergey rudely told the truth: "Ralph got a Heard wife, and then died. There is only one little doll left. It's not that Pleninovich has pity on them, they can't be admitted to the wolf village at all!"

   "Alright, alright, stop talking!" Girard stopped his old friend.

   Sergey immediately fell silent.

  Girard scratched the back of his head and continued: "Actually, it's easy to solve. I'll just invite their father and son to my house temporarily."

   Sergey said coldly: "I'm afraid people won't appreciate it."

  Gillard thought for a moment and said, "Even if Ralph doesn't want to come, he will come for his son's safety."

  Old Sergey snorted coldly and said nothing.

  Girard looked at Winters again: "Lieutenant Montagne, what do you think of this arrangement?"

   "Of course it's the best." Winters was a little flattered and replied hastily: "It's just to trouble you."

"Hey, it's okay, I'm so uncomfortable with so many empty rooms..." Girard said, and suddenly slapped his forehead again: "Second lieutenant, the matter of summoning the militia... I will go to Hedong, Hexi and Dusa Village. That's fine. But those two Protestant villages, we have to go together..."

  ————

Remark:

  The contents about werewolves recorded in the "Hammer of Witchcraft" published by the Catholic Inquisition in 526 of the imperial calendar:

"...half man, half wolf...afraid of silver, garlic and holy water...infinite power, tyrannical bloodthirsty, extremely dangerous...once bitten, even a pure-hearted person who does not forget to pray at night will inevitably suffer in Ukraine. On the full moon night when the head grass blooms, I transform into a wolf..."

  New calendar (Imperial calendar) 1020, an excerpt from the anthropology master's thesis "Exploration of Deep Consciousness Behind Mythical Creatures - Taking Werewolf as an Example" included in the big database:

"...After the fifth century, with the deepening of the internal colonization process, humans began to claim land from forests and wilderness, which led to a large number of incidents of wild animals hurting people. That is, during this period, the legend of werewolves spread like wildfire. …The name of today’s Langtun city in Revodan province is derived from a wolf pack that settled here at the beginning of the sixth century, and there are still legends about werewolves in the rural areas of Langtun city…”

   Played a stalk of the Beast of Gervodan. I wrote 4900 words today and I tried my best.

   Regarding the bite force of beasts and the grievances and grievances of the thigh bone, I still see it from "Raising Tigers". After watching "Raising Tigers in Trouble", I watched a video that demonstrated in detail "It is inconvenient to destroy corpses by feeding them to big cats". The introduction person's thigh bone needs 1700 psi to bite off, and the tiger's bite force is 1050 psi... I checked again, and the wolf can't bite the sheep's thigh bone. So the description of the wolf biting the deer's leg bone should not be made up... Probably.

Thanks to the book friends who have voted for the recommendation before, thanks to the book friends Tianshui has a beautiful woman, an ideal uncle in his 30s, a black computer saber, a yellow rabbit from a flower gardener, I don’t know what it’s called, calmly grayed out, justice is pure and pure is a koala , Tian lens, the same week as the world, nothing is Xiao Gao.

   Thanks to the book friends Wu is Xiaogao, Tianjian, and the recommendation ticket of 54 months, thank you all.

   (end of this chapter)