Let Us A-Hunting Go!

[this was originally conceived as a close follow-up to the wedding of Sesel and Zaida al Rashid; there was too much going on at the time to make it work then, and there hasn't been a good time since; so this is being written now not as an immediate call to adventure, but as an option for Sesel to gather a company whenever reasonable and to opt to go a-hunting]

When Sesel and his bride Zaida al Rashid were originally wedded, it was noised in the House al Rashid that they must be feted with an invitation to hunt in the forests east of Gadeed where woodlands are set aside for the pleasure of nobles of many tribes. Alas, at the time Sesel and his friends were so busy that this was not possible at the time; and circumstances in the meantime have not been any kinder to the notion of taking a hunting vacation.

Nevertheless, the offer still stands. Whenever it is deemed convenient Sesel may gather a company of friends and take the Rashids up on their offer to go hunting. Such an expedition would be like the hunt for the akho, in that it would take around a month of game time, given that it'd take a week to get out to the location, a week or so actually hunting, and a week to return.

What of the threat of the Red Cloud? Fortunately, forests are not a great place to marshal armies, so the risk of running into a major contingent of Kzinti and auxiliaries is unlikely. It could be the case (so long as the threat remains) that a hunting party might run into a small party of Kzinti scouts or messengers passing through the same area ... but such encounters would be essentially similar to the chance of running into dangerous beasts in the woods. And isn't that part of the intent of a hunt? To enjoy the possibility of risk when hunting such as gadhars, shanu'u, or zrne!

And what is there to hunt in these woods? A great variety of beasts, some merely for good eating, some valuable for their parts, others worth glory for their defeat:

(there is currently a bounty for the elimination of an especially cunning pack of gadhars in the area where the Rashids like to hunt)

Dlakolel
The giant black beetle, its fur and its carapace quite valuable if treated by Klackon alchemists. It can put up quite a fight, so it should be hunted warily.

Dzor
The forest giant--huge brutes, semi-intelligent but incapable of normal communication. They are hunted by young noblemen eager for the glory of combat, but are otherwise not valuable prey-beasts.

a ghadhar pack

Gadhar
Pack animals of exceptional cunning. Like wolves, almost as intelligent as renyu, they are able to use certain tools, like knives, with their mouths. They are so pack-oriented that killing one or two of a pack will drive the rest into madness, such that they probably run in fear. Like the dzor there is little value in hunting them, other than in claiming bounties for certain especially vicious packs that endanger the Hunters' Guild.

Giriku
Nocturnal flying reptiles. They have an especially repellant scent, extruded by oil glands under their batlike wings. No value other than being killed as vermin (Hunters' Guild offers a 5 dinar bounty per wing).

Kheshchal
Beautifully plumed birds. Hunters trap them with nets cunningly set up. They are quite valuable for their plumage; living birds can regrow plumage numerous times and so are more valuable than a dead kheshchal.

Kurrune
A brown-plumaged fowl, providing plenty of meat (though it's rather dry, comparatively).

Kyni
The hunting falcon, a highly intelligent raptor prized for its hunting qualities. Falconry is an esteemed skill among the nobles, and capturing young kyni-birds in nets can be extremely lucrative.

Nraishu
A six-legged herbivore, large-eyed and with delicate body. An excellent prey animal. Males are antlered.

Mowaj
A larger version of the nraishu, the quintessential victim of the hunt. Males are antlered.

Renyu
Not common, but when found they can be lucrative to hunt, for they can be sold as loyal man-servants if subdued. Otherwise it is considered bad form to hunt-to-kill renyu, unless a band has been identified as dangerous and a bounty offered for them.

Shanu'u
Griffin-like flying predators. The adults are worth little other than the glory of the kill--they have little viable meat, and it tastes poor. Eggs and juveniles, on the other hand, are quite lucrative to come by, for they can be sold to the Alkari or to the Confraternity of 'Issa for a good sum.

Tsi'il
A large herbivore, generally peaceful. They have a bony carapace and a tail that ends with a macelike protuberance, and may be related to the aquatic ghar. Though dangerous to hunt because of their size and their armor and tail, they are hunted both because of the good eating of their flesh, and more importantly because of certain glands, the excretions of which can be used to create repellant for almost all aquatic predators (e.g. the haqel, tletlakha, or akho)

Zrne
A six-legged predator, which uses its powerful hind-legs to leap upon prey from surprise. It has powerful jaws and venomous fangs, and its hide is so thick that it is considered immune to conventional missiles so that it must be hunted with lance and spear. It's only value is in the glory earned by having slain such a beast.