Victorious Faction
Apex Hunters
The Apex Hunters are a group of elite, ruthless trackers who see Sasquatch as the ultimate trophy. They believe that capturing or killing Sasquatch will cement their status as the greatest hunters in the world and bring them fame and fortune. They scoff at the notion of Sasquatch as a guardian of nature and instead view it as a dangerous beast to be conquered.
Faction Leader
Raven Blackwood
Raven Blackwood is the notorious leader of the Apex Hunters. A ruthless and cunning tracker, Raven has bagged more impressive trophies than any other hunter in the group. They are obsessed with the idea of capturing Sasquatch and will stop at nothing to achieve their goal.
Members
27Divisions
This faction emerged victorious in Week 4, advancing their narrative in the ongoing conflict.
Victory points are calculated based on player performance relative to rating, special achievements like aces and CTPs, and community contributions. Pool multipliers are applied based on division ratings and demographics to ensure balanced competition.
Kevin Koga #267702
Mapinguari Slayer
Legends of the Misty Links @ Creekside
Wielding the power of Mapinguari Slayer (#11), Kevin demonstrated exceptional skill by playing +59 points above their rating in this epic clash.
Wildwood Whispers
Gabriel Kenney has unlocked ancient secrets and formed a mystical connection with the misty forests of Creekside, even as the sinister Raven Blackwood and the Apex Hunters scheme to capture the legendary Sasquatch. As the battle between myth and obsession escalates, the Trackway itself has begun to reveal glimpses of a hidden world, blurring the lines between legend and reality. With strange omens haunting the trails and new allies emerging from the shadows, Gabriel must master his growing abilities before the final confrontation that will determine the fate of the Sasquatchβand perhaps the world itself. The mists are rising, the ancient powers are stirring, and the true hunt is about to begin.
Commentary from Flippy (your trapped narrator)
Wildwood Whispers: Episode 4
Dawn at Creekside carried an unusual chill, the kind that settles deep in bones and whispers warnings. Kevin Koga, the Mapinguari Slayer, knelt beside a massive impression in the frost-covered ground, his experienced fingers tracing its edges with methodical precision. The bag tag hanging from his tactical vest caught the early light, its etched surface depicting a legendary giant sloth locked in combat with a hunter.
"Definitely bipedal," he murmured into his comm unit. "Similar stride pattern to what I tracked in the Amazon, but the depth suggests even greater mass. The Mapinguari was large, but this..." He paused, measuring the print with specialized calipers. "This is something else entirely."
Above, Timothy Scholle moved through the canopy with practiced ease, the Ahool Assassin's surveillance equipment humming softly as it mapped the forest below. "Thermal imaging is picking up residual heat in that print. Fresh. Within the last hour."
Raven Blackwood emerged from the shadows, studying the scene with calculating eyes. "The convergence of your expertise is no coincidence. The Mapinguari taught you how to track giants, Timothy taught you how to think in three dimensions. Together, you're exactly what we need."
Kevin stood, brushing frost from his knees. "The similarities to the Mapinguari's territory marking are undeniable. But there's something different here β a intelligence in the placement. These aren't just tracks; they're a message."
"Then let's make sure we're properly positioned to receive it," Raven replied, gesturing toward the gathering players. "The tournament begins soon. Take your positions."
Rowan Oakwood felt the shift in the forest's energy before seeing its cause. The ancient trees seemed to draw back, creating subtle spaces in their canopy that hadn't existed before. Looking up, they spotted Timothy's carefully concealed surveillance network β a web of technology spreading through the branches like an artificial nervous system.
"Welcome back to Creekside," Rowan addressed the assembled players, their voice carrying an edge of concern. "The forest remembers our last gathering here, as do the shadows that walk between its trees."
Gabriel stood near the back of the group, the two Key Stones in his pocket pulsing with unusual warmth. The mist around his feet behaved strangely, trying to rise but seemingly pressed down by an invisible force from above.
From his position at the edge of the gathering, Kevin studied the players with the same intensity he'd once reserved for tracking the Mapinguari through South American rainforests. His trained eye noticed subtle patterns β the way certain players unconsciously oriented themselves toward hidden trails, how others tensed at unexpected forest sounds.
"The Mapinguari taught me that the largest creatures often leave the smallest signs," he announced, stepping forward. "Their size demands secrecy, their power requires restraint. Today's tournament will reveal much to those who know how to look."
Rowan's eyes narrowed. "The Amazon's secrets are its own, Mapinguari Slayer. These forests hold different mysteries."
"All forests speak the same language of tracks and signs," Kevin replied, the confidence of countless successful hunts evident in his voice. "The dialect may change, but the story remains readable to those with proper training."
As players moved to their starting positions, Gabriel found himself on the same card as Kevin. The experienced hunter moved with a peculiar grace that seemed at odds with his muscular frame, each step placed with deliberate precision.
"Your mist abilities are impressive," Kevin observed as they walked to their first hole. "But mist dissipates. Tracks endure. The Mapinguari taught me that permanence trumps ethereal power every time."
Gabriel felt the Key Stones pulse again. "Some powers run deeper than tracks in soil."
Kevin's smile didn't reach his eyes. "The Mapinguari thought itself invincible too. Its hide was impervious to bullets, its strength legendary. But understanding its patterns, learning its habits β that's what led to its downfall."
Above them, Timothy's surveillance network hummed quietly, its invisible web of sensors mapping every movement below. The forest canopy had been transformed into a high-tech observation post, giving the Apex Hunters unprecedented coverage of the course.
At hole seven, where the first Key Stone had been discovered, Kevin paused mid-round. His trained senses picked up something the others missed β a subtle depression pattern in the vegetation, a series of bent twigs forming a line too regular to be natural.
"Interesting," he murmured, pulling a small device from his vest. The screen displayed heat signature patterns that made his eyes widen slightly. "Timothy, are you seeing this?"
"Affirmative," came the response through his earpiece. "The thermal pattern matches what we observed in the Amazon, but magnified. Whatever made these signs..."
"Is significantly larger than the Mapinguari," Kevin finished. "And based on the compression patterns in the soil, likely bipedal. Just like our morning discovery."
Gabriel watched as Kevin documented the signs with military precision, adding the data to what was clearly becoming a comprehensive analysis of Sasquatch's movement patterns. The Apex Hunters weren't just tracking; they were building a predictive model.
The tournament continued, but it had become clear that the actual disc golf was secondary to the Apex Hunters' true purpose. Kevin moved through the course like a man reading an open book, each new sign adding to his understanding of their quarry's behavior.
"The Mapinguari was a solitary giant," he explained to his card mates as they walked to the next hole. "But these signs suggest something different. A social structure, perhaps. Organized movement patterns. Far more sophisticated than what we tracked in South America."
Above, Timothy's surveillance network captured everything β heat signatures, movement patterns, electromagnetic disturbances. The Apex Hunters were building a three-dimensional map of Sasquatch activity, combining Kevin's ground-level expertise with Timothy's aerial perspective.
As the day progressed, Gabriel noticed his connection to the mist weakening. The surveillance equipment seemed to create dead zones where his power struggled to manifest, and Kevin's constant analysis of the terrain left him feeling exposed and vulnerable.
Near the final holes, something unexpected occurred. The mist, which had been suppressed all day, suddenly surged upward with unprecedented force. Gabriel felt the Key Stones blazing in his pocket as the vapor rose to meet Timothy's surveillance network.
"System interference!" Timothy's voice crackled through the comms. "The mist is disrupting our sensors!"
Kevin watched with professional interest as the technology and natural forces clashed. "Fascinating. The Mapinguari could disrupt our equipment through brute force. This is different β more like a deliberate countermeasure."
Raven appeared beside them, watching the mist swirl through Timothy's carefully placed sensors. "Adapt and overcome. That's what makes the Apex Hunters unstoppable. The Mapinguari fell to your expertise, Kevin. Sasquatch will be no different."
The tournament concluded with the Apex Hunters' surveillance network partially compromised but still functional. More importantly, Kevin's ground-level analysis had provided them with unprecedented insight into Sasquatch's movement patterns and territorial behavior.
At the final gathering, Rowan addressed the players with barely concealed concern. "Today's events have shown us that knowledge can be both a weapon and a shield. The forest's secrets are being laid bare by those who would hunt its mysteries, but some truths resist capture, some powers defy understanding."
Kevin stood at the edge of the group, the Mapinguari Slayer bag tag glinting in the dying light. His presence represented a new phase in the Apex Hunters' pursuit β the application of proven giant-hunting techniques to their ultimate quarry.
"The Mapinguari was called invincible," he announced to the gathering. "Until we proved it wasn't. Every creature, no matter how powerful, no matter how ancient, leaves signs. And signs, once understood, lead to capture."
As players dispersed into the growing darkness, Gabriel felt the Key Stones' warmth fade to a dull throb. The Apex Hunters had gained powerful new allies in their pursuit, combining Timothy's aerial superiority with Kevin's expertise in tracking massive cryptids.
In the distance, a sound echoed through the trees β not quite animal, not quite human. Kevin's head snapped toward it, his body tensing with instinctive recognition. He'd heard similar calls in the Amazon, just before the Mapinguari revealed itself.
"The hunt progresses," Raven said softly, placing a hand on Kevin's shoulder. "Your experience with the Mapinguari has prepared us for this moment. Soon, we'll have everything we need to make history."
The forest seemed to hold its breath as darkness settled over Creekside. Above, Timothy's surveillance network continued its silent watch, while below, Kevin's trained eye had already begun unraveling the complex patterns of their elusive quarry's behavior. The Apex Hunters' victory felt inevitable, methodical, and increasingly certain.
Flippy's Hot Take