Back in the Game

((Sooo after another long absence I been bit by the CoX bug again. But rather than just show up unannounced on my native Union server I thought I'd cobble together a bit of a story both as a shout out for myself as well as start laying some foundations for whatever RP I might get into once im back properly. Coming soon expect some wiki updates for the stuff in the story, as well as (well hopefully) a MA arc featuring Eso-Tech. Anyways im waffling. Just have a read...))

{03/01/2010, The Foundry, Sharkhead Isle.}

CRACK!, SMASH!! Went the hand-held communicator as it shattered against the far wall.

Why the hell do I bother? a very annoyed Peddler thought to herself. Still seething, she proceeded to pace through the wreckage of the communicator.

Ever since her hostile takeover of Eso-Tech, during what was known internally as the 'Night of the Long Knives', the company had been plagued with problems. The latest of which being down to the scavenger hunter teams that Eso-Tech relied on for the gathering of the many strange raw materials needed for it's production and research.

After Eso-Tech's disassociation with the problematic Big Game's monster hunting Hyenas the company once again recruited it's own in house teams of hunters. The first of these was the Jackals lead in the field by the karma obsessed Earl. After several operational disputes with the Jackals,
the Peddler then recruited a second team to balance the workload. This second second team, calling itself the Vultures, was lead by death obsessed shaman Bonecaster, but just as with the Jackals and the Hyenas before them they also proved to be somewhat awkward employees.

The Peddler rubbed her forehead and let out an audible sigh. I only have myself to blame, after all I've always known that professional monster hunters are all crazy. It's rather naive of myself to expect them to be reliable too.

The Peddler knelt down and started to pick up the pieces of the broken communicator.

Why the hell did Earl pick up that lottery ticket on his last trip to Paragon? No... wait... Why the hell did he have to win so big? I wouldn't mind so much if it was a case that he thought he had enough money to retire on, but to refuse missions because he's afraid of negative karma balancing things out is just ridiculous.

The Peddler picked up the last of the communicator pieces before getting up and throwing the debris into a small waste paper basket.

As for Bonecaster, the whole idea of recruiting him and his team in the first place was to cover stupid stuff like this. I can't believe he's refusing this mission because he dropped a bargain bucket and the remains spelled out some sort of ill omen. I really have to take that guy's incense away. I swear it's far more potent than he lets on.

The Peddler walked over to her desk, picked up a clip board, and started to scan through the research and development notes on it.

"Additional fresh samples from an extra dimensional creature such as a Winter Lord would be invaluable in furthering our research of dimensional travel and expanding the capabilities of the 'Gateway' system. Failing any progress there any salvaged energies and remains would still be useful as components for cryo-weapons and equipment. However based on the data retrieved from the samples secured by the Hyenas in 2007 I am very confident new samples would greatly help our research into dimensional frequency theory, and navigational plotting.

I strongly urge you to assign either the Jackals or the Vultures the task of hunting a Winter Lord without delay, especially since it is almost certain that we will have a very limited window of opportunity to secure one of the beasts."

The Peddler let out another loud sigh. Looks like I ought start thinking about the alternatives.

Sitting down at her desk she then proceeded to tap away at her keyboard bringing up various personnel files of Eso-Tech's security staff on her computer screen. After about fifteen minutes of browsing files she came to the conclusion that the few operatives possibly capable of the task within the security force were far too valuable to risk loosing should the hunt go bad.

She started to rhythmically tap her fingers against the desk as she pondered her dilemma. Hmm, someone talented, yet at the same time expendable... Oh no! Surely I can't be that desperate? Then again he did it before, and even if he did manage to screw it up this time and get himself killed it's not like I'd shed any tears.

After a little hesitation the Peddler finally made her decision. Reaching across her desk she pressed a button on the desktop comm system...

"Gateway this is the Peddler, prepare a 'port to Darwin's Landing immediately. I need to make a business trip."

"Certainly ma’am. The Gate will be ready for you on your arrival..."

{The Jelly Fish Dream, Darwins Landing, Mercy Island.}

A sharp pain in the ribs, no doubt the result of a swift kick, woke a bedraggled Big Game from his drunken stupor. His vision was still blurred both because of a discarded luxurious silk stocking still draped over part of his face as well as his state of semi-intoxication. While his vision slowly regained focus Big Game pulled the stocking away, and then clumsily reached about himself looking for something to drink. Before he'd actually chanced across anything his vision came back into focus and he groaned as he realised just who was standing above him.

"Geez Peddler, you gotta lotta nerve! What the hell d'ya want?"

"Why thank you, I missed you too."

"Can it Peddler! Thanks to you the Hyenas went belly up."

"If I remember rightly you abandoned the team to wash away your guilt with booze and whores. Besides, what are you moaning about, you managed to start up a new team."

"Yeah and they all bought it thanks to Eso-Tech's screwing about with necro-bots in Cap Au Diable."

"Your team was hired to deal with a Zombie outbreak, and they were killed during that action. Monster hunting occupational hazard im afraid. Admittedly the Zombie's origins are unfortunate coincidence, but perhaps your team shouldn't of bit off more than they could chew in the first place."

"You're all heart Peddler... So other than kicking me in the ribs, disturbing my sleep, and insulting dead friends what is it you actually want?"

"I'll come straight to the point. I want to re-open a working relationship between Eso-Tech and yourself."

"Really? what happened to your replacements, y'know what's their names? Jack-*****?"

"You mean the Jackals. Unfortunately they are currently otherwise engaged. As, unfortunately, are my other team the Vultures.

I’m not expecting you to sign up as an Eso-Tech employee, but to work with us on a purely freelance basis. You will remain your own boss at all times, and be handsomely rewarded for any contracts you undertake. In addition I promise you a substantial discount on any Eso-Tech goods and services."

"What makes you think I'd ever work with you guys again?"

The Peddler picked up a holdall that was sitting on a table out of Big Game's sight and started to empty the contents all over him. Big Game momentarily flinched as he was showered with money.

"An advance, because frankly you need it. Face it you are flat broke. you have not had a decent paying job for months. Whatever money you have managed to get hold of has been blown on drink, gambling and girls. Even signing back up with the Corporation didn't help you because you've lost all interest in merely being a hired goon. You're a mess 'Game and if you don't sort yourself out soon you're going to end up dead. It's just a question of what will actually kill you... the drink, someone you owe money to, or most likely sexually transmitted disease! I’m giving you yet another chance to get away from that."

Big Game seemed to ponder his situation for a moment before replying.

"Ok im in. Just gimmie a hand up will'ya? Oh and while you're at it find me a drink, my mouth feels like I been chowing down on freakin' cat litter..."

{08/01/2010, Mid-morning, The Foundry, Sharkhead Isle.}

"Sorry to disturb you ma'am, but I think you should read this..."

The Peddler looked up from the pile of research notes she'd been reading to face the man who had disturbed her. Standing on the opposite side of the desk was the incredibly non-descript security director Rook. Clutched in his hand was a rolled up copy of the underground tabloid the Informer.

"The Informer?"

"Yes ma'am" Rook replied as he rolled the paper open onto the Peddler's desk.

As the paper was flattened out the Peddler's eye quickly caught sight of the photograph of Big Game on the front page. Snatching the paper from the desk the Peddler immediately started to read the front page

((Welcome back, good to see you again. ))

I might have to re-roll that hunter I came up with a while back welcome back Big G!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zwillinger GG, I would tell you that "I am killing you with my mind", but I couldn't find an emoticon to properly express my sentiment.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain_Photon NOTE: The Incarnate System is basically farming for IOs on a larger scale, and with more obtrusive lore.

(( Welcome back! Great return story there, looking forward to seeing you ingame. ))

Remembering your typing speed, i'd say the reason you took a break was to write all that up.

Welcom back, Britney.

08/01/2010, Twilight, Castle Báthory, Cap Au Diable

Báthory Erzsébet rose from her carved wooden coffin. Though she preferred her large bed enourmously to the hard wood and desicrated soil it was one of the periodically needs she had as a vampire. Her bare feet touched the stone and slowly she walked towards her office. The candles ignited by themselves upon her passing them. The moment she actually entered her office the fireplace bursted into flames leaving an eery light of the flames. Her black nightgown slightly transparant.

Her undead eyes saw her daily posts... a small stack of letters and some news papers. Amoung them was a copy of 'The Informer'. The image with the frontpage article already made her hiss with anger...

Back in the Game

In what is probably shocking news to vendors of cheap spirits, ladies of loose morals, and of course not forgetting angry mobsters whose name starts with the letter 'M' we at the Informer have the pleasure to report that one of the Rogue Isles most colorful personalities has finally decided to get off his backside and get back to work. Tiger-striped pants wearing monster hunter for hire Big Game has...

She could stand no more... As if the Nighthunters wheren't enough... now HE has to be back too! She threw The Informer into the fire... slowly the flames burned through the image of the monster hunter. Elizabeth looked at the flames and tried to calm down. She will have to make plans that involved him now too.

But she had time on her side...

((Welcome back!!!))

Mercy Island was never the best place to be, and doubly so in winter. Even the snakes looked half starved during the cold months, and were more sluggish than usual.
By midday, however, the sun had finalyl broken through the murk, and the bigger specimens were out and about, looking for something to sink their fangs into.
"Sssurprise!"

There was a sharp clank. The snake, one of the larger ones people called 'Mambas', slowly crossed it's eyes, trying to stare down it's own nose. Whatever it had just bit into was certainly not human...
The gauntlet hummed, buzzed, then shrieked, sending a massive jolt through the latched on snake. It's owner pulled the stunned animal in closer.
"You got that right. Surprise," it said quietly, before jabbing the other gauntlet into the creatures forehead with the sound of a lightning bolt striking a chimney.

The man leaned back against the wall, cupping his pipe against the wind that tugged at his long jacket. The flaring tobacco highlighted his white hair, and the scar that had taken out his right eye.
Breaking the drama of the imposing figure, a newspaper hit him in the face.
With a sigh, the man peeled it off, turning his back to the wind and sitting down on the snakes un-marred corpse.

In what is probably shocking news to vendors of cheap spirits, ladies of loose morals, and of course not forgetting angry mobsters whose name starts with the letter 'M' we at the Informer have the pleasure to report that one of the Rogue Isles most colorful personalities has finally decided to get off his backside and get back to work. Tiger-striped pants wearing monster hunter for hire Big Game has seemingly been out of action in the Rogue Isles and east coast US for many months now, but exploded back on to the scene last night during a truly epic battle with one of the gigantic snow monsters that's been terrorising the Isles for the last couple of weeks...


"Big Game...?" the man mused, tapping the ash out of his pipe. "Well, well, well...seems like I either got company, or competition..."
"Hey! What're you doing around here?"

He looked up, smirking faintly as the pair of RIPs loomed over him.
"Just mindin' my business, boys."
The two looked like they were going ro try and roll him anyway. Ah well...
They hit the wall as a twitching pair, arcs of lightning dancing a jig on their synapses.
"Gnn! W...who areynn! Y-you?" one managed to stutter, as the man loomed over him.
The old hunter smiled, tapping out his pipe on the prone men.
"Alexander. Alexander Quatermain. Remember it."



((Game inspired, would love t'catch up to him in-game sometime ;P ))

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zwillinger GG, I would tell you that "I am killing you with my mind", but I couldn't find an emoticon to properly express my sentiment.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain_Photon NOTE: The Incarnate System is basically farming for IOs on a larger scale, and with more obtrusive lore.

((Thanks guys, it's great that everytime I decide to show my face again I always get a warm welcome. I am especially pleased that some of you are actually inspired enough to write your own reactionary pieces to the story I posted. To me those pieces really help reinforce the feeling that the Unionverse is a living breathing entity.))

((Good to see you back, mate, and writing in such fine form! So, you returning with just Big G or have you plans for Blue Side too? ))