Open Season (Open RP)

((An Open Role Play plot… but best suited for all monsters like vampires, demons, ghosts, werewolves, zombies and the likes… and those who see themselves as a hunter of such. OOC information and Background by Big Game can be found here!))


Open Season

29th May 2010, Marrakech, Morocco

The Sahara at night… sand as far as the eye can see. Aside from a few insignificant animals lifeless and cold! Like the ten beings of power this story starts with, a few kilometres further up in Morocco. In the ancient city of Marrakech, a meeting room on the third floor next to its famous square, ten lifeless beings are having a discussion. Ten vampires of unique origin… forming the worldwide vampiric council called the Council of X!

A female voice with an unknown middle-eastern accent is heard…”And as such we move on to the next topic. The problem of the rising so-called monster hunters numbers in the United States. These who’s foolish believe it is to eradicate this world of our kind and those that serve us.” Akasha of Kemet looked around to her peers… the Gypsy Tatomir Mullo; the Greek Vrykolakas; the Aztec Eztli; the Chinese Tai-Wei; the Indian Rityu Njaya; the African Melisizwe, the Celt Sheridan Morr; the Transylvanian Vladislav Drăculea. Her eyes finally stopped at the lady of Čachtice… the countess Erzsébet Báthory!

“Erzsébet, this is your jurisdiction. Tell us why their numbers grow unchecked!?”

Elizabeth looked up to this meetings host and stood up to match her length still holding the crystal cup filled with blood she had been sipping from. “You implicate I let them thrive Akasha!?”, she answered with an under cooled voice. For a second the two female vampires look like they would attack each other. Then the vampire queen turned away…“Of course not! I simply state that whatever you have been doing is simply not sufficient enough. I suggest you should try harder!”

Elizabeth tensed her muscles trying hard to control herself upon what she felt like an insult. The crystal cup in her hand received small cracks around the area her fingers touched it. “And what, pray tell would the Council suggest that I haven’t already done? Bribery? These hunters are not for sale! And even then the amount of money needed…”

“Money will not be a problem! With the backing of the Council you will have access to almost unlimited funds…”, Vrykolakas interrupted her. “And maybe it is not bribery we need here… but bounty! Not all of our kind in the new land is under your control Erzsébet. The right bounty will make others hunt so much fiercer…”

“Yes!”, Sheridan Morr yelled out. “Let the hunters be hunted…”


01st June 2010, Cap Au Diable, Etoile Islands

Not far from the university stands a five-story building. Two devil faces carved in the wall stand ever vigilant. The moon shines on the windows… On first sight the building looks well-kept but deserted. Nothing is more further from the truth because in the sub-basement and dungeon complex underneath the building a lot of commotion is going on. The Court of the Blood Countess holds an unscheduled gathering.

In the great hall Elizabeth stood impatiently before her carved chair. Slightly behind her stood a huge metallic being. The robotic killing machine Impervium Tower which again served as her bodyguard. Many members of the Court had managed to be there.

“SILENCE!”, Elizabeth shouted out… effectively stopping the commotion in the hall. “I have a small announcement to make.”

A small red-head with wings rushed from person to person trying to get everyone to listen… “You be silent now! Miss Elizabeth talking... so you listen... right! Yes! So many big-things, and no respect at all.” She landed next to the countess looking up. “They are not listening to me miss!”, the Fae said to the Vampire with a sad face. Elizabeth looked down and her lips formed a slight smile… “It is ok Shannon. They are already calming down.”

“As I was saying…”, Elizabeth continued… “I will be issuing a huge bounty on everyone who claims to be a hunter of our kind… who claims to be what they like to call a ‘monster-hunter’.” She looked around and her eyes moved from the lycantrophic Jack Wulfe to the demoness Lilith Lamashtu. “This list will include all important names with on top the leader of the Nighthunters Pious Hunter… followed directly by the Hyenas leader Big Game. All bounty is significant high and will be paid according to threat level stated on this list by head. And when I say ‘head’… I mean it! The rest of the body is nice but unnecessary to collect.”

Jack took of his sunglasses and raised his hand… “Are we the only ones who can collect any rewards, Liz?”, he asked.

Elizabeth looked at him and raised her eye-brow a bit… “Don’t call me Liz Jack… I am not your girlfriend!” She addressed the group again. “Of course not! I want this list and the word out on the street as soon as possible! I want every thing that goes bump in the night and its mother to go after these hunters. Is that understood?!”

“Now what are you all waiting for!? Spread out and do something!!! Open season has started… The blood is the life!”

Standing near the front of the crowd, the liche called Karamat kept his cloak wrapped tight around himself. He had heard the words now being said by the Countess Bathory many times before, and they all meant the same thing - an inquisition. Some would have called it a crusade of blood, or perhaps even a war, but he knew better. This was going to be a hunt of those elements of the population that would activly aim to destroy those deemed evil, corrupt, and unholy.

Just like he had been doing for a good many months in his role as cheif librarian to the Countess, Karamat kept his own counsel, and kept silent. Money was meaningless to him, and the only reward for his labours he saught could not be baught with mere coins. His contact list as slim as his dessicated arms, he turned and slinked out of the great chamber as the Countess finished her decree.

**

Blatently paying little interest in the gathering of demons, monsters and freaks, one of the chamber's few non-mystical occupants reclined against the table apon which stood the Blood Journals. With his full armour kit on, none in the room could see where his gaze went, nor could they see the sneer of contempt on his lips as he looked from one occupant to another.

Scum. All of them, nothing more than the dirt of creation, scraped off and given a name. If it were up to him, he would pull an entire legion of soldiers, assasins and mystics down through the building's halls and wipe the lot of them out. It would certainly give him some more elbow room to operate more freely. He grunted as Elizabeth finished delivering her speach.

Scum they may be, but their money was good, and he was going to claim his share. If others wanted in too, that was fine. Wouldn't be the first time someone working with him had an accident on the way to claim the reward...

In the mist like dark energy in the shadows up a corner of the room, a vampire Known as Leeches was listening, she chuckled to herself, she needed no bounty money but would like it of course, she stayed in her shadow stuff as she thought to herself. Then she remebered, yes that priest, he wished to have her locked up in a cage did he. He once accused her of being insane, he would pay by watching his allies die one by one.

She showed herself slowly coming out of the shadow stuff she was hiding in, she usually disliked making such a entrance but felt she had to make herself known. She bowed to the countess and said in a polite voice, "It would be a honour to destroy the priests band of heroes countess".
With that she moved out of the room hovering above the floor, she had work to do, she had soldiers to prepare, the future would be very profitable.

Somewhere around the middle of the gathered hunters, a rather plain-looking fellow stood up. Wearing a simple black cloak and garb, the only thing that indicated he was not just a vagrant was the lithe sword at his side. Officially, as far as anybody in the room knew, he went by the name Mot.

Unfortunately, what he actually was wasn't much better from that of a vagrant. He was an informant. More specifically, he was an informant for most of those who had just been named as bounty. People who would doubtlessly pay well for information that they were now wanted, who was seeking them, and who wanted them dead. They would be able to plan accordingly.

'Vampires. Idiots.' He thought to himself as he strode from the room, heading for the nearest exit. 'Although I must admit, if it were not for that little psychotic manchild, I would have had no idea this gathering would take place.' Which was true. The informant himself had been tipped off to the meeting by yet another person for unknown reasons. 'But regardless, perhaps I should go about getting the blueprints for this place before I leave town. Maybe put them in the right hands for free, earn some brownie points, and put an END to this ridiculous lot...'

The man was two minutes away from the nearest exit and would quickly vanish once he left. If anybody somehow knew of him and his intentions, and wanted to stop him, they had very little time to do so.

***

Dark Astoria

Many of the crypts in Astoria were so ancient, that their interior walls had collapsed only to join up with naturally formed caverns. New crypts were built in and around these caverns, and some crypts were expanded in much the same manner. Deep within one of the deepest of said crypts, a man sat, consulting.

Consulting with the insatiable hunger.

The air itself stank of Death and decay, of rotten matter and gore. Yet at the same time, it was absolutely sterile. Not even bacteria or stray microbes - Anything that could be called living - was present within. Anything that came close was devoured. The very air itself seemed to suck, eerie winds howling as they tore greedily for a meal that was not there. The stone almost seemed to ooze as it shifted, ground and cracked, as it tugged and pulled at anything organic that it could consume.

This was holy ground, in a manner of speaking. And only the servitors of the force within could tread said ground without consequence. One such servitor, as mentioned before, sat there even now, consulting.

'Where is the next one?' The man thought to himself. An inky tendril slithered into his mind, whispering, an endlessly deep voice that seemed to absorb all thought. A hungering voice that had to restrain itself from devouring its servitor.

THERE.

Images flashed through the servitor's mind. A castle. Dark figures who bathed in blood. The imagery rushed through the halls, twisting and turning, until it came to an end and the goal was visible: A small statue of the God. A twisted and vile thing to be sure, but also a thing of immense power.

The servitor opened his eyes. His god did not waste words. He knew where he needed to go, and what he needed to find. Everything else was irrelevant, unless it could further the immediate goal of recovering the idol. The servitor turned and vanished into the tunnels, heading for the surface...

The following evening, Port Oakes...

The mercenary Werewolf known as the War Dog had come to the Gallows eager to discover what lucretive opportunities might be out there. Just as he was about to scan the various open contracts, bounties, and advertisments nailed to the Gallows he immediately noticed one page that stuck out liked a sore thumb. The posted notice itself was a rather unispiring and underpaid job to clear out a Snake infestation. However what was of interest was directly over the top of that job was another contract written with ultraviolet ink. Most of the mercs, bounty hunters, and assassins who frequent the Gallows would of missed it but creatures like himself who had the gift of sight in the ultraviolet light spectrum would see it immediately. He read the list and snarled a little.

Now this is interesting... I bet most will go straight for the big money kills. Me?... well im more practical. Now what will be the easiest hit?

War Dog scanned through the names and then he found it...

Super Sized Sally, contracts negotiator for the Hyenas. I remember her. She runs a bar right here in Port Oakes. It doesn't get much easier than that...

Somewhere in St Martial.

The child put down the saw, walking from the green tiled room with a squelch, rubber boots slipping just slightly with each step. She paused by the door, punching a code in with rubber gloved covered fingers.

On the other side of the door, she paused, tossing her apron into a wash basket with a disgustingly wet slap. A few more slippery steps took her to a different room, as she entered a deep voice spoke.

“Boss?” the voice questioned.

The voice belonged to a large dark skinned man, his muscle mass was clearly not natural either the result of mutation, or the result of overuse of steroids.

“Well now we know, why a friendly local school teacher comes to us for ‘personal protection devices’” the girl air quoted before reaching to one side, taking a cigarette off of one the men in the room.

Officially The Store ran on a ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy, selling drugs, weapons and even human lives to those with enough money to afford them. While they never asked questions of their customers, poor unfortunates who happened to be caught snooping around? Well to them The Store’s questions could be quite... pointed.

“Our Teachers a vampire hunter.” She said after a long drag.

One of the men, bald headed and wearing a long leather jacket, fist bumped another, similarly dressed.

“You owe me twenty dollars bro” he joked

The girl nodded at a man, who was half leant against the wall, his attention focused on a lighter in his hand, clink click, clink click, clink click, over and over again he flicked the lighter open and shut.

“Faust do be a dear, and dispose of the rest of our friend in there, it would be absolutely dreadful if he managed to regenerate.” She ordered in the voice of a cherub.

“So why was he snooping around here?” the large man asked

“Turns out the blood suckers and other ghoulies, have decided to hunt the hunters.” She summed up the answers, their guest had eventually given.

“Whose side are we on?” the big man asked leaning forward.

The girl closed her eyes, when she opened them again a few minutes later, she’d come to a decision.

“We stand with humanity, it makes more sense financially, besides vampire blood has all sorts of commercial uses, so if we can snag a couple of the ticks for our own experiments... well won’t that just be splendid?” she started heading to the door.

“Boss you might want to...” the large man trailed off

The girl looked over herself.

“Ahh yes, appearance is everything after all, a shower and then business I believe.” With a turn she left the room, a trail of bloody footprints marking her passage.

In an abandoned building in Croatoa

Gabriel walked the hall dressed in his priest uniform in his hand he carried the rod. The spirit was a powerful one but he would free it from this world it's his duty.

"LEAVE ME ALONE!" the voice seemed to came from everywhere and no where. "Spirit your time has passed! Time for you to rest." He called out as he looked around for the wayward ghost.

"I DON'T WANT TO REST!" Suddenly there was a flash of light and Gabriel staggered back momentary blinded. When his sight cleared he saw her a 20 something year old from appearance dressed in a Gothic chick outfit but the faded.



He rose the rod when she moved a white glow flowed off her then she summoned a demon from the depths of hell. In truth it was a spectral Terror but to him it was the most fighting beast of them all. "BE GONE DEMON!" His voice cracked as he fought the terror overwhelming.

She took the chance to flee then rushing past him and becoming intangible as she ran right throw the wall and outside. Where could she go to get away she spotted the train station and still hidden from the living she got on board as the train headed to Steel canyon.

Gabriel sighed as he left the building he failed. "One day I will find you again. Then you will be able to rest sister. I swear Misty you will be able to rest." He tugged his coat closed as he started walking to the

The remains of the Wayward Wench, Port Oakes...

Captain Ronald Grouse of the Rogue Isles Police picked his way through the dead bodies and shot up furniture that now littered the Wayward Wench Inn.

"They really did a number on this place. Any idea what actually happened?"

A twentysomething RIP officer who was kneeling over a tarpaulin covered body stood up and turned to face his Captain.

"Witnesses reckon a Wolfman with a machine gun just kicked in the door and started to tear the place a part with indiscriminate fire. The bar owner a Super Sized Sally retaliated with a shotgun she had hidden under the bar, but the Wolfman just shrugged off everything she hit it with. The Wolfman then focussed it's weapon fire on her."

"I take it she's dead too?" Asked the Captain.

"And then some!" replied the officer as he reached down to grab a corner of the tarpaulin. Then, in one swift motion he yanked back the tarpaulin to reveal the headless bullet ridden corpse of a very large woman.

"Where is the head?"

"We don't know. The Wolfman took a cleaver to her after he shot her up. Im guessing a trophy or something?"

"Any idea of a motive?"

"Possibly. It seems Super Sized Sally acted as a contracts negotiator for that team of monster hunters for hire the Hyenas. It's most likely she died because of her association with them."

"Hmmm... Ok get a clean up crew in here and file the case under 'Destined One misadventure'."

The young officer turned to his Captain looking shocked...

"What? We are not going to follow it up?"

"Nope. I don't get paid enough, and we don't have the resources to go off chasing Werewolves and stuff. Let Super Sized Sally's monster hunter pals deal with this one."

"You don't think putting this down to 'Destined One misadventure' a cop out?"

"Sure I do, but seeing as im in charge, just shut up and do it!..."

Late evening, A small rustic house in Salamanca...

Damn Fir Bolg. That's another cloak I've ruined fighting them. Wouldn't be so much of an issue if it wasn't so damp around here all the time. Witch Hunt thought to herself as she tossed the torn and singed cloak onto the kitchen table with the weaponry she had removed just moments earlier.

She flipped a switch on an electric kettle, and started to remove her heavy metal cuirass.[ i]Hmmm... Cup of cocoa will warm me up.[/i]

Tossing the cuirass onto the table, she walked over to the wooden cupboard on the wall that housed all her mugs.

"WAAAAAHHH!!!" screamed the diminutive Red Cap as it leap out from the cupboard onto Witch Hunt's face. Completely taken by surprise Witch Hunt crashed to the floor with the Red Cap still sitting on her. Before she could even catch her breath the Red Cap slashed both of his hooked daggers across her face , right across the eyes. Witch Hunt screamed out in pain as her sight was taken from her. Blood pouring from her face, and in ubelievable pain she screamed out a seeming unintelligeble couple of words as she thrashed outwards at the Red Cap with her hand. The spell cast, her hand soon covered with dark energy which sent a chill colder than death through the Red Cap's body as she swiped him. with a yelp he leapt back from her.

"Don't hit me with again that deathly cold,
I only hunt to claim some gold."

Witch Hunt pulled her self up from the ground, her face a bloody mess, and her sight probably gone forever. Only thing in her favour was this was her home and even without sight she still had a pretty good idea where everything was, including her weapons. Stubling over to the table she reached out to grab one of her custom volley pistols.

"No, no, no. We can't have that,
You'll use that gun on poor old Scrat."

Scrat the Red Cap leapt onto Witch Hunt's back. Holding onto her with his legs he went into a frenzy of stabbing . Screaming and weeping Witch Hunt crashed against the table barely managing to grab one of the pistols. clutching the weapon with what little strength she had left she pushed herself backwards onto the floor, landing on top of Scrat. With Scrat momentarily stunned she rolled across the floor and pointed her volley pistol at him with a shaky grip.

"Lucky I don't have to be accurate with this thing."

Scrat looked up just as the hail of iron core steel jacket bullets tore him to pieces...

Steel Canyon University

Classes just ended and Rick Zenar was walking down the road with his books under his arm. The weather was nice and he looked around enjoying the view... his apartment wasn't too far away. Maybe he would go and check out Pocket D this evening. Out of habit his hand stroked the dog-tag around his neck, the one that once was owned by the vietnam soldier Camouflage. It has been awhile since he summoned the spirit of Sgt. Brian Faber. His studies and the actions of the Nighthunters he read of in the newspapers had made him almost forget about the bonding they had... almost...



Rick rented a small apartment on the 3rd floor of a large building on Oakstreet. but cash was low... and the rent was high. So when he saw his hospita at the front door he descided to go through the back. If he uses the fire-escape to walk up to his apartment he would be able to avoid her.

For a second he wondered who was the owner of that awesome bike at the corner of the building... But he had other things to worry about and he jumped up to pull the fire-escape down.



Three floors up he placed his books down to pry open his window. A smile of victory on his face. Next week his grandma would send him some money, that he could use to pay the rent. Then he heard something heavy landing on the metal stair-case behind him. Out of reflex he grabbed the ghost-bonded dog-tag to summon Camouflage... right at the moment he saw two yellow wolf-eyes in the reflection of the window. It was the last thing he would see as a huge claw ripped his head clean off.

Blood covered the window and a good part of the wall... a dog-tag whailed with a ghostly sound while it dropped down and ended up in one of the garbage cans below... and the werewolf called Jack Wulfe jumped down, landing with a soft thud in the alley. Almost immediatly his shape began to change and his furr dissappeared. Sure... the lycantrophe form was good for hunting... but it was a terible disguise. And Jack knew that.

From out of the bushes he pulled his shirt and leather jacket and put them on. The leather bag that had holded his jacket he used to put Rick's head in. Then he walked around like nothing happened, ignoring the soft voice calling out Rick's name coming from the garbage.

Jack reached his bike and friendly nodded to the hospita. Then rode away... it would be a long ride to collect his price.

Pocket D
Down-Time

The bars were empty, except for a few near comatose patrons who had sat it out through Happy Hour and were now snoring into their glasses.
All except one. A figure in a red blazer, with the top thre buttons of his white chirt undone as he leaned his back against the bar, reading the newspaper. Cigarette smoke circled lazily from behind the front pages.
"Hmm."
A perfectly manicured hand took the cigarette and tapped it out in the ashtray on the bar.
"Interesting obituaries sections recently..." a well spoken english voice mused.

Leon Reginald Carlos Xemnal Vladimir De Feurard, the Lord DeFeurard, lowered the paper, smirking to himself as replaced the cigarette. He peered over the ruby glasses he wore, crimson eyes glinting slightly.
"Now it's merely a question of who get's hunted in this little game..."

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.

'So apparently I am common scum now.' The servitor thought to himself disgustedly as he slipped, hidden, through the night air of Port Oakes.

Originally, he had planned to just steal the Idol from its vault - But it turned out that the place was owned by vampires. Vampires which were encompassed quite neatly by The God's portfolio. Which meant that the servitor was obligated to BARTER with the blood suckers.

'A simple plan.' The servitor thought. 'These bounties they have put up...I will just go after the largest one convenient, and claim the Idol in waiver of the actual reward. Last I checked, I think there was a negotiator for the Hyenas near here. I'll just pop in, extract a few locations and...'

The servitor came across the wreckage of the Wayward Wench.

'...Oh damnit.' A vein throbbed in the servitor's temple. He had just hit a dead end - working as a servitor meant limited contacts, all of whom had been tapped dry already. The servitor did not know enough of the local setting to continue as planned. He slinked back into the night and began to gather what he needed...

Late night, the Jelly Fish Dream, Darwin's Landing...

"C'mere tiger. I have been waiting for this all night."

"Who am I to disappoint." Replied a beaming Big Game as he walked over to the pretty crimson haired woman sat on his bed.

The gorgeous woman wearing nothing but a red lace chemise licked her lips as she pulled Big Game closer by his tiger striped pants.

"Now let Claret here show you a night you'll never forget."

After first undoing his pants she pushed them down around his ankles. The with a little giggle and strength almost out of place considering her slender frame she threw him down on the bed. Pleasantly surprised Big Game lay there practically inviting Claret to take charge. Wasting no time she started to kiss and nibble him as she slowly worked her way up his chest towards his neck. Letting out a satisfied sigh Big Game stretched his arms out and head back. Then he noticed...

"OH CRUD!" he shouted as he noticed his reflection and only his reflection in the chrome rim of the rarely used alarm clock beside his bed...

At that time on the neighboring boat...

"Wow look at 'Game's boat rock. He must have a real live wire in there tonight."

"I dunno how he does it. Twice a week and I'm a wreck."

"Ah shaddup! You're married you're lucky if you get it twice a month."

"Bite m... Did that just sound like smashing furniture to you?"

"Yeah. Looks like 'Game found himself one who likes it rough."

"Oh great now the screaming and moaning has started. Let's get inside, reminds me too much of the wife."

*Chuckle* "Whatever!.."

Back inside the Jelly Fish Dream...

Sat amongst the wreckage that was the interior of the boat was a sweating and panting Big Game, still with his pants around his ankles. In his hand was a jagged piece of wood that had moments ago been one of the legs of a bar stool. Covering most of the wrecked furniture was a thick layer of grey ash. After tossing the piece of wood aside Big Game climbed up from the floor and pulled his pants up. He then walked over to where his combat gear was stashed and pulled out a battered handheld vacuum. Looking down at the ash he thought to himself...

You might of been a cr@p date, but at least you'll be a decent paycheck. One order of Vampire ash for the black market coming up!...

Midday, Thursday 3rd of June.
A corner of Pocket D.

A petite woman stood tall despite her meager 5' stature, her long blue hair shifted gently behind her as though caresseed by unseen waves and her eyes, softly glowing in the dim light were focused on her taller companion. His pointed tail flicked casually from side to side as he spoke openly and honestly. Frequently the pair would exchange smiles, his friendly and hers gentle, polite, almost serene.

The music lulled for a moment. "I still think your on the wrong side Aquis, you could be a great hero, specially with your diplomatic skill" The male complimented in all earnesty.

"Paragon isn't my home Blade, and these 'sides' aren't as concrete as some like to think" Aquis countered with quiet ease as the next track made their continued conversation difficult to hear again.

Moments passed before an imposing shape moved up behind Aquis, the impressive and infamous form of Ubermensch Kahn, his scarred face and precise eye taking in the entire situation. The large soldier's expression soon became one of boredom at listening to Blade speak yet still the trio talked for several minutes before Kahn left, a slight smile on his weathered features.

Left alone the original pair resumed their discussion for a few minutes before parting ways with a friendly hug. Blade took to the air and flew for the elevators lit with blue lights, and Aquis turned on heel and strode with purpose towards the base portal.

What had been discussed was unclear, but what was certain was that in this time of uncertainty for hunters a member of the Nighthunters had made contact with two highranking members of The Corporation.

((Metafanzine Published by @Chaos Bunny))
Unionverse Page | Virtueverse Page

Steel Canyon

Quote:

Originally Posted by RottenLuck The voice wasn't completely ignored as the Mystic Ghost drifted down and over to the Garbage can. "I'm afraid that Rick fellow is dead. I felt his passing." she said as she looked around at the blood. "It was quite fast."

The voice that ones belonged to Sgt. Brian Faber replied with a shocked tone... "No! nooo..." At that moment the blood left on the dog-tag began to glow... slowly it rose up and floated in the alley at mans hight. In front of the Mystic Ghost there was an image forming... a body to fill itself inside the chain of the dog-tag... the translucant body of a big marine!

Camouflage his barely re-formed ghostly eyes fell on the wall while he floated up. Gently he touched the headless corpse of what had been his host. Each time he touched the blood, that part of his body momentarily became more solid... more linked to this world then before. "It is like so many of my buddies in 'Nam... those blasted snipers are everywhere...", he mumbled by himself.

Then he realised he was not alone again as his mind snapped back to reality... "Who are you?!", he asked the Mystic Ghost. "And can you tell me more of the one responsable for this?"

Paragon City, MAGI headquarters:

"What do you mean, didn't check?" one of the higher ups was almost shouting, looking around at the path of wreckage.
"S-sorry, master, he gave no signs that the bonds were weakening-"
"Of course he wouldn't, he's a bloody vampire!" the man snapped, pinching the bridge of his nose. "He didn't happen to say anything, did he? No maniacal parting threat? They tend to be good at that..."
"No, sir. Well...he did say 'Thanks for the fun, but being chained down isn't my thing' I think...Sir, he didn't actually kill anyone. He just...well, got us to blast up the fixtures by accident..."
The mans superior sighed. He was starting to think that trying to use a powerful vampire as a weapon for good had been a misguided idea inspired by one too many movies. And, ironically, the outcome was becoming similar...

Paragon City, Steel Canyon:
Leon sat on the window ledge of a skyscraper, smoking with a broad and pointy-toothed grin on his face. Free, at last. MAGI had been fun at first, but their 'deal' had become almost crippling in the last few months. Allied Vampires weren't out of the question; hells, he'd served King and Country enough while back home in England.
But it was always on thier terms, not bound to service. Being bound, as he had said in his parting shot to the MAGI staff, was not his thing. Although he could always charge extra for it.
The little joke to himself made him chuckle, tapping cigarette ash onto the distant streets below. He looked up at the quick knock on the window beside him. A young woman dressed as some sort of secretary was giving him an almost panicked look.
"Are you alright out there, sir?" she asked as she opened the window. "You're not going to...jump, are you?"
Leon smiled, looking her up and down. Spectacles, ginger-blonde hair, a pleasant face and not unatractive legs... He gave her a wink that made her blush.
"If you asked, my dear, I'd probably say how high," he quipped, standing up and flicking the cigarette out into the void. "Now, this is going to sound incredibly cheesy, but...May I come in? Heh."

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.

An advertisement sent to those people on the list, that have a contactable email or residential address.

Worried about things that go bump in the night?

Do you fear that something wicked this way comes?

The Store offers you a great way to sleep safe, ease your worries about being beheaded and eviscerated. For the limited time only, special offer price of just $3000 per annum, the Store offers our special ‘Creep-Be-Gone’ service.

The benefits are immense, the store will provide you with specially designed, anti-monster fox holes and hideaways, we will modify your current place of residence, into a deadly undeath trap, that would send even the most vicious vampire, or wrathful werewolf running home, crying like little ghouls.

Should the worst happen, while you are still under our ‘Creep-be-gone” cover, your fee will be repaid to your next of kin.

Don’t be a loser.

Keep ahead of the monsters.

Purchase “Creep-be-gone” cover today!

Hunter's Mansion. South Arizonia, Planet Arizon. Early Morning.

Rachel was first to rise but she remained in bed to watch her husband sleep. He had seemed disturbed and a little restless all night, which usually meant he was having one of his bad dreams. Which meant somebody would try at his life at some point later in the day. Naturally, Rachel was a little concerned.

"Hey sweetheart" muttered Pious, yawning and stretching.

"Morning baby" she replied.

"You alright?" asked Pious.

"Yeah" said Rachel, flicking back her long dark hair. "You had another one of your precog dreams, didn’t you?"

"Yeah" said Pious, getting out of bed and into his bathrobe.

"Well, tell me. Who's out to get you this time? Thorns? Crey? Banished Pantheons? Can't be Pistol... she's gone all redeemed killer, rogue-villain and all-round good-guy since we helped her son out of Hell, if I remember correctly."

"Yeah, no. There was a... a shooter. I couldn't see his or her face though, perched too far away" said Pious.

"Right. Look, angel-killing demons and gene-splicing scientists I get but why would snipers be after you?" asked Rachel. "You dancing with Mafia syndicates?"

"Erm, there was those two Yakuza girls, but I don't think it’s them. NWA have dispersed and Chang's moved on," said Pious, slipping into his fluffy slippers and exiting into the showers. "There is something else though. Mike Grayson came in with some Intel from the Rogue Isles. The err... well, Elizabeth Bathory and her court have issued a country-wide bounty on hunters. It's more likely to be linked with that... so I guess I'm going to be snipered. Hey, do we have cereal?"

"Kitchen cabinet, top shelf" said Rachel. "So the monster-hunters are being hunted by hunter-hunting monsters... classic. Tables turned and all that."

"Say what? Whose side are you really on?" Pious asked jokingly, getting out of the showers and reaching for a towel. He left behind a blurry trail as he sped around the house getting dressed. Arriving in the kitchen, he reaches into the refrigerator for some milk. "But on a serious note, you and Hazel should stay here out of harm’s way. Blade and Suraya think I'm top of the bounty list, which would place you pretty close up."

Rachel stood there for a while, watching her husband lean on the kitchen island, eating Coco Pops. Part of her wished he would back down from the case and stay at home, but she knew he wouldn't. Besides exorcising demons and vanquishing evil vampires, stopping bounty hunting monsters from committing human murder sort of falls into his category of work. She knew any attempts to change his mind would only be futile.

"You okay?" asked Pious. "You're sort of, staring."

"No I'm fine" Rachel sighed.

"You sure?"

"Yeah. I'll just... wait here with our daughter while you go out and fight wars. Just, don't die on me. The angels might not resurrect you a second time."

"Hunny, I promise you I'll never die" joked Pious, finishing his bowl and reaching across for his coat. He leant in and kissed his wife good-bye before opening a teleportation portal fixed into the back door. "Oh erm... Sabrina, Altair and Mike Grayson are working with me on this one. Is it alright if 'Brina's kid David stays here with you for a while? Monsters on a hunt for us and all that, it could get ugly out there."

"Sure, why not" said Rachel, smiling to her husband as he left for Primal Earth. "Yay, babysitter me."

Port Oakes

It was a quiet night for a change and a tramp shuffled down a road as a door to a bar opened into the street. A figure in gold and white metallic armour walked out, he had two swords on his back and two pistols in his belts as well as a row of metal stakes. He put a helmet on and clipped it around his chin, this place had proved a good hunting ground for easy targets before. This hunter was known as Dultan Mace, he was one of the leaders of a band of hunters who had nearly been wiped out by a vampire squad some time back, now he was out for revenge. The bounty the vampire scum had put on him amused him, probably not only vampires would be seeking him out. He didnt mind this though, it added to the excitement of the hunt and it ment he didnt need to work hard to find his targets, they would find him. He made his way down a road into Oil Spill a few Hellions gathered in a truck park laughed at him as he strolled by, he ignored them, just kids trying to find a path in the world. He moved on and turned right, he started to make his way down that road and came to a stop.

In front of Mace, down the road were three figures in trenchcoats and low hoods that shadowed there eyes, the middle figure stepped forwards towards Mace and lifted its face and showed a bare skull. Mace backed up and pulled a sword from his back in one swift movement and the skeleton figure said in a voice full of mockery, "Oh, you must be one of them hunters".
Dultan smirked, "What gave it away?
"Must be your garb fleshy, anyway, I just brought the entertainment my work here is done, gonna let the boys deal with ya now".
With that the figure faded from view like a ghost almost but Dultan suspected it was probably a teleporter of some sort, that creature seemed too solid to be spectral. He switched his attention to the toher two now who slowly walked into the middle of the road and slowly as they approached they seemed to grow bigger and rip out of their clothing as it was revealed they were werewolves and the hulking masses of muscle and fur both roared loudly and their eyes glowed red angrilly staring at him.

Dultan swung his sword around showing off a little, "Ok boys, lets party then".
One of the werewolves picked up a dustbin lid and put it in front of him and charged at Dultan. Dultan jumped back and brought his sword down but the bin lid deflected the blow as the othe werewolf pounced Dultan spun sideways out of the way of the pounce and pulled out a gun as he swung his sword back to defend himself from a clawed attack from the werewolf who as losing the lid for a shield. He fired some bullets at it and the werewolf roared the bullets ripping through the lid and into its flesh. Dultan smirked, "Silver bullets, have a nice trip to hell".
With that the werewolf fell to the floor roaring and slowly it fell silent and lay still the body slowly burning away.

Dultan turned to the last werwolf putting the gun away and swaying his sword and he said with a vocie full of contempt, "Ok i'll play this one fair sword v claws, want to play puppy dog?
"Your die now".
Growled the werewolf angrilly an it charged at Dultan dodging the first sword swipe and lashing out with its claws Dultan parrie this blow and swung down deep into the werewolfs body and it collapsed and the body burned away. Dultan chuckled, "Well that was easy, they obviously were just gutter scum who thought they could get lucky, sloppy boys, very sloppy, easy money".
He chuckled to himself and had a last look around and put his sword away, they cant have been too smart, what hunter didnt have something silver to deal with those guys?
He walked away whistling and chuckling, it was a beautiful night and in Port Oakes that was a rareity in itself.

On a nearby roof top the skeletal figure appeared and two people in military gear and gask masks lifted their rifles at the figure and a echoey womans voice said, "Lower the guns boys, hes one of us".
The figure bowed, "Greetings mistress, I had no idea you would be here in person".
Leeches stepped out of the shadows or it looked like she liturally pulled herself out of the shadows on a wall. She was in black combat armour and had a flowing ornate looking cape on, "Well, I like to check on my people, I take it the werewolves failed?
"Missirably mistress, I am not sure why you sent them against the fool".
"They were all too eager, inform their pack, more allies in the fight against the hunters".
"Of course mistress".
"We will kill this hunter later, let him be confident, it will lead him to his death, probably quite soon, I ahve a little trap in mind for this one, combat testing of my latest creations, go now, tell the wolves what happened".
"As you command mistress".
With that the skeletal figure teleported away again and Leeches slowly walked to the edge of the roof and breathed in the cool night air, her two soldiers nervously looking around in case of attackers as she did so.

((Damnit, P, now I just have a mental image of Pious going to take a step forward and slowly falling over backwards due to weight of weaponary ))

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.

Rachel sat in the children's playroom watching her four year old daughter play with the three-year old David Tai San. Her mind wandered off to the story she'd heard of how the boy's twin sister had been snatched out over their mother's dead body. Something came over her and she suddenly felt an urge to pray; to pray long and hard for her husband's safety.

Edward had gotten word of what was going on, he was not in the least bit happy.

Now perhaps people would have wondered why he was unhappy with the current bounty out on two people, especially since one was a known hero and Mechano was very much a villain.

He was friends with two of the targets, namely Tony aka Big Game and Pious, infact He'd shared his house with Tony for a short while and the Doc wasn't one to forget old 'running mates'.

Edward cracked his mechanical knuckles and got on the phone, pacing up and down his office, Tony would be the easiest to contact and also the easiest to protect, he'd assign two bodyguards to the little runt and hope they kept him out of harms way, hopefully the number he had for Tony was still working.

"Damn it 'Lizbeth...what the hell are you playing at, I don't like people screwing around with my friends...metaphorically with regards Tony...dude will sleep with anything on two legs..."

Edward found the number, dialed and waited...