Author Topic: The Hunter and the Hunted [CLOSED]  (Read 2987 times)

Riven

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The Hunter and the Hunted [CLOSED]
« on: May 13, 2018, 09:04:09 AM »
They call it 'the storm walker'.

Legends about it have floated around the mountains outside of Pactois for generations, going back to the very founding of the town. A gaunt figure, appearing out of the mist and rain to ambush travelers on the narrow mountain roads or snatch away children when their parents' backs were turned. People not from Pactois tend to dismiss the stories, chalking up disappearances and deaths to everything from bandit activity and common Grimm to taking a bad step and a long fall. The thing is, the mountains tend to deter bandits and Grimm alike -- the entire reason why the town was built in such a remote locale to begin with -- and anyone who's grown up in Pactois would naturally learn to master the terrain. The locals know all of this, and tell it to anyone who will listen... yet, the few times that Huntresses or Huntsman have come out this way has led to nothing. No findings, no slain Grimm, nothing at all.

Until one decided not to leave. Halard Jacobson wasn't an old man when he first came to Pactois; like other Huntsmen before him he'd been called out this way to investigate 'the terror of the mountains', but though he didn't find his quarry he had found something. A girl, one of the locals... and the love of his life. Halard never left Pactois after that, opting instead to settle down in the small mountain town. There were many quiet, peaceful years together after that -- though tales of the storm walker continued to circulate, and people went missing from time to time, the town itself was never directly attacked. It could have gone on like that forever... except, these things have a way of going horribly wrong. When, after over a decade of marriage, Halard's wife didn't come home one night...

... well, you can imagine. Halard's search left no stone unturned; she'd last been seen on the road to the local trade outpost when a storm suddenly rolled in, and then she was just gone, like so many others. But the ex-Huntsman refused to relent, even when the trail grew cold. It took him years, but he finally found the beast -- or rather, it found him. Just like with his wife it ambushed him during bad weather, using the fog and storm as cover for its attack -- unlike her, he managed to survive, though not without injuries. Ever since, Halard took it upon himself not to let the beast have any more prey: he's trained up every willing volunteer within Pactois to become a town militia, set up patrol routes, bolstered defenses, and generally done everything he could think of to thwart his lifelong foe. And it's worked: barely anyone has gone missing since Halard's watch took over. There was even talk that the storm walker might have left, or been starved out, or just died of old age.

At least, until the night that a bad storm swept over Pactois. Amid the thunder and lightning came the screams and weapons-fire -- it came out of nowhere, scaled the town walls with terrifying ease, and slaughtered three guards in the blink of an eye before smashing its way into the nearest house. Before it was done an entire family lay dead in their beds, save the eldest son whom it dragged off into the night. The storm walker had never attacked the town before, and no one ever thought that it would. That it would not only attack, but stop so suddenly and withdraw, was strange beyond all reason. That night confirmed one thing, however: the storm walker was definitely a creature of Grimm, roughly human in shape and size with sharp, bony protrusions covering its back and arms.

In the aftermath of the attack, Halard grabbed his weapon and left town to hunt the beast back to its lair, determined to end this once and for all. That was three days ago. The village leaders have put out an urgent request to Beacon for whatever aid can be spared...



MISSION PARAMETERS:
- Discover the whereabouts of Huntsman Halard Jacobson
- If possible, return Halard back to Pactois
- {OPTIONAL} Kill the 'storm walker'
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STUDENTS

Beacon Student: Rory Vogel, "The Scarlet Shield" ~ 1st Year, Team VCVS

Shade Student: Sean Acacia, "Grenadier" ~ 1st Year



OTHERS

Beacon Teacher / Experimental Botanist: Dr. Budonoki Sophos, Medical & Wilderness Specialist

Baker / Retired Huntsman: Alec Chadwick, owner of 'Fabled Goods' bakery

Pirate / Freelancer: Captain Cordell of the Red Corsair ~ Available For Hire!

Mercenary / Infiltrator: Micah Sere AKA "Prowler" ~ Danger, Avoid If Possible

Mercenary / Infiltrator: Maria Sanguine AKA "Bloody Mary" ~ Underworld operative, "The Lady of a Thousand Faces"

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Re: The Hunter and the Hunted [CLOSED]
« Reply #1 on: May 13, 2018, 02:18:43 PM »
The storm walker, they didn't understated when they said that there were barely any information known about him. The myth of the disaster around Pactois wasn't something new to her, she heard a lot about it even befor she took on the mission. Kisha took out her scroll and wiped the screen of the holo-pad a few times. She read over the description of the mission again and looked at the mountain path in front of her. Everything could be expected from here out on, but she was ready. She put her scroll away and took a first step forward.

The mountains were quiet, it looked almost peaceful. The vast blue sky made the morning sun shine on the path in front of her, on which nothing but dust and pebble could be seen. The only sound that echoed through the mountains were her footsteps and the soft creaks of the supplies in her bag, which she carried on their back. Her mission started now
« Last Edit: May 14, 2018, 02:26:35 PM by DEXES »
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Re: The Hunter and the Hunted [CLOSED]
« Reply #2 on: May 20, 2018, 03:57:08 PM »
S C E N E ~ M U S I C 
Misty Mountains
by Derek & Brandon Fiechter



Spring in the southern Sanus mountains is certainly not without both charm and peculiarity. As life re-emerges from the long winter sleep it leaves its mark everywhere, even the steepest rocky outcrop. With plants and animals resurgent there is a lot to take in... and, unfortunately, a great deal that could conceal the days-old trail of a missing Huntsman. A plan was most certainly needed.

Just after Kisha put her Scroll away, it chimed with an incoming call. Given the remote and hazardous nature of her assignment, the academy leadership had thought it best to assign support for the young portal-wielder -- that said, the timing hadn't been particularly good. Those Huntsman and Huntresses operating in the region were either incommunicado or unavailable, and Beacon's own teaching staff and experienced teams were running a bit thin on the ground as well. Though no one was available to join her hunt, that didn't mean that Kisha was in this alone. The incoming call showed as from Professor Budonoki, though the signal was weak this far out. Once the call was answered the old Faunus' voice could be heard through a cloud of muffling static.

"Ah, miss Miles! Safely arrived outside of Pactois, I hope?"
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STUDENTS

Beacon Student: Rory Vogel, "The Scarlet Shield" ~ 1st Year, Team VCVS

Shade Student: Sean Acacia, "Grenadier" ~ 1st Year



OTHERS

Beacon Teacher / Experimental Botanist: Dr. Budonoki Sophos, Medical & Wilderness Specialist

Baker / Retired Huntsman: Alec Chadwick, owner of 'Fabled Goods' bakery

Pirate / Freelancer: Captain Cordell of the Red Corsair ~ Available For Hire!

Mercenary / Infiltrator: Micah Sere AKA "Prowler" ~ Danger, Avoid If Possible

Mercenary / Infiltrator: Maria Sanguine AKA "Bloody Mary" ~ Underworld operative, "The Lady of a Thousand Faces"

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Re: The Hunter and the Hunted [CLOSED]
« Reply #3 on: May 22, 2018, 09:05:18 AM »
Kisha held her scroll in front of her as she accepted the incoming call of the professor and was quickly greeted by his voice.
"Everything's going a-ok so far, Professor Budonoki. I will now start to take a closer look around the area. There are a few bigger mountains that stand out here and you probably have a great view over everything from up there, so this is where I start." She answered, holding her scroll up, trying to get a better signl. Hopefully what she said also came through well on the other side.

Her plan was quite simple. She would first provide an overview of the mountains and look for anything conspicuous, a large cave, for example. From there it would be a bit more complicated, either she found something to look for and would start there with her search, or she would move to the next mountain, hoping that she had more luck there.
Not only does she have to pay attention for any kind of sign from the storm walker or Halard Jacobson, but also look for a place for the night. She couldn't expect everything to go smoothly and that she finds the Huntsmen directly and bring him home, so she needs a sheltered for the night.
But there was enough time for this later, right now, the most important thing was to get to the highest point and take a closer look around the mountans.
Although this plan had some gaps and was not really mature, it left enough space for any kind of improvisations and changes.

Still with her hands in the air, she stared at the holo screen of her scroll to see if the professor had anything important to say before she begins her search.
« Last Edit: August 11, 2018, 03:56:59 AM by DEXES »
Hyperactive weirdo Kisha Miles  - Beacon First Year - Team INKK/Ink
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Re: The Hunter and the Hunted [CLOSED]
« Reply #4 on: June 03, 2018, 03:40:52 PM »
"Excellent, very good. I have some information that may be of use in your search." The Scroll bleeped, a familiar 'file received' sound. "I've managed to make contact with Pactois and spoken to several members of mister Jacobson's militia -- I believe I may have something that should help you to track him."

The images that had downloaded to Kisha's Scroll were simple chalk symbols: circles, arrows, x-es, that sort of thing. "Jacobson taught his recruits a simple lexicon of symbols that they used to assist in patrols and searches. The arrows, of course, indicate a direction and with an accompanying symbol they can be used to direct or forewarn. If mister Jacobson managed to have any success tracking this Grimm then he likely left such markings -- and, as the creature struck during a bad rainstorm, any chalk marks you find are very likely to be fresh and left by the man himself. Based on your current location and testimony from the town guards, Jacobson was likely heading north-east from where you are now. The chalk they use incorporates a small measure of Dust into the formula, causing it to glow faintly even in broad daylight. If you can find the trail, you may yet find Halard Jacobson."

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STUDENTS

Beacon Student: Rory Vogel, "The Scarlet Shield" ~ 1st Year, Team VCVS

Shade Student: Sean Acacia, "Grenadier" ~ 1st Year



OTHERS

Beacon Teacher / Experimental Botanist: Dr. Budonoki Sophos, Medical & Wilderness Specialist

Baker / Retired Huntsman: Alec Chadwick, owner of 'Fabled Goods' bakery

Pirate / Freelancer: Captain Cordell of the Red Corsair ~ Available For Hire!

Mercenary / Infiltrator: Micah Sere AKA "Prowler" ~ Danger, Avoid If Possible

Mercenary / Infiltrator: Maria Sanguine AKA "Bloody Mary" ~ Underworld operative, "The Lady of a Thousand Faces"

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Re: The Hunter and the Hunted [CLOSED]
« Reply #5 on: June 10, 2018, 04:48:00 AM »
Kisha nodded, even though it was quite sinless for the fact that the professor couldn't actually see her. Slightly shining symbols on the ground and/or the side of the rocks, that's helpful.
"Thanks for the information professor, but I still have a question" Kisha said as she looked over her shoulder to the quiver, which was attached to the backpack she wore, "Do you know what type of dust the chalk has been modified with and whether you can find it better with the help of other dust types?"
As she waited for an answer, she turned toward the sun. Northeast. If the information is correct, what she strongly believed and hoped for, Jacobson should have set off in that direction.

Depending on the professor's answer, the search will either be simpler or harder. If he know's what kind of dust the chalk was modified with, she might be able to find them better by lighting one of her fire arrows and guide it over the ground and rock walls nearby. The chalk track would then disappear, but she should be able to find the symbols easier and, even if it's only for a few, short seconds, she should also be able read them better, before it destroys the track itself that is. If, however, that idea doesn't work out, she had to simply hope that she can find one of the symbols while looking around. Either way which option applies, the mountain idea has to wait for now. From the height you could see a lot, but not slightly luminous chalk markings.
« Last Edit: August 11, 2018, 03:57:14 AM by DEXES »
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Re: The Hunter and the Hunted [CLOSED]
« Reply #6 on: June 21, 2018, 05:18:07 PM »
"Ah, very good question!" Hm, let me check my notes..." There was a sound of shuffling pages in the background of the call. "While they didn't precisely say as much, my best guess is either fire or electricity Dust. There are small privately-owned Dust mines in the region specializing in those two elements, and though they would most certainly sell off any prime material to the likes of the SDC they're sure to have low-grade leftovers available for villages like Pactois. A combination of the two elements would create the strongest glow in a homemade chalk stick, I'd say."

If Kisha tested out her theory, she would immediately see a gleam of light off to her right the moment she lit up her arrow's Dust. On the side of a boulder a symbol lit up in hues of sharp, bright orange: . From what Budonoki had sent her, the meaning was clear and simple: 'go this way', and it was pointing a clear route northeast.

The search was on!
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STUDENTS

Beacon Student: Rory Vogel, "The Scarlet Shield" ~ 1st Year, Team VCVS

Shade Student: Sean Acacia, "Grenadier" ~ 1st Year



OTHERS

Beacon Teacher / Experimental Botanist: Dr. Budonoki Sophos, Medical & Wilderness Specialist

Baker / Retired Huntsman: Alec Chadwick, owner of 'Fabled Goods' bakery

Pirate / Freelancer: Captain Cordell of the Red Corsair ~ Available For Hire!

Mercenary / Infiltrator: Micah Sere AKA "Prowler" ~ Danger, Avoid If Possible

Mercenary / Infiltrator: Maria Sanguine AKA "Bloody Mary" ~ Underworld operative, "The Lady of a Thousand Faces"

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Re: The Hunter and the Hunted [CLOSED]
« Reply #7 on: June 24, 2018, 03:08:50 AM »
Sweet! It was always nice to see that a plan worked. She thanked the professor again before she finished the conversation. Her scroll probably wouldn't help her much deeper into the mountains. She held her arrow like a kind of torch and glide it every few meters over the ground and over the stone walls, constantly walking in a fast pace. She had eight fire arrows, and each one of them would certainly burn for about twenty minutes or so, as long as you don't accidentally trigger them and cause an explosion, that is.

She would not like to spend all of her fire arrows for finding Jacobson, but maybe there was no way around it. She turned to the right as a new arrow appeared and followed in this direction.
« Last Edit: August 11, 2018, 04:00:01 AM by DEXES »
Hyperactive weirdo Kisha Miles  - Beacon First Year - Team INKK/Ink
Dragon tamer Mikado Drak - Beacon First Year - Team DASE/Days
Compulsive gamer Dawn Mae - Beacon Second Year - Team ----
Scaredy cat peacock Arcano Blar Baldwin - Beacon First Year - Team ----