Lucius Cypher

The Kingdom of Belvoir - Hunter's Guild (Taking Applications)

So far, the killings were going well. The element of surprise allowed the hunters to get a few solid kills on the vampires before their own warriors could muster a defense. And while they did have a few heavy hitters here, the vampires were no doubt still confused and uncertain what they faced. Such as the nature of an ambush.

Donnel was ready to move ever onwards when one of the vampires, thought to be dead, made a run for it. He was no fool, and would rather risk burning in the bright morning sun then to face the hunters in his own. But he also knew that he could not escape easily during the day. With his injuries and his weakness, he needed a prisoner.

So he grabbed the first defenseless looking person he say, Juniper. Poor girl was just trying to avoid the mayhem, only to be dragged to it. The vampire lunged at Juniper, his mind still racing between taking her as a human shield to fend off against those paranoid humans, or a margining chip to make his escape. Unfortunately for him but fortunately m for everyone else, Donnel has different plans. When the vampire put his hands in Juniper a single axe cleave decapitated the head of the man in one clean blow. It was no silver weapon, but a steel blade could do as well as a silver weapon if you need it to cut off heads.

”Careful kid. Don’t need you Dead.” Donnel extended a hand to pick Juniper up. But as luck would have it, a one of the corpses was not quite yet dead. The vampire Donnel has faced and split his skull had just recovered from the otherwise fatal and life ending injury. While Donnel had his back turned the vampire whelp picks up the pitchfork he was using for baling hay and threw it at the back of an otherwise distracted or uninterested Donnel.

The Kingdom of Belvoir - Hunter's Guild (Taking Applications)

Im no GM so I have no authority on this matter. Take with what I say with a grain of salt.

But I believe that there is a danger inside of the city, which had always been there since before the Hunters had been established. It’s just that the incidents have always been isolated or simply dismissed (no one really cares about what happens to vagrants in the ghettos), but even with the Hunters I believe that the situation is a bit more murky then just “people no one cares about us being attacked”.

This is meta so of course some don’t characters realize this, but I’m pretty sure even this current hunt is just to scapegoat a relatively isolated and harmless vampire colony to hide the true killers in the city, who may or may not be linked to the upper nobility (because of course). So it’s totally possible for monsters to be preying in the city without being found. And not because they’re good at covering their tracks or expert assassins, but because thy have the power to corrupt “justice”.

The Kingdom of Belvoir - Hunter's Guild (Taking Applications)

Fo sho. I’ll post something tomorrow once we done more activity.

The Kingdom of Belvoir - Hunter's Guild (Taking Applications)

@Zelosse

Eh, it’s flexible. Maybe Big and brawny that Libe is fighting chucks an axe in Donnel’s direction. Being a man who thinks with his head and not his crotch, Dravos is on point and reminds the Marauder of his mission and not his vices as he saves both Donnel and Juniper from what would’ve been a dramatic tradgey.

The Kingdom of Belvoir - Hunter's Guild (Taking Applications)

@ScorpionFlower

Well, as I am a man of honesty and truth, I shan’t keep a secret from you, my would be victim. But basically in my next post or so I’m going to have a vampire attack Juniper. And while Donnel is a remorseless killer, he also as a soft spot for women he’s taken a fancy to, and would go out of his way to save her. And while he does deal with the vampire easily enough, his one moment of concern for Juniper leaves him defenseless long enough for him to take a heavy wound. He will survive if course, but with the implications that he would’ve been better had he not been distracted.

Of course it’s not as if Juniper is at fault or that Donny is without guilt. Just as I imagine some feel about Anastasia and her small army of disposable hunters, the thought that Donnel should have not brought a noncombatant is also valid. True, Juniper as written really shouldnt be involved in stuff like this. Speaking frankly Donnel just wants to use Juniper for sex (at least until I reread her CS and realized she’s 14 while Donnel is 22. While it may have been fair for its time I should let you know now that even with consent I will find some reason for Donnel to not engage in sexual activities with Juniper), and of course OoC while it’s fine that I found a way to bring you into this hunt, I should try not to use meta knowledge to shape my IC actions. But I digress. Point is this is my plan and I hope you’re willing to humor me.

And of course if anyone else wants to jump in into this sweet character development feel free to do so. I certainly won’t deny you the chance. I merely ask that you consort with us first before you intrude, to better entertain everyone involved as oppose to just the one.

The Kingdom of Belvoir - Hunter's Guild (Taking Applications)

It’s a good post! I almost feel a little guilty making Donnel shanghai her into helping. But it also makes me want to be cruel and force her into a nasty situation where she’ll need Donnel’s help of at least can’t willingly leave his service. I can’t say I do y want to be mean, but as with everything, I ask for your consent: do you mind if I make some trouble for you @ScorpionFlower?

The Kingdom of Belvoir - Hunter's Guild (Taking Applications)

@ScorpionFlower I would presume not. At least Donnel doesn’t have a horse, and we’re going through a forest where the hide out is a cave. Horses might be detrimental to our stealth even if speed is needed.

I can say with upmost certainly that Donnel does not have a horse at least.

The Kingdom of Belvoir - Hunter's Guild (Taking Applications)

@Stitches maybe at some point in Donnel’s Drunken escapades he had also encountered you and made vague promises of bringing you into glory? Alternatively, she just receives a message from the guards of another hunt and, being the eager rapscalion you are, come tag along?

The Kingdom of Belvoir - Hunter's Guild (Taking Applications)

”Hah! About fucking time!” Donnel slammed a flagging into the table as the call for another hunt was made. They’d be seeking out bloodsuckers this time. Apparently they had attacked some people in the city. Details were vague, but Donnel heard enough at the guildhall to feel confident for this one. Vampires, though imbue with profane powers, were still human in shape and form. They’ll die just as easily as any other person he’s killed, he figured. Though he’ll have to keep an eye out for any that try to go for his neck. Assuming they didn’t tear out his throat, he’d rather not become a vamp himself. Not yet anyways.

”Alright lads and lassie, I’ll rally ya this time. We got a job, we got our blades, and next time we come back here we’ll have a tale to tell. Now let’s head out!” Not the best rally Donnel ever lead, but as long as everyone could share his bravado he didn’t care for the quality of his wordplay. He grabbed another drink and a few snacks for the trip. He was joined by a few more hunters, familiar faces from yesterday, as well as a couple of new ones. Despite his rally no one really followed him and instead went with Captain Drystan. Fine with him: Donnel goes at his own pace.

As he continued ever onward Donnel noticed a vagrant on the side of the street. Normally he’d ignore them like all people do, but this one appeared to be a rather pretty little moppet. He has no love for the dissitute and as a professional murader he has both worked alongside and slain many in his life. But he couldn’t resist a pretty face, and that beside, he could use a lass that owes him a favor. So he walked to this girl, dropping half a loaf of bread and even a still warm and greasy leg of chicken into her lap. He looked down to the girl and made his intentions clear. ”Follow me and do as I say, and you’ll get more from me.” Always a charmer, Donnel didn’t really bother to make his case as he went to catch up with the rest of the hunters.

---

Not much longer and the hunters were at the lair. They had the advantage of striking during the day, and thus the enemy likely didn’t know they were coming. But the possibility that perhaps they had animal spies or thralls, or whatever other magical trickery a vampire could muster, did not elude Donnel. Nor the possibility that perhaps this colony was not just made up of ruthless bloodsucking monsters of the night, but families who were simply living with the curse that afflicted them. If they were anything like the bandit camps he worked in before, there would be all manner of women, children, sickly, and innocents inside.

Donnel never saved them before and he wasn’t going to start now.

Donnel choose to enter first. He had bundled some wood together to make a torch and kicked in the door. The first thing he did was throw said torch to the closest, most flammable thing he could see. In this instance it was a pile of mysterious green grass. Perhaps it was some herb or weed, but either way it lit up the room very well, not only illuminating the room inside but surprising any vampire here. Donnel could plainly see about seven total, all of whom appeared to be grown men. He saw one just go down the stairs. ”Let the hunt begin!”

To the nearest man Donnel grabbed the hook off his belt and hurled it to an unfortunate sod. He barely knew what was happening when he felt the piercing pain of a hook dig into his spine and drag him forward right into Donnel’s shield spike. The vampire was hardy however, and while this alone would’ve killed a normal man it only made the vampire angry. He pushed Donnel away a fair distance, but he still kept onto his feet. The vampire however had a gaping chest wound. By the time he registered what was happening, he couldn’t even get a scream out as Donnel’s axe severed his skull in twain. The rest of the vampires quickly realized what was happening however and armed themselves. Most had swords, though two who were working the mysterious grass piles used the pitchforks they were holding to attack the hunters.

Underneath his helmet Donnel merely smiled. Though these vampires were stronger than the usual peasant, he was no greenhorn to a raid. They’ll need more than monstrous strength to survive this battle. Putting his axe away Donnel pulled out his hook from the vampire corpse, spinning it through the air as he approached his next enemy.

@ScorpionFlower

The Kingdom of Belvoir - Hunter's Guild (Taking Applications)

Cool. I’ll work on a post ASAP.