Fantasy Hunter's Moon: The Sin & Sentence [IC] [CLOSED]

[Dmaster]

"Fuckin' bastards..." Hudson growled as the screams and shots were heard nearby, weapons still held yet he soon jogged off with the rest of the group to push onward. As their landscape shifted from a battered city-scape to more dreary swampland, the hunter slowed his pace so that he could get his bearings.

"At least it has cover from all those guns. Sooner we get indoors the better." he reasoned, trudging through the mud as they moved at a brisk pace.

 

[Infab]

The group moved into the swamp, trekking through the mud and murky water as they moved south in the direction of where Xager had said the factories were. The fog grew a little thinner as they moved, resembling smoke from an intense fire. Then, Vincent kicked something as he stepped through small pool of water. It was metal, from what he could tell. As he looked down and inspected it, he then saw what it was.

It was the side of a cannon barrel.

As he looked up, he as well as the rest of the group began to notice other peculiar things about their environment. More cannons, Mortars, sunken swords and guns, impact craters from shelling...what was this place? Then they saw the bodies. Old, rotting corpses, clad in tattered uniforms. Atracan uniforms. Tsavanian uniforms. Vincent looked to Hudson and Jakob, slightly disturbed by the sight of the corpses. "Watch yourselves." he said softly, as he stepped over the cannon barrel and out of the murky puddle.

In the fog a ways away, a trio of individuals looked on. Watching their every move.

 

[EdwardDewey98]

When the group arrived at the swamp, Jakob didn't care much for the sudden change of biome. After all, the Abyss was a strange place. But when he saw the battlefield and corpses, Jakob's heart sank to the bottom. It was almost like he was back there. Charging from a trench into a Tsavanian one. "What the fuck?" asked Jakob, while aiming his weapon at the corpses. "Is this...what happened here?"

 

[Dmaster]

Hudson shook his head, disturbed by the sights but trying to swallow them down as he merely glanced to a corpse and began to keep moving. Looking around, he noted the fog rolling in around them, his grip on his weapons tightening as he squinted at the horizon. "Think of where we are." he said in response to Jakob. So many dead soldiers in the Abyss did not make sense to him. Most of the enlisted were young kids, simply doing what they thought was right. Velin didn't seem the type to damn souls over a petty war that those youths were pressured into fighting, but even then Hudson was not entirely certain.

"This can't be real. It's a trick by the Abyss or someone in it. The second you let them in your head; they've won."

 

[Emperor Sagan]

Inari took in a deep breath, trying to get a good smell of the swampy battlefield. It lacked the distinctive flavor she was used to, and if her senses weren't betraying her, this place seemed to have been fairly old. No charring, smoke, or flavors of blood. Just the brutal scenery of a tough fight. The abundance of ordnance was interesting, and she found herself somewhat intrigued by the quantity of large guns. To think even a small force utilized such engines of war. Even the terrain deformation in some places was curious, brought about from the guns. A rather different way of waging war than what was seen in Kowareta.

"Why this not real? Look real enough. Just dead men. Strange place for fight. Swamp bad ground. Bad footing. Easy to trip, then you die. Not good for formation either." She had seen her fair share of fighting in swampy, marshy environments, but those had usually been ambushes or smaller skirmishes. This looked to be on a little larger scale, or so it seemed. Hard to make out everything in the mud and water.

Inari was more drawn to the figures in the distance. Scouts, possibly. Observers. Not good to be watched like this. Either they were being showy by allowing themselves to be seen, or were that arrogant in feeling superior. Not great prospects for them. "People ahead. Maybe shoot them. Get them to leave."

 

[Infab]

The figures observing them quickly disappeared into the fog, and the group continued marching through the battlefield. If they stayed put too long, Azgon's wrath demons would catch up with them. Eventually, they came upon a single hollow-like figure standing in the middle of the marsh. It was an Atracan soldier, as revealed by the uniform it was wearing, but was in a state of rot just like the corpses scattered about around them. It had some rather defining features as well, bearing blonde hair and a locket hanging from its neck. It also had blood stains on its back, as if it had been shot in the back. When the creature noticed the group, it locked its dull eyes onto Jakob. Slowly, it made its way towards him.

 

[EdwardDewey98]

Jakob aimed his shotgun at the creature, but the creature clumsily continued to approach the detective. Soon, Jakob's face shifted to a look of pure shock and terror. He recognized who that thing used to be. He nearly collapsed onto the ground, stuttering the creature's true name. "...W-William?" he said, as the creature moved closer to the group. Once it moved in close enough, Jakob fired his shotgun. The buckshot ripped through its torso, knocking it backwards into the mud. Dead. "O...Oh god...oh dear Thiasis...No no...this..."

 

[Doomevil]

Senya marched up to the swamp, dipping her boots in muddy water while seeing a battle happened. Corpses face down in the swamp and uniforms. It wouldn't be a good time to chant sermons in the middle of dangerous waters. Meanwhile, she turned to her allies when they saw a few scouts ahead. She clenched the handle of her sword, ready but they disappeared soon enough. One of the creatures went up to Detective Jakob until he fired at it. Senya narrowed her eyes, confused.

 

[Damian0358]

Hearing the gun fire, but also wanting to minimize his silhouette, Takato decided to vertically float over the swampland rather than wade through it, even if he could've due to having boots on. Through the fog, he ended up bumping into a cannon, surprising him. Listening in, he looked at their surroundings... the sounds associated indicated this was caused not by direct hand, but by use of machine. He couldn't quite believe what he was seeing, this was destruction on the scale of a force of Northern Oni. Is this what happened during that war in the north of the continent? Hudson and Jakob's comments certainly implied so. Hearing about it was one thing, but seeing it is another.

But just as Inari commented, and just as he sensed, there were observers in the distance. Their aura seemed... odd though. He couldn't put his finger on it.
But before he could add his own comment, they disappeared... and eerily enough, so did their auras. It was incredibly rare to feel one's aura just disappear like that, especially if there was no signs of death.

Choosing to walk now, Takato watched as the others marched through, studying what was going on. Hudson's comment about this being a trick likely rang true, especially once Jakob uttered the hollow's name and shot it down... they were going to all go through this, weren't they? Just as they have shadows, so too will they be forced to walk through reflections of their past, Takato guessed. This was going to be treacherous.

"Sir Phillomon, remember Sir Giguere's words! Calm yourself! Do not let the Abyss get to you!" he spoke aloud.

 

[Infab]

"Look at ya, Jakob....Still a stone cold killa' even a this age. Some things never change, do they?" said a voice in the marsh. The three figures that had disappeared into the fog had returned, staring at the group once more from a distance. "...This time, however, ya had the common decency to shoot good ol' Will while lookin' him in the face. Unlike before...You remember that, Jake? How you shot your best friend in the back...?"

 

[EdwardDewey98]

"W-What..." said Jakob, aiming his shotgun at the silhouettes in the distance. His grip on the weapon tightened. He couldn't even concentrate on Hudson or Takato as they tried to calm him down. The words of that thing in the swamp cut deep into old wounds. "...w-wh...WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU!? You don't...no...no no, I...I just...I was....following orders. That...is all! I was a soldier! I was doing...my gods damned duty!"

 

[Dmaster]

Hudson said nothing as the apparition lurched at Jakob, just to be put down once it got too close. As always the shot got him to flinch, and his breathing hastened before he turned on his heel to see the source of the voice. Now he finally saw the figures that Inari was talking about, and he was less than pleased to see what they were doing.

"We're not going to get a lesson on morals from fucking demons." he spat. "If you're here to fight spare the theatrics and let's get it done with." Raising his guard, the hunter started to twirl his flaming mace on its chains.

 

[Damian0358]

Takato stood solid as the aura of the spectators crept up on them out of the blue, as one spoke up and furthered Jakob's pain. He quickly spun around, and got into a fighting stance, intending to help Hudson if need be. There was no need for words, for they had already begun the offensive with this manifestation.

 

[Infab]

The voice spoke again, as its origin turned its head to one of its allies. "You heard that, pal? Your other self still quite a bit of a dick, ain't he?" he said, with a hint of a muffled chuckle. The one on the end, the tallest of the three, chuckled a bit as well. Riberta recognized the chuckle. It was her own.

 

[Emperor Sagan]

The situation seemed to be turning a little more muddled once it appeared this place had some connection to Jakob, it seemed. The shady figures in the distance spoke in a familiar manner with Jakob, going so far as to call him their other self. Ah... the shadows! So they had finally arrived, or some of them had. She could only spot the three up ahead. If some had reached them, why not others? Inari glanced off to the flank and the back. Thats where she'd have come from if her shadow was around. Hit the fools with a solid strike when they weren't looking. Especially in a swamp. Wait, had this place been her shadow's idea? She liked it too much. Damn, she was her own worst nuisance here.

"They all talk, just shoot them," Inari said, waving her hand around as she watched their side and back. "They more kabuki player than soldiers."

 

[Dmaster]

Hudson was tipped on immediately to what was going on when he heard 'other self', and he wasted no time, deciding to charge ahead the few meters to the group of shadows. Still twirling his mace, he prepares himself for a swing before a shot rips through the air, crackling with a blaring echo as the bullet whizzed right by the hunter's head. The surprise and ringing in his ears got him to stumble backwards, nearly losing his footing as he struggled to keep himself from toppling over into the mud.

"Yeah, he's one to talk." the voice said, his arm outstretched and holding a semiautomatic pistol of some kind whose barrel was pointed straight at Hudson. He froze, wide eyed beneath his helmet as his breathing was became quicker. "As much of a hurry I'm in for the easiest hit of my life - it's not quite time for that yet. Go on, then. Help your buddy out." The figure waved his pistol to the side slightly, gesturing for Hudson to make his way back. He recognized that gun, and he could only stare without moving at all.

"For all the good it's going to do him."

 

[joshuadim]

As the group moved through the marsh, the scenery became all too clear as to where they actually were. The ghosts and remnants of past wars all amalgamated at once, a haunting visage to be sure but nothing more haunting than what Jakob was going through right now. The figures in the distance were soon to be confirmed the shadows that were alluded too, and now they have come to take their pound of flesh from their victims. Venextos raised his staff and pointed it at the shadows before speaking: "Back to the pits of void from whence you came, demons."

 

[Damian0358]

As the voice spoke once more, it seemed as though their auras began becoming more clear, somehow. Takato couldn't quite grasp it himself, but it quickly became apparent what was going on - shadows. They bore the auras of those in the group, it seemed. He wouldn't be surprised if these demons could just inherently suppress their own auras, but something in the back of his mind echoed, suggesting his own shadow had played a role here somehow.

"Noh theatre, or even opera, is closer to this than kabuki," Takato responded to Inari, "but do not underestimate them."

After speaking, Hudson charged forward, and Takato nearly stepped in to assist before a shot rang by the hunter. He listened closely as what he felt was Hudson's shadow intervened. Hearing what he said, he took a step back as Venextos spoke, and looked towards the others, motioning his head to signify that someone should help the guy, as he turned towards Jakob.

"Sir Phillomon," Takato began, "please, consider where we are," echoing Hudson once more, "this land seeks to pray upon on one's deepest troubles, darkest moments and most horrible memories. Do not let the past consume the present... for the present is ever-changing, ever-improving, and so are you."

 

[Infab]

Riberta moved forward, in an attempt to retrieve Hudson. And was seemingly allowed to do so. The other Riberta, however, decided to comment on it as she reached the man and began to pull him back. "Try and stay alive now, Alpha. I want to be the one to give you that death you're craving so badly." she said, before directing her attention to Venextos. "Keep pointing that stick at me, mage, and I'll shove it up your ass and roast you over an open flame."

"Anyways...is that what you tell yourself to feel better, Jakob?" The silhouettes disappeared into the mist once more, the voice coming from somewhere else in the marsh. "...To justify the fact you betrayed your friend? Face it. You are a coward and a killer. Sometimes you can't even control your blood thirst. Even now as you pretend to be good ol' detective Phillomon. HA!" An echoing sound of humming could be heard throughout the entire marsh. "...Watch out people, I wouldn't trust him myself and I am him! Tell them, Jake, about how you wanted to shove your gun barrel down that whore brigand's mouth after she began screaming for a dumb head... Tell them how you still resent Mariette for stealing your kill, and how you wanted to tear Wallace apart for stealing your humanity!" The humming became louder, reminding Jakob of the swampfolk songs. "Show them your true colors, stone cold killa'!"

 

[joshuadim]

Venextos let his magic do the talking as an orange glow permeated from the end of his staff, crackling with energy as he kept it pointed at the shadow. And when they retreated into the mists of the swamp, Venextos could only chuckle. "Your empty words do not frighten me. Show yourselves, or I'll reveal you myself."

 

[KRIY]

Wesley jumped into the same trench where Jakob is, his Ninja-to now out of its sheath in case something strikes them. "Don't listen to him, Jakob! Don't let the Abyss's words consume you.. we made our peace to our past selves. don't let these words get into you head."

 

[Infab]

As Riberta returned to the group with Hudson, she cut a look at Wesley as he spoke to Jakob. "Boy, you're likely the only one here that has." she muttered.

 

[Damian0358]

Takato once more felt the auras of the shadows vanish into the mist as he spoke to Jakob, and his attempts to help the poor man were followed up by the words of Jakob's shadow. Takato looked around, uncertain what to do further as more was revealed. Wesley soon jumped in afterwards, as he watched the ninja try to help, before Riberta spoke up in response as she returned with Hudson. Her words caused him to pause; he had made peace with the past, the past had happened, unchanging, and the only direction was forward, no...? What would his master say at this time? He, he wasn't sure.

It caused him to remember the Adonian saying, "Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift," remembering how the Daristeinian and Atracan interpretations differed when it came to 'gift'. Takato shook his head, they needed to concentrate on Jakob.

"...we must act swiftly!" Takato finally spoke, "The words of his shadow, this environment, it may be too overwhelming for the man. We may even need to depart..."

 

[Emperor Sagan]

"Kabuki," Inari insisted to Takato, though only paying him a little attention as she kept an eye out around them. Mind games were entertaining. She employed them to great effect throughout her life, and her most infamous deed in Kowareta was essentially one elaborate theatrical performance. It had some more practical effects to it, but the greatest strength of it was how it made so many feel. Nearly a thousand prisoners slaughtered in the shallows of that river. It had been an entertaining day. It seemed the shadows here were also intent on playing with the feelings, perceptions, and thoughts of the party. She doubted her own shadow could do anything to startle her, but the others, that was hard to say. Jakob certainly seemed unnerved. When the humming started up around them, she spat on the ground. Fucking demons, now its shaping up to be Noh. She shook her head.

She didn't follow everything the apparent shadow Jakob was saying, but it didn't sound good. Something about him being a cowardly bloodthirsty betrayer or something. Not a good image if true, though that seemed to be the point of the demons, to sow division.

No one was heeding her request to shoot the demons, and she didn't want to take out her sawed off and use it when she might need to draw her sword. Then again, now may be a good time to try out the gun. She hurried over beside some of the others so she wasn't at risk of being charged while she held a gun, and she pulled it from its sling. She thumbed the hammers and they clicked as they settled back. Maybe this would hurt one, or scatter them. Inari steadied herself and aimed the sawed off double barrel loaded with slugs into the mist around them. The bastards had disappeared again! She held the gun ready as she searched for them, glancing at Takato as he spoke. "Yes, we must act, but all stand around and chat like we in market."

She turned back to the mist and called out. "Tell Shaguma Inari she a bitch! No doll superior to the master!" Perhaps her quip would earn a little response. Her ears were good enough, if she heard their voice somewhere, maybe she could take a shot.

 

[Dmaster]

Hudson shoved himself off of Riberta initially, not enjoying the save or being touched. And yet as he recoiled and looked at her once he snapped out of it, his eyes lingered on her as if he was not fully there. His expression was a grimace beneath his helmet, pained and worried as he took a breath and brought himself back to the matter at hand.

"Can't escape them." he muttered in response to Takato, looking around as he rose his weapons. "And none of us can kill the other's shadow either." the hunter recalled.

"They changed the landscape. This section of the Abyss can't have been an Atracan-Tsavanian battleground. They've tailored it just to torture Jakob."