Bounty Hunter Archive
Thread: The Hunt (RP)
Maybe I can get out the next 'chapter' before long. I originally wrote this just trying to put a "story" around an incident that occurred recently in my gaming experience. However,as I reread it, I realized that it might be more appropriate to post this pseudo-Role Play story here on the BH forums vs. the Jedi forums. Given that the BH in this "story" actually played this particular scenario very well. This is not intended to be a dig against BH's at all but again, just something I put together I thought might be worth sharing to put the "story" back into the game. Enjoy.
The Hunt - Part I
Pain shot through the back of Ulrick’s head. As his eyes opened, the sunlight stabbed at him, forcing his eyes shut again in a grimace. A low groan resonated from him as he rolled over, holding his head in his hands, and tried to pull himself up onto his feet. His new cloned body still clung to its last memories of pain and death.
He remembered the Wookie camp. He was with several others when the Wookies rushed in to attack. His Padawan, Brittana, was there, and their friend Weapon-X. The combat medic went down first – then the defender was overwhelmed.Brittana, Ulrick and Weapon-X made a last stand; back-to-back in a trinity of damage they held back the Wookie assault, until one Wookie managed to hit Brittana cleanly. Her health in jeopardy, Ulrick spun to protect her when the blow fell. The Wookie’s hammer blow struck at the base of Ulrick’s skull, crushing his neck, and then...darkness, and pain.
Finally able to open his eyes, Ulrick surveyed his surroundings.At the top of the Rryatt trail, the Wookies in the area looked at him with quiet disdain. They knew that many of their kin had fallen to him, but the honor system of the trail prevented open hostility. Gathering himself, Ulrick looked for his Padawan, hoping beyond hope that she had not fallen as he had.
Several meters away, his gaze fell on her form, lying quietly at the base of a Wooshyyr tree. He knew that her peaceful rest would turn to pain as she awakened. He crouched by her, gently brushing the hair from her face as her body shook, consciousness returning and with it the memories of death.
“Hold on Brittana, the pain will pass,” said Ulrick gently. His voice and reassurance easing the transition to her newly cloned form.
“Ulrick? What happened?” Brittana asked as she slowly rose to her feet.
“We lost some people in the last attack.I saw you get hit and when I turned to heal you, I was hit from behind.” Ulrick replied, rubbing his neck, the memory not quite faded.
“Do you want to go back?” Brittana asked, her determination forming as she regained control of her faculties. Ulrick smiled to himself, pleased. Brittana had great potential with the Force. Her desire for power, and willingness to kill to achieve that power matched his own. This one was special to him. He had trained others, but never before had he cared for one like this. “Yes, we will go back,” replied Ulrick. And together they descended again into the depths of the Rryatt, and the power it promised.
Far above the clearing at the top of the Rryatt trail, Tanker watched the scene unfold through the macro binoculars built into his RIS armor helmet. The bounty hunters had known of Brittana’s existence for several days now. It was only a few days ago that this brash young Padawan discovered the trail, and the ability to gain power quickly. Drawn to the promise of power, she headed into the depths of the Rryatt, not realizing that the Wookies have a sophisticated network and connections within the bounty hunter guilds. Having seen his prey, Tanker began a slow decent into the Rryatt.
It wouldn't be long now....
Message Edited by Ulrick on 11-01-2005 05:56 PM
The Hunt - Part II (RP)
At the next to lowest level of the tree canopy, the Rryatt Trail was filled with Web Weaver Phantoms. The giant, human-sized, arachnids would feast for days on an individual unfortunate enough to be caught in their sinewy webs. Strung out for dozens of yards along the winding, narrow tree roots that were the trail in this area, the webs whipped in the wind, seeking their prey. Ulrick and Brittana finally arrived at the final trail guide for the path.Lightsabers in hand, they dashed down the trail at blazing speed, slicing through the webs with ease and making for the camp where the feral wookies tended to gather.
Several levels above, Tanker also began his decent into the depths of the Rryatt. Moving more slowly and cautiously among the branches and creatures nesting there, he approached the trail guide in the lower levels. Wordlessly the trail guide nodded to the path the Jedi had taken, into the trail of the Web Weavers. Tanker had been here before. He was well aware of the dangers presented by the Web Weavers and the few feral Wookies that wandered the trail. However, the bounty on this Padawan was substantial and his employer impatient. And in truth, he would have chased this Padawan regardless of the credits. His hatred for the Jedi Order was not a secret and he could often be found boasting of his victories in cantinas across the Outer Rim.Now moving more rapidly, he headed down the trail, past the web remnants and Web Weaver corpses scattered about in the wake of the Jedi passing. His hand double checked his datapad and confirmed the Jedi’s location – 300m ahead and not moving…soon, the bounty would be his.
Brittana spun her lightsaber in a symphony of rose-colored light and sound as the thrum of the blade and its dance about her became her entire focus. Her Master, Ulrick, was beside her, his bright emerald lightsaber blade flashing, it’s more resonant hum helping to drown out the death cries of the feral wookies at the camp. With each kill, Brittana grew in power and determination. Her focus now turned completely within as she channeled the Force around her into a weapon against all outside the circle of death. Ulrick likewise turned his focus within and let the dark side of the Force flow through him, guiding his actions in a maelstrom of rage and power. Feral Wookies, who had retreated to this area of the trail for solitude and safety, fell by the dozens as the Dark Jedi continued to press into the center of the village. Gathered outside the immediate fury of the lightsabers, several Wookies crouched and then, charged. For a brief moment, the Jedi found themselves taxed and their abilities to heal their own wounds was outpaced by the fury of the Wookies. In full healing and channeling trances, Brittana and Ulrick beat back the onslaught and then halted their attack. No sound was heard from the village as the Jedi began meditating to recover their bearings and refocus their energies.
A piercing report echoed through the trail as the proton carbine fired, striking Brittana in her side, knocking her to the ground. Her healing abilities taxed from the Wookie attack, she was unable to focus her energy to heal the damage. Ulrick felt pain burn through his side as Brittana fell. Deep in a healing trance, he slowly began to regain consciousness when the next blast of pain hit, this time in multiple areas across his torso. He marshaled his healing abilities to seek out the damage but could find none. Realization brought horror to him…Brittana!
Brittana had managed to stand, lightsaber now weak in her hand she faced her attacker. Tanker relished that he had caught them in such a defenseless position. Rarely had a hunt been this easy to accomplish. The Wookies had done significant damage already, making his target extremely vulnerable. Now here she was, trying to defend herself, barely able to stand and dying every second. His hatred burned within him as he stood outside of her range and leveled his carbine…his final shot, placed directly beneath her hairline ended her expedition to the trail. He approached her lifeless form and kicked the dirt from the trail onto her remains as he spat a curse at her and all Jedi. He would return here – this area was a haven for Padawans desiring power. He would bring others soon and ambush those who would return.
The Padawan’s Master, now stirring from his trance was emanating a rage that even Tanker could feel. While still vulnerable – this one was not worth any credits to him. Not yet. The body next to him would be a message…one he would never forget.
Part 3 -
The few feral Wookies who had come out of hiding to see what had stopped the attack were thrown back hundreds of feet – many off of the trail altogether and into the depths of the tree canopy.Seething with rage, Ulrick sprang to his feet and spun to find Brittana.What he saw turned his heart to ice and stopped him in his tracks.Only a few feet away, covered in dirt and blood were the remains of his Padawan.Unlike the quiet repose he had found her in earlier, this time, death stared at him with empty, lifeless eyes.Vestiges of pain from the attack were etched deeply into her face, her body mangled and torn from the multiple blaster bolts that had burned through her.From the edge of the village, the Wookies still there glared their approval of the scene before them.If only the bounty hunter had destroyed them both.