bayushki bayu

This new foe holds something human within her. Her knack for tracking, capturing and killing is something else here. There is something else in her too, she seems to seek something. affiliated with isola radiale

[broadaxes]

anna || the huntress // dead by daylight

bunny mask?  bunny mask.

is tall and strong and will crush all weak men

soldiers DNI

bill DNI

actually men DNI

likes kids tho!!  will be nice to all children <3

like a sniper but with axes instead of bullets.  if you hear someone humming a song start zigzagging I swear

without the entity feeding her bloodlust she’s a lot more chill ig

[broadaxes]

whohassummonedme​:

The Huntress? A respectable enough title. No worries towards getting one’s hands dirty, worrying but none of his business, honestly. “Weapons made by mortal hands hold no value against me, let alone to wield one. For me to use one… it has been a very, very long time, but I suppose I could manage with whatever I am given.”

“I hold many powers at my disposal.” Lightning crackles between his fingers as he speaks, his cape alight with flame one moment, then solid like ice the next. The ground around him rumbles and cracks open, the sky above whirls with a terrible storm, and in an instant, it’s all gone. “It is not as if I am without standards, however. I can fight with my hands, create weapons for myself and others to level the field, what have you.”

His arms cross over his prodigious chest. “Asking a lot of questions about combat, for someone so new. Is there something you are in need of? Or mere curiosity?”

Anna was delighted by the display the Knight put on; he was clearly a formidable foe.  Clearly the Entity had no way to reach wherever he was originally from -- surely it would have plucked him from his home as his powers would have made for amusing trials.

“Curiosity.  You have the same appearance as knights from children’s books, but you do not have the same aura.  You drain the color around you.  Many people I see here are...happy, or ‘good’.  You reminded me of myself and my friends back home, so I wanted to learn more.”  Although she wasn’t sure if he would find the comparison to be flattering.

“You must be very strong in your homeland if you have the ability to control so many different powers.”  Even her own friends with ‘powers’ only boasted one ability; the Nightmare Knight seemed to have a plethora of options at his fingertips.  “It is boring here, yes?  Not much to fight or do.”  Mostly because they don’t let her.

[broadaxes]

pizzaleader·:

As much as Dwight would like to correct her in how long cereals have been around, he decides against in. Not because he was scared of her or anything, but he may be curious at what sort of food she was familiar with. 

Almost as if on queue, the question surprised Dwight again. That wasn’t what he was getting on. Partially. The surprise was more of how domesticated the Huntress appear to be. Who would have thought a murderous killer would casually be wondering around with, of all things, as basket full of food. Next they’ll replace the food with chocolate and call her the ‘Easter Bunny’. … No no, that’s just too silly to even think more of.

“No, that’s not really what I meant. I mean, sort of. Some of us at the campfire did wonder if you guys did eat anything or not. Heh, we even took guesses of what you all would have for dinner.” Some were pretty funny, while others just… well, they eventually had to change topics before it became too grim. “Anyway, you could just say this is something I never thought I’d live to see. And not rampaging the store.” It’s true.

Dwight stared at the bag of potato chips shown. Man he really did have the best of it, even if his life did feel miserable. Though he was amuse to see the Huntress act somewhat of a child to all the ‘new’ food she happen to come by. Not that he could admit that out loud. “Yeah, well… in this day in age, this is somewhat our way of hunting. Especially when the holidays are coming up, and everyone is fighting for that last minute turkey or strawberry pie to bring to dinner. That’s the most of a hunt you’ll experience here. Getting out of here with everything you were looking forward is the best reward anyone could get. You can say I can be a bit of an expert on some things in here. Like you said, this is pretty similar to where I use to live. You just need to know the right things to buy to save up after all.”

“Back in the Red Forest -- that is, the real Red Forest, not the one the entity made -- I grew my own vegetables and hunted for meat.  Boar, elk, sometimes bear.  It depended what I happened to come across during my hunt.  I ate a lot of carrots and onions.  Beetroots.  There were no ‘grocery stores’ in the mountains.  Even the villagers grew and slaughtered their own food...this is not common where I am from.”

Anna was amused at the thought of people fighting over a frozen turkey; surely this was a formed of learned helplessness?  Yet, she hadn’t found a place where she could hunt without getting in trouble, so perhaps the frozen turkey’s were the only option around here.

“People fighting each other over pre-butchered meat...how silly.  There are millions of turkey’s in the forest, yet they fight each other here?  But the Stars tell me I cannot hurt any of the animals here without facing punishment...I do not understand.  What is the difference between hunting a turkey in the forest and picking up a pre-plucked turkey here...strange.  The turkey is dead either way.”

She was befuddled by most of the -- what she believed to be -- arbitrary rules put in place by the Stars.  “While these stores might make things easier, I think they are making everyone dependent on buying food instead of fending for themselves.  What happens if you do not get a turkey for the holiday dinner?  Do you starve?”

[broadaxes]

eusarca·:

Someone who intermittently dropped by in hopes of a grim reaper sighting — someone already dead, even — could hardly be intimidated by a tall, chaotically dressed woman in a creepy mask. Preoccupied, Kyrie thought of her as impressive instead, and the curiosity was kind of flattering.

“I keep my distance, mostly. Can’t say I have many friends here,” they answered, glancing off at the nearest shady shop with a slight smirk. “I heard a few times that you can run into the grim reaper in this area, and when I’m bored and broke, why not see if I can get an autograph?”

They’d never actually decided what they’d do if they ran into the reaper itself, as they only believed the rumor by about 30%. There was no reason this reaper couldn’t exist. It seemed like there would be more of a fuss if it did hang out in the open, though; maybe a selfie or two with death would show up on social media.

Still leaning back on their hands, they stared down the vine-lined street. This woman didn’t give the impression she would know much about that (or necessarily believe it any more than they did), but there were other things on their mind.

“If you haven’t seen the reaper yourself… have you seen any men in military uniforms? I’m looking for those, too.”

Anna would’ve been more surprised if they had said they did have friends here.  Although their next sentence made her head swim in confusion.  Grim Reaper?  Like the creature in some of the storybooks her mother read to her?  If such a thing were here, Anna would like to meet it as well.  Maybe it could tell her how her mother was.

She couldn’t be sure the story was true, but with all the strange things that occurred here...well it certainly could be a possibility.  They seemed a bit bored as they gazed towards the other end of the street; a crowd had formed around what seemed to be a dice betting ring.

“Military men?”  Anna’s hand immediately dropped to the handle of one of her hatchets.  “I cannot say I have, but for what purpose are you searching for them?”  Did this place have a military?  There was a thrumming in her chest at the thought of putting an axe in the chest of some doe eyed soldier.  They never expected it -- they always believed they were above dying.

“If such men are on this island, I also would like to find them.  The scum deserve a...talking to.”  She patted the hatchet as she spoke.  “Yes, I will help you find them.”

[broadaxes]

valsharesses·:

✖ ———— Lips quirk upward into a smirk behind the mask. “If money is all you so desire, then you will find no better source than I. Any woman who can sense the silent tread of the drow is capable enough for my liking.”

She removes her mask and hood, revealing her features, pointed and cruel. Though the smile is gone from her face now, her look remains amicable enough– looking the other up and down as she takes a few steps to the side. “But make no mistake, jalil. My enemies are many, and the blood that must be spilled enough to stain your flesh scarlet. Money is no object for me, surfacer. If such work is not beneath you, you shall have all you long for… and more.”

Red eyes shine with promise. Her tongue can be silver when she so wills it. “Know that where you might find money elsewhere, in exchange for your loyalty, your blade– so long as it does not interfere with my work, you need only speak the word… and it shall be your’s.”

Anna’s interest was certainly piqued; if this woman was promising money then she was more than happy to cleave a few people in exchange.  She shifted her weight to one leg as the other woman removed her mask.  She was small, but Anna could tell that she was equally deadly.

“I have doubts that the people you want dead would outnumber those I have already killed.  My true name is Anna, but they call me the Huntress.  I have hunted since I was a child -- many humans have died by my hatchets.  Killing people is not beneath me, no.”  In fact, she quite missed killing people.  The Stars were so annoying...

Anna twirled one of her hatchets in her hand as she contemplated it.  Well, there wasn’t much to contemplate; she was certainly more than happy to take this woman up on her offer.  But surely there had to be some sort of catch...  It was too easy.  She could hire any shlub off this street to slit a throat or two.

“There must be something more difficult about your task than you are letting on.  You say you have many enemies...that is of no concern to me.  But these enemies -- are they important people?”  Not that she cared whether she stuck an axe in a Star or something, but she wasn’t trying to get tortured by the people that brought them here.

[broadaxes]

chewypencaps·:

“can you blame me? you nearly lodged in axe in my ribcage.”

he knows Anna’s far too skilled to let something like that happen, but he’s hurt! offended, even! after god-knows-how-long in the Entity’s realm, he thought she would say more to him than an insult. maybe, “Danny, it’s so good to see you! how are you?” or a “Danny, what are you doing here? pssh, who am I kidding, I’m glad you’re here too!”

ugh. he’ll take this as a sign to get better at hiding. then again, she wasn’t named “The Huntress” for nothing.

“besides, I wanted to make sure it was actually you. I mean, the bunny mask is a dead give away, but I’ve already run into my fair share of weirdos here.” a beat. says the man wearing the Ghost Face mask. 

he shakes his head. Anna can’t see it, but his eyes flicker toward the hatchet in her hand. it’s sharp, but not quite as polished as the one she had back in The Entity’s realm. still, it’s enough to strike a tinge of envy. 

“where did you get those, anyway? mind if I take a look at one?”

“I must be careful and not harm people who do not plan to cause me harm.  Unlike the Entity’s realm, this place does not take kindly to mindless slaughter...however; you are correct that I could have ‘lodged an axe in your ribcage’ had I felt the need.”  It was a joke, but it was hard to tell when she was joking.

Anna nodded; it made sense to approach her cautiously.  If she had been someone else, then Danny would’ve likely found himself in trouble.  It definitely wasn’t wise to waltz up to random people holding weapons in the forest -- she wasn’t the only one who would attack first and ask questions later.

“Yes, it is me.  Locker boy is also here, if you run across him.”  Now that she thought about it, she had no idea what his real name was.  It started with a D she was pretty sure.  Hmm, she’d have to ask him later.  “We are the only three here, though.  I feel that it is unfair that I keep getting plucked out of my home; this is my second time here.  Over and over...”  She trailed off and spun one of her hatchets in her hand again.

Anna followed Danny’s gaze and held out a hatchet without further questions.  He was sneaky, but she doubted her would run off with it -- if he did she had 4 other hatchets to catch him with.

“If you are good and make friends, they will give you your weapons back.  I should think you would have an easier time than me, yes?”  Danny was more...personable, at any rate.  “The more friends you make, the more they give back.”

[broadaxes]

soulsickened·:

In all honesty? Maybe Ellen has slightly forgotten how children are supposed to act. But too much acting and it would be obvious she was being fake in the first place  …  so of course she wasn’t giving much reaction to the death that she’s well familiar with. Good riddance to whoever this man was. At least for a day before he comes back and starts up with this behaviour all over again. There really isn’t much one can do to truly stop these situations from occurring, and she wasn’t looking to be accompanied every time she walked out of her house.

For the time being though, Ellen simply listened. She chose not to comment about the man directly, only giving a simple noise in response to show she was listening.

But then there was a comment about her lack of reaction. That caused the girl’s eyes to briefly look up at the woman, eyes seemingly lighting up before they dulled down again as she looked back at the corpse. “ It’s not being brave. I’ve seen people die before. It’s really not that scary. “ And she had participated in killing people before, too. But that was a small detail that she’d choose to leave out for the time being. “ In worse ways than this too. “ Gosh, how many different methods of death could she list off the top of her head? Too many.

Of course, the conversation had to eventually turn to mentions of her family. She once again had to stop a smile from forming on her face at the mention of her mother  -  who she had gladly killed all those years ago  -  and chose to omit some details again. “ It’d have to be somewhere safe then. My mother’s dead. And my daddy’s dead too. It’s just been me for a while now. “ Ignoring the fact that the dead can turn up here, she said it so nonchalantly, it definitely gave the impression that she didn’t care about their deaths at all. “ I was just heading home, so  …  we could go there. Don’t like staying outside too long. “

Bandaged leg swung forward as she spoke, to prove why she wasn’t wanting to stand around any longer.

“Not scary...?  Hmm.”  Anna made a noncommittal noise.  She supposed she’d never been overly afraid when faced with death either.  She spent her young childhood learning to hunt with her mother; when she witnessed her mother die, it was more sad than scary.  Curled up in her lap while she hummed her lullaby, she nearly fell asleep while the blood pooled around them both.

Maybe it wasn’t so unusual.

“That is unfortunate, for you to have witnessed such death at your age.  But I was the same, I understand.  It is not bravery or fear -- just indifference.”  Anna felt a twinge of sadness on behalf of the young girl.  She certainly didn’t seem to care as she nonchalantly threw out that her parents were both deceased, but Anna couldn’t help but feel sorry for her.  Being alone at so young taught you many things, but the lack of companionship was the hardest to get over.

Her eyes traveled down to the bandaged leg she held out towards Anna.  Ah, she was a curious child.  She was full of surprises.

“I see, I shall guide you home so that others do not follow.”  She began walking in the direction the girl had been travelling before the incident.  “Hopefully we do not encounter others on our way.  I am not sure how long it will be before the Stars get angry that I caused a disturbance on the street.”

[broadaxes]

whohassummonedme​:

It was nice that, as he travelled the Golden Ward, the glitz and glamor of the city’s various facades dimmed, and activity slowed. Instead of an active choice, it was the effect he had on atmosphere, expressed wherever he went somewhere that needed that little extra to help touch up his image.

It didn’t stop everyone, though, evident when a voice calls out to him. Sir Knight was a common shortening of his name when on Dreamside, most people did it to show some deference out of fear. This person? Simply didn’t know who he was.

“I need no weapon.” He stops, and turns, his amber gaze falling on the surprisingly tall figure. An actual adult for once? Finally. Children were seeming to be the only ones brave enough to approach him. “I am the Nightmare Knight.”

“Who are you, that dares to approach me?”

He needed no weapons?  Impressive.  Perhaps he was like Lisa, and had some strange extremity he could use to defend or fight.  The Nightmare Knight certainly wasn’t the name of some great defender, though.  A villain then?  Who was she to judge; to the Survivors she was certainly a villain.

“My name is Anna, although many call me The Huntress.  I still must use weapons to hunt, but I guess I am able to hunt without them as well.  It is very messy, though.”  Once or twice some soldiers had come across her while he was unprepared; she took care of it quickly enough, but it was annoying to walk home stinking of sweat and blood.  An axe was cleaner after all.

“Sir Knight, how can you be a knight with no weapon.  I thought knights had great swords,” at least they did in the storybooks, “you must have some sort of power that you can fight with, yes?”  She was extremely interested to see how he fought.  If he’s the Nightmare Knight, maybe he could make people fall asleep like Freddy?  Curious indeed...

[broadaxes]

soulsickened·:

There wasn’t many reasons for Ellen to be wandering around outside. Too much walking would cause her legs to get sore and then she’d be stuck sitting somewhere for a long time, not fun if it was cold or getting dark quickly. But her last stay here hadn’t been very productive either  …  so she decided to go outside at least once a day. If not for medicine, then for something else. Like the books she was currently clutching to her upper body. The library in this ward was quite special  -  offering spells and flora from other worlds if you could find a book that wasn’t unreadable. She had already been warned that she wouldn’t really get anything from it, but it was worth a try either way.

Besides, they were concealing the knife she was holding.

Ellen was very well aware of the man that was following her. How could she not be? It was very obvious and she had been intending to lead him somewhere secluded so she could kindly show him the error of his ways. But no, fate seemed to have an entirely different plan for him, eyes quickly turning to look at him the moment she heard a noise coming from him. Oh, how hard it was to stop the smile from forming on her face, but there were surely people staring now thanks to the woman’s screams. So she did what any child would likely do  ;  stand in “shock”.

Not once did she look away from the man, eyes capable of burning holes into him as she just watched him bleed out in front of her. It wasn’t long after that she suddenly saw someone finishing him off for her as well  -  clearly someone had the same idea as her.

Face finally moved away from the corpse and up to the woman who was speaking to her. Ellen could easily just laugh, say that what she was saying was obvious and leave it at that. But why else would anyone want to kill a man for following a little girl? Because that’s what she was perceived as. Just a little girl. Not a killer. And if that was what this woman saw? Then that would be what she gets.

“ Oh  …  “ She looked down at the corpse again, deciding to step over and around the pool of blood to make her way behind the taller figure, almost as if she was seeking protection. She wasn’t, of course, but it was all for the act. “ People are creepy here  …  thank you, miss. “ A moment of hesitation. “ But  …  did you have to kill him? I mean  …  I could’ve just ran  …  “

Anna watched the young girl with a discerning gaze as she carefully stepped around him to approach her.  Her reactions were muted, and not what she had expected after slaughtering a man in front of her.  Screaming?  Yes.  Crying?  Definitely.  It tugged on a memory deep in the back of her mind, but not enough to surface it.

“Running away does not solve problems.  Sometimes it creates new ones.”  She made a jerking motion with her hatchet to flick off the blood and then shoved it into her stolen artillery belt.  “That man was trash.  Even if you got away, the next little girl might not have.  He deserved to die.”  The soldiers that traveled through her forest were the same.

“You are not scared.”  A statement, not a question.  “Being brave is good, but it can also be foolish.  I have met many brave men who were not so brave in the end.”  This girl was so small that Anna was pretty sure she could crunch her up like a piece of paper.  She would have the protect her, there were no other options.  Plenty of people would attempt to prey on her -- especially since she seemed so comfortable walking around alone.

“Is your mother somewhere near?  I would like to walk you to her.”  She realized it was a bold assumption to make; perhaps this little girl was like her, and had no mother to go home to.  “Or, at least take you somewhere safe.  Who knows if this man had friends.”  Anna didn’t elaborate, but she felt her implication was clear.  One dead body could potential turn into a pile if they didn’t leave the scene soon.

[broadaxes]

pizzaleader·:

It was about that time of the week to fill up the bit of space his his fridge with s bit of food. It was perhaps the most normal and in routine thing for anyone. It did provide a good peace of mind, he’ll at least have something warm to eat. 

…

If only it was that simple to not think of the friends, huddle together in the campfire, trying to survive trial after trial. Dwight couldn’t even feel selfish about this at all. But he had already been taken away from here before, there’s a chance it could happen again. Maybe it would be easier to just take advantage of what you have before it’s gone in an instant. 

At least the cereal isle would help out. At least, that’s what Dwight would love to think, until a familiar loud voice broke through those thoughts as he turned to see the Huntress approach him. Not with a axe, but with… a basket of food?

This would be the perfect chance to try and run away, but the question only baffled the leader into staying in place as he looked at the item in her hand. Did… did she not know what cereal was? He took a moment to study the killer before him, believing right there that she was one hundred percent serious about her question.

“Umm… t-that’s cereal. You know? You put that in a bowl a-and pour some milk into it. It’s usually for breakfast…” Dwight glanced at her basket again before looking at the Huntress. “… Are you shopping? For food?”

“Seer-e-al.  I see...”  She contemplated the name as she stared at the box again.  “The villages did not have this when I visited them.  It must be new.”  New to her at least.  Anna noticed locker boys gaze as he focused on her basket of food, then back at her.  He sounded so incredulous that it momentarily confused her.

“Yes?  Why else would I be here?  I thought you were supposed to be one of the smart ones.”  She suddenly let out a barking laugh.  “Ha!  You think we do not eat?!  I am human, same as you.  I must eat.”  Now that she thought about it, she supposed Rin didn’t eat.  But Rin was also a prizrak so it didn’t count.  “There are many different foods here that I have not seen.  Like this,” she whipped out the bag of yellow ovals and shoved it in his face.

“It has a potato on the front, yes?  But the picture of the food is no potato I have ever seen.  So strange.”  Anna dropped it back in her basket along with the cereal.  “It is must easier to get food here.  But it is not fun.  Getting food should be a reward!  This is just...a chore.  You look right at home here locker boy; this place is very similar to where you are from, yes?”

[valsharesses]

✖ ———— Were it not for the tragic fall at the apex of her first victory in this wretched land, she would have been aware of the woman sniffing around in the Underside the instant she set foot in her den of wolves. But where she once had the loyalty and fear of every man and woman in the Underside, she now has but a fraction. No matter– she knows of the woman now, and it’s time to see what exactly this one wants.

Cloaked and masked, she approaches in the dark, dramatic as ever with a descent from the rooftops, landing elegantly in the other’s path. “You have been looking for something, jalil,” the Valsharess says, heels grinding against the gravel as she pulls them together, standing with a delicate hand against her chin, supported by the opposite forearm. “Allow me to save you the hassle.”

( You can’t see the smile, but you can hear it in her voice, @broadaxes​. )

[broadaxes]

Anna had sensed someone was following her awhile ago now.  The Underside was full of people who wouldn’t hesitate to start a fight if it meant they’d make some cash; however, she wasn’t sure what she’d done to deserve being stalked.  Her size was certainly intimidating, but she frankly wasn’t all that out of place here.  Now she knew how the Survivors felt when they had to face Michael -- she wasn’t a fan of the hunter becoming the hunted.

A diminutive woman leapt from one of the roofs and cut off Anna mid-step.  Her face was concealed by a plain black shield; Anna thought it strange, as most people didn’t seem concerned about showing off their face in the Underside despite the seedy business.  She placed one hand on her hip and the other on the handle of one of her hatchets.

“You do not know what I am looking for.”  A pause.  Well, she had been struggling to sell her services; this woman had probably overheard she speaking with someone earlier.  “I am looking for money.  I will bloody by hands to make it, if I must.”  Anna shrugged.  “I think you do have something for me.  Otherwise you would not have spent the past 15 minutes following me.”

[broadaxes]

Bodark Axes coming to a Cotes Ward near you soon..........

[broadaxes]

@pizzaleader

Since hunting animals here was essentially forbidden, Anna now had to debase herself to the menial task that was grocery shopping.  Unfortunately, she was completely illiterate and couldn’t read a single thing on any of the packaging.  For the most part it was easy to pick things based on the colorful pictures on the front, but over 3/4ths of the food in the store were things she’d never seen in her life.

She was puzzling over a bag with strange little flat, yellow ovals on them.  There were about a hundred bags of them taking up significant shelf space; some of them were crinkly looking, and others were slightly different colors -- those bags also had other images on them, like wedges of cheese, and what seemed to be onions.  Strange.  Even the villages back home didn’t have such bizarre food; this must be some strange, futuristic, calorie packing substance.

Anna dropped it inside her grocery basket which was already mostly full of various cuts of meat.  She marched around the corner and found herself accosted by yet another aisle full of peculiar food.  This time she held a small box that had a picture of a bowl full of some puffy white things.  What on earth...  Her ears tuned in to a familiar set of footsteps; someone she knew was cautiously rounding the same corner she had just moments ago.

Good, a familiar face.

“Locker boy,” Anna marched up to him without preamble, “what is this food?”

[broadaxes]

@chewypencaps

Anna twirled one of her hatchets in her hand as she paced back and forth on the outskirts of the Forest of Airaisal; she gently hummed to herself, lost deep in thought.  She had some awful luck getting sucked back here again; she supposed that made it the third time she’d been snatched from her home by mysterious forces.

She’d make the best of it -- she’d have to.  Although she was a solitary creature by nature, she had to admit she was already feeling a tiniest twinge of loneliness knowing that she was once again trapped here alone.  Entering the entity’s realm had been disorienting at first, but she at least had allies there.  Here...well, she wasn’t able to maim people blindly, and that was frankly annoying.

The back of her neck prickled as she sensed someone was watching her; it brought her out of her reverie as she turned on her heel and sent the hatchet flying in the direction she felt the presence.  The hatchet buried itself into a tree trunk which she immediately stalked towards.  It was a warning shot more than anything else -- Anna hoped it would scare them off.  She wasn’t particularly in the mood for a fight today.

As she approached her buried hatchet, she saw a familiar shroud peeking out from behind a nearby tree.  Could it be?  Anna unceremoniously yanked the hatchet from the trunk and let out a low chuckle as she tutted.

“Danny, Danny, Danny.  You are always playing hide and seek like a child.”

[broadaxes]

@whohassummonedme

Anna wandered through the streets of the Golden Ward, not looking for anything in particular.  Every day felt like she was simply finding ways to waste time; there wasn’t much she could do as far as being a productive member of society -- not that cared to be anyway -- and without the Entity feeding her bloodlust she felt like she was just walking around kicking rocks.

It’d be nice if she could find someone to grapple with.  Everyone here was too small, too weak, too frail; she knew none of them would be worthy opponents.  Also, she wasn’t keen to get in trouble with the Stars or whoever -- they seemed like they would be tiresome to deal with.  Killing random people for fun just wasn’t in the cards for her.

That’s when she saw him: a knight, so large and dark that it wouldn’t surprise her if you told her he’d been twisted by the Entity.  He looked like he’d been peeled from the pages of one of the stories her mother used to read to her -- but no, he couldn’t be the good guy.  Good knights don’t look like him.  Perhaps she’d finally found someone worth fighting!  A mighty warrior!

Anna jogged after him; she was tall herself, but it was slightly difficult to keep up with his long strides.  It wouldn’t do to attack unprompted.  There had to be a way to request an epic battle, yes?

“Sir Knight,” that’s what they called them in her storybooks, “where is your weapon?”

[broadaxes]

@eusarca

The Underside was seedy, dirty, sketchy, and sort of gross.  It reminded her of Father Campbell’s Chapel, but there was no decaying mechanical horse braying every time she walked past.  Her mother would be disappointed to know she was even entertaining entering such a terrible place, but she wasn’t here for pleasure.  Oh no, she was here for business.

Anna needed money; the Entity didn’t exactly pay well, so she wasn’t making passive income like many others.  She couldn’t read or write and she was too prickly for customer service which cut out most all options.  An option that was still available to her; however, was something she had always been very good at -- hunting.  It had dawned on her that offering her services as a Killer might actually do her some good -- as long as she didn’t get caught.

The problem was marketing herself.  She didn’t exactly know how assassins got hired around here; it seemed her current strategy of ‘standing around looking intimidating’ wasn’t doing her any favors.  This was about as productive as her standing in the Forest flinging her hatchets at random trees -- and honestly she’d rather be there right now; anything was better than standing amongst these filthy people.

Out of the corner of her eye she noticed a person leaning against the wall, staring off into space.  They were certainly not the same filth that spent their time here; in fact they seemed quite out of place.  Maybe it was a ruse, but Anna was bored and her interest was piqued.  She approached and stood in front of them with her arms folded.

“You do not look like you belong here.  Why would you willingly roll around in the mud with these pigs?”

[broadaxes]

@soulsickened

Anna wasn’t the type to mope; she was back in Spirale, but this time her throwing hatchets hadn’t been taken from her.  Little victories.  She very quickly left her townhouse to see if anything had changed since her last stint in the city -- she was frankly hoping for something a little more interesting this time.

Cotes was...okay, it at least held the Airaisal Forest, which was as close to home as she could get.  This was her current goal as she hustled through the streets towards the dark woods; anything to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city streets.  Normally she barely paid attention to the other people around her, but a man across the street was slinking around so suspiciously she could help but notice.

Her eyes followed his own line of sight to see he was very carefully keeping tabs on a young girl walking slightly ahead of him.  Anna didn’t even hesitate as snatched a throwing hatchet from her belt, wound up, and let it fly with a grunt.  The hatchet buried itself neatly in the back of his head, and he collapsed to the ground.  A woman screamed as she watched Anna stalked across the street; several people stopped to watch in either awe or horror as the tall woman investigated her kill.

Ah, no he wasn’t dead.  He let out a gurgling noise as blood pooled around him; she yanked the hatchet out of his head and stomped on his neck with her heavy boots.  His neck broke with a sickening crack and he stopped making noise.  Anna turned her attention to the young girl who was looking at the man’s still warm corpse.

“He was following you.  You should watch after yourself.  These streets are not always safe.”