#headhunter jian

[bladeofthemists]

From Inktober 2016.Didn’t get around to scan this until recently. Enjoy!

[bladeofthemists]

Daddy’s Little Girl

"Where are you going?" 

 "I'm going to the bar." 

 "Can I come?" 

 "No."

"I WANNA COOOOOOOOME!"

"No, it's not safe there." He lies.

"We'll be safe together! Like when I burninated the bad lady!"

"Burni-what?"

"Burninate! Uncle Migi taught me that word!"

"That's not a real wo-whatever. You're staying here with Mom. She can keep you safe."

"But it's booooooring!"

"You're calling Tak boring?"

"Yes! I wanna go with yooooooooooou!"

"Well, when I come back, I'm going to tell Mom what you said about her." He turns from her to depart.

"No!" She grabs his leg and flops on the ground.

Jian sighs, and keeps walking. She tries to hold onto his leg, a dead weight. He scoots his legs, heading out of the estate. She loses her grip and starts throwing a tantrum.

Fearing for elemental retribution, he quickly picks her up. "Oh gods...okay! Okay! I'll take you to the bar."

Instantly the tears end. "Yay!"

He murmurs, "Fuckin' swear Toshiro's laughing in his grave..."

[bladeofthemists]

The Wolf’s Legacy (IV)

It became exceedingly difficult to recall the last dozen human bounties Jian had done after a sharp throbbing migraine and a few hours receiving lashes from an over-eager inquisitor. The justicar of the camp watched the session as he prods into Jian’s memories.

“Do you confess the murders of Initiate Cerath Cravenstone, Savant Juliean Voss, late High Inquisitor Alaric and those from his estate?” The inquisitor repeats himself.

Jian remains silent with eyes shut tightly, fighting the mental probing and slowly losing ground. Another crack and another cry of pain. Chains rattle as blood oozes from his newly opened gashes. He coughs.

“I...confess.”

The justicar folds his arm, “Impressive specimen. It would take a day or two to break a man, but you, despite mental scarrings from mesmers you’ve slain years ago, took four days.”

Jian grunts as his face is grabbed by his chin and forces to look at the bald, pale man with dark eyes with a cruel smile.

“What are you, Omega? What sort of demonic powers do you possess?”

The justicar only receives a spit filled with blood. He withdraws his hand and motions the inquisitor to continue. Jian gives out of guttural cry.

“Fuck! I confessed to the murders!”

“Yes you did, but this is an interrogation, subject Omega. We’ve many questions about your powers and your family.”

“I don’t know,” He pants, cringing from the sharp stings. “I know jack shit of my family!”

“Nothing? Are you certain?” The justicar attempts to prod again into Jian’s memories. “That time in the Mists…”

The man grimaces, “I don’t remember anything from that.” “I know you don’t, but your mind says something else. Those dogs that saved you from death aren’t just random mist wolves. They are your family. When one of your members pass away, their spirit transforms into wolves to guide other lost souls to the Mists.”

“What?”

“However, you are different. Your soul left your body, but it somehow returned. I’ve figured that the original soul of the demon your bloodline worshipped has possessed you.”

Jian’s silence neither denies nor confirms his statement, but he continues.

“Yes, and it’s quite a discovery to learn you’ve descended from a mist entity.”

“And you’ve descended from a bald prick.” He seethingly retorts.

The justicar scowls and yanks Jian’s hair back. Jian looks up into his eyes and feels a sharp pain in the back of his head, simmering down his spine. He felt every nerve in his body on fire, and Jian could only give out of silent scream before slumping against his chains, dazed.

The bald man lets go of Jian, leaving him hanging. As he turns to leave the room, he looks over at the Inquisitor.

“Do not return him to his cell. He’s to stay here for his repentance. Keep him awake even if he tries to sleep.”

“For how long, sir?” “A fortnight.”

“You are aware that it might kill him?”

“It might, but I’m certain it might reveal something extraordinary.”

The justicar is somewhat wrong in his prediction. It took three days when the White Mantle camp erupts into a spectacular blue fury of flames. A creature in the fire takes the shape of a wolfish silhouette as it reaches its claw into the sky and summoning a large, ghostly blue greatsword. The sword impales the center of the camp; the shockwave obliterates everything in its path.

A moment later all is quiet. The blue flames have all been snuffed by the shockwave. The wolf creature simply disappears in a forlorn howl, leaving behind the smoldering ashes of what was left of the camp.

(Concept Art by Arenanet)

[bladeofthemists]

The Wolf’s Legacy (III)

“That’s the last time I’m taking Jian’s advice.” Yi grumbled as he yanked at his wrists, which were wrapped in blood red chains. Channeling his inner self to break free, he found that they sapped away his reserves, glowing a fierce red. Bloodstone-infused bindings, forged to contain magically dangerous foes of the White Mantle; they figured the Headhunter of Lion’s Arch is one of these dangerous foes.

He was close, very close, to find the man that killed his brother’s parents. The preparations to infiltrate were nearly solid, from crafting the Headhunter armor of his late brother to painting the scars on his face. It wasn’t unknown if the White Mantle was aware of his brother’s loyalty, but it was a fact he rather risk before the opportunity of justice slips away.

However, he paid dearly for it.

They let him in easily, as invitation to discuss of a mercenary contract to assassinate a Shining Blade supporter and steal his supplies. Yi was a fool to believe Jian would accept the contract as his brother previously took the contract to kill his boss, Lord Toshiro Kimura. His eagerness gave his client suspicions, followed by simple questions that gave doubt. He was led down a few corridors decorated with red, gold, and white motifs.

Upon meeting a smiling man adorned in white garments and golden tassels with a red tabard marked with the White Mantle insignia, he found himself surrounded by armored knights with blood red swords styled similar to the ones he unsheathed, but corrupted with bloodstone slivers along the unsharpened edge.

He fought his way out of the room, but met a wall of clones, waiting to be shattered to inflict insurmountable pain. In surrender, he dropped his knife, and then his sword as they bound him and knocked him out.

The pulsing red light peeking from his window annoyed him, and he shifted his shackled body for a peaceful comfort. It won’t be long before they come to question him, his ties to his brother, and soon Lord Kimura. They will probably kill him afterward, probably give Jian his head as a gift. He was not looking forward to the torture before his death, and there were quite a few milestones in his life he regretted to fall short.

Footsteps stopped at his door. Bolts clacked and slid across metal, and the door sung open. The smiling man he met prior to his capture greeted him with a kick into his side and a harsh tug of his pony tail. Yi let out an angered whimper as the guard took him out for his first round of interrogations.

Gods dammit Jian.

(ref Prison 4 by emingokkurt)

[bladeofthemists]

That Wolf Tattoo

A moan escaped his lips as he stirred from another drunken sleep. His head popped out of the snow, looking around to see norn and dolyak walking about. Snowfall had waned as the sun peaked through the clouds, illuminating the dark hardwood beams decorated with bronze.

 Hoelbrak. He blacked out in Hoelbrak.

 Shifting around, he realized that most of his casual wear had gone amiss.

 Naked. He blacked out in Hoelbrak, naked.

 A familiar whimper emanated from beneath the snow next to him. Patting away the snow, Jian uncovered Yi shivering in his sleep. He, too, was lacking clothes save for a pair of black linen shorts.

 Yi. He blacked out in Hoelbrak, naked, with Yi.

 Rubbing his temples, he tried to recall last night’s events as he sits up.

 ---

A large bottle of whiskey and a pair of shot glasses rested in front of Yi. He turned to see his other self with a shit-eating grin plastered across his face.

 “What is it?”

 “A proper celebration between the both of us, my dearest. A reunion worthy of a hard drink, brother!”

 “Okay, Jian. I know we do look alike, but that doesn’t mean we’re brothers by blood.” He grumbled, turning away.

 “Oh come on! It’s fate we look the same; we’ve must be separated at birth, and our parent’s kept it a secret.” With a wolfish grin, he tilted the bottle over to pour both of them a drink.

 “You know, Jian. You’re crazy.”

 ---

Prodding him awake, Yi moans. “Remind me to never drink with you again.”

 Jian chuckled, throwing loose snow at him. “Oh it wasn’t that bad, light-weight.”

 “I felt like a norn and a charr decided to double-team and I got the receiving end.” Yi shook the snow from his head.

 “I’d love to see that happen to you…I mean…me?” He corrected the comment as Yi threw a death glare at him.

 “Though, last night was painful. Did we fight a bear or something?” He groaned, rubbing his right shoulder. He paused, feeling a large cloth bandage draped over his shoulder blade. A memory surfaced from his subconscious, and he turned towards Jian; mouth agape.

 ---

The norn artist stared at the drunk, obnoxious human twins and shrugged, pointing at the weaving and tribal symbols with pricing on parchment paper that was hung for his customers. Jian shook his head, pulling out a piece of paper of his own, which bore a picture of a pair of fiery wolves. Yi stared, nearly dropping the half-empty glass of firewater.

 “You’re kidding, right?”

 Jian chuckled. “You and I are brothers. We must look similar. And I want a wolf tattoo.”

 His other-self lowered his head, quiet for a moment while Jian slapped his shoulder. “So! Where do you want it? Shoulder, back, arm, leg, rear, groin?”

 Yi paled at the later options as he belched. “I… did not agree to a tattoo…ugh… Jian. A tabard would be nice.”

 “Too late.” Jian hollered at the norn, who’s busy cleaning the needles. He slapped down a few copper instead of gold. “This pussy’s would like one on his ass.”

 The norn rolled his eyes and nodded, wondering about the poor mother who gave birth to these hooligans, “And you?”

 “Where ever makes me look better than him.”

 “Hrm…ladies do prefer a man with markings on the shoulder blades.” The artist raised his burly eyebrow, as he picked up the copper coins.

 “Done!” In a flash, his shirt was off with scars showing. Yi stepped back.

 “Whoa! What…?”

 “What are you waiting for? Pants off.” Jian haphazardly waved at Yi’s breeches; the bottle of whiskey nearly empty in his hand.

 ---

Jian and Yi sat still, facing each other. The actions of their previous night soon dawned on them. Jian briskly stood up and met aching pain radiating from his left side of his rear. He lamented; his hand covering his face partly in shame.

 “Yi.”

 “How much did we pay the tattoo guy?”

[bladeofthemists]

Skeletons in the Closet

1327 Zephyr 75

 It was a risky contract, but my foolish brother agreed. I do not know what possessed him. Perhaps he did it for the money or out of pride. Whatever the reason, it was not worth it.

 “The area is collapsing, hurry!” Yi yelled at Jian, who was busy defending the portable asuran gate from a slender, wispy creature. The staff it held was solid black; it reflected no light. The strange staff consumed everything it touched, except the burning flames of Jian’s sword.

 “J-just go!” The hunter gritted his teeth, holding back the enraged creature’s staff from trying to kill him outright. Yi had better leave, as he could feel his reserves empty of magic.

 “I can’t leave you here!” His brother barked back. “Your wife will kill me!”

“Well, tell her that I’m sorry-dammit!” His aegis broke, and he slid backwards from the force, nearly tripping himself from loose debris. The ground beneath him crumbled as he slowly rose up with a hardened face. The creature floated over to the cornered man and raised its dark staff to finish him off.

 “Jian!” Yi took a few steps forward to aid his brother, only to be deterred by the uneven ground collapsing around the portal. With eyes locked, he knew that his cries won’t help Jian. Stepping backwards, he retreats through the portal just as it flickers closed.

 With a final roar, Jian drove his sword through the entity, and the ground fell away at their feet.

 He wanted to prove himself that even though he was the most feared headhunter in Tyria, he could still be a hero.

 “Huuahhh….” A gasp left his lips, in response to a wave of pinpricks washing over him

 He wasn’t sure if he’s dead or alive. Whatever the state he’s in, he wished that the pain would just go away. Debris shuddered as he tried to pick himself up, but his body refused to move.

 Seeing pale blue silhouettes dancing in his peripheral vision, his eyes slowly shifted to a pack of blue, misty wolves scavenging the cloudy remnants of what used to be the area he and his team investigated before the strange Mist entity attacked them. Disabled and dying, he silently prayed that they would find him and finish him off painlessly.

 “H-help...help me…” The wolf’s ears perks up, and it turns. Blue flames clouds his vision as he reaches out desperately in hopes that it could hear him. A cool feeling grew from his arm where the ghost-like being touched with its nose, but soon his vision blacks out.

But what point is being a hero if he’s not here with us?

[bladeofthemists]

Day 11 - Is there an animal you equate with your character?

Based on his past and pedigree. He’s more in-line with a wolfdog mix.

He has a predator instinct, but with an occasional playful, curious feel. Jian does feel timid or meek when surrounded by a lot of people, but flash him some coin or a chance at sex or a fight and he breaks out of that real quick. He’s overly protective of those he considers his friends.

[bladeofthemists]

Day 10 - Can you define a turning point in your character’s life? Multiples are acceptable.

There are many turning points. The persona of the Headhunter, also known as Jian, was created within Yi when his parents were slain by centaurs. He festered and coalesced into singular mind of a demon, thirsty for power. He was freed from his other self by a young necromancer, but slowly - and unintentionally - fell in love with her. Upon accidentally knocking her up, he contemplated his identity, as a bounty hunter, a father, a husband, a freak of nature, and a powerful Mistfire wolf. He made a decision of his fate, and sacrificed it all to oblivion. He woke up in the swamps of Godlost, remembering nothing but his name.