oh shit get back in the car

[thornsofmalkav]

So, uh, Rosalie's been telling me that she's heard of some weird random attacks on the supernatural community here and at least one murder of a vampire. And, like, I don't want to say this is a definitely, but...

It might be Hunters. We might have some Hunters on our hands here in Sarmatia.

Most of you guys should be... well, not safe but safer? Like, they're probably going to look to subvert you--that's how a pair of them wiped out all the vampires in my hometown except my sire about three years before I was born--they subverted a ghoul's brother and through him a couple actual ghouls who weren't fully bound yet--at least that's what my sire said--not that I guess it matters, but--

Well. They're after the real supernaturals, not their servants, so at worst most of you'll just be unexpected casualties, but still.

Stay safe and be careful, okay?

Comments

[stopinthenameofawe]

[she's not super happy that people will be on the lookout now, but... time to play like she didn't know.]

Well, fuck.

...They wiped your entire town? How the hell did you sire get away? [she doesn't know whether to praise those hunters for being so efficient or smack them for missing that asshole]

[thornsofmalkav]

... I'm pretty sure it had to do with locking himself in his hidden bomb shelter for a month, but don't quote me on that.

[stopinthenameofawe]

Somehow I don't think that approach will work for most people.

[thornsofmalkav]

Yeah. Not with an election going on.

You think maybe that's what we're here for? Not the election, I mean, but the Hunters?

[stopinthenameofawe]

I haven't heard anything, and as far as I can tell they're got almost no history of it. It'd be a first.

[thornsofmalkav]

So they have no idea how to protect themselves. Fuck.

So, uh, I guess we've got a second job to do here?

[stopinthenameofawe]

[sorry thorne. she is actually a tiny bit sorry.]

I'm not sure crying wolf is a good idea with the current climate, but... those of us who are investigating at least need to keep a sharper eye.

[thornsofmalkav]

Yeah. Like, I don't think this would be a good time to freak everyone out. But yeah. Shit. Everyone needs to keep their eyes open.

[inexecution]

So hunters are people who don't particularly care for the supernatural, I take it? [That seemed patently ridiculous to him, but honestly, most prejudices were, so he wasn't surprised either.]

If people are being killed, I imagine the community will figure out the problem on their own, but if they don't, I suppose we should alert them.

And if a situation arises where we need someone to investigate something that might put them in harm's way... let me know. I can help. [Which probably sounds a little ridiculous to anyone who only knows him in passing, but it's the sort of thing he's good at.]

[thornsofmalkav]

Violently, yeah. And they absolutely do not discriminate between people just harmlessly trying to live their unlives and true monsters.

I'd rather see if we can deal with the Hunter first, just so we don't end up with everyone panicking and the election being thrown to whoever can pack the most heat. But if we can't, yeah, then we should tell them.

And, uh, thanks for offering, dude.

[inexecution]

I see. You're probably right... [Although with as many of their own currently part of the 'locals' at risk as there are, he's not sure if that's a policy everyone would agree to.]

I'll try to keep track of the local gossip for clues... the sooner it can be dealt with the better, I'm sure.

[thornsofmalkav]

I mean, shit. I'd rather tell people, but as newcomers we're probably the first people they'd suspect and I really don't want to get you guys lynched, even if the Trumps would bring us back.

And thanks, dude.

[inexecution]

That makes sense. Just make sure you're safe as well. I know the Trumps always bring us back, but that doesn't mean we should make a habit of dying.

[thornsofmalkav]

[She wants to say 'too late' but really, she's only died three times? And only one of those times was on a Jaunt.]

I'll do my best.

[ivanyouidiot]

Being an unexpected casualty is still not okay.

[thornsofmalkav]

Yeah, Ivan. I know. I know. Well, if we can shut down the Hunter or Hunters maybe no one else has to be one.

[ivanyouidiot]

You're in more danger, aren't you?

[thornsofmalkav]

Me and Melissa. But, like, the Trumps usually resurrect us when we die. So I'm more woried about the native vampires, to be honest.

[ivanyouidiot]

These Hunters are really bad news then.

[thornsofmalkav]

They are super bad news. But at least we know now to be vigilant.

[ivanyouidiot]

Alright. If you need me, I'm around, and I'm a fair shot with a stunner.

[thornsofmalkav]

... is that a space weapon?

[ivanyouidiot]

I suppose so. But it works on planets too.

[thornsofmalkav]

So... like a phaser? Or a blaster?

[Excuse her while she gropes for science fiction handheld weapons.]

[ivanyouidiot]

Or a stunner. It's a lot like a stunner.

[thornsofmalkav]

Oh. Good.

... I'm guessing it stuns people, then.

[ivanyouidiot]

Yes! Exactly that.

[thornsofmalkav]

Good. You and Cassandra can be our first line of defense if the Hunter busts into Zed's house.

[ivanyouidiot]

Your wish is my command.

[runawaystory]

[Well, this is all...fairly disturbing.]

Hey, Rosalie here. I'd add more information but honestly, rumors about attacks is all I've got. Read the newspaper, stay informed, be careful.

[inexecution]

Are there any specifics, or is it just that people who really shouldn't be turning up dead are?

[Not that anyone turning up dead is good, but it'd be helpful to know if it's personal disputes or something that's genuinely a pattern.]

[runawaystory]

Nothing else I've heard of. At one point they thought they'd caught the culprit, but the attacks kept happening, so it looks like the attacks really are random, or there was more than one attacker running around.

...I figure the victims were nobodies, though. Or else we'd have seen a lot more hullabaloo about it.

[inexecution]

That's usually how it works, unfortunately. Until someone important gets hurt, no one's bothered. But maybe with the elections, that's a good thing, for us anyway. It's still unfortunate for the people who've been killed.

I wonder if this sort of thing happens often...

[He might have to ask around.]

[runawaystory]

If it did, would anyone even bother talking about it?

[inexecution]

Potentially, if it's only periodic, and not a constant occurrence.

If it's completely unprecedented, though, there's the timing to consider.

[runawaystory]

"Tension over the election" did seem like a popular theory.

[inexecution]

Interesting that they're not picking bigger targets, though. Maybe it's someone who lacks the confidence to go after the actual candidates?

[lunchleader]

[That sudden announcement startles Right as he's doing dishes, so please excuse the slip of swearing for a moment as he's picking up pieces of a now-broken plate.]

Hunters? You mean, people actually hunting werewolves? Are they attacking the bad ones, or the good ones?

[thornsofmalkav]

They attack all of them.

[Hunters don't fool around.]

[lunchleader]

Whaaaaat???

But--but why would they do that? Isn't that evil to just kill someone who's not evil themselves?

[thornsofmalkav]

Because Hunters think that being a vampire--or a werewolf--or a-- a whatever makes you evil automatically. And... honestly, back home there's a reason for them to suspect us all, at least when it comes to vampires. We've got this demon inside us called the Beast that's always urging us to do really heinous shit and sometimes people stop trying to ignore it and start listening to it. And those guys usually do need to be taken down.

Most of us are just trying to live our lives, though. Which is why it sucks to have Hunters around.

[lunchleader]

Sounds like a messed up version of the 'devil on the shoulder' to me.

Still, that's no excuse to be killing just anyone.

[thornsofmalkav]

A really messed up version. And yeah. Yeah. That's what makes Hunters suck so much. It wouldn't be so bad if they just took down the super big dicks, but they go after everyone.

[lunchleader]

They sound crazy and terrible. We need to find out who it is so that we can stop them from hurting - no, killing everyone.

[thornsofmalkav]

That's basically what we've got to do, yeah. Next time something like this happens, I'm going to try to see if I can get to the crime scene before it's all cleared up.

[lunchleader]

That's so we can figure out who they are, right?

[thornsofmalkav]

Right.

[lunchleader]

Good luck, then. If you do figure it out, let us know?

[thornsofmalkav]

I will. Promise.