Makai Hunters. [Chapter 1]

[~Humphrey_Nonyton~]

[Note: This thread is closed to Manda AKA Dreamers. If anybody else wants to participate then just hit me up, I don't bite...much. :P ]

At the training dojo in his home town, Humphrey of Clan Nonyton looked at the scroll.

It was sent into their town two days prior, and the Masters of the Warders were in an uproar about the contents of the scroll.

The courier was from the Royal Palace which meant the situation was dire.

Humphrey was one of the top students at the dojo, and he was the most prepared for the expedition at hand.

The master Warder, a Kanojin named Reishi looked at Humphrey with a stern expression on his face. "This threat is very serious. There hasn't been a sighting of this magnitude in many generations." Reishi said carefully. "The royal palace sent us the writ in the first place."

Humphrey knew the score, the odds. After all Hill Giants were thought long since a thing of the past. At least a thing of Akashima's past I would wager. Humphrey looked at the information on the scroll. It was very detailed, no one from the Royal Palace was currently skilled enough to dispatch the Hill Giant in question. Humphrey read the scroll over and over, there was a map contained within the parcel as well. "If it's true, I won't need a map." Humphrey said flatly.

"It is a decree from the Royal Palace, how can you doubt it?" Reishi suddenly said.

Humphrey shook his head. "Master forgive my insolence, but we are Warders. We are trained to deal with what others cannot deal with. They claim it's a Hill Giant of mature status. As you say it's ilk has not been sighted on Akashima in generations." Humphrey shook his head. "I cannot help but to think this might be bullshit." Humphrey took one more glance at the writ. "However, a town is in immediate danger of Makai attack. Something is attacking those villagers and we must respond as the Code decrees." Humphrey was a smart Kanojin, and he took all matters seriously at all times. Humphrey looked at the young warders training in the dojo. Then he looked at Master Reishi. "I will leave as soon as I am ready." Humphrey said.

"Humphrey, if it's true...the Makai will test you. Test your training to it's very foundation. I wish I could spare more man power to go with you." Master Reishi said carefully. "The writ is an official decree, we cannot ignore it that's why you're going." Master Reishi said with a hint of growing irritation. "Make sure you always mind your training boy, it will save you."

Humphrey paused for a moment. He kept his eyes on Master Reishi. For a moment, a darkness passed across Humphrey's face. However, the warder held his tongue. We are on the same side here. Humphrey thought to himself and simply nodded in response. "I will destroy whatever threat the village faces." Humphrey continued. "I will find out for certain if it's truly a Hill Giant attacking, or merely exaggeration. The Royal Palace needs to remain out of our affairs anyway." Humphrey handed the letter over to Master Reishi. But, he kept the writ on his person which was a legally binding document. "If it is in fact a Hill Giant that we are facing, I will send word back here as soon as I am able to." Humphrey did not have to like it, but he would do his duty.

***

Two Day Later...

The outskirts of Shashimi Village were near one of the old mountain ranges.

Surrounding the village was a well developed rice field.

It was on a Tuesday afternoon when Humphrey arrived, it was the fifth hour of the day. Humphrey was not tired, and was eager to begin on his mission to save Shashimi Village. Humphrey noticed that the rice fields were unusually empty, he'd been to the small hunter/gatherer village before. It was normally full of the activity from the natives. Akashimans of all sorts lived there and were a hardy lot capable of surviving against many things. As Humphrey walked he noticed the unusually high tension in the air, the atmosphere was almost oppressive. His eyes narrowed as he looked about, the fields of rice were only one aspect of the growing village. Humphrey maneuvered carefully through the rice field, his sharp eyes studying the surrounding area. Nobody is outside...but I smell people here. They are likely hiding. Humphrey was glad that he'd come to the village by himself...he didn't like many people that could interfere with his Warder's duty. Humphrey made his way towards the village proper.

As soon as he entered, the warder saw someone standing outside one of the larger houses. He is likely their Elder. Humphrey made his way towards the older looking Hume.

As soon as Humphrey approached the Elder, the old man stared at him with a harsh expression. However, he addressed Humphrey immediately. "You there, Warder, have you come to save us?"

Humphrey merely nodded. He showed the Elder the writ in his possession, it was a legally binding contract.

The Elder looked at Humphrey with a that same serious expression. "Follow me inside. There is much to talk about. You are going to have help for this task though."

Humphrey deeply frowned at the idea of outsiders assisting him on Warder business. However, he had a job to do. "I was not told that others would be involved." Humphrey said coldly.

The Elder looked at Humphrey with an almost angry expression on his face. "Do you take me and my people for fools, Warder? We've been sending contracts out for helps for weeks now. And your dojo only sends us one Warder. Of course you will have help. You might not like it, but we don't frankly care."

The Elder was rubbing Humphrey the wrong way but he bit his tongue. "The contract stated that you guys think a Giant of some sort is responsible for the attacks." Humphrey said.

That rubbed The Elder wrong. He immediately stopped everything he was doing and looked right at Humphrey's face. "Look. I don't know how your types handle this sort of shit. But the Hill Giant began it's attacks about a month ago. We've sent petitions for help but nobody has responded until earlier this week. If you ever disrespect my village again...I will cut you do you understand?"

Humphrey looked at the Elder with a very serious expression on his face. "If you value your life, you will not threaten me again, Elder." Humphrey found himself saying. "Do you have information on the Makai that I can review?" Humphrey decided to change the subject.

The Elder shook his head. "The others are already reviewing the data. You are late, Warder. As your kind has been late in the past to save us."

Humphrey suddenly got angry. "You know what?" Humphrey began. "I can hunt the Makai without any so called tactical data you might have on it. I'll go by myself." Humphrey turned around and started to leave the Elder's House.

The Elder chuckled. "I won't try to stop you but there is information you might need." The Elder said in a elevated tone of voice.

Humphrey paused just inside of the Elder's house. He did not bother turning around. "Keep your scout's data, I work alone. I'll go on alone. When I have warded the Makai I will return here with my full report."

The Elder shook his head. "You're fucking crazy! You're going to need reinforcements to face that thing!" The Elder insisted, attempting to manipulate Humphrey.

Humphrey would have none of that. "Elder." Humphrey said as he left. "I am the reinforcements." And he proceeded to hunt the Makai by himself. As he was a Warder, Warders preferred to work alone. They only accepted help from trusted allies...usually.

They claim it's a Hill Giant. We shall soon see won't we?!

(^Enter here as Humphrey is leaving the Elder's house.)

[Dreamers]

My Dearest Yu,


I woke with the first light, and found a prayer upon our altar. It was written with fire and blood. As my trembling hands took up the paper and unfolded it, I found the following request: Please save us from the Hill Giant. Upon my finger, the red thread tied there felt as if it were tugging, and so I have answered that call.

The town that I came into was small, quaint. There was an air of unease everywhere, and it took some time before I found the village elder. He’d told me that someone else had also been contracted to protect the village from the Hill Giant. To be honest, I was relieved. There is never a reason to fight alone, my sweet friend. Strength finds us in numbers.

When I left the elder, I found Humphrey, the mercenary that had been hired on before I arrived. He was a creature I had never seen before, and I am sure that you have never seen such beast or man either, Yu. He appears to be some form of werefox, if you will. He was intimidating. As I approached, I couldn’t help but warily eye the claws that tipped his reach or the teeth in his mouth.

Despite my fear – yes my friend I was afraid – I greeted him warmly.

[~Humphrey_Nonyton~]

And so it occurred that Humphrey was no longer alone.

With eyes on him from the locales...he knew he was not welcome in town. So he decided to step quickly away from the Elder's house. Just then, a girl in robes greeted him. For a moment, Humphrey was almost startled since he was lost in his thoughts. The Warder immediately identified the girl as one of them Magi types. She had an actually pleasant air about her...that was a change. Humphrey nodded towards her. "Forgive my reaction just now. I did not mean any of my current sour mood towards you." Humphrey noticed that she carried a staff likely made of oak or yew. She seems more capable than the rest of the rabble at the Elder's house. She did not dress like the locales. He assumed she was from some far off province, and he immediately noticed the seriousness in her eyes. She is someone sensible. Humphrey thought to himself. "If you are here about the job, you can come with me. There is nothing at the Elder's house of use to us anyway and it grows late. We should get on the move before the target decides it wants to go on a rampage again." Humphrey had gathered that much so far. It seemed the target was making rounds on the village and that's why everybody was acting like shitheads. He did not want to subject the female Mage to the Elder's bad behavior.

Some of that may have been my fault... Humphrey thought to himself.

The kitsune felt his tail twitching in the breeze. He looked at the leather outfit of the girl...her attire seemed well put together. "Makai's influence is stronger during the night...we should make haste." Humphrey offered a small smile towards the girl, and proceeded to walk towards the exit of the village.

That was when it happened.

"There he is!" Came the serious call of the Elder.

A voice that Humphrey would never forget.

Humphrey suddenly found himself surrounded by several adventurers.

He looked towards the girl. Seriousness in his eyes to match her own. "Run, I will cover you."

One of the veteran adventurers looked at Humphrey with a deadly expression on his face. "Think you can fuck us out of our gold coin by taking the target for yourself!?" The adventurer said angrily.

Humphrey shook his head, his hands going to the hilt of his steel katana. "I am not here for want of coin. I am here to kill a Demon." Humphrey spoke loudly enough for the nearby girl to hear. So she would know his intentions with the village.

"The hour grows late Warder. Your kind is not wanted here." The Adventurer drew a steel broadsword from it's scabbard, the other four men gathered their own gear. The Elder watched with an amused expression from the safety of his house. "We got here first."

Again, Humphrey shook his head. "We are on the same side." Humphrey assumed that at least. "I just want to be done with this job so me and my friend can go home." He addressed the female Adenturer as an ally for her own safety.

That was when the Adventurer stepped closer towards Humphrey...uncomfortably close. "You've disrespected the Elder of this village and attempted to take a bounty away from us. Sorry friend, these are tough times but it looks like your luck has just run out..." The veteran Adventurer was suddenly knocked back on his ass.

Humphrey struck quickly, the acrobat had lunged forward with both fists and struck the man right in the chest. Humphrey was not terribly strong...he was fast. And sometimes speed held it's own advantages. Humphrey's eyes moved from gathered adventurer to adventurer. They surrounded him still but there was a nervous tension in the air after their leader had been knocked down. "I will not warn you twice. Stay out of Warder affairs." Humphrey said calmly. Deadly calm. His eyes were narrowed as he observed the closest of the strangers. "Ask yourselves...is your lives really worth this shit?!" Humphrey asked seriously. He was in a tight combat stance and prepared to beat the crap out of all them if need be. The leader of the ruffians stood up after he'd just got his ass beat. Humphrey's eyes darted towards the leader...he would be his primary target if the battle called for it.

"Warder...show me your writ." The leader said.

Humphrey hesitated for the briefest of moments, his hands still on the grip of his primary weapon. "...I refuse. I've already showed it to the Elder. He thought it prudent to disrespect me and the Warders as a whole. I am not obliged to show any leniency towards any of you clowns." Humphrey said, his voice was acid.

The leader was not expecting that reaction, and turned to look back towards the Elder for confirmation. The Elder had no choice but to nod that it was true...Humphrey had a writ for the Hill Giant. "What do you intend to do with the prize gold for the target?"

Humphrey remained in combat position. "I thought I made myself perfectly clear. I am here to kill a Demon. You jack asses can take the gold and keep it for yourselves...but I have a much larger prize. Now if you all will excuse me, myself and the kind lady have work to do." Humphrey relaxed his stance and straightened his back so he was in his full height. He took a look at the girl who was still present strangely enough. He nodded towards her. "Let's go to work." Humphrey said casually and walked away from the village and the idiotic hunting party. He hoped the female Advenurer would follow, since the village itself was no longer safe for either of them.