[OOC] DC Universe: Age of Heroes (Dead)

[Vandy]

P.S. Is it a flat requirement to fill out the arc pitch section of the CS? I have many arcs to play with John but giving a good three of four of them away seems to spoil the fun somewhat.

@Roman

You don't have to spoil anything. That part of the CS is just to give us an idea of where you are going with the character. As for villains, I was thinking of putting together some sort of collab system to deal with that. The problem with making villains actual full time playable characters is the threat of a player disappearing. If Green Lantern disappears what do we do with Sinestro? Plus if, for example, I wanted Lex and Superman to interact and fight in a certain way or I had a plan for a Superman arc I wouldn't want to tell the player playing Lex how to play their character. See what I'm saying? However I do see the potential in players playing as villains and there's no denying that there is a fun dynamic to that. So I've been thinking that if a player were to play a villain, the hero could ask them to do so. The player playing as the villain would temporarily take that character over and write a sort of collab arc with the hero. And say if Batman wants to, he can allow a player to take over as the joker every time Batman has an arc against the Joker. I am of course open to suggestions on how to make this work!

[An Outsider]

Batman

The Batman The Dark Knight

Age:

24

Powers/Abilities:

• Peak human physical conditioning; Due to intense physical training and a strict diet he has achieved near superhuman levels of strength, endurance, speed, agility and reflexes.
• Genius Intellect; Has spent over two decades studying at the feet of some of the days greatest minds. Nigh unparalleled skills in deductive reasoning. Has in-depth knowledge in criminology, psychology, medicine, anatomy, computer and natural sciences, economics, botany and forensics.
• Master martial artist; Trained in over a dozen martial arts, with some basic understanding of forms and sets that make up many more, Bruce may well be one of the most skilled combatants of modern times. He employs a very grounded, pragmatic style which economises movement and momentum to maximise the damage he inflicts on foes for limited stamina expenditure. Though his training was cut short due to the need to return Gotham he has still found time to learn a great many of the pressure points, and the nerve strikes needed to incapacitate them, in the human body.
• Stealth, disguise, infiltration and escapology; Has had training in all of the above, and considered a master in each.
• Large supply of resources; Wayne is a multi billionaire, more than able to fund his campaign against crime. Many of his gadgets come from Wayne Industry prototypes.
• High-tech gadgetry; Due to his wealth, money is no obstacle to the development of various gadgets and paraphernalia he uses in fighting crime. In fact the only obstacle is Wayne's own imagination and the time he can spend developing these tools. He begins the RP with
  • Wayne-tech stealth-ops body suit armour with attactched mask. The suit itself is made of several interweaving layers of nomex, kevlar and micro-ballistic mesh. The mask allows for night or thermal vision, while also providing a gas mask and limited use re-breather.
  • Grapple gun
  • Plastique explosives
  • Flashbang pellets
  • Smoke Pellets
  • Wrist mounted propulsion system for tranquilliser darts
  • Throwing knives
  • Basic first aid kit
  • Lockpicks
  • Zip ties
  • Forensic kit
  • Penlight

The suit will lack its typical iconography at the beginning of the RP, namely the bat-eared cowl, the cape, the bat-insignia and the scalloped gloves. There will be in character reasons for him adding these parts. His arsenal will similarly be increased during the course of the RP, as he slowly builds it up to help him deal with the situations he is presented with.

Weaknesses:

Batman's main weakness, and the one he tries hardest to keep from his foes and friends alike, is that he is just a man, no more and no less. Even despite all his training, resources, gadgets and wiles something as humble as fall from height or a badly blocked lunge from potato knife could prove his undoing. Another fault is his belief that to rely on others is a weakness. He has been let down by people in the past and has decided that the easiest way to avoid being burned again is to work alone. This even extends to his mission in Gotham. He absolutely refuses to let other vigilantes work in his home city, unless they have proved themselves above reproach. His dedication to wage war on crime could easily be described as am obsession, one that interferes with all other aspects of his life. Finally this is a new, untested and unpolished Batman. While the groundwork has been laid for the uber-capable Dark Knight that we all know he is currently far from being there yet. Overconfident in his abilities, he is liable to make mistakes, missteps and assumptions that will lead to his ruin.

Back-story/origins:

Bruce Wayne was the first born son of Dr. Thomas and Martha Wayne, wealthy philanthropists in the high society of Gotham City. Their family was eventually completed by the addition of another son, Bruce's younger brother Thomas Jr. The brothers were brought up in the stately Wayne manor, enjoying happy and privileged lives until one fateful night, when Bruce was eight and Thomas Jr was six, their parents are shot and killed by a small-time crook. Responsibility for Bruce and Thomas Jr was willed to an old friend to the family, Alfred Pennyworth, son of Thomas' Sr deceased butler Jarvis Pennyworth. Secretly the Wayne boys swear an oath to avenge their parent's death and to save their city from itself. Enlisting the help of Pennyworth, himself a former royal marine, they begin to train body and mind to ready themselves for the day that they initiate their war on crime. At first Alfred merely thought the training was a good way to help the boys work off their emotions after the loss of their parents, but their conviction was unwavering and eventually their guardian was forced to admit that this was no passing fancy. He worried for them, but could not dissuade them from their path. Realizing that they would go through with their plans with his blessings or without he resolved to support them as fully as he was able, even hiring experts in several different disciplines of science and combat to teach them. The time eventually came when the boys could learn nothing more from Alfred or the teachers willing to travel to Wayne Manor. Instead Bruce and Thomas Jr, eighteen and sixteen respectively at the time, realized that if they were to continue their training then they would need to travel to the teachers themselves. The official line was that the two were taking some time to tour Europe and Asia while Alfred looked after their interests in Gotham. They rarely contacted Alfred, other than to give him a progress review every six months or so. While they were away the city continued to fall into ruin, with established mob families like the Bertinelli's and the Falcone's strengthening their hold on the city while hungry up and comers like the Maronis, Sionis and the Dimitrovs eager to carve themselves a piece of Gotham. Things seemed to come to a ill balanced head when Carmine Falcone united the families in an uneasy truce under his banner, promising each group would get their fare share of Gotham if they followed him and helped make him mayor. It is to this volatile atmosphere that Bruce returns, alone. Despite Alfred's pressing Bruce refuses to explain his brothers absence, instead fixing all his attentions upon the Roman, and breaking his vice like grip on Gotham.

Arc ideas:

The Roman Empire

Bruce Wayne has been travelling around the world for nigh on seven years, training his mind and body for the day he can finally return to Gotham and fight the corruption that took his parents from him. Gotham criminals have not waited patiently though, chief amongst them being Carmine 'The Roman' Falcone. Carmine, tired of merely ruling the cities underworld now desires more tangible power, and has made a bid for the mayoral office. Bruce hears about this new turn of events and realises that if he doesn't intervene now then the potential damage Falcone could do as mayor will be irreversible. Trainings over whether he likes it or not.

That Thin Crooked Line

The Roman has been taken care of for now, but there's still a lot of work to be done for the Batman. Before he can deal with the rampant crime plaguing the city though there is the small matter of an almost entirely corrupt police force to deal with, headed by the cunning Commissioner Loeb who seems to have made it his mission to rid Gotham of its latest flying pest problem. Batman's first encounter with Jim Gordon.

The Mad Monk

Organised crime and a corrupt police force has been dealt with, only to be replaced by a new problem, one that Batman may be indirectly responsible for. There's whispers on the street, whispers of a new face to watch out for in the Gotham Underworld. His name's the Monk, and he's coming for Batman.

[Roman]

You don't have to spoil anything. That part of the CS is just to give us an idea of where you are going with the character.

@Vandy

Cool. I'll include a few bits regardless, just so you're re-assured of my commitment to the character.

As for villains, I was thinking of putting together some sort of collab system to deal with that. The problem with making villains actual full time playable characters is the threat of a player disappearing. If Green Lantern disappears what do we do with Sinestro? Plus if, for example, I wanted Lex and Superman to interact and fight in a certain way or I had a plan for a Superman arc I wouldn't want to tell the player playing Lex how to play their character. See what I'm saying?

My only real response to this particular concern is that, as a GM, you have to trust your players. Without trust in a player's commitment to a game and their character, you can't truly be confident enough to start your game in the first place. One should always assume 100% player dedication when launching a story, otherwise there's no point launching it in the first place. This is a problem when flipped as well; the Sinestro player could leave just as easily as the Lantern one, and then the Lantern has to end the arc regardless. If a player leaves, their character is either taken up, or quietly put away, hero or villain. A Character should never be short of a player, or, failing that, a resolution and further plots to pursue.

However I do see the potential in players playing as villains and there's no denying that there is a fun dynamic to that. So I've been thinking that if a player were to play a villain, the hero could ask them to do so. The player playing as the villain would temporarily take that character over and write a sort of collab arc with the hero. And say if Batman wants to, he can allow a player to take over as the joker every time Batman has an arc against the Joker. I am of course open to suggestions on how to make this work!

I think any two players controlling contesting characters need to cooperate and collaborate, no matter the moral alignment. Batman and Superman are not known to be 100% with each other 100% of the time; if and when such a situation arises in this game, you and BlackSam will have to collaborate, much the same as a hero would with his/her villain, to reach a suitable resolution. Any two players playing together, allies or enemies, will have to collaborate. However, I don't think any player should have to - need to - relinquish control of their character in order to reach that solution. If two players can't agree, then, with respect, that's part of your role as GM to have the final call. It's all manageable. On a seperate note: @Ruby, in the canon and my personal lore, John Constantine has a brief, young relationship with Zatanna. Is this something you would like me to edit out (easily enough) or are you okay with the history being present?

[Ruby]

On a seperate note: @Ruby, in the canon and my personal lore, John Constantine has a brief, young relationship with Zatanna. Is this something you would like me to edit out (easily enough) or are you okay with the history being present?

@Roman

I'm okay with it.

[Roman]

Cool! Thanks a lot. I'll briefly mention it in the character's history and there'll (hopefully) be some tension should the two cross paths again, but otherwise it shouldn't affect anything.

[Ruby]

Cool! Thanks a lot. I'll briefly mention it in the character's history and there'll (hopefully) be some tension should the two cross paths again, but otherwise it shouldn't affect anything.

@Roman

Sounds good!

[Blue Demon]

• As we are making our own DCU, solo story arcs are highly encouraged and will be everyone's first arc. Solo stories cannot be any longer than three posts however so make these long posts rich in detail and story. The three post rule is to keep everything moving as RP's can tend to chug when nothing is happening.

@Vandy

Since I was thinking of getting started on my first arc, since it will be solo. I just wanted a few points of clarification. 1) Does it have to be 3 posts long? Or can it be less? (I get that it cannot be more) 2) Is the first arc their "debut" per say? 3) Will the solo arcs all happen around the same time in the timeline? 4) Lastly, if it is their "debut" do they have to clash with a "villain"?

[Vandy]

My only real response to this particular concern is that, as a GM, you have to trust your players. Without trust in a player's commitment to a game and their character, you can't truly be confident enough to start your game in the first place. One should always assume 100% player dedication when launching a story, otherwise there's no point launching it in the first place. This is a problem when flipped as well; the Sinestro player could leave just as easily as the Lantern one, and then the Lantern has to end the arc regardless. If a player leaves, their character is either taken up, or quietly put away, hero or villain. A Character should never be short of a player, or, failing that, a resolution and further plots to pursue. I think any two players controlling contesting characters need to cooperate and collaborate, no matter the moral alignment. Batman and Superman are not known to be 100% with each other 100% of the time; if and when such a situation arises in this game, you and BlackSam will have to collaborate, much the same as a hero would with his/her villain, to reach a suitable resolution. Any two players playing together, allies or enemies, will have to collaborate. However, I don't think any player should have to - need to - relinquish control of their character in order to reach that solution. If two players can't agree, then, with respect, that's part of your role as GM to have the final call. It's all manageable.

@Roman

I understand where you are coming from, I think you misunderstood my collaboration idea though. As this RP focuses on the heroes, taking on a villain character would not be a permanent role nor would it count toward the 5 character limit. Think of it more as a guest appearance from a player who is helping out further someone else's arc by bringing in their own style of writing. If, for example, you played as Sinestro and liked the role Lovleand would be able to allow you to keep the character as a 'permanent' role. This would include everything from solo arcs to universe arcs with said character involved. Ultimately however Lovleand would have say over all his villain characters as a sort of mini-GM. Any arguments I would of course step in to solve. edit* Demon, 1. Nope it could be as short as a single post, it is your character and your story. 2. Basically 3. Yes and time will pass as a Universe 4. Not if you don't want them to

[Roman]

So may I suggest a ruling that villains are allowed as playable characters, with the addendum that they are accompanied by a Hero application and that they are not of that Hero's Rogue's Gallery?

[Vandy]

Eh, let's get the ball rolling on the RP before we do anything with playable villains. I want to get us all started first and then we can re-visit the villain issue. I'm guessing you have a certain villain that you really want to play?

[Ruby]

Eh, let's get the ball rolling on the RP before we do anything with playable villains. I want to get us all started first and then we can re-visit the villain issue. I'm guessing you have a certain villain that you really want to play?

@Vandy

That Condiment King...

[Vandy]

That Condiment King...

@Ruby

Lol, this one?

[Ruby]

That Condiment King...

@Ruby

Lol, this one?

@Vandy

Makes my mouth water! (Mostly 'cause I haven't eaten dinner yet.)

[Roman]

I have my heart set on Harvey Dent, and his inevitable fall. He is by far the most interesting Batman character. But I'm also a fan of player vs. player conflict and Hero/Villain player interaction. Plus some villains, like Lex, Joker, Sinestro, Black Mantis, The First, Darkseid, Lobo (Anti-villain but still), Black Adam, Braniac, Captain Cold, etc etc etc really deserve their own dedicated players.

[Vandy]

That Condiment King...

@Ruby

Lol, this one?

@Vandy

Makes my mouth water! (Mostly 'cause I haven't eaten dinner yet.)

@Ruby

Well he does seem uh, inviting?

I have my heart set on Harvey Dent, and his inevitable fall. He is by far the most interesting Batman character. But I'm also a fan of player vs. player conflict and Hero/Villain player interaction. Plus some villains, like Lex, Joker, Sinestro, Black Mantis, The First, Darkseid, Lobo (Anti-villain but still), Black Adam, Braniac, Captain Cold, etc etc etc really deserve their own dedicated players.

@Roman

Like I said we can revisit the villains thing later. I'm pretty partial to Deathstroke so who knows but for right now let's focus on the heroes.

[Roman]

Constantine

Constantine

| Character |

John 'Constantine' Constantine

| Age |

24

| Appearance |

John Constantine is a tall, lanky english fella with extremely messy, dirty blonde hair, permanent unkempt stubble, and a very particular fashion sense: trousers, boots, white shirt, red tie, and the same tan trench coat he's been wearing for the last five years, and many more to come. He scowls a lot, and is never seen without a cigarette, his lighter, or both in combination, but is always willing to crack a joke and jump to the aid of those in need of help.

| Powers/Abilities |

While Constantine's growing magical prowess is most certainly not to be dismissed out-of-hand, he rarely relies on it, especially in the midst of combat. He faces his challenges instead armed with the cunning and quick-thinking that his family line is nearly legendary for, as well as his quickly-deepening knowledge of the paranormal and occult and his skill at manipulating friend and foe alike - which, combined, are often more useful than the spells, rituals, and curses at his command. John Constantine is considered by many to be one of the world's greatest con-men. Constantine's sorcery is still a a force to be considered, however. With knowledge of, and practice in, Evocation (the calling of supernatural entities), Illusion (the distortion and misdirection of the senses), and Necromancy (the summoning of, and communication with, the dead), Constantine's magic spans many fields. He also has a few protective magics at his command, helping to shield him from both physical and supernatural attacks, as well as protecting his mind somewhat from psychic offenses such as telepathy, possession, and mind control. John's offensive magic is less practiced than his defenses, but still capable of mild electrokinesis, telekinesis, pyrokineses and immobilisation. John's magic has also permanently granted him a form of Third Sight, allowing him to see Demons, Angels, and Half-Breed for their true selves constantly, regardless of what disguises and illusions they have thrown up to hide themselves among mortals. Finally, beyond his wielding of the arcane arts, Constantine is also versed in the use of stage magic, including sleight of hand, pick-pocketing, and escapology. He also collects many magical - or anti-magical - artifacts, some of which may (or may not) prove useful.

| Weaknesses |

Bullets, swords, knives, particularly pointy sticks...John's mortal, despite his magic, and is subject to all the frailties of man. Beyond that, he's got a temper and is easily riled up,a nd even when level-headed his decisions and the actions connected are often rash and reckless. His luck is poor, his plans go awry, his magic fails him, and things just get the drop on him. Constantine lives a charmed life, but he's not sure if he's not mixing up 'charmed' with 'hexed'.

| History |

John Constantine was born into the shit that would follow him for the rest of his life - and appropriately enough, he arrived in Liverpool, 1992. His twin asphyxiated in the womb on John's umbilical cord, and his mother, Mary-Anne Constantine, died giving birth to him and his stillborn brother because an earlier forced abortion had weakened her womb, causing it to rupture and bleed out. Thomas Constantine, John's father, and the man who had forced the abortion upon his wife, was incapable of accepting the responsibility of Mary-Anne's death, and instead blamed his surviving son, John - and they grew up harboring a deep dislike of one another. Thomas had little involvement in John's upbringing, and much of his care was left to his older sister, Cheryl Constantine. In 2004, after their father descended into alcoholism and was imprisoned for petty theft and voyeurism, Cheryl and John moved to Northampton to live with their Aunt and Uncle for a brief time, before returning after Thomas' release a year later in 2005. It was their return to both Liverpool and their father that set John off onto his journey into the magical and occult. John had discovered his ancestry in Northampton, his blood belonging to a long family line known as the Laughing Magicians, legendary mages known for their power over Synchronicity and their uncanny ability to bluff and trick even gods. This discovery led him to delve into the practices of his lineage, and he began to partake in magic. His first act was to seal away his childhood innocence and vulnerability in a small wooden toy-box he once used, ridding himself of the burdens of virtues he'd lost long ago. In 2007, at 15 years old, John botched a curse that left his father withered and frail and doomed to die - and subsequently ran from home, his sister, and Liverpool, heading to London and making a permanent home in an apartment with his new roommate, Francis 'Chas' Kramer, who would go on to be John's oldest, closest, and longest surviving friend. John soon got involved in the occult circles of London's population. From 2008 onwards, he practiced his magics and learned more about the occult world lying behind the mortal one, and in 2010, 18 and legally adult, he began to travel to other cities and countries to expand his knowledge. In New York, 2011, he met a talented female magician called Zatanna Zatara, and the two began a brief, young relationship. While together, John grew enamored with Punk Rock after attending several gigs, and while Zatanna was less than enthralled by the thrashy, violent music, she supported John and tolerated the affair for the sake of their relationship. Inspired by the scene, John put together his own punk band, a three-man piece called Mucous Membrane, moving back to England - and leaving Zatanna - to do so. It was during their first few pub-gigs that John got his first taste of magical heroism, and the disasters it would rain down upon his life. 2012, 20 years old, Newcastle. Post-gig, John stumbled across the aftermath of a horrific magical incident: an abused child - a little girl called Astra - had taken revenge on her adult tormentors by tapping into her raw innate magical abilities, conjuring a vicious monster to slaughter them in the middle of an orgy - and now the monster refused to leave the mortal plane. With a recklessness that would soon enough become his MO, John convinced Chas, his bandmates, and several other occultist friends to pour their power - using a protective pendant Zatanna had gifted to him upon his departure - into summoning a demon of their own to combat the monster. Sadly, while their abilities were enough to bring forth the creature, they were not enough to bind it to their will. It killed the monster, and then tormented Constantine's friends and snatched Astra away to Hell. John suffered a nervous breakdown from the fates he had brought down upon everyone he cared for with his thoughtless actions, and severed all ties, committing himself to Ravenscar Psychiatric Hospital. He remained in the institution until 2015, when, with a slightly-grimy bill of 'clean' mental health, and a second, dirtier bill of rapidly declining physical health, he was released, suffering Lung Cancer from his 30-a-day smoking habit and given only a few years to live - if he was lucky. John didn't much believe in his personal 'good luck', but he did believe in life - and with Chas still faithfully by his side, the two saw nothing left for them in England, and moved to the US in, starting again in Manhattan. John searches for help, ordinary or otherwise, keeping himself practiced in magic, and Chas works a cab - though more often than not, his sole charge is Constantine.

| Plot Arcs | What's In A Lung? ...Multiple Benign Tumours, Apparently.

With only a year or so left to live, and a debt to repay, Constantine is unwilling to let go on life just yet - good thing that he's got a plan. Whether it goes accordingly, however, is another thing altogether...

One Day, Three Problems. Less Than Usual...

Constantine isn't the only one with particularly cunning and clever plans. And he's not immune to being caught in their webs, either.

Hot Weather, Inspiring Scenery, Lovely Winter Getaway. Mind You Don't Burn Your Feet.

There are some places John never likes going back to; Ravenscar, Liverpool, Hell, Chas' mother's house...

Four edits later and the coding is working. The one thing I don't like about the Guild is you can't make a sheet look pretty anymore. Regardless, it's up, peruse at your leisure.

[Ruby]

That Condiment King...

@Ruby

Lol, this one?

@Vandy

Makes my mouth water! (Mostly 'cause I haven't eaten dinner yet.)

@Ruby

Well he does seem uh, inviting?

@Vandy

Glad to know your type! (I'm not judging.)

[Vandy]

That Condiment King...

@Ruby

Lol, this one?

@Vandy

Makes my mouth water! (Mostly 'cause I haven't eaten dinner yet.)

@Ruby

Well he does seem uh, inviting?

@Vandy

Glad to know your type! (I'm not judging.)

@Ruby

Haha, no no no! That was a suggestion for you my friend. I likes mees the females! Roman I will start reading your sheet now, look for an edit to this post. *edit Alright, I like your character sheet its very well written. I'm surprised you got it up so fast! I also like how John recently moved to the US so that his use of magic and stuff would be unknown in the States. I am ready to move your sheet over but I'll let Ruby read it and see if she's okay with the couple of Zatanna parts in there. If she is your good to go, if not just make a few simple edits. Oh and Byrd Man give me a minute to look at your's.

[Byrd Man]

Throwing this out there.

Byrd's Sheet

Character: Jonah Hex Age: 31 Appearance: Powers/Abilities: No powers, but Hex is an expert tracker and hunter as well as an excellent shot. Weaknesses: Bullets, knives, poison, good looking women. Backstory/origins: Jonah Hex was born in the mid 80's and abandoned as a newborn at the Black Cherry Indian Reservation in New Mexico. All that was known about the baby was the name pinned to his diaper: Jonah Hex. He was taken in by a local family in the rez. Hex was a favorite of the family's patriarch and reservation chief, Thomas Eagle Feather. Eagle Feather taught Hex how to hunt, shoot, and track a wide variety of animals. While Hex lived with the Eagle Feather family, the Black Cherry Reservation slowly withered away around them. The poor Native Americans who lived there were leaving their once proud homeland to seek jobs elsewhere, those that stayed behind were old men and drunks. Thomas Eagle Feather, seeing his beloved reservation crumbling, succumbed to alcoholism and became a violent abuser as the years went on. When Hex turned 18, he left the reservation never to return. Unable to find work off the rez, Hex joined the Army. Hex served as a corporal in the Army, under Company CO Jack Turnbull. Hex's regiment was dispatched to Afghanistan shortly after he completed basic. While there Hex stumbled upon Turnbull raping and torturing a young Afghan girl. Hex and Turnbull fought, with Turnbull permanently disfiguring Hex in the fight. Using his assault rifle, Hex shot the man dead. He lied about the circumstances of Turnbull's death, saying the Afghan girl killed Turnbull with his own gun while he watched. Hex was given an other than honorable discharge from the Army and came back to America, unsure of what to do and where to go. It was while he was in Kentucky, drowning his troubles in a bottle that he found the answer. He was at a bar one night when he saw a man arrested by a bounty hunter. After a lot of thought and consideration, Hex went about applying for a bounty hunter's license. Now Hex roams the country, seeking out only the highest risk and highest paying bounties. If you're wanted by someone and they want you bad enough, Jonah Hex will find you. Arc ideas: 3:10 to Prarie Rose: On a skiptrace, Hex goes to an Indian reservation in South Dakota to find a wanted gambler. Things get... complicated when the man is found and he has dirt on the Rez chief. Treasure of the Sierra Madre Trailer Park: There's meth in them thar hills. Tracking a wanted man to the Ozarks, Hex must navigate an ever-shifting series of alliances with the local crime bosses in order to find the man he seeks. Once Upon a Time in the South: In Florida, Hex is in a race against both the feds and the mob to find a mafia capo turned stool pigeon who slipped away into the night with a cool five million in cash. EXTRA! Sample post. South Dakota The Prairie Rose Indian Reservation. It's where the government sent the Sioux to die. That night was the first time I stepped foot on any rez since I left Black Cherry all those years ago. I told Belle a thousand times I don't do Indian work, especially skiptraces. Damn woman went ahead and told them I was coming. She said the money was worth it. Once a whore, always a whore. I drove my pick-up down the road to the Prairie Rose Indian Casino. In the parking lot a bunch of teenagers tried their best to stare me down and look tough. One look at my face and they scattered, pissing their pants and running home to their mommas. There were a lot of long stares once I entered the casino. Blackjack dealers eyed me and flinched before they quickly go back to their business. Half naked drink girls dressed as squaws walked by and quickly looked away shuddering. A young boy with an eyepatch gaped at me while he pushed a mop bucket down the hall. This was a casino in South Dakota, so they had to have seen their fair share of shady looking white trash, but nothing like me apparently. "Who the fuck are you?" A big Indian with piercings in his nose and ears asked. "Lookin' for Red Crow." "What's your business, you ugly motherfucker?" I scowled and sucked my teeth, before tilting my hat back. He was big, bigger than me by at least two inches and thirty pounds. He also had ten years youth on his side. All things considered he'd whoop my ass in a fair fight. But since when do I play fair? "Nice earrings," said with a smirk. "Especially the ones on your right ear. When I was growin' up, I was told that only men of a certain...sexual persuasion, wore earrings in their right ear." The big man started to walk towards me. My hands instinctively went to the brass knuckles in my right hip pocket. Like I said, I ain't one for fair fighting. "Shunka, cut this shit out." Shunka stopped in his tracks and turned. A large man with dark hair pulled back into a ponytail with a cigar in his hands stood at the entrance to an office, a large scowl on his face. "Our friend here is the bounty hunter." "That's right," I said. "Name's Jonah Hex." "I'm Chief Lincoln Red Crow, welcome to Prairie Rose." I looked at Shunka warily. "Thanks for the warm welcome." "Shunka, search him for weapons. Then bring him back." Shunka began to pat me down, pulling my .45 from the small of my back, the switchblade from my left pocket, the brass knuckles in my right pocket, the .38 on my left ankle, and the Bowie knife in my right boot. "Looked like you had yourself a good time, Shunka," I said with a wink. "Fuck you, white boy." I followed Red Crow and Shunka back to his office. Lots of Indian artifacts, newspaper articles about the Wounded Knee standoff, some more articles about something called Dog Soldiers. I sat down across the desk from Red Crow and wait while he lit up another cigar. "Shunka, go find Bad Horse. I need to see him. " Shunka scurried off and closed the door behind him as he left. Red Crow took long, slow drags on his cigar and let the silence settle between us for nearly a minute before he spoke. "The lady from Central City tells me you're the best tracker in the country." "Belle'll say anything that gets her that finder's fee. I'm not one for boastin', but I'll say this much: Pay me to do a job, and it gets done. Simple as that." "Good. I like simple." Red Crow slid a piece of paper across his desk. It was a photo copy of a driver's license. A California license with a picture of a blonde man. The name on it said Bartholomew Alouysius Lash. Hell of a name, and that's coming from a man who had his momma name him Hex before she abandoned him. "That motherfucker cheated me. Goddamn card counter cleaned me out and ran out of here with one of my best dancers. That was a week ago. I want you to bring both of them back and bring back the thirty grand he cheated me out of. You get half of whatever you recover." A man once told me I had a talent when it came to reading people. He said that I could look into their soul and see what they were all about...but he was about three days into a meth binge and I had knocked out half of his teeth, so what the hell did he know? My instincts aside, I knew right then that Red Crow is a real son of a bitch. I think anyone who spent any amount of time with him could tell that. "Alright. Showed me where he was staying while he was here, and who knew him the best." Red Crow's a piece of shit, but at least his money is good. That's all that counts.

[Enarr]

Interested. Expect a sheet shortly. Interesting seeing you all here. I've been off this site for some time.