Habibi359

Priest & Hawthorne Investigations (Redux!) - Supernatural Urban Fantasy!

Robert wasn't one of those who came along with Morgan. He always was careful when it came to supernatural, especially when encountering something he didn't know much about. Morgan had mysteries varied from suspicious healing powers, strength to supernatural proportions to her weird ability to figure out events that have happened. However the two did agree on things when it did to their job.

Morgan had bolted towards the Guardian, fast like an athlete. Creature's abilities came quickly clear, far faster than it's constantly growing size would have assumed. But Morgan was one heck of an investigator herself; she evaded the blows coming from impossible angles and finally she hit her fist inside the being. The blow did... Something that made Guardian Halt for it's time. This is where Robert was about to take his toss, before the being started to move again. As in, it threw quite a blow to Morgan, who flew several yards through the air. Robert was left surprised at the sight. "Bloody..."

"Well christ, this seems a bit out of our league." Jacob commented, noting their distinct lack of armaments to fit the situation. He had his pistol, Rob probably had his sidearm along with his homemade molotovs. Jacob did have a shotgun in his trunk, but he doubted that would do much more against a guardian spirit of such size. Silver bullets would still bother it though.

"I suppose we'd oughta get its attention," Jacob offered, as he began advancing on the Guardian, pistol in hand. He didn't advance at a sprint, and made sure to keep ample distance between himself and the Guardian, trusting more on distance than his fast reflexes to prevent harm from coming to him- for as hardy as he was, unlike Morgan, neither he nor Robert would survive a blow like that without anything less than several broken ribs, and possibly a collapsed lung.

He fired off his pistol at it a few times, more to get its attention than actually kill it- the silver bullets hissing as they burned into its equivalent of flesh. His shots seemed to suddenly stop the creature just as Robert lighted up one of his cocktails; quick glance at the PHI witches revealed though that Emma had done some of her tricks to temporarily stop the Guardian's movement. Both she and Beth had sustained some injuries doing their magic and it seemed only he and Jacob were left standing properly, along with...

Mandy. Robert wasn't comfortable with her being this close to danger. “Cover me, please! And don't kill it" Mandy yelled at the two. It was easy for her to say; as Robert made another look towards the Guardian, it gazed back. Seemed like the detectives were next threat for the being to defend it's precious Wallmart from. Robert didn't like the idea at all. He toughened up and prepared for a sprint. However, the creature's movement stopped. If Robert had to guess, the being seemed... Confused for a moment.

"Our peashooters won't do much good... Get a vehicle or grab those bottles, let it chase us!" He yelled at Jacob. He then focused his attention at the Guardian as it slowly turned towards Mandy and the witches. "Stay away from them" Robert yelled at the spirit and angrily threw his molotov at the creature. The bottle crashed and the gasoline inside made a fiery ball of flame at creatures side, some of the liquid spraying over the Guardian and igniting pieces of cheap decorations. It did definitely make Guardian angry as it was being tainted by something impure. Robert quickly ignited two other bottles before grabbing them and making a run around Guardian.

Sprinting for his car as Robert began lighting molotovs, Jacob vaulted across the hood of the vehicle, and threw himself into the driver seat. He started the car with one hand, while another popped open the cover of the sunroof. He revved the engine a few times to get it running, and threw the car into drive. Skidding over to where Robert had ran, Jacob reached over and threw the passenger door open.

"Get in!" Jacob yelled. Robert didn't think twice. He threw ran at the free seat, throwing one of his molotovs as he made his escape.

Priest & Hawthorne Investigations (Redux!) - Supernatural Urban Fantasy!

@lady horatio Here's hoping that the crisis will be solved soon and smoothly. Best wishes!

I'm fine here, though weather seems like summer is at it's end and winter is coming.

Priest & Hawthorne Investigations (Redux!) - Supernatural Urban Fantasy!

@vietmyke But of course.

Priest & Hawthorne Investigations (Redux!) - Supernatural Urban Fantasy!

I love the smell of coffee and sight of a new GM-post in the morning.

Priest & Hawthorne Investigations (Redux!) - Supernatural Urban Fantasy!

Robert woke up at the noise of his phone ringing. It took him two seconds to realize that alarm clock showed 2 am, and that caller was Sol. This night Robert had gotten whole three hours of sleep. Wondering whether he should be happy that he at least had some sleep, Rob sat up on his bed and answered the call. ”Robert. Something has turned up.” Said his overseer ”What is it?” Rob grunted half sleepily.

"The situation as we understand it presently is this: a guardian spirit of unknown intent has appeared in the suburbs," Sol said, his deep voice thrumming over the phone, "Shiloh will text you the address, but the spirit is in an advanced state of manifestation. Miss Blackwood is on location with it, and she reports the creature is around fifteen feet tall with a body made of bags of topsoil, fruit trees, and lawn decorations. She believes she will require assistance in handling the spirit, so I would appreciate if you would make haste."

”Roger that, I'm on my way.. Guardian spirit, 15 feet... Wait, wha-”

”Excellent” Sol said as he hang up on his end. Robert was dumbfounded for good ten seconds trying to wrap around what on what on earth he was supposed to deal with. If Morgan was needing backup, situation was bad. Fifteen feet guardian spirit sounded worse than bad. If Robert had time and money, he'd try to ask his military friends for a light anti tank missile or grenade launcher. But there wasn't any time. ”Damn it” he muttered, rose from his bed and started quickly putting on some clothes.

In good two minutes he had put on his trousers, socks, shirt and vest, but not yet buttoned them. Shiloh had sent him the address and immediately after that Rob had called cab central for a ride at his door. For some breakfast he devoured one tomato and slice bread all the while wondering how on earth they'd deal with this bloody giant. His silver bullets wouldn't do much but annoy the giant mashup of ground and decorations.

Another six minutes and he had buttoned his shirt and vest and started to put on his grey jacket. His mind was elsewhere completely; he hadn't dealt with bigger creatures since the troll two years ago, and even then they had had proper planning on how to chase that thing back into safer neighborhood. Also trolls were more easily scared than cursed guardian spirits, which Robert hadn't heard of in ages. Sounded like he had to leave exorcism or magical hullabaloo to others and instead help to draw it's attention elsewhere.

Twelve minutes after getting a call from Sol he was more or less functional. He definitely felt more dirty standing outside the apartment house as his morning shower never happened. To make himself feel more human he kept straightening his jacket, tucking the hat deeper in his head and patted the holster on his hip to make sure his revolver was there tight. He cursed the guardian spirit in the back of his mind. This day was supposed to be paper work all day, but for that to happen he'd need several mugs of coffee.

The Cab came in two minutes after Robert had waited outside for two minutes. He took the front seat and leaned backwards. ”To the Renton Supercenter. But let's stop at a gas station on the way.” Robert said as he started to search his Tax Card from wallet.

Thirty five minutes later he arrived at the Wallmart parking lot along with 3 gallons of gasoline in addition to a bag containing several bottles, rugs and a lighter. When the driver had asked about his shopping, Robert had answered taht his friend needed some gas and drinks at Wallmart. At least cab left without driver giving any doubting looks.

On his way through the lot Robert opened the bottles one at the time and emptied their contents on asphalt. Wet trail followed Robert on his way to the being that had ruined his good night.

Priest & Hawthorne Investigations (Redux!) - Supernatural Urban Fantasy!

Something has appeared on Rob's sheet!

Special thanks to @vietmyke for collaboration.

Priest & Hawthorne Investigations (Redux!) - Supernatural Urban Fantasy!

Robert Miller jr.

Name: Robert Miller jr. Or just Rob.

Gender: Male.

Race: Human

Age: He's 46, though the graying hair and wrinkles make him look over his fifties.

Appearance: Robert miller jr. is 5 feet 11 inches tall and weights 182 pounds. His hair is a mixture of dark and grey with tad more of former, short and if not messy, definitely not combed nor specially maintained. He doesn't keep beard but doesn't shave it daily, so there's stubble. His eyes are greenish between two heavy eyelids and small bags under the eyes, making him look constantly tired. Lips are thin and mouth isn't particularly wide. His face could have been cut from wood, with strong, wide jaw, slim cheeks, roman nose and high cheekbones. But his skin in forehead and cheeks starts to show wrinkles and aging.

Rob wears dress shirts with plain-colored vests and woolen trousers with mild colors, kept up by a belt with silver buckle. His shoes are made from brown or black leather, somewhat maintained but seen wearing. He has three sets of silver cuff links; two looking like half of a marble and third flat square with rose carving. Outside he dons either his long grey trench coat or a simple brown jacket and grey fedora. His holster is on the right side, containing usually his top break revolver (IOF .32 Revolver).

Personality: Robert is a calm, tired and bit melancholic man who enjoys greatly his job at PHI. He has seen and experienced enough before and after encountering the Paranormal the first time that he's not too surprised by anything cases bring in front of him.

Robert lived three decades without encountering anything supernatural anywhere but children stories, and his first encounter wasn't a pleasant one. Hence he's still generally uncomfortable with magic or supernatural being, though degree of discomfort (or distrust) is case dependent. At times the paranormal side is even useful, as long as it's in check.

On cases he's calm, dedicated and dislikes goofing around. And while experienced a lot, at time cases can get personal to him especially when paranormal involved is risking lives of natural world people. Twitch at his lips or clutching his fists before relaxing and especially lack of tiredness tell more than enough when cases go from ordinary to a crusade. And when he's serious, he works on the case like a locomotive to get it closed.

Out of cases or on breaks Rob enjoys conversations while sitting laid back in his chair and activity to relax his mind before next case or continuing his current one. For Robert a relaxed mind without too much trouble is an effective tool.

Powers, Traits, and Abilities:

He has spent four years in marine corps, where he was taught the art of shooting things with variety of weapons. He wields his handguns professionally and he is accurate with rifles, all way up to 200 yards. With sniper rifle he can shoot to targets 500 yards away in right conditions. He has decent hand-to-hand capabilities (krav maga, judo, boxing) and he still keeps himself fit to be prepared just in case.

He has contacts in and out of law due to his years as a County Detective and few towards paranormal activity after decade working with PHI. Robert's sources might prove useful to gain artifacts, books, information or equipment for a case at hand.

Robert has a knack for surveillance and inspection. He tails people in and out of cities, he does surveillance from safe distance, he asks around for information related to people involved in the cases and if needed, he will bug the apartments or put a tracer under a car. When it comes to people, it's "Job for Rob".

Work as County Detective has given him experience in forensics. An important side product from the art of finding people.

Background

PHI closed case file: Mattawa 92. Article 5: Record tape from questioning of Robert Miller jr.

Agent Crane: "...And it's on. Let's begin. Date is September 14th, 1992. Clock is...
Agent Summers: "14.20. Or 22 if you need it specific"
*Mug clings up at table*"
Agent Crane: "Place is Mattawa. Person interrogated-"
R. Miller: "Questioned."
Agent Crane: "-Is Robert Miller. Former questioning with the victims-"
Agent Summers: "Cultists."
R. Miller: "Lunatics"
Agent Crane: "... Cultists, both injured and imprisoned, revealed that the one being inter..."
R. Miller: *Clears his throat*
Agent Crane: "Questioned, Robert Miller, first set the apartment on fire. During the chaos he assaulted the place with AK-47..."
R. Miller: "What? No, MPK5."
Agent Summers: "Christ's sake, Winchester for what I care"
Agent Crane: "MPK5, then. Mr. Miller, this is more than enough of serious offence to put you behind bars for decades. You're lucky nobody died, though another victim was close. The way I see it, there are only two op-"
R. Miller: "Mrs. Crane. Way I see it is you need information and I need information. You are far from Feds and both of us know the nature of what we're tailing. So let's cut to the chase."
Agent Summers: "No, Robert, this doesn't work like that. You're the one questioned and we're the professionals who finish the job."
R. Miller: "Which explains your lack of absence and wandering around until I made racket here. But I'm happy to see more experienced men finally sitting in the same table with me. So we either cooperate or you spend more time finding that demon."

Agent Crane: "...Few questions first. How much you know about our target, mr. Miller?"
R. Miller: "It's a demon. Hates silver and dislikes salt. Wanders from town to town, forms cults to make their evil deeds. Ends with sacrifice, and then moves to another place."
Agent Summers: "And how you know this? Home study on exorcism 101?"
R. Miller: "I am a county detective. I encountered that damned creature with another case, in Minnesota. It's been eleven months now. Girl missing, a priest was suspected for doing this. Following leads from him I eventually found their hideout. I expected three cult followers and a girl, but that... Thing was something I wasn't expecting. Hell, didn't even know such beings existed. It shook off my bullets as I fired. Threw me around like bag of cans."
Agent Crane: "You escaped, however."
R. Miller: "Barely. With the girl, who is traumatized for life as far as I know. Last bullet I shot hit it's eyes and distracted him for moment. We ran until I stopped the first car I met, pointed my revolver to the poor driver. But I escaped."
Agent Summers: "So man saves the girl, is praised, gets raise an lives happily ever after. Expect you're here in Mattawa, tailing the demon. How you did find it?"
R. Miller: "I started by interrogating that priest. Harshly, I got suspended. But I got enough information. First I figured out it's movements here, found some of his lunatics. I finally found pattern that demon follows. Go to next town, spread word with it's worshippers or by itself. Then he makes a miracle or two. Form a cult, get sacrifices."
Agent Crane: "And you also figured out it's weaknesses."
R. Miller: "It was hard to get facts. Priests and rabbis were talking to me like a troubled man trying to tell his problems in metaphors. We all got demons... Finally I met some old Native Indian shaman who told me at least something, but I was in a hurry as my lead was getting away. I quickly bought these here - real silver. Worked wonders against that demon, better than my .38. And I got rock salt too, worked like acid. It figured I was too much of trouble and made it's escape. Seems fire didn't bother it. Pity my weapons weren't enough to kill that thing."
Agent Summers: "Of course not. This demon needs to be banished. Didn't the Indian tell you that?"
R. Miller: "He was too drunk to tell me more details I could understand. I... Applied what I figured out."
Agent Crane: "And do you have any clues about the demon's whereabouts?"
R. Miller: "I have."

Agent Crane: " ...But?"
R. Miller: I'll be coming with you. This being is cunning and it knows I'm tailing it. It'll stay in another town, laying low and sending out cultists to do it's bidding in secrecy. But I'm better than it thinks. I already know a cultist, he's being followed by a friend."
Agent Summers: "Pal from old job?"
R. Miller: "Comrade from Marine corps. Served with me for three years. He knows his stuff."
Agent Summers: "Right...So you show the way and we deal with the banishing, is that what you're suggesting?"
R. Miller: "Whatever will defeat the fouled thing."
Agent Crane: "Mr. Miller, as long as you don't come in our way, I find these terms acceptable."
R. Miller: "Call me Robert."

Secret!

Jacob and Robert were sitting in the old Ford Thunderbird. It was 2 am and Robert was getting bored at this stakeout. He was inspecting what the bottle of Coke's ingredients were. Meanwhile, Jacob was staring idly across the windshield at the front door of the house a bit further down the street.
"At every stakeout this is usually the part where I doubt our source was right." Rob said, putting the bottle down.

"It all depends on who the source is, I suppose." Jacob shrugged, "Some are more reliable than others."

"This came from Sol. God knows where he got it. Though he's one of the few I truly trust at the place" Rob said, letting out a small sigh.

"Knowing Sol, we probably wouldn't believe him even if he told us where he got his info from." Jacob replied with a shrug, as he reached over and grabbed at a french fry from a container of rapidly cooling fast food on the car's dash.

"Heh heh...." Robert chuckled as he grabbed again his bottle. "At times his list of contacts do surprise. "

"Yeah, remember that werewolf case last month? The one that Sol called both of us in for?" Jacob asked as he pulled a cigarette from the pack that he had left leaning against the gear shift.

"Oh god, that mess." Rob said, took a sip from his coke and shook his head. " What about it?" He continued, tossing his sight at Jacob.

"I asked Sol about it afterwards, apparently the tip off we got for his location? The one that we thought was bogus until the last minute? Came from a gnome, of all creatures." he half-spoke, as he lit his cigarette, his speech slightly impeded by the stick hanging out of his mouth.

"Noo... Really? Tell me next it's the Leprechaun and I'll never buy Irish Pale again. Seriously, a gnome?" Robert said. He overacted his surprise a bit, though gnome wasn't a thing he had expected.

"No, the Leprechaun was the bank case," Jacob replied, referring to an investigation the team did regarding a bank heist the previous year. "This is why I don't ask Sol about his sources anymore." he said as he exhaled a short stream of smoke out the window.

Robert was about to drink some more coke before he saw movement at the door. "Speaking of sources, this one seems to be alright." He said, hastily put the cork back on and threw the bottle on the floor.

"Yeah, I see him." Jacob replied as he threw the half smoked cigarette out the window. The man was fumbling with something in his hand, he was obviously trying to get into the house, which meant the two found their guy. Pulling his pistol out of its shoulder holster, Jacob checked his magazine to ensure it was loaded with PHI's silver bullets and slid the magazine back in. "Lets go chat him up." he said as he placed the pistol back into its holster.

"Let's." Robert said, as he and Jacob simultaneously exited the Ford Thunderbird and closed the doors.

Priest & Hawthorne Investigations (Redux!) - Supernatural Urban Fantasy!

Some fleshing out done. Also, background. Also, I like Mandy's background

Robert Miller jr.

Name: Robert Miller jr. Or just Rob.

Gender: Male.

Race: Human

Age: He's 46, though the graying hair and wrinkles make him look over his fifties.

Appearance: Robert miller jr. is 5 feet 11 inches tall and weights 182 pounds. His hair is a mixture of dark and grey with tad more of former, short and if not messy, definitely not combed nor specially maintained. He doesn't keep beard but doesn't shave it daily, so there's stubble. His eyes are greenish between two heavy eyelids and small bags under the eyes, making him look constantly tired. Lips are thin and mouth isn't particularly wide. His face could have been cut from wood, with strong, wide jaw, slim cheeks, roman nose and high cheekbones. But his skin in forehead and cheeks starts to show wrinkles and aging.

Rob wears dress shirts with plain-colored vests and woolen trousers with mild colors, kept up by a belt with silver buckle. His shoes are made from brown or black leather, somewhat maintained but seen wearing. He has three sets of silver cuff links; two looking like half of a marble and third flat square with rose carving. Outside he dons either his long grey trench coat or a simple brown jacket and grey fedora. His holster is on the right side, containing usually his top break revolver (IOF .32 Revolver).

Personality: Robert is a calm, tired and bit melancholic man who enjoys greatly his job at PHI. He has seen and experienced enough before and after encountering the Paranormal the first time that he's not too surprised by anything cases bring in front of him.

Robert lived three decades without encountering anything supernatural anywhere but children stories, and his first encounter wasn't a pleasant one. Hence he's still generally uncomfortable with magic or supernatural being, though degree of discomfort (or distrust) is case dependent. At times the paranormal side is even useful, as long as it's in check.

On cases he's calm, dedicated and dislikes goofing around. And while experienced a lot, at time cases can get personal to him especially when paranormal involved is risking lives of natural world people. Twitch at his lips or clutching his fists before relaxing and especially lack of tiredness tell more than enough when cases go from ordinary to a crusade. And when he's serious, he works on the case like a locomotive to get it closed.

Out of cases or on breaks Rob enjoys conversations while sitting laid back in his chair and activity to relax his mind before next case or continuing his current one. For Robert a relaxed mind without too much trouble is an effective tool.

Powers, Traits, and Abilities:

He has spent four years in marine corps, where he was taught the art of shooting things with variety of weapons. He wields his handguns professionally and he is accurate with rifles, all way up to 200 yards. With sniper rifle he can shoot to targets 500 yards away in right conditions. He has decent hand-to-hand capabilities (krav maga, judo, boxing) and he still keeps himself fit to be prepared just in case.

He has contacts in and out of law due to his years as a County Detective and few towards paranormal activity after decade working with PHI. Robert's sources might prove useful to gain artifacts, books, information or equipment for a case at hand.

Robert has a knack for surveillance and inspection. He tails people in and out of cities, he does surveillance from safe distance, he asks around for information related to people involved in the cases and if needed, he will bug the apartments or put a tracer under a car. When it comes to people, it's "Job for Rob".

Work as County Detective has given him experience in forensics. An important side product from the art of finding people.

Background

PHI closed case file: Mattawa 92. Article 5: Record tape from questioning of Robert Miller jr.

Agent Crane: "...And it's on. Let's begin. Date is September 14th, 1992. Clock is...
Agent Summers: "14.20. Or 22 if you need it specific"
*Mug clings up at table*"
Agent Crane: "Place is Mattawa. Person interrogated-"
R. Miller: "Questioned."
Agent Crane: "-Is Robert Miller. Former questioning with the victims-"
Agent Summers: "Cultists."
R. Miller: "Lunatics"
Agent Crane: "... Cultists, both injured and imprisoned, revealed that the one being inter..."
R. Miller: *Clears his throat*
Agent Crane: "Questioned, Robert Miller, first set the apartment on fire. During the chaos he assaulted the place with AK-47..."
R. Miller: "What? No, MPK5."
Agent Summers: "Christ's sake, Winchester for what I care"
Agent Crane: "MPK5, then. Mr. Miller, this is more than enough of serious offence to put you behind bars for decades. You're lucky nobody died, though another victim was close. The way I see it, there are only two op-"
R. Miller: "Mrs. Crane. Way I see it is you need information and I need information. You are far from Feds and both of us know the nature of what we're tailing. So let's cut to the chase."
Agent Summers: "No, Robert, this doesn't work like that. You're the one questioned and we're the professionals who finish the job."
R. Miller: "Which explains your lack of absence and wandering around until I made racket here. But I'm happy to see more experienced men finally sitting in the same table with me. So we either cooperate or you spend more time finding that demon."

Agent Crane: "...Few questions first. How much you know about our target, mr. Miller?"
R. Miller: "It's a demon. Hates silver and dislikes salt. Wanders from town to town, forms cults to make their evil deeds. Ends with sacrifice, and then moves to another place."
Agent Summers: "And how you know this? Home study on exorcism 101?"
R. Miller: "I am a county detective. I encountered that damned creature with another case, in Minnesota. It's been eleven months now. Girl missing, a priest was suspected for doing this. Following leads from him I eventually found their hideout. I expected three cult followers and a girl, but that... Thing was something I wasn't expecting. Hell, didn't even know such beings existed. It shook off my bullets as I fired. Threw me around like bag of cans."
Agent Crane: "You escaped, however."
R. Miller: "Barely. With the girl, who is traumatized for life as far as I know. Last bullet I shot hit it's eyes and distracted him for moment. We ran until I stopped the first car I met, pointed my revolver to the poor driver. But I escaped."
Agent Summers: "So man saves the girl, is praised, gets raise an lives happily ever after. Expect you're here in Mattawa, tailing the demon. How you did find it?"
R. Miller: "I started by interrogating that priest. Harshly, I got suspended. But I got enough information. First I figured out it's movements here, found some of his lunatics. I finally found pattern that demon follows. Go to next town, spread word with it's worshippers or by itself. Then he makes a miracle or two. Form a cult, get sacrifices."
Agent Crane: "And you also figured out it's weaknesses."
R. Miller: "It was hard to get facts. Priests and rabbis were talking to me like a troubled man trying to tell his problems in metaphors. We all got demons... Finally I met some old Native Indian shaman who told me at least something, but I was in a hurry as my lead was getting away. I quickly bought these here - real silver. Worked wonders against that demon, better than my .38. And I got rock salt too, worked like acid. It figured I was too much of trouble and made it's escape. Seems fire didn't bother it. Pity my weapons weren't enough to kill that thing."
Agent Summers: "Of course not. This demon needs to be banished. Didn't the Indian tell you that?"
R. Miller: "He was too drunk to tell me more details I could understand. I... Applied what I figured out."
Agent Crane: "And do you have any clues about the demon's whereabouts?"
R. Miller: "I have."

Agent Crane: " ...But?"
R. Miller: I'll be coming with you. This being is cunning and it knows I'm tailing it. It'll stay in another town, laying low and sending out cultists to do it's bidding in secrecy. But I'm better than it thinks. I already know a cultist, he's being followed by a friend."
Agent Summers: "Pal from old job?"
R. Miller: "Comrade from Marine corps. Served with me for three years. He knows his stuff."
Agent Summers: "Right...So you show the way and we deal with the banishing, is that what you're suggesting?"
R. Miller: "Whatever will defeat the fouled thing."
Agent Crane: "Mr. Miller, as long as you don't come in our way, I find these terms acceptable."
R. Miller: "Call me Robert."

Priest & Hawthorne Investigations (Redux!) - Supernatural Urban Fantasy!

@Naril Oooh, you sly succubus! You have my fingers itching! And looking back at the sheet, I think I'll flesh it out a tad during next week.

In other news, if last cat of our original team finds it here, should we just go ahead and continue our original story?

Priest & Hawthorne Investigations (Redux!) - Supernatural Urban Fantasy!

Well now! How about g'old

Robert Miller jr.

Name: Robert Miller jr. Or just Rob.

Gender: Male.

Race: Human

Age: He's 46, though the graying hair and wrinkles make him look over his fifties.

Appearance: Robert miller jr. is 5 feet 11 inches tall and weights 182 pounds. His hair is a mixture of dark and grey, short and if not messy, definitely not combed nor specially maintained. He doesn't keep beard but doesn't shave it daily, so there's stubble. His eyes are greenish between two heavy eyelids and small bags under the eyes, making him look constantly tired. Lips are thin and mouth isn't particularly wide. His face could have been cut from wood, with strong, thin jaw, slim cheeks, roman nose and high cheekbones. But his skin starts to show wrinkles and aging.

Rob wears dress shirts with vests and woolen trousers with mild colors, kept up by a belt with silver buckle. Shoes are made from brown or black leather, somewhat maintained but seen wearing. He has three sets of silver cuff links; two looking like half of a marble and third flat square with rose carving. Outside he dons either his long grey trench coat or a simple brown jacket and grey fedora.

Personality: The work at Priest & Hawthorne Investigations is a personal crusade for Robert. He did his job well before joining the PHI, but calm and professional Robert has found his calling, passion to work or meaning of life in the unit.

Robert lived three decades without encountering any paranormal activity. Hence he still isn't all friends with the supernatural abilities or beings, but during the years he has accepted that they are part of this world and not all of them are hostile. Some might even be useful.

He has seen, read and experienced enough in his years to not be shaken too much, but that's not to say one can't see things affecting him. Twitch at his lips or clutching his fists before relaxing tell more than enough when cases get serious to him. And when he's serious, he focuses on the case to get it done like a locomotive. He's not afraid to rough people up if it means getting forward.

Out of cases or on breaks Rob enjoys conversations and activity to relax his mind before next case or continuing his current one. For Robert a relaxed mind without too much trouble is an effective tool.

Powers, Traits, and Abilities:

He has spent four years in marine corps, where he was taught the art of shooting things with variety of weapons. He wields his pistols professionally and he is accurate with rifles, all way up to 200 yards. With sniper rifle he can shoot to targets 500 yards away in right conditions. He has decent hand-to-hand capabilities (krav maga, judo, boxing) and he still keeps himself fit to be prepared just in case.

He has contacts in and out of law due to his years as a County Detective and few towards paranormal activity after his cases with PHI. Robert's sources might prove useful to gain artifacts, books, information or equipment for a case at hand.

Robert has a knack for surveillance and inspection. He tails people in and out of cities, he does surveillance from safe distance, he asks around for information related to people involved in the cases and if needed, he will bug the apartments or put a tracer under a car. When it comes to people, it's "Job for Rob".

Background:

People sometimes ask how a man from decent Minnesota family with promising career in Law enforcement ended up in Priest & Hawthorne investigations. There is one official case file and several stories to answer that question, but on average the tale goes like this:

Years ago there were some peculiar news about missing persons around the state of Washington. Priest & Hawthorne Investigations were sent agents to investigate this as rumors about cultists started to pop at the same time. During the investigations they found out about a small cult which made contact with priests, rabbis and other people. PHI wasn't exactly sure what the cult had for sale - though related to missing persons, it wasn't probably anything good- so they prepared themselves against variety of threats.

They finally found the cult in Mattawa. The cult was once again selling their "miracles" to the church members in exchange for money, shelter and well, people. They had the town figured out but the cult's location was still at large. Time was running out to find out who were hiding the cultists and what they were planning.

Two days later still in the middle of investigations the police and ambulance going to pick up six cult members, two who had been shot. PHI later came to reclaim what was left from the artifacts, burned books and whatever information that was left in their hideout. It wasn't long to find out they were dealing with a demon demanding sacrifices for his own amusement. In exchange he demonstrated supernatural powers and promised more for those joining him. At least according to stories.

They later went to interrogate the cult members, who revealed that some dark brown haired man had came to their apartment with assault rifle. It was their cult leader who was possessed by the demon, and the confrontation between the two ensued. Man had no idea how to expel the demon or slay it, but he knew that throwing salt and contact with his silver cuff links were able to repel it. Fierce battle between the two wounded two cult members and forced the cult leader to escape.

PHI investigators next searched the man that had called the police. They quickly found out he was called Robert Miller jr, a former county detective. It didn't take long for them to call his phone and arrange for a meeting to listen what Robert knew. The rumor has it that Robert had hunted the cult for 8 months thanks to a case he was involved in. It started with a missing witness to a case - generally assumed to be related with catholic priest, though some suggest conspiracies- that had Rob puzzled for a week before finding out the people involved. He had found the girl alive and well, but he had also taken his first step into supernatural world. Leaving behind the logic of natural world he took a leap of fate studied demonology. Naturally books and urban stories were numerous. Facts were hard to come by but Robert had taken his time to piece together at least something to deal with the demon he tailed.

The follow up is well known though. The Priest & Hawthorne Investigations agents and Robert cooperated to find the cult leader and expel the demon. Robert had done a remarkable job finding the possessed one and cornering him with the PHI personnel. They kept Robert's number in case there was a need for his man-hunting skills.

Another case not too long after their first meeting and Robert was invited to Priest & Hawthorne Investigations. They quickly found out that finding people wasn't the only thing Robert was decent at.

Robert doesn't specify why he stays at PHI. "Money and an interesting career" is his usual answer when asked. Some suggest the first counter with paranormal was quite special for Robert, like opening of a new world. Others say the girl he first saved was sent in asylum and Robert still feels guilt. Whatever the exact reasons are, Robert keeps doing his job with determination.

joining the fray? I had lot of fun writing the character and playing with him; If it's still possible and wanted, I'd gladly come again.