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One Universe: Unlimited - A Marvel/DC Comics Roleplay

_{Location: Adrian's Home in Avalon Heights - Bludhaven}

Take Me Out #1.02: So if You're Lonely

---

_{Interaction(s): None}

Previously: I'm Just a Shot

The smell of bacon permeated the air, and lulled Adrian from his deep sleep. He cracked his eyes open as he shifted slightly, the leather couch sticking to his exposed arms and legs as he did so. He reached down to the ground, fumbling for his phone before pulling it up. He was blinded for a moment, before his eyes readjusted enough for him to see the time.

6:08 am

Adrian sighed. His entire body was rebelling against his discipline, begging for just even 5 more measly minutes. But Adrian's will was stronger, and he threw his legs over the side of the couch so he could quickly slide on his pants from the day before. He slowly shuffled through the living room and past the stairs going up. There weren't the usual sounds of shuffling feet upstairs, which meant the kids must still be asleep. Adrian called out as he passed, "Kids! Come down for breakfast, or Uncle Alan and I will eat it all!"

Adrian finally shuffled around the corner, into the kitchen. Doris was busy over a pan full of eggs, wearing an apron over her suit. Adrian lingered in the entryway. Doris didn't bother turning her head. "The kids aren't feeling well this morning, I think they caught something at school. I couldn't get them in with Doctor Kelly until this afternoon."

Adrian gave a nod, moving around the island in the center of the kitchen and making his way to the Keurig. He quickly slotted in a cup and fetched a mug from the cabinet, turning the machine on. "Did you get a call from the mechanic yet?"

Doris shook her head, taking the pan off the heat and divvying up the scrambled eggs between a few plates. "No, I'll give them a call before I hop on my 7:30. I'm sure Alan won't mind taking you to work."

Adrian nodded, but felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. He checked the screen, and immediately accepted the call. "Agent Flores, it's Chase. What can I do for you?"

The voice on the other end was gruff and tired, but didn't linger or slur its words from exhaustion. "Good Morning… I heard you were the one who was nearly mugged by Scarapelli's two lieutenants. We're waking them up and going to begin the interrogations soon, you should probably swing by when you can."

Adrian furrowed his brow as he walked into the adjacent dining room, where Alan Welles was busy looking over case files while sipping on his coffee. Alan turned his gaze towards Adrian, raising an inquisitive eyebrow. "I'm not as mobile today, one of our cars are in the shop. Besides, we can't exactly interfere in the active investigation. I'm the DA, not a Bludhaven detective."

"Word has come down that Scarapelli's bond hearing is first on the docket after lunch. If we're going to keep Scarapelli off the streets, we need proof that he is a substantial threat. The man is 78 years old. The only way we can guarantee he's a serious enough threat is if we get one of the two men he sent after you last night to confess that the orders came from the top."

Adrian sighed as Doris walked into the dining room, setting down two plates full of food on the table. Adrian leaned in to kiss his wife on the cheek, but she turned her head away. Alan quickly turned his eyes back to his files and stared at them like his life depended on it. Adrian just cleared his throat and sat down in front of his breakfast. "Still doesn't explain why you need me there, Agent."

Flores seemed to anticipate Adrian's comment, responding quickly. "You know this case better than any of the detectives here, and you know what you need to make sure Scarapelli stays locked up until the trial. If this guy gets out, he's going to be touching down in Madripoor in 24 hours and this entire case is a bust."

After a brief pause, Adrian responded. "Alright, I'll be in within the hour."

He hung up the phone just as Doris was walking in to drop off his finished coffee. Adrian gave her a nod as she slipped back into the kitchen. Alan finished his cup of coffee. "I take it I'm opening up the office this morning?"

Adrian nodded, speaking in between quick bites of food. "I’m gonna need you to drop me off at the station downtown. They moved up Scarapelli's bond hearing."

Alan sighed, sliding some unopened files across the table. "You might need these, then. It's what we already have on dumb and dumber from last night. I haven't had time to sit down and take notes on these yet. But I made sure to pull everything I had together for when we got to the office."

Adrian gave a nod towards the documents, finished wolfing down his food, and made his way upstairs for a quick shower and change. He paused at the top of the stairs, looking to his right. He hadn’t seen the kids in just about a day now. But they were sick, and Adrian didn’t have time for that. He quickly went left, to the master bedroom.

Drew Chase, a girl of only six years in age, was woken early by her father’s yelling. She huddled up under her covers, trying to stifle her coughing and sniffing. She felt awful, and recognized the heavy footsteps of her father coming up the stairs. She wanted nothing more than for her father to come in and hug her and comfort her, like he used to. But her spirits fell as she heard the master bedroom door close.

One Universe: Unlimited - A Marvel/DC Comics Roleplay

V I G I L A N T E
V I G I L A N T E

^{“You're right... you've made me nothing more than a damn vigilante.”}

C H A R A C T E R P O R T R A I T C H A R A C T E R P O R T R A I T _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ C H A R A C T E R S U M M A R Y C H A R A C T E R S U M M A R Y _________________________________________________________ Adrian Chase _________________________________________________________ Caucasian | District Attorney | Independent _________________________________________________________ Bludhaven | New Jersey | United States of America C H A R A C T E R N O T E S C H A R A C T E R N O T E S _________________________________________________________ [+] - M I S C E L L A N E O U S ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ The Eraser: A criminal "cleaner" who has showed up in Bludhaven, destroying evidence at murder scenes around the city. Catman: An elusive criminal thief terrorizing Bludhaven in the dumbest, most obvious costume possible. Hammerhead: With uncertainty rising about the Scarapelli crime family, this new crime lord representing the Maggia has moved in. It's unclear what the Maggia want with Bludhaven... but they're meeting some significant pushback from another illusive crime lord known as the "Blockbuster." The Enforcers: A band of criminal mercenaries under the employ of the Scarapelli crime family. Rumor is, a few of them have meta abilities. Roland Desmond: A high-ranking member of the Scarapelli crime family, he has recently flipped on his former employer and ratted out parts of the operation to the FBI. Rumor is he's connected to Hammerhead's in-town rival, the Blockbuster. Wildcat: A local vigilante, and one that Adrian is more or less fond of. Secretly boxer Ted Grant, who is intending to challenge Carlos LaMuerto in a prime time international event at Madison Square Garden. Homeless Avenger: A violent vigilante targeting criminals who target the homeless population of Bludhaven. Agent Catalina Flores: FBI agent working at the Bludhaven office, attempting to help Adrian Chase and the DA's office to dismantle the Scarapelli crime family. Alan Welles: Assistant District Attorney who works alongside Adrian, and is one of the primary trial lawyers for District Attorney's office. Is helping put together the Scarapelli case as much as possible. - P O S T C A T A L O G P O S T C A T A L O G _________________________________________________________ [+] - P O S T C A T A L O G ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ ◼ -

C H A R A C T E R C O N C E P T C H A R A C T E R C O N C E P T ________________________________________________________________________________________ The goal of playing Vigilante is to explore the streets of crime in the DC universe from a character's year zero perspective. Adrian Chase is a fascinating character in the comics, and the idea of a district attorney turning into a crime fighter when the system fails is just a fascinating angle to take. I have a love for street level vigilantes, and who better than the Vigilante? One who keeps giving himself permission to break the law in more drastic ways until he eventually becomes the kind of killer he wanted to put behind bars? I think there's also room to rework some more minor DC villains into threatening adversaries for a low level hero. Villains such as "The Eraser" are perfect adversaries for a lawyer trying to put some of the most dangerous criminals behind bars. P L O T ( S ) & G O A L ( S ) P L O T ( S ) & G O A L ( S ) ________________________________________________________________________________________ Adrian Chase is a man who has always rejected the idea of living it easy: he graduated West Point with a Law and Legal Studies degree, served in the army, returned to attend Columbia's Law School, and quickly found himself with a job across the Hudson in the Bludhaven DA's office. He never took the easy route of corporate law that his father always nagged him about, and was one of the few lawyers in the DA's office that wasn't hit with a scandal following the recent death of District Attorney herself. When half the DA's office was found to be in the pocket of the Scarapelli crime family, Adrian Chase takes over for the case and manages to formally file charges against Anthony Scarapelli. Adrian's family is killed, and all the evidence on the Scarapelli's goes up in smoke. Heartbroken and wounded, a desperate Adrian Chase is willing to do anything to make sure justice is served. Unfortunately for him, the system was rigged from the start. Before long, Adrian Chase is going to realize the only way to get true justice in this city is to take it into your own hands... or at the barrel of a gun. A R C # 1 TAKE ME OUT "It was just another Thursday... until it wasn't." Adrian Chase is the acting District Attorney, and lives the suburban nightmare that everyone dreams of. Unfortunately, he's made a powerful enemy of Anthony Scarapelli. Adrian Chase is closing the noose around the criminal's neck, but the mob boss believes in reciprocal justice. An eye for an eye. Or a family for a family. A R C # 2 PSYCHO KILLER "I can't just... I mean, YOU can't just go around killing people." Adrian Chase puts the vigilante community on trial when the Homeless Avenger is finally captured by the BPD. As the District Attorney begins putting together a case against him while simultaneously working on the Scarapelli case, Bludhaven begins to fall apart as a gang war begins brewing in the background. The District Attorney begins adopting a similar disguise as the Homeless Avenger as he goes out at night probing for clues as to what is happening to the evidence of the Scarapelli case. A R C # 3 WAR PIGS "No... Anthony Scarapelli doesn't get to walk away. He started this war. I'm ending it." Adrian will question what lengths he is willing to go to as a... no, THE Vigilante. A full on gang war will begin to envelop the streets of Bludhaven, and Adrian Chase will be pushed to his absolute limits as he does everything he can to bring justice to his city... before the law cracks down on him first.

---

Sample Post

"You ever wish we just took a job in like, Chicago?"

Adrian Chase knocked back the remainder of his glass, setting it on the bar and tapping its rim to signal the bartender. He couldn't even remember what the name of this place was, but it was one of the few open between the office and his place. He had switched out his blazer for a leather jacket he always kept in his office, hitching a ride with his fellow attorney Alan Welles as they left the office. Adrian's partner in crime hadn't bothered to bring a change of clothes, opting to ditch the blazer in his car and remove his tie. Even with the slight change in appearance, they stood out from the rest. Adrian saw the lingering eyes of a small group of teenagers near the back. He gave them a small smile and a nod as he grabbed the hem of his leather jacket, readjusting it just right to flash the piece holstered to his belt. The teenagers stopped looking real quick.

"Chicago isn't any better than here, Chase. You've seen the crime statistics... it's worse than out here." The bartender arrived, picking up the bottle of bourbon and pouring into Adrian's glass.

"But there aren't any vigilantes in Chicago. Not any big ones." The bartender began to pull the bottle away, but Adrian shook his head. The bartender shrugged and made it a double.

Alan Welles rolled his eyes in response as he took another sip of his beer. "There aren't any big vigilantes in Bludhaven, either. What, every now and then we might get one of the bats, or maybe some freak with a gun and a cool name swing through town for a week or a month. Someone who got lost on their way out of Gotham or Manhattan. But other than that-"

"We've got the Wildcat. Some asshat in a fursuit punching people's lights out and dropping them on my doorstep. Twice, Alan. For fuck's sake, Drew didn't sleep for a week after she answered the door for the second guy." Adrian lifted his glass to take a sip, revelling in the burning sensation.

Alan sighed, shaking his head as he stared at his nearly empty beer. "How's Doris? You've been at the office a lot more since they fished Powell out of the river."

Adrian took another sip and exhaled a long breath. He looked at Alan and shook his head. "You know Doris, she's nagging away that I'm not spending enough time with the kids, same old shit."

Alan chuckled to himself as he slid the beer away. "Hey, at least you got something steady and stable. I'd love to get nagged at every night." After a pause, Alan looked at his watch and groaned. "Guess I'll be taking a nap before I head into the office. Mind if I crash on your couch?"

Adrian chuckled, downing the rest of his drink. "Sure, Al. But you better take the one in the basement. I've got the one in the living room."

The two men chuckled as they settled up with the bartender, making their way out the front of the bar. They circled around towards the parking lot on the side, heading straight for Alan's little Fiat. Of course, even with a decent amount of liquor in him, Adrian clocked the two men who exited the bar behind them. They were moving a little bit faster than Adrian was, clearly trying to catch up. It was only when Adrian heard the distinct sound of metal scraping just barely against metal that he recognized a sound he was familiar with in his youth. Years of camping made him familiar with the sound of unsheathing a folding knife. They were too far from the car, and the unseen assailants were getting too close.

Adrian slowed his pace to ensure Alan got a bit of a lead on him, and slowly turned around. Two men, no masks. The one on the right was holding the knife, and lifted it up towards Adrian’s face as he kept advancing. “No sudden moves, pal. Give me your wallet, and nobody gets hurt.”

There. A threat of bodily harm. Nice assault charge. Close proximity with the knife, no chance to retreat. They’re gonna make me do this.

Adrian took a half step back, planting his foot. As the assailant went to take another step forward, Adrian took the opportunity to reach up and grab the wrist of the hand holding the knife. With a swift kick to knee, the assailant was quickly knocked off balance and fell forward. Adrian spun around and used his other hand to guide the assailant forward onto his knees, moving his hand from the wrist to the knife to disarm the man. The other potential assailant began moving forward, and Adrian sighed. He tossed the knife aside, and quickly scooped up a handful of gravel resting in one of this parking lot’s many pot holes. Adrian was able to get on his feet and step to the side as the second assailant closed in. A quick toss of loose gravel into the assailant’s face was enough to throw him off. It bought Adrian enough time to take a few steps back and unholster his Sig, flicking the safety off as he alternated which assailant he pointed the gun at. Within a moment, assailant two dropped the knife and held his hands into the air. The first assailant remained sprawled on the ground, hands raised slightly to show compliance.

Alan was already on the phone with the local precinct. Adrian lowered the weapon, but kept the safety off. It took the office about 90 seconds to come screeching to a halt on the street nearby. Bludhaven’s finest only seemed to work fast when it was the DA or the Mayor calling. Two officers stepped out, and immediately moved in to apprehend the assailants.. While cuffing them, Adrian looked towards Alan. ”These guys look familiar to you?”

Alan took a closer look at the men, “Vaguely… you telling me these are Scarapelli’s guys.”

Adrian opened up Alan’s trunk, and brushed aside a blanket to reveal his briefcase. He quickly flicked it open, and pulled out a small stack of photos. He rifled through them for a moment under a nearby streetlight, and finally pulled one out for Alan to inspect. ”I never forget a face. And these two have been around a lot of crime scenes connected to our dear friend Tony.”

Alan nodded in relief for a moment, before he narrowed his brow and looked back at Adrian. “Wait… so does that mean…”

Adrian nodded, tossing the photos back into his briefcase and clicking it shut. ”Scarapelli’s getting desperate. We’ve got him on the ropes.”

One Universe: Unlimited - A Marvel/DC Comics Roleplay

God Damn These Vigilantes

V I G I L A N T E
V I G I L A N T E

^{“You're right... you've made me nothing more than a damn vigilante.”}

C H A R A C T E R P O R T R A I T C H A R A C T E R P O R T R A I T _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ C H A R A C T E R S U M M A R Y C H A R A C T E R S U M M A R Y _________________________________________________________ Adrian Chase _________________________________________________________ Caucasian | District Attorney | Independent _________________________________________________________ Bludhaven | New Jersey | United States of America C H A R A C T E R N O T E S C H A R A C T E R N O T E S _________________________________________________________ [+] - M I S C E L L A N E O U S ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ The Eraser: A criminal "cleaner" who has showed up in Bludhaven, destroying evidence at murder scenes around the city. Catman: An elusive criminal thief terrorizing Bludhaven in the dumbest, most obvious costume possible. Hammerhead: With uncertainty rising about the Scarapelli crime family, this new crime lord representing the Maggia has moved in. It's unclear what the Maggia want with Bludhaven... but they're meeting some significant pushback from another illusive crime lord known as the "Blockbuster." The Enforcers: A band of criminal mercenaries under the employ of the Scarapelli crime family. Rumor is, a few of them have meta abilities. Roland Desmond: A high-ranking member of the Scarapelli crime family, he has recently flipped on his former employer and ratted out parts of the operation to the FBI. Rumor is he's connected to Hammerhead's in-town rival, the Blockbuster. Wildcat: A local vigilante, and one that Adrian is more or less fond of. Secretly boxer Ted Grant, who is intending to challenge Carlos LaMuerto in a prime time international event at Madison Square Garden. Homeless Avenger: A violent vigilante targeting criminals who target the homeless population of Bludhaven. Agent Catalina Flores: FBI agent working at the Bludhaven office, attempting to help Adrian Chase and the DA's office to dismantle the Scarapelli crime family. Alan Welles: Assistant District Attorney who works alongside Adrian, and is one of the primary trial lawyers for District Attorney's office. Is helping put together the Scarapelli case as much as possible. - P O S T C A T A L O G P O S T C A T A L O G _________________________________________________________ [+] - P O S T C A T A L O G ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ ◼ -

C H A R A C T E R C O N C E P T C H A R A C T E R C O N C E P T ________________________________________________________________________________________ The goal of playing Vigilante is to explore the streets of crime in the DC universe from a character's year zero perspective. Adrian Chase is a fascinating character in the comics, and the idea of a district attorney turning into a crime fighter when the system fails is just a fascinating angle to take. I have a love for street level vigilantes, and who better than the Vigilante? One who keeps giving himself permission to break the law in more drastic ways until he eventually becomes the kind of killer he wanted to put behind bars? I think there's also room to rework some more minor DC villains into threatening adversaries for a low level hero. Villains such as "The Eraser" are perfect adversaries for a lawyer trying to put some of the most dangerous criminals behind bars. P L O T ( S ) & G O A L ( S ) P L O T ( S ) & G O A L ( S ) ________________________________________________________________________________________ Adrian Chase is a man who has always rejected the idea of living it easy: he graduated West Point with a Law and Legal Studies degree, served in the army, returned to attend Columbia's Law School, and quickly found himself with a job across the Hudson in the Bludhaven DA's office. He never took the easy route of corporate law that his father always nagged him about, and was one of the few lawyers in the DA's office that wasn't hit with a scandal following the recent death of District Attorney herself. When half the DA's office was found to be in the pocket of the Scarapelli crime family, Adrian Chase takes over for the case and manages to formally file charges against Anthony Scarapelli. Adrian's family is killed, and all the evidence on the Scarapelli's goes up in smoke. Heartbroken and wounded, a desperate Adrian Chase is willing to do anything to make sure justice is served. Unfortunately for him, the system was rigged from the start. Before long, Adrian Chase is going to realize the only way to get true justice in this city is to take it into your own hands... or at the barrel of a gun. A R C # 1 TAKE ME OUT "It was just another Thursday... until it wasn't." Adrian Chase is the acting District Attorney, and lives the suburban nightmare that everyone dreams of. Unfortunately, he's made a powerful enemy of Anthony Scarapelli. Adrian Chase is closing the noose around the criminal's neck, but the mob boss believes in reciprocal justice. An eye for an eye. Or a family for a family. A R C # 2 PSYCHO KILLER "I can't just... I mean, YOU can't just go around killing people." Adrian Chase puts the vigilante community on trial when the Homeless Avenger is finally captured by the BPD. As the District Attorney begins putting together a case against him while simultaneously working on the Scarapelli case, Bludhaven begins to fall apart as a gang war begins brewing in the background. The District Attorney begins adopting a similar disguise as the Homeless Avenger as he goes out at night probing for clues as to what is happening to the evidence of the Scarapelli case. A R C # 3 WAR PIGS "No... Anthony Scarapelli doesn't get to walk away. He started this war. I'm ending it." Adrian will question what lengths he is willing to go to as a... no, THE Vigilante. A full on gang war will begin to envelop the streets of Bludhaven, and Adrian Chase will be pushed to his absolute limits as he does everything he can to bring justice to his city... before the law cracks down on him first.

---

Sample Post

"You ever wish we just took a job in like, Chicago?"

Adrian Chase knocked back the remainder of his glass, setting it on the bar and tapping its rim to signal the bartender. He couldn't even remember what the name of this place was, but it was one of the few open between the office and his place. He had switched out his blazer for a leather jacket he always kept in his office, hitching a ride with his fellow attorney Alan Welles as they left the office. Adrian's partner in crime hadn't bothered to bring a change of clothes, opting to ditch the blazer in his car and remove his tie. Even with the slight change in appearance, they stood out from the rest. Adrian saw the lingering eyes of a small group of teenagers near the back. He gave them a small smile and a nod as he grabbed the hem of his leather jacket, readjusting it just right to flash the piece holstered to his belt. The teenagers stopped looking real quick.

"Chicago isn't any better than here, Chase. You've seen the crime statistics... it's worse than out here." The bartender arrived, picking up the bottle of bourbon and pouring into Adrian's glass.

"But there aren't any vigilantes in Chicago. Not any big ones." The bartender began to pull the bottle away, but Adrian shook his head. The bartender shrugged and made it a double.

Alan Welles rolled his eyes in response as he took another sip of his beer. "There aren't any big vigilantes in Bludhaven, either. What, every now and then we might get one of the bats, or maybe some freak with a gun and a cool name swing through town for a week or a month. Someone who got lost on their way out of Gotham or Manhattan. But other than that-"

"We've got the Wildcat. Some asshat in a fursuit punching people's lights out and dropping them on my doorstep. Twice, Alan. For fuck's sake, Drew didn't sleep for a week after she answered the door for the second guy." Adrian lifted his glass to take a sip, revelling in the burning sensation.

Alan sighed, shaking his head as he stared at his nearly empty beer. "How's Doris? You've been at the office a lot more since they fished Powell out of the river."

Adrian took another sip and exhaled a long breath. He looked at Alan and shook his head. "You know Doris, she's nagging away that I'm not spending enough time with the kids, same old shit."

Alan chuckled to himself as he slid the beer away. "Hey, at least you got something steady and stable. I'd love to get nagged at every night." After a pause, Alan looked at his watch and groaned. "Guess I'll be taking a nap before I head into the office. Mind if I crash on your couch?"

Adrian chuckled, downing the rest of his drink. "Sure, Al. But you better take the one in the basement. I've got the one in the living room."

The two men chuckled as they settled up with the bartender, making their way out the front of the bar. They circled around towards the parking lot on the side, heading straight for Alan's little Fiat. Of course, even with a decent amount of liquor in him, Adrian clocked the two men who exited the bar behind them. They were moving a little bit faster than Adrian was, clearly trying to catch up. It was only when Adrian heard the distinct sound of metal scraping just barely against metal that he recognized a sound he was familiar with in his youth. Years of camping made him familiar with the sound of unsheathing a folding knife. They were too far from the car, and the unseen assailants were getting too close.

Adrian slowed his pace to ensure Alan got a bit of a lead on him, and slowly turned around. Two men, no masks. The one on the right was holding the knife, and lifted it up towards Adrian’s face as he kept advancing. “No sudden moves, pal. Give me your wallet, and nobody gets hurt.”

There. A threat of bodily harm. Nice assault charge. Close proximity with the knife, no chance to retreat. They’re gonna make me do this.

Adrian took a half step back, planting his foot. As the assailant went to take another step forward, Adrian took the opportunity to reach up and grab the wrist of the hand holding the knife. With a swift kick to knee, the assailant was quickly knocked off balance and fell forward. Adrian spun around and used his other hand to guide the assailant forward onto his knees, moving his hand from the wrist to the knife to disarm the man. The other potential assailant began moving forward, and Adrian sighed. He tossed the knife aside, and quickly scooped up a handful of gravel resting in one of this parking lot’s many pot holes. Adrian was able to get on his feet and step to the side as the second assailant closed in. A quick toss of loose gravel into the assailant’s face was enough to throw him off. It bought Adrian enough time to take a few steps back and unholster his Sig, flicking the safety off as he alternated which assailant he pointed the gun at. Within a moment, assailant two dropped the knife and held his hands into the air. The first assailant remained sprawled on the ground, hands raised slightly to show compliance.

Alan was already on the phone with the local precinct. Adrian lowered the weapon, but kept the safety off. It took the office about 90 seconds to come screeching to a halt on the street nearby. Bludhaven’s finest only seemed to work fast when it was the DA or the Mayor calling. Two officers stepped out, and immediately moved in to apprehend the assailants.. While cuffing them, Adrian looked towards Alan. ”These guys look familiar to you?”

Alan took a closer look at the men, “Vaguely… you telling me these are Scarapelli’s guys.”

Adrian opened up Alan’s trunk, and brushed aside a blanket to reveal his briefcase. He quickly flicked it open, and pulled out a small stack of photos. He rifled through them for a moment under a nearby streetlight, and finally pulled one out for Alan to inspect. ”I never forget a face. And these two have been around a lot of crime scenes connected to our dear friend Tony.”

Alan nodded in relief for a moment, before he narrowed his brow and looked back at Adrian. “Wait… so does that mean…”

Adrian nodded, tossing the photos back into his briefcase and clicking it shut. ”Scarapelli’s getting desperate. We’ve got him on the ropes.”

Web's Workshop

V I G I L A N T E
V I G I L A N T E

^{“You're right... you've made me nothing more than a damn vigilante.”}

C H A R A C T E R P O R T R A I T C H A R A C T E R P O R T R A I T _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ C H A R A C T E R S U M M A R Y C H A R A C T E R S U M M A R Y _________________________________________________________ Adrian Chase _________________________________________________________ Caucasian | District Attorney | Independent _________________________________________________________ Bludhaven | New Jersey | United States of America C H A R A C T E R N O T E S C H A R A C T E R N O T E S _________________________________________________________ [+] - M I S C E L L A N E O U S ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ The Eraser: A criminal "cleaner" who has showed up in Bludhaven, destroying evidence at murder scenes around the city. Catman: An elusive criminal thief terrorizing Bludhaven in the dumbest, most obvious costume possible. Hammerhead: With uncertainty rising about the Scarapelli crime family, this new crime lord representing the Maggia has moved in. It's unclear what the Maggia want with Bludhaven... but they're meeting some significant pushback from another illusive crime lord known as the "Blockbuster." The Enforcers: A band of criminal mercenaries under the employ of the Scarapelli crime family. Rumor is, a few of them have meta abilities. Roland Desmond: A high-ranking member of the Scarapelli crime family, he has recently flipped on his former employer and ratted out parts of the operation to the FBI. Rumor is he's connected to Hammerhead's in-town rival, the Blockbuster. Wildcat: A local vigilante, and one that Adrian is more or less fond of. Secretly boxer Ted Grant, who is intending to challenge Carlos LaMuerto in a prime time international event at Madison Square Garden. Homeless Avenger: A violent vigilante targeting criminals who target the homeless population of Bludhaven. Agent Catalina Flores: FBI agent working at the Bludhaven office, attempting to help Adrian Chase and the DA's office to dismantle the Scarapelli crime family. Alan Welles: Assistant District Attorney who works alongside Adrian, and is one of the primary trial lawyers for District Attorney's office. Is helping put together the Scarapelli case as much as possible. - P O S T C A T A L O G P O S T C A T A L O G _________________________________________________________ [+] - P O S T C A T A L O G ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ ◼ -

C H A R A C T E R C O N C E P T C H A R A C T E R C O N C E P T ________________________________________________________________________________________ The goal of playing Vigilante is to explore the streets of crime in the DC universe from a character's year zero perspective. Adrian Chase is a fascinating character in the comics, and the idea of a district attorney turning into a crime fighter when the system fails is just a fascinating angle to take. I have a love for street level vigilantes, and who better than the Vigilante? One who keeps giving himself permission to break the law in more drastic ways until he eventually becomes the kind of killer he wanted to put behind bars? I think there's also room to rework some more minor DC villains into threatening adversaries for a low level hero. Villains such as "The Eraser" are perfect adversaries for a lawyer trying to put some of the most dangerous criminals behind bars. P L O T ( S ) & G O A L ( S ) P L O T ( S ) & G O A L ( S ) ________________________________________________________________________________________ Adrian Chase is a man who has always rejected the idea of living it easy: he graduated West Point with a Law and Legal Studies degree, served in the army, returned to attend Columbia's Law School, and quickly found himself with a job across the Hudson in the Bludhaven DA's office. He never took the easy route of corporate law that his father always nagged him about, and was one of the few lawyers in the DA's office that wasn't hit with a scandal following the recent death of District Attorney herself. When half the DA's office was found to be in the pocket of the Scarapelli crime family, Adrian Chase takes over for the case and manages to formally file charges against Anthony Scarapelli. Adrian's family is killed, and all the evidence on the Scarapelli's goes up in smoke. Heartbroken and wounded, a desperate Adrian Chase is willing to do anything to make sure justice is served. Unfortunately for him, the system was rigged from the start. Before long, Adrian Chase is going to realize the only way to get true justice in this city is to take it into your own hands... or at the barrel of a gun. A R C # 1 TAKE ME OUT "It was just another Thursday... until it wasn't." Adrian Chase is the acting District Attorney, and lives the suburban nightmare that everyone dreams of. Unfortunately, he's made a powerful enemy of Anthony Scarapelli. Adrian Chase is closing the noose around the criminal's neck, but the mob boss believes in reciprocal justice. An eye for an eye. Or a family for a family. A R C # 2 PSYCHO KILLER "I can't just... I mean, YOU can't just go around killing people." Adrian Chase puts the vigilante community on trial when the Homeless Avenger is finally captured by the BPD. As the District Attorney begins putting together a case against him while simultaneously working on the Scarapelli case, Bludhaven begins to fall apart as a gang war begins brewing in the background. The District Attorney begins adopting a similar disguise as the Homeless Avenger as he goes out at night probing for clues as to what is happening to the evidence of the Scarapelli case. A R C # 3 WAR PIGS "No... Anthony Scarapelli doesn't get to walk away. He started this war. I'm ending it." Adrian will question what lengths he is willing to go to as a... no, THE Vigilante. A full on gang war will begin to envelop the streets of Bludhaven, and Adrian Chase will be pushed to his absolute limits as he does everything he can to bring justice to his city... before the law cracks down on him first.

---

Sample Post

"You ever wish we just took a job in like, Chicago?"

Adrian Chase knocked back the remainder of his glass, setting it on the bar and tapping its rim to signal the bartender. He couldn't even remember what the name of this place was, but it was one of the few open between the office and his place. He had switched out his blazer for a leather jacket he always kept in his office, hitching a ride with his fellow attorney Alan Welles as they left the office. Adrian's partner in crime hadn't bothered to bring a change of clothes, opting to ditch the blazer in his car and remove his tie. Even with the slight change in appearance, they stood out from the rest. Adrian saw the lingering eyes of a small group of teenagers near the back. He gave them a small smile and a nod as he grabbed the hem of his leather jacket, readjusting it just right to flash the piece holstered to his belt. The teenagers stopped looking real quick.

"Chicago isn't any better than here, Chase. You've seen the crime statistics... it's worse than out here." The bartender arrived, picking up the bottle of bourbon and pouring into Adrian's glass.

"But there aren't any vigilantes in Chicago. Not any big ones." The bartender began to pull the bottle away, but Adrian shook his head. The bartender shrugged and made it a double.

Alan Welles rolled his eyes in response as he took another sip of his beer. "There aren't any big vigilantes in Bludhaven, either. What, every now and then we might get one of the bats, or maybe some freak with a gun and a cool name swing through town for a week or a month. Someone who got lost on their way out of Gotham or Manhattan. But other than that-"

"We've got the Wildcat. Some asshat in a fursuit punching people's lights out and dropping them on my doorstep. Twice, Alan. For fuck's sake, Drew didn't sleep for a week after she answered the door for the second guy." Adrian lifted his glass to take a sip, revelling in the burning sensation.

Alan sighed, shaking his head as he stared at his nearly empty beer. "How's Doris? You've been at the office a lot more since they fished Powell out of the river."

Adrian took another sip and exhaled a long breath. He looked at Alan and shook his head. "You know Doris, she's nagging away that I'm not spending enough time with the kids, same old shit."

Alan chuckled to himself as he slid the beer away. "Hey, at least you got something steady and stable. I'd love to get nagged at every night." After a pause, Alan looked at his watch and groaned. "Guess I'll be taking a nap before I head into the office. Mind if I crash on your couch?"

Adrian chuckled, downing the rest of his drink. "Sure, Al. But you better take the one in the basement. I've got the one in the living room."

The two men chuckled as they settled up with the bartender, making their way out the front of the bar. They circled around towards the parking lot on the side, heading straight for Alan's little Fiat. Of course, even with a decent amount of liquor in him, Adrian clocked the two men who exited the bar behind them. They were moving a little bit faster than Adrian was, clearly trying to catch up. It was only when Adrian heard the distinct sound of metal scraping just barely against metal that he recognized a sound he was familiar with in his youth. Years of camping made him familiar with the sound of unsheathing a folding knife. They were too far from the car, and the unseen assailants were getting too close.

Adrian slowed his pace to ensure Alan got a bit of a lead on him, and slowly turned around. Two men, no masks. The one on the right was holding the knife, and lifted it up towards Adrian’s face as he kept advancing. “No sudden moves, pal. Give me your wallet, and nobody gets hurt.”

There. A threat of bodily harm. Nice assault charge. Close proximity with the knife, no chance to retreat. They’re gonna make me do this.

Adrian took a half step back, planting his foot. As the assailant went to take another step forward, Adrian took the opportunity to reach up and grab the wrist of the hand holding the knife. With a swift kick to knee, the assailant was quickly knocked off balance and fell forward. Adrian spun around and used his other hand to guide the assailant forward onto his knees, moving his hand from the wrist to the knife to disarm the man. The other potential assailant began moving forward, and Adrian sighed. He tossed the knife aside, and quickly scooped up a handful of gravel resting in one of this parking lot’s many pot holes. Adrian was able to get on his feet and step to the side as the second assailant closed in. A quick toss of loose gravel into the assailant’s face was enough to throw him off. It bought Adrian enough time to take a few steps back and unholster his Sig, flicking the safety off as he alternated which assailant he pointed the gun at. Within a moment, assailant two dropped the knife and held his hands into the air. The first assailant remained sprawled on the ground, hands raised slightly to show compliance.

Alan was already on the phone with the local precinct. Adrian lowered the weapon, but kept the safety off. It took the office about 90 seconds to come screeching to a halt on the street nearby. Bludhaven’s finest only seemed to work fast when it was the DA or the Mayor calling. Two officers stepped out, and immediately moved in to apprehend the assailants.. While cuffing them, Adrian looked towards Alan. ”These guys look familiar to you?”

Alan took a closer look at the men, “Vaguely… you telling me these are Scarapelli’s guys.”

Adrian opened up Alan’s trunk, and brushed aside a blanket to reveal his briefcase. He quickly flicked it open, and pulled out a small stack of photos. He rifled through them for a moment under a nearby streetlight, and finally pulled one out for Alan to inspect. ”I never forget a face. And these two have been around a lot of crime scenes connected to our dear friend Tony.”

Alan nodded in relief for a moment, before he narrowed his brow and looked back at Adrian. “Wait… so does that mean…”

Adrian nodded, tossing the photos back into his briefcase and clicking it shut. ”Scarapelli’s getting desperate. We’ve got him on the ropes.”

To Become a Knight! ~ A Chivalric (Mis)Adventure

---

"... Why would I do that? That's stupid. I'm supposed to spar you again now that you know exactly how I fight, when I don't know the first thing about you or what you can do? Not to mention, if you win, you get to make yourself look good. If I beat the same person twice, I get... what, exactly?"

Nathaniel's hands clenched into fists at his sides as he stared down the smaller boy. From a rational angle, Julian was right: There was nothing for him to gain. In fact, a duel of this caliber would typically exist in an environment where other means of mediation were available. Nathaniel had opted for a duel when there was no other means of recourse. They were peers, after all, and a simple standing as "Vice Captain" didn't mean much of anything. The only thing on the line was honor, and only one side had any stake in such a concept. After all, Julian had only things to lose. Nathaniel had already lost.

And if those were the only words, Nathaniel might have been able to forget. He knew moving on was a better option, that he would have chances to prove what he was capable of. But there was something that boiled inside of Nathaniel as he tightened the muscles in his jaw. Julian had practically forgotten the duel, and thought of Nathaniel as a "sucker." Years of study, a life dedicated to being here... and some Baker boy who didn't even know how to hold a half-way decent sword stance looked down on him. Nathaniel couldn't help but let a seething pain ooze from his wounded pride. He was made to look like a fool for doing the right thing and seeking an honest fight, and now was denied recourse. If he had dishonored Julian, Nathaniel would have accepted the duel. Even if he lost, it was the noble thing to do.

Nathaniel slowly walked past his roommate, moving towards the door. He unclenched his fists and loosened the muscles around his jaw. Malice still swirled in Nathaniel's head, dissipating as he remembered he had a whole squad mere feet away that he was responsible for serving. He turned his gaze briefly towards Julian, his mind resolute. His tone was softer, but there was a confidence and matter-of-fact quality in the delivery of his words. "You will duel me one of these days, Julian Baker. Not for the noble ideal of honor, or because it's the just thing to do: you've already proven to me that those are not qualities you possess. I think you will duel me when you are ready to learn if you ever deserved to be here."

He quickly finished crossing the room, opening the door swiftly and looking out into the common area. His eyes locked on to Kai, and it was clear that the others must have heard the challenge. Nathaniel took a deep breath, letting a soft smile grace his lips again. Sure, he had sparse accommodations, was ranked second on his squad, and was rooming with a dishonorable rat. And while most would view their situation as a punishment, Nathaniel instead saw opportunity. He was being issued a challenge all his own. As his father once said, being a knight isn’t just about overcoming obstacles: you have to carry yourself through those obstacles with dignity and honor. And once Nathaniel took that moment to compose himself and ignore the fact that he had lacked that dignity and honor just moments before, his eyes were filled with the same joy and determination he had when his name was called in the ceremony. He took a few steps towards Kaiser, giving the boy a nod. ”Kaiser, we should catch up with the others to make sure we reserve a fine spot in the mess hall for our squadron. What do you say?” His last words were more of a statement than a question, as Nathaniel turned to follow Signar and Zenshin.

@Zeroth@Zombehs@pkken

To Become a Knight! ~ A Chivalric (Mis)Adventure

---

Nathaniel turned his gaze to watch his squad beginning to form together, gathered around the prince. He couldn't help but notice how unique the squad composition seemed. He had dueled many in the sword schools, but they all seemed oddly similar. Most of the boys were of a similar height and build. They shared the same unremarkable hair styles and facial shapes. He had even been to some small social gatherings among the elite, and clocked the trending hair styles and outfits. But here, in this squad... it was different. To be expected, given the seeming status of the squad. Someone up the chain had placed them all here for a reason, and Nathaniel had a sneaking suspicion of who.

Nathaniel readjusted the simple bag on his shoulders. He knew a uniform was to be provided, and so had only brought the most necessary of clothes with him. The only other thing that filled the bag were simple bound journals and ink: the necessary materials needed to begin logging the strengths and weaknesses of himself and the rest of the squadron. Nathaniel already had ideas on what to list down, but figured the opening exercises as cadets might prove a better benchmark of ability. His work as the squad's tactician could wait another day. He had today to get settled, and eventually fetch his special training sword from one of the local smiths. It had been a special commission placed by his father. They assured him that it would be ready.

As the squad lined up in the barracks and received their room assignments, Nathaniel took his key and moved silently upstairs to the squadron's common room. He paced about the room, counting out steps and measurements slowly in his head throughout. It was a comforting exercise to know how big the room was, and to mark the entrances and exits. It always helped to know how many steps were needed to make a quick exit, in the event... no, it was safe here. The clear enchantment on one of the rooms indicated an exercise of caution. Dot and Liese's room, and not the Prince... a curious choice: one that Nathaniel would have to analyze another time.

When he felt satisfied, Nathaniel finally entered his room: the last on the list. The room was more spartan than he was used to, but that was far from a complaint. Luxury would only make men soft. He stood in the doorway as he watched his roommate, Julian, walk to the window and stare out. In the moment, most would have to acknowledge the beautiful way the light caught Julian's hair. But Nathaniel only saw a spotlight on a coward, a thief of honor. He strode into the room, sliding open the lower sleeping compartment to get a good view of where he was to rest. Without even looking in Julian's direction, Nathaniel's words were monotone. "I've sparred with a lot of people, Baker. Never once have I sparred with someone like you."

Nathaniel moved to the back of the room, removing his clothes from his bag and stuffing them into a cupboard, before stuffing his journals and ink into another with a swift intent. After that moment of pause, Nathaniel turned back towards Julian. His mouth was turned into a frown, his eyes narrowed in on the boy. "I do not see any other means of recourse. I formally request a rematch, Julian Baker, to be held at our earliest convenience. A fair duel, between men. You stripped me of honor and dignity in our opening spar. As cadets, and future knights, I hope you have at least one honorable bone in your body to grant me a chance to win it back."

@Feyblue

To Become a Knight! ~ A Chivalric (Mis)Adventure

---

Nathaniel's smile solidified, but he felt his eyes unable to meet Rossweine's. He had managed to catch the prince's words to the others: glowing praise and biting critique all mashed into flowery language. He couldn't help but be impressed. Nathaniel noticed the slight criticisms of his allies, and his words hit their marks. Rossweine was far from the last to have been keeping a clever eye on what was going on. Nathaniel had categorized his mental notes of the various performances, and Rossweine's comments helped to solidify the memories of their duels. Nathaniel hadn't paid much mind to Zenshin Ferros, for he seemed so green to the idea of fighting with a sword he might as well have been the grass in a Grayle field. What Nathaniel had marked was the disrespect of Edwin Giraud, another pompous noble with a disdain for the common folk who ultimately supported his family's station. Zenshin would be ready to face down the Giraud boy come the next tournament, Nathaniel would make sure of that.

The prince's words rung true, and a small glimpse of recognition shot over Nathaniel's face for a moment. The prince was particularly good at reading people's emotions... or perhaps Nathaniel broadcasted his own emotions too freely. His eyes quickly darted to the blonde standing next to the mountainous man. Julian Baker seemed so much more... small, now. Perhaps it was the lack of sand obscuring his vision. Regardless, Rossweine was right: a lesson was taught. The enemies of Grayle were treacherous cowards, and it would be unreasonable to be prepared only to fight the most honorable of opponents. It's a lesson Nathaniel wouldn't have to learn twice. Yet despite the Prince's wishes, Nathaniel couldn't help but feel a simmering rage deep down. To be taught such a public lesson, given such a public humiliation... it is a wound of honor that could not be healed by a few wise words. Nathaniel would still need to issue a challenge against the Baker boy. That much was certain.

To the Prince's request, Nathaniel gave a nod. "Of course, Y-er... Captain." The title didn't quite feel right in his mouth yet, but Nathaniel would honor his squad captain's request. "I will speak to them."

As Nathaniel went to peel off towards two of the last remaining members of the 13th squadron, he was stopped by an excited greeting. He smiled at the introduction and recognized the timid nature of the greeting, but couldn't help but be surprised by the eloquent words. Nathaniel's soft smile grew wider as he gave a short bow to Kaiser Underwall, one far less formal than the one he had given the prince. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Kaiser Underwall. Your adoptive father is spoken of quite highly across the kingdom, and I imagine many will speak highly of you as well." Nathaniel's eyes scanned over the boy's features. Getting a closer look, Kaiser seemed to be every bit as strong and lean as was anticipated. The stranger had a physical advantage, certainly, but not an advantage in height. Nathaniel also noticed the locked legs and hints of blush in the boy’s cheeks. Kaiser Underwall was nervous.

Nathaniel gave a nod of his head in the direction of the prince and the others. "You should introduce yourself to our squad captain, and join us in heading to the barracks. I imagine they’ll be excited to meet you.” He gave a soft smile and placed a hand on the fellow cadet’s shoulder, giving a reassuring squeeze. Kaiser was a bit strange, but he wasn’t bad. With a bit of discipline, he would make a fine knight.

Nathaniel quickly parted from Kai, making his way swiftly towards the last remaining members of the 13th squadron. He quickened his pace, as to avoid keeping the prince waiting. His steps were loud, and his movement swift enough to be easily noticed. As he approached, Nathaniel called out his greeting. “Good morrow, gentlemen!” He lowered his tone to an appropriate volume once a few paces away, placing his hands behind his back and giving a short bow to the two. “I am Nathaniel of House Lothwren, second seat of our squadron.” He paused for a moment, his tongue pressed firmly to the roof of his mouth. They certainly already knew who he was, in hindsight. These second introductions seemed a bit redundant. Nathaniel’s smile remained unwavering as he brushed the thought aside and quickly continued. “Dot Auferrum and Liese Brendorn, it will be an honor to train alongside you both. I would like to extend an offer of invitation on behalf of our squad captain, Prince Rossweine Lupus Grayle, to join the rest of the squadron in our procession to the barracks. It seems we will be leaving momentarily.”

To Become a Knight! ~ A Chivalric (Mis)Adventure

---

The murmuring died down as four well-dressed knights took the stage. The time had finally come. Nathaniel straightened his back and puffed up his chest, his eyes locked on the herald at the podium. He knew well what to expect, but he couldn't help but perk up at the formalities. The speeches and announcements were something Nathaniel had looked forward to for some time. But as individuals were called from among the houses, Nathaniel turned his gaze towards the few names he did recognize. Accomplished nobles and some of the more standout performances in the spars were getting swallowed up in the Southern, Western, and Northern houses. His eyes gravitated up towards the single Knight-Commander left, leader of the Eastern House, and Nathaniel's eyes narrowed. The majority of those left were unremarkable at best. Of course, there were the few left that Nathaniel had heard spoken about through the grapevine. He noticed the intense blond Marquis child still present. Nathaniel was surprised. His money was one of the other houses would have snatched the child up quickly. Clearly Tervellan had plans for Liese within his own ranks.

As Nathaniel looked out over those who were left, his eyes settled on another child perched on a fencepost. The blue hair made him stand out like a sore thumb, but Nathaniel would recognize that figure anywhere. He had heard the rumors of what the kid was, and the Lothwren boy was able to piece one thing together: they were going to be put in the same squad. There was no way they weren't going to pit the two "once in a generation" aura users against each other, probably for everyone else's safety. The smile that had been stifled grew slightly as Nathaniel eyed up the kid. From what he had seen in the spar, Kaiser had demonstrated an impressive physical prowess. But he seemed... unpredictable, perhaps even wild. Understanding his fighting style was going to take time, but it would be a fun puzzle to solve nonetheless. Of course, this led to Nathaniel’s second realization: Tervellan had clearly made a deal to secure two aura users in his ranks. If he had gone through the effort to squander most of his other choices, he was clearly hedging his bets on the two of them. And as much as Nathaniel tried to squash down the feelings of pride he felt, he also couldn’t help but agree that it was a good call. Nathaniel was going to do anything he could to make his family proud.

Finally, it came to the Thirteenth Squadron. Nathaniel gave a curt nod as he was announced as the second seat of his squadron. With Kaiser placed third, it was clear that priority was given to a prince and the two aura users left standing among the cadet hopefuls in terms of their seat rankings. He would prefer to be leading a squadron of his own... but serving under a prince? That was an honor that few got to experience. He quickly made his way forward to join the others, pleased by his position. Nothing could diminish the joy Nathaniel felt at being recognized, despite his failures in the spar. Nothing could possibly-

"Julian Baker."

Nathaniel's eyes glazed over for a moment as his body remained completely stiff and tense. The Baker boy, a peasant who had so callously tossed aside all manner of decorum and civility... was a cadet. Not only that, but Julian Baker was now a cadet under his care... under his charge! Nathaniel's focus returned as the Knight-Commander of the Eastern House stepped forward to deliver his speech. He hung on the words of the upstart knight. They were calculated, well-reasoned, and brief. A speech worthy of his station. Nathaniel only wished he could be so punctual. But as they were dismissed, Nathaniel's gaze turned back towards the Baker boy for a moment. He couldn't reasonably challenge Julian to a duel this very moment: Nathaniel had more important matters to attend to.

Nathaniel quickly moved towards Rossweine, moving swiftly and decisively towards his squadron leader. "Pardon me, your highness." Once attention had been afforded his way, Nathaniel snapped both of his legs together and clutched his right hand in a fist over his heart as he went for a deep bow at the waist. As he returned to standing upright, he continued in a stiff tone. "I am Nathaniel, First son of House Lothwren. I am looking forward to serving you and the rest of the squadron in whatever way you see fit." Nathaniel paused for only a moment, before he felt anxiety clasping at his throat. A smile remained plastered on his face, but the sudden shame of the sparring match weighed down on him like a blanket of lead. Nathaniel turned his gaze away from the prince, motioning vaguely in the direction of the barracks as he recomposed himself. Nathaniel brushed off the awkwardness of his initial greeting, with his tone matching his usual happy demeanor. ”It might be best to make our way to the barracks swiftly, if you like, in order to welcome the rest of our squadron and make ourselves known.”

@ERode

To Become a Knight! ~ A Chivalric (Mis)Adventure

---

"Oi, that's the kid. Good in school... shame about that spar..."

"Wish I was the one to knock him on his arse."

"There's no way they'll let him in, even if he is a noble..."

Nathaniel didn't need training or a magic spell to tell that half the boys standing around him were stealing sideways glances at him. He could feel eyes wash over him, for any number of reasons. The nobles always liked gossip, and the purple-eyed outsider had given them plenty to work with. He had no friends among the upper class, and a single spar had managed to wipe any respect he might have had from the attendants of the various sword schools. Some of them looked on with pity. They could have been in the same boat. But others... they reveled in watching a high-born brat get knocked down a few pegs. But Nathaniel kept a faint smile on his lips while staring in the direction of the stage. As more and more trickled into the courtyard, the whispers grew more intense. And Nathaniel listened to every word he could catch.

Nathaniel's eyes wandered, in desperate need for distraction. It was hard to see anyone of note from near the front of the pack. His fellow nobles were rather unremarkable. Their forms were lacking, and maneuvers designed to deliver a killing blow as quickly as possible so they wouldn't have to think or react. Of course, some had enough training and motivation to potentially make the cut. Or, more accurately... some were just born special. Nathaniel's father had told the boy to keep an eye on the Brendorn child. The blonde-haired prodigy was well-skilled, from what he saw so far. However, Nathaniel couldn't help but let his smile falter as his eyes met their piercing gaze. He recognized that determination, but couldn't help but notice the hostility that was mixed in. A dangerous combination, for sure. But an even greater opportunity for competition, surely.

His eyes drifted towards those at the back of the gathering, on the fringe. He couldn’t make out any but the tallest. The tallest, it seemed, was a rather large man near the back. He seemed to be talking to someone he couldn’t quite make out. He vaguely recalled the figure only because of his size and competence in his sparring match. With some attention to form and technique, and a lot of power and weight behind swings, the imposing figure would make a fine combatant. Nathaniel’s eyes then narrowed in on another figure sitting up on a fencepost. His eyes narrowed as he recalled the figure and the rumors that had already begun swirling around them. An Alexandrian by the name of Dotl. Ambidextrous, quick, and graceful: Nathaniel couldn’t help but feel a little jealous. They didn’t quite stick the maneuver, and Nathaniel immediately recognized the painful misstep Dot made before the kick even landed. Situational awareness was a difficult skill to master. Nathaniel should know, of all people.

He focused his eyes back on the empty stage, lost in the memories of his introductory spar. He didn’t feel nervous, by any stretch of the imagination. He saw some of the knights in the crowd leaning in to pay attention. Perhaps they knew who his father was, or perhaps his own reputation preceded him. Either way, Nathaniel knew he had an opportunity to show what he was capable of. He had the opportunity to tear apart his competitor’s technique, and show that he knew what he was doing. After all, the poor kid he was facing could barely hold the sword in any proper manner. The grip was too loose, the stance too rigid. If he didn’t know any better, Nathaniel’s best guess was the poor kid hadn’t properly held a sword before that day. It was his moment to shine.

But… he didn’t shine or prove himself. Nathaniel got into a defensive stance, raising his weapon and widening his stance to allow for a quick sidestep and parry. The next second was a blur, primarily because he found himself unable to see. His eyes stung with an intense pain the boy hadn’t known before. This was immediately followed by a quick strike on the head, followed by loud footsteps before the adversary had tackled him to the ground. Nathaniel lost the grip on his sword in the sudden onslaught, and was still rubbing what turned out to be sand from his eyes when it was announced that he had lost. Nathaniel Lothwren had been bested by a commoner. And while any defeat always stung, what still boiled his blood at this assembly was the lack of respect. The tactics were beyond underhanded… they were barbaric. What kind of knight throws sand in their opponent’s face? What kind of knight throws their sword at an enemy so they are left defenseless? What kind of monster fights like that? Well, Nathaniel knew. The blonde-haired baker boy had dishonored Nathaniel and his family, and he wasn’t going to stand for it. Through gritted teeth hidden by a false smile, he whispered their name under his breath.

”Julian Baker…”

To Become a Knight! ~ A Chivalric (Mis)Adventure

<Snipped quote by webboysurf>

...It is at this point that I should probably mention that I did just roll randomly to see what pairs we'd end up with if we go with that route, and it turns out Nathaniel is stuck with Julian, so he's gonna have a rollercoaster of emotions if we go with that.

@Feyblue

Oh that is absolutely hilarious. I love it.