MH MONDAYS RISE INTRO

Why good morning dear child. It's quite the nice day, isn't it?

I look at the petals of pink across caught by the winds and I'm reminded of a time long past. One itching to be told as a story, wouldn't you agree?

As you see, wind can manifest in many ways: A welcoming soft breeze to soothe you on a hot day; A mischievous gust making your important belongings scatter around; Or sometimes it can come as a furious and scary storm, bringing forth thunder & lightning. But most of times, whatever form it may take, the wind tends to indicate change. And a breeze just like this one once brought a change that forever changed this village. Yes, me and my sister remember it quite well.

It all started far away from here, all the way on the New World. A clear sky, a soft chilling breeze, and the warmth of the fire; An ordinary and familiar feeling that every day enveloped around the snowbound settlement of Seliana. So welcoming, yet simultaneously so mundane. What had once been a great expedition filled with wonders and surprises had just become routine. Days became weeks, weeks became months, and so forth; A a rut had called upon the settlement and while most appeared to embrace it with open arms, it was clear that the course of the winds were about to shift...

As per usual, the Gathering Hub was filled with a particular group of schmucks. Clumsy, uncoordinated hunters that somehow, despite all adversities and following SEVERAL concussions and monster-related injuries, had managed to save their little patch of land from the wrath of the Elder Dragons time and time again. the "Hellfire Group", as some people had grown to call them, could be considered heroes to some, but to anyone would they be simply be seen as loot-obsessed, bickering-prone, and misfortune-luring goofballs.

Chatter echoed through the chamber left and right. Fighting over which quest to go next continued for what it seemed like hours, even if deep down all of them knew the truth. That every challenge they had encounter had already been met. For the most part...

"--And I STILL haven't even beaten Alatreon yet!!" Exclaimed the acrobatic glaive-wielding Anya. "Where's my support then?"

"Well maybe if you concentrated in getting some gear or just, you know, ask of our help maybe we could take care of Fatalis again. But you keep putting it off" Weaponmaster Gavin replied.

"You think it's easy to balance schedules these days? I'm trying to get an education. I got hired full time as part of the research committee and it's hard to keep with the studies AND got poking monsters with my pointy stick at the same time." She quickly proclaimed.

"Well, I'm already done. You can only bonk the same monsters over and over with my Hammer before it starts to get dull." Daemos, master of Bunga Combat, explained. "There's gotta be somewhere new to bonk."

"Well, I for one I'm enjoying the time off." Sheydra, the resident grump hunter, spoke from her seat following a zip from her cup. "But I do agree, we should come up with something since this opening narration can only go for so long! Even Berri has fallen asleep!"

"No, I'm pretty sure that just his normal state after his 10th alcohol jug drink..." Gavin stated.

"Okay fair point..."

As the bickering continued, the leader of the Hellfire Group, young Hiryu, watched from afar rolling his eyes at another typical day for our intrepid idiots. But suddenly something brought forth a silence within the gathering hub as an unexpected sound caught everyone by surprise. Not a human's call, nor a cat's meow...but a BARK!

"Oh my god. WHAT. IS. THAT!?"? Anya exclaimed.

An animal had wandered into the Hub. A fluffy four-legged beast leaped across the room, landing on the wooden table. Ears perked and adorned with cloth around its collar and back. Its tail waggling as it continued to look around at the group.

"I think that's a dog, Anya." Said Sheydra.

"DOGS ARE REAL!?!?" The glaive-user exclaimed. Already she rushed to the mutt to hold it and pet it, in an absolute trance.

"Oh gods, this gonna become a thing, isn't it?" Sheydra groaned.

"You guys serious? You've never seen a Palamute before?" Hiryu said, approaching the rest of the hunters. "A Pala-the-what now?" Asked Berri, finally waking up from his drunken sleep.

Hiryu soon found something rather curious. The Palamute appeared to have something in its mouth. "Huh? A letter?"

"It better not be Velkhana again. As impressive as a Monster being able to write is, we are NOT doing another Hotel Mario reference again..." Daemos stated. But as the ninja-like leader opened the scroll-like message his whole body tensed. An expression of concern filled him, one quite seriously lacking of the general humor of this usual tales. Everyone gathered concerned, hoping for their leader to read it to them:

Dear Hiryu,

I hope this letter reaches you well. I'm sure you're quite surprised about receiving something from us. Ever since you left Kamura Village in search of fame & fortune through your title as Strider; participating in those videogame crossovers until there were no more and forcing you to pick back up your old career as Hunter in far-away lands.

However, we must ask you to come back to Kamura once more, as fortune has predicted that the Rampage will once again return and bring forth chaos to our serene settlement. We tried to call all the better hunters, but all seem lost. As such, you're our only hope left.

We hope your time away has made you wiser and stronger, capable of bringing forth your aid and reclaiming your once lost honor.

Good Luck, you'll need it!
Sincerely,

-- Hinoa & Minoto, current maidens of Kamura Village.

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"Oh my god...a Rampage?" Asked Daemos.

"Oh my god, Hiryu has a backstory!?!" Gavin said in shock.

"What was that? I wasn't paying attention. I was too busy staring at this dog." Anya admitted rather crudely, still mesmerized by the adorable canine.

Hiryu simply clutched the paper in his hand, a sense of determination filling his heart as he gave a deep breath. "Well, I guess there's no turning back now. I know I'm probably won't be able to do this alone, so if you guys wanna tag along..."

"Hey, new place new things to jump and hammer! S count me in!" Daemous enthusiastically said.

"And me too" Gavin added, followed by Berri and the rest of the hunters. At least most of them...

"I'll have to say no." Anya spoke, bringing everyone to a shocked stop. "As much as a land filled with this cute dogs is...I still have duties here in Seliana now. And besides, the New World still needs hunters too."

"So, this is goodbye...?" Asked Hiryu.

"I guess so. But hey, I know of someone who was making their way to Kamura Village. My sister Star! I'm sure she'll be able to help you guys up!"

"I'll stay too." Sheydra said, "Getting almost killed by a gigantic crazy-eyed elder dragon and just saved by the trolling of my own Stand kinda puts things into perspective. I kiiiiinda need a vacation."

As much as it pained, goodbyes were shared. Some stayed in Seliana while the others, calling forth a small airship, made their preparations towards the far east. Having no choice to cast their weapons and armor away, The Hellfire Group proceeded to leave what was once their home behind once more. To start anew.

And with a soft unsuspecting breeze, the group of schmuck made their way towards Kamura Village. Unknowing about the shift that the wind had in store for them. As their anticipation grew with each passing minute, a Calamity was starting to brew...

The wind always brings change. Sometimes it can be scary and hard to do, and sometimes it's welcoming and fills you with a whole new feeling, but change always happens, and one has to face it head-on. And this, my child, is how their story begins...

"I'm keeping the dog tho..." Anya whispered at the end.

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- WELCOME TO MONSTER HUNTER MONDAYS: RISE -