Wave of Darkness

Wave of Darkness
>jinxed it
>got couple of ammo drops
>4th-5th drop, twink came with a larger group
>armed to the teeth
>what part of "we're full" did they miss?
>don't step out, but they know I'm here
>twink calls out "You violated our agreement. You killed one of ours."
>would've remembered killing someone
>simply reply with "LIAR."
>looking nervous, but kept talking "You took on the form of a bear and attacked our men. You killed Scout Joseph."
>call out from behind them "LIAR."
>now he really sweating "You are a shapeshifter and a maneater!"
>lmao "LIAR."
>witches don't count, still in probation
>twink calls out again "Can you prove it?"
>"CAN YOU?"
>axe-guy steps forward, sporting new badass scars
>he yells out "You did this to me!"
>scars too small
>"BULLSHIT"

>couple of hours of back and forth
>old agreement still in place
>new request: find and kill thing
>bored enough to comply
>heading back to hideout to stow away extra gear
>something following me
>**some people
>axe-guy and three new not-scouts
>who the hell wears a duster coat into a forest?!
>two armed with strange black spears
>guy in the back has a levergun
>one of the black spears shining like a light
>lighting up my tracks
>now where have I seen that trick before
>can't go back to base
>press forward, hope i don't lose anything

>hunting party very persistent
>led them in circles for hours
>also worked on a plan
>snatch axe-guy, disable tracker(s), find attacker
>sacrifice stealth for speed
>circle around to ambush hunting group from the rear
>group moving pretty quick when I catch up
>struggling to keep up
>ambush time
>snatch rear guy
>go go gadget improvised sap
>tie him to a nearby tree
>they didn't notice? damn casuals
>grab next line guy
>spear guy meet sap
>tie him upside down, for fun
>last two finally noticed
>axe-guy next
>axe-guy meet buttstock
>front guy with the lite-brite spear sees me drag away axe-guy
>hear a really girly shriek
>oh wait, it IS a girl
>wait a tick...
>tip of my tongue, what is it
>"WITCH."
>drop axe-guy to leap at witch
>forgot about the spear
>witch jabs me in the chest
>lightning shocks me
>close enough to swipe and kick at it
>can't pierce jacket, must be magic
>jackets are bulletproof...
>fall back dragging axe-guy
>laughing the whole way to my sniper's nest

>no killing rule still in effect
>all three dusters are bulletproof-ish
>haven't gone shooting in months (years?)
>recently solved ammo shortage issue
>this isn't rocket science
>all set up at the next ambush point
>left axe-guy down by killzone
>earned himself job of 'bait/distraction' for leading them here
>taking them a while to catch up
>witch probably backtracked to untie allies
>enough time to contemplate situation
>thinking of chasing them when they finally arrive
>stop when they see axe-guy
>lots of arguing between the three
>hear snatches of "is it a trap?" and "what should we do?"
>is this their first hunt or something?
>take aim at hunter with levergun
>aim for shoulder instead of chest
>just in case I'm wrong
>g3 barks
>doesn't pen coat
>levergun hunter spins around and falls
>love it when a plan comes together
>other spear-guy next
>just barely stop Mozambique drill before headshot
>witch last one left, again
>frantically trying to cast something
>out-of-place fog rolling in
>no more LoS
>there goes my target practice
>detach DMR components, mount bayonet
>cautiously enter fogbank

>fog is thick
>makes me itch
>sweeping rifle left and right
>don't know where witch is
>did it run, is it hiding?
>silhouette steps forward through the mist
>jab bayonet at it
>powerful grip grabs the muzzle
>eep
>harsh, but familiar voice starts talking
>"No fight. You hunt same monsters."
>growl back "IT IS A WITCH."
>"Bound to hunters guild. No worry. Worry on monsters" says slav
>notice slav less solid than last time
>still a hell of a grip
>need to focus
>ask "WHAT MONSTERS?"
>"Dark-touched beasts. Shadows make-pretend what they not. You and hunters focus on them, not each other."
>slav says the witch isn't a threat
>also warned me of monsters
>natural, summoned or created, not sure
>too many unknowns

>fog rolls away
>slav fades with it
>"Same enemy. Common goal. Focus." last things slav said
>hunters are back up
>axe-guy up to
>this is gonna get weird
>maybe awkward?
>whynotboth.gif

>surprise gives me extra seconds
>falling back as they take aim
>new goals: evade hunters, track shadow beasts, prove innocence
>just because I know we're hunting same thing doesnt mean they do
>straight line trees as I run
>levergun barely misses
>no lightning, odd
>slow down after third miss
>start making large loop again
>need a clue, or a witness
>very least need to know where scouts got jumped
>just left best person to ask
>oops
>gotta go back for axe-guy

>hunters still hunting
>kudos for tenacity
>their tenacity gave out around sundown
>must be tired from all the fun
>loop around for next ambush
>witch and axe-guy around fire
>witch passed out
>axe-guy nodding off
>levergun and spear in bedrolls, asleep
>orange lantern by witch
>turns red when I get close
>they have a perimeter alarm
>would help more if everyone was awake
>tackle axe-guy as quick as I can
>make enough noise wake up the outpost
>everyone struggling up as I hog-tie him
>run off with prize
>dominance status: ESTABLISHED

>good distance off before stopping
>inspecting haul for damage
>two arms, two legs, a head
>think I got everything
>axe-guy shouted entire way
>variations of profanity and "You'll never get away with this"
>start disarming and stripping
>axe-guy trying to keep brave face "The Hunters will find you and catch you!"
>get real close, face to face "GOOD."

>axe-guy down to his skivvies
>still tied up
>don't want him running off, it's dangerous out there
>axe-guy ran out of energy
>still awake, not really kicking anymore
>good chance to inspect scarring
>scarring across face, chest, arms
>definitely picked a fight with a bear
>most left after last game of poke-the-bear-with-a-bayonet
>still need info
>where was the ambush, which bear attacked
>interrogation time!
>axe-guy tied to a tree
>poor guy all tuckered out
>napetime over
>time to use persuasion stick
>gently prod axe-guy till he wakes up
>starts glaring and growling
>first question, gotta keep it simple
>"BEAR. WHAT COLOR."
>"Fuck you!"
>not a great start
>try again "BEAR. WHAT COLOR."
>this time adding emphasis with pokes from persuasion stick
>"How the hell should I know," axe-guy snaps "Brown? Black? We were too busy shooting at it."
>bit better
>now for the hard one "WHERE."
>axe-guy has a funny look "You should know."
>"NO. BEAR, WHERE."
>really need to see a dentist about all these teeth
>axe-guy glaring again "You attacked us near the river bend."
>"NOT ME."
>"Prove it!"
>"WORKING ON IT."
>left axe-guy loosly tied to tree
>didn't take his stuff
>sign of good faith
>got a location, rough description of attacker, and possible backup if something goes wrong

>axe-guy said river bend
>neglected to ask which one
>rivers look like a snake in mental map
>follow the river, best plan ever
>small hint better than no hint
>eventually find ambush site
>definite signs of a fight
>people tracks around
>spent casings scattered about
>battered trees
>claw marks roughly match axe-guy's scar
>guessing he flinched when he shoulda scurried hyuck hyuck
>strangest smell in the area
>bear scent mixed with sick smell
>hint of sulfer too
>smell must be affecting vision
>bear tracks all sorts of mucked up
>don't remember bear having so many feet
>it's a start
>about to follow trail when wind blows
>new scent upwind
>hunters caught up
>must've made a beeline here
>bit ahead of schedule, but I can work with this

>currently tracking weird bear
>hunters tracking me
>maybe weird bear tracking them?
>bear marks run all over the place
>hunters ran straight through weird bear area
>what are the odds?

>gunshot rings out
>this should be funny
>reattach DMR parts
>home in on noise
>peek through the scope and what do I see?
>hunters vs bobcat
>?
>bobcat smoking bad
>not from fire, nor lightning
>black smoke, oozing out slow
>????
>levergun guy pinned down by gothcat
>coat holding up against claws
>witch and spear guy trying to chase it off with spears
>gothcat swipes off attempts
>axe-guy takes a swing
>clawed across chest and arms
>new scars to go with bear clawing
>some people just have all the luck
>about to start fire support
>something coming up behind me
>sick bear smell, with sulfer
>weird bear heard the noise too
>and I'm right in its path
>great. just great.
>detach and stow DMR parts
>fix bayonet
>bear lumbers into view
>old brown bear looks different
>rigid bone plates on parts
>horns for goring curved out
>ominous smoke from mouth
>demon bear. fan-fething-tastic.

>side-step bear charge
>empty mag into its side
>.308 bounce off bone plates
>few went through, bear noticed
>fall back, fall back
>only an idiot takes a bear into CQC
>cue axe-guy's shriek from other fight
>reload, repeat
>2nd mag, no noticeable difference
>np still fast enough to kite the bear
>bear sees this, getting angrier
>did the bear get faster?
>3rd mag loaded
>looks like I'm an idiot
>dodge a swipe, move in close
>killing close
>step closer past 2nd swipe
>oh hey, horns
>forgot about that
>gored hard, knocked down
>bear goes in for a bite
>bear meet bayonet
>bayonet jammed into mouth
>with rifle attached
>3rd mag dump super effective
>nap time for the bear
>unstick bayonet from new demon throw rug
>2 mags left
>really need to carry more
>rifle fine
>reattach DMR parts
>head towards gothcat and hunter shrieking sounds

>hunters fell back
>no sign of gothcat
>black blood scattered about
>levergun guy dead
>he doesn't need all that gear now
>it's salvaging not looting
>backtrack to bear corpse
>collect head, paws, and pelt
>takes a bit to get the pelt
>why does this bear smell delicious
>cut through corpse to reach heart
>real pain with only a bayonet
>not human, should be fine to eat...right?
>save it for later, need to kill that cat
>head back to hunter fight scene and tracks
>need to loot more corpses
>I mean salvage things
>looting =/= salvaging

>tracks leading back towards outpost
>fighting retreat to base, i'm guessing
>follow the tracks
>spare spear guy down
>salavge gear and kept following
>finally catch up to axe-guy and witch
>and gothcat
>backs to a rock
>witch holding back cat with a shield
>debating merits of patience
>remember I need survivors
>set up on spot and start shooting
>bad angle, hope the shield survives
>cat not as big as bear
>spend a mag picking at cat
>shadow spots absorb shots
>not completely covered, some hit
>gothcat dies one and a half mags later
>cautiously approach survivors
>witch reluctantly lowers shield
>getting angry glares from axe-guy
>axe-guy snaps "The cat was its pet or something!"
>"Monsters like that don't keep pets!" the witch snaps back
>drop bear paws and head
>look at axe-guy "INNOCENT."
>that dead cat smells like the bear
>start butchering it when witch approaches
>witch looks at me "What are you doing?"
>try not to growl "MINE. NOT YOUR KILL."
>"It's demon-tainted! You can't just-"
>interrupt her "MINE."
>wish I could talk better
>either way what I make out of throw rugs is not its business

>left axe-guy and witch to sulk
>still following them, just far away
>pair backtracking path they fled
>going back for the bodies I guess
>hope they arent looking for salvage
>new hog pack stalking them
>counting 7-8
>same odor as bear and cat
>unhealthy hue, bigger tusks, glowing eyes
>once is an accident, twice is coincidence, three times is enemy action
>10 rounds left, need to resupply
>also can't risk leading rancor boar, or worse that witch, to hideout
>need to make due with what I got

>axe-guy finally notices
>watching him look around with nervous look
>witch focused on magic tracking
>rancor boar focused on them
>first shot ricocheted off a tusk
>hogs start moving, fast
>not fast enough to dodge follow-up
>witch finally noticed
>shield up in time for charge
>no time for distractions
>4th shot, hog #2 falls over
>7th shot, hog #3 stumbles and rolls
>last round, hog #4 hits a tree full speed
>last three hogs slam into shield
>too far away to help
>two hogs bounce, third penetrates
>rancor boar goes for the witch
>axe-guy tries to tackle, gets trampled
>witch braces spear and shouts something
>bright light flashes from spear, blinds me
>refocus optic, one hog down
>last two hogs flee

>mosey on over to pair
>witch is pulling at wounded axe-guy
>way it's crying, you could think it had feelings or something
>finally notices me and says "You have to help him."
"WILL HELP. FIRST, ANSWER."
>good time as any to ask
>"WHY HUNT ME."
>witch bites its lips "Something is calling forth darkness in this forest. We thought it was you."
>you eat a few hearts...bigots
>more importantly, there is an intruder
>that I didn't sense
>in MY forest
>got that need to feed
>but first "WILL TAKE YOU TO FOREST EDGE"

>tense walk through forest
>first time in months (years?)
>need to keep better track of time
>down to using G3 as a spear
>and maybe chucking empty mags
>left pair near forest edge
>looked like outpost group, waiting
>head to fallback location
>some sort of bunker
>end up taking long way to cache
>can't risk hideout until trail fades
>however long that is
>reload, stash extra loot
>also need to rest
>bear fight left me hurt
>curling up on new throw rug
>short nap wouldn't hurt
>or a good long one

>dozed off when it approached
>same smell as the beasts, but undiluted
>stood outside of the bunker, started yelling, "Beast! I have come to parley."
>guy in a black dress, flanked by witches
>this is bad
>tainted crows watching from trees
>really bad
>too tired for this
>really glad I came here instead of hideout
>shadow-guy yelled again "I know you're there, show yourself!"
>call out from inside "WHAT?"
>shadow-guy seems suprised "Come out and face me!"
>"NO. WHAT YOU WANT?"
>too tired to play
>hear a gulp "We should not fight! You are a powerful creature of shadows. We can work together to-"
>stopped listening to recruitment pitch
>just finished repacked stuff
>aim at bored-looking witch on left
>friendly tap of 308 makes witch lose it's head
>aim already on other witch
>expected it duck, aimed low
>hit collar area
>tainted crows flying around shadow-guy
>bird shield, neat
>bolt out the back
>probably should've killed shadow-guy first
>hindsight

>shadow-guy didn't follow
>couldn't or wouldn't?
>playtime officially over either way
>no one gets between me and a good nap
>left a trail that's easy to follow
>also left tainted crows fluttering about
>patiently wait till nightfall
>easy for me to avoid the crows at night
>sneak back into bunker
>shadow-stink all around
>gonna need a new fallback location
>current working plan: find shadow-man's base, establish new cache, start collecting info
>sneak out and follow shadow-man's trail
>took most of the night
>see more and more tainted creature about
>even some tree wtf
>long time since I got this angry
>trail leads to an odd section of woods
>no smells coming out of it
>pretty sure it's here
>make a mental note, begin backtracking
>need to establish new cache, unload inventory
>nearly noon when I finish
>hope I didn't lose too much time

>on the trail again
>making notes of tainted stuff as I go
>no small creatures corrupt foutside of crow
>size restrictions maybe?
>spot another hunter group
>about 8 hunters
>think I saw scout rando with em
>why are they setting up camp?
>oh right, almost sundown
>give em a wide berth
>took another hour to reach odd space
>carefully push through barrier
>ah, there it is
>sharp corruption smell
>probably too distracted with harrassing scouts and extorting ammo to stumble on this
>large red circle surrounded by tents
>four witches in the circle
>more witches meandering about
>large tent probably hiding more witches and shadow-guy
>stow rifle, draw bayonet

>have to fight hunger
>feel like a starved fattie in a buffet
>originally planned to just scout around
>approaching hunter group changed that
>gonna lose face if I don't clear this up
>keep thinking of nam's warning
>maybe it won't be so bad if I don't eat?
>start with meandering witches
>need to even the odds before I make a racket
>claws over mouth, knife into kidneys, drag behind tent, finish it off
>inspect blade, rinse, repeat
>bayonet hasn't dulled after 3rd kill
>unearthly aura returned
>is it the witch's blood causing that? their deaths?
>too many question not enough time
>struggling against growing need to feed
>total of 8 witches so far
>down to four in the circle, whatever in the big tent
>took longer than intended
>witches in the circle rising
>spell finished? shift change?
>they notice strange quiet
>4v1, not good odds if I'm trying a stealth run
>witches split up to look
>have they never seen any horror movies?
>four more dead witches
>just the large tent left

>first thing's first: loot
>I mean salvage
>strip corpses, pile them in the ring for lulz
>rut through the tents
>odd pile of salvage, not as much as I thought
>didn't grab the books
>can't read what they write
>probably gonna regret that later
>tomorrow's problem for tomorrow's me

>unsling rifle, mount bayonet
>time for final boss fight
>peek into large tent
>hear a shout, blow back
>didn't sound like shadow-guy
>two witches step out, shields up
>more witches. great.
>charge the left one, G3 firing
>stupid shield
>bayonet breaks it, nice
>get in a good stab when witch #2 tries to zap me
>with lightning
>while my rifle is still in witch #1
>witch #1 manages a shriek as it cooks
>bolt locked me up, can't pull out
>hehe innuendo
>muscles unlock, turn attention to witch #2
>slice with rifle
>shield pops when bayonet touches
>go in for the kill

>witch #2 dies of knife-in-the-guts-itis
>must be very contageous
>hope shadow-man don't catch it
>can't seem to find him anyway
>shadows start moving
>gathering in front big tent
>coalese into shadow-guy
>but bigger
>shadow-guy glares at me "You dare interrupt my great work?"
>glare back "YES."
>he starts laughing "You cannot stop me! This wave of darkness shall wash away all! First this forest, then the Salvager Guild's outpost, and then-"
>started shooting, aimed for the head
>too hungry to deal with monologuing
>shadow-guy roars "Your mortal weapons are no match for me!"
>bullets don't effect him? not good
>don't want to, but need to engage with bayonet
>pierced shields, maybe shadow-guy too?
>start quick jabs with rifle
>cracks in his hide, bayonet working
>shadow-guy keeps swinging
>keep dodging and stabbing
>luck runs out
>shadow-guy grabs rifle mid-stab
>keep my grip in it
>won't let go of my raifu
>pay for it when shadow-guy beats me against ground
>hunger pains give way to hurt pain
>haven't hurt this bad in a long time
>painful snap
>thrown into circle
>shadow-guy holding up raifu in triumph
>still got a hand on it
>that explains the pain
>at least I didn't let go
>shadow-guy grabs raifu in both hands
>no
>smiles at me
>he wouldn't
>raifu groans under stress
>nononononono
>shadow-guy laughs, drops bent raifu

>without shooting whats the point?
>hunger washes away the pain
>shadows gather to me
>missing hand reforms
>hunger makes me forget why I'm crying
>charge at shadow-man
>last coherent thought was an apology to my LARPing friends

>standing in the middle of the circle when my mind clears
>my poor broken raifu in hand
>nothing left of shadow-guy above the waist
>same for the dead witches
>and the trophies in my bags
>sucks I'm still hungry

>a flash of light blinds me
>glimpse of something riding down the light
>rhodie looks sadly at me "You messed up bad, man."
>I look up at him in spite of the light, "He broke my rifle..."
>extra teeth gone? focus, think about it later
>rhodie shakes his head "Take it as punishment for trying to go it alone. You should have fought alongside the Hunters."
>"But they had a witch-"
>"Who was working with the Hunters." rhodie interrupts "Shouldn't have held that against her."
>"What happens now?" I ask
>"You'll need to get out of the sun, for one."
>rhodie vanished in a haze of pain
>it was sunrise, and I lost the right to walk in the light

>duck into large tent
>inspect injuries
>burns not bad, just itches bad now
>stuck here until sunset
>hunters also incoming
>poor, poor G3 bent bad
>reciever folded behind barrel
>forend cracked
>bcg probably bent as well
>don't have tools to fix this
>maybe the scouts?
>shadow-man said they were salvager's guild
>worth a try, nothing else to lose

>roughly noon when I hear the hunters
>lots of murmuring, no yelling
>yet
>scout rando peeks into tent
>squeaks and ducks out when he sees me
>three hunter come in next
>recognize witch to the right
>front one stands tallest out of three
>most scars, too
>holding a sabre and a pistol
>glares at me, "Where is the Shadowmancer?"
>glare back, "DEAD. OATH KEPT."
>"Do you wage war against man?"
>"ONLY DEFEND. MY FOREST. NO KILLING, ONLY FUN."
>the lead hunter nods, "Then we have no quarrel. Will you help us hunt the remaining shadow beasts?"
>"FOR A PRICE."
>"Are you some kind of mercenary?" the leader scowls, "We won't give you live sacrifices, and there is no gold to give."
>the hunter on the left started up too, "You should be paying us a king's ransom for killing off those shad-"
>all three go silent when I pull out my broken rifle
>I simply asked "CAN YOU FIX?"

>be me
>LARPing post-apocalypse
>chillin innawoods
>still wearing flecktarn
>just got my raifu back
>can't go out during the day, but making it work