Cascades Enigma - Mount Shasta (IC)
<h1 id="title">Elliquiy Role Playing Forums</h1>
		<h2 id="linktree">Play-By-Post: Light =&gt; Light: Human Small Groups =&gt; Topic started by: Eliza on 07-09-2020, 12:52:57</h2>
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				Title: <strong>Cascades Enigma - Mount Shasta (IC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Eliza</strong> on <strong>07-09-2020, 12:52:57</strong>
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				<div align="center"><span style="font-size: 26pt;" class="bbc_size"><span style="font-family: candara;" class="bbc_font"><strong>Cascades Enigma - Mount Shasta (IC)</strong></span></span><br><br>Welcome to the In-Character (IC) Thread of the system group RP, Cascades Enigma. To be able to post in this thread, you must have had submitted a character sheet to the Keeper and get it approved. You must also have the approved sheet posted to the character thread.<br><br>Updates to the story and results by rolls will be posted in Keeper Posts. Be mindful, at the bottom of each Keeper Post, will be notes on which Hunter is permitted to reply.</div><br><hr><br>Please use the code below for the header of your post.<br><strong>Header Code:</strong><br><div class="codeheader">Code: <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="return smfSelectText(this);" class="codeoperation">[Select]</a></div><pre style="margin: 0; padding: 0;"><code class="bbc_code">[floatright][img width=250 padding=5]IMG URL HERE[/img][/floatright]<br>[b]Hunter:[/b] (Hunter name here. You may also link it your hunter's sheet for quick access, but this is optional)<br>[b]Wearing:[/b] (Your Hunter's current outfit, briefly described. if using an image to show your Hunter's outfit, simply put "Pictured")<br>[b]Location:[/b] (Current location your Hunter is in. It is encouraged to also put if your in a certain area inside the location you are in.)<br>[b]Current Action:[/b] (What your Hunter is currently doing. If interacting with an NPC, tag the NPC in the action)<br>[b]Tagging:[/b] (If interacting or mentioning other Hunters in your post, tag their names here)<br>[hr]</code></pre><br><hr><div align="center"><div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">Keeper Use only</div><div class="spoiler_body"><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><div style="text-align: right;"><strong>Character</strong></div></td><td><strong>:</strong></td><td>Brook Adams</td><td>|</td><td>Alyssa Strum</td><td>|</td><td><del>Lexie Renner</del></td><td>|</td><td><del>Velma Dinkley</del></td><td>|</td><td>Jesse</td><td>|</td><td>Ashlee Roxxx</td></tr><tr><td><div style="text-align: right;"><strong>Hunter Class</strong></div></td><td><strong>:</strong></td><td>The Mundane</td><td>|</td><td>The Initiate</td><td>|</td><td><del>The Chosen</del></td><td>|</td><td><del>The Flake</del></td><td>|</td><td>The Monstrous (Possessed)</td><td>|</td><td>The Monstrous (Demon)</td></tr><tr><td><div style="text-align: right;"><strong>Start-of-Mystery Moves</strong></div></td><td><strong>:</strong></td><td>N/A</td><td>|</td><td>Sect Orders</td><td>|</td><td><del>Destiny's Plaything</del></td><td>|</td><td><del>Connect the Dots</del></td><td>|</td><td>N/A</td><td>|</td><td>N/A</td></tr><tr><td><div style="text-align: right;"><strong>Luck Event</strong></div></td><td><strong>:</strong></td><td>Found Something Weird!</td><td>|</td><td>Bad Sect News</td><td>|</td><td><del>Fate in Play (Keeper's Choice)</del></td><td>|</td><td><del>Red String (Ask Keeper)</del></td><td>|</td><td>Imbalance (Rage)</td><td>|</td><td>Imbalance (Lust)</td></tr></tbody></table></div></div></div>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - In-Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Eliza</strong> on <strong>07-09-2020, 12:58:13</strong>
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				<span style="font-size: 20pt;" class="bbc_size">Keeper Post</span><br><hr><em>September 6, 2020 - 12:47PM</em><br><br>Miles from the foot of Mount Shasta, in Siskiyou County, California, lies the abandoned Vortex Campground. The area finds little use from camp-goers, caused by more popular, innovative "glamping" campgrounds in the near vicinty. While the buildings look rundown by extensive use and low maintanance, the sign at the entrance is emblazoned with a large red "RESERVED" sign.<br><br>About 50 yards from the entrance, the sound of music can be heard, but faintly. The deeper one ventures into the campground, the louder this music becomes. Situated at the top of a hill is the bright white canvas of a large tent, the music becoming more clearer the closer one nears this structure. Peppered by incoherent shouts, chants, and speaking of gibberish, underlies a mellow rhythm based of a mandolin and several tamborines.<br><br>Inside this tent are the passionate members of what normal people call a cult. Everyone is wearing different styles of white robes that flow with every movement. Some have sleeves, others do not. Hands are raised among the majority of the congregation, while a small number are either bowing down with arms outstretched or completely prone, on their backs, floating in an unseen river.<br><br>Upon the stage that is slighty raised from the gravel floor stands a lone figure. His right hand is raised and continues to be held up without wavering. His other hand removes the hood that had, up until this point been hiding his eyes in shadow. With his hood removed, his features were exposed, revealing himself to be a man in his 50's, wearing circular glasses. He had been standing motionless for much of the worship, but now that he was moving, half of the congregation took it as a sign that he was about to speak.<br><br>With a toothless grin, he assured the flock before him, "Please do not stop your devotions unto our Lord on the Mount! For you have come far and wide to witness what has been predicted. The Prophet shall be here shortly, ready to unleash more revelations for the coming day, but as his Herald, I pray that you take heed of his previous prophetic words. Take comfort that with the breaking of the shell of our Lord's dormancy, to some it spells catastrophe. But to my brothers and sisters whose Hearts have been truly Awakened, let our Lord's rousing fires engulf us and burn away our weak bodies, leaving only our Hearts that shall be born into new exalted bodies!"<br><br>The man looked over his shoulder to another hooded figure behind him. The sight of this man was witnessed by the congregation and soon the room was silent. The Herald conversed silently with the other figure and then turned back towards the congregation.<br><br>"Good news, my brothers and sisters. Sooner, rather than later, the Prophet has a message for us!" the Herald exclaimed, barely containing his own excitemnt. He stepped aside to have the Prophet take the stage.<br><br>The hooded figure stepped up, the congregation focused upon him, silently eager for a message from the Prophet. The figure slightly turned towards the Herald and without warning, plunged his hand into the Herald's chest, crimson liquid spurting out from around the Prophet's forearm, some of the blood dripping in streaks down the white robe of the Herald. The congregation was shocked, but still they stood there silent, witnessing the gory display before them.<br><br>"Your beloved Herald is such a hypocrite," the Prophet snarled and with little effort, pulled his hand out, in his grasp the Herald's own fleshy heart ripped out of the man's chest. By now most of the congregation rushed out of the tent, screaming at the top of their lungs. To those who were still in the tent, though in a self-induced trance, they would witness the Herald's body falling limp to the stage as the Prophet exited through the back of the tent, the Herald's heart still in hand.<br><br><em>An hour later…</em><br><br>The whole Vortex Campground had been cordoned off with caution tape and there are a couple of police cars on-site, with a couple of jeeps belonging to park rangers taking the perimeter. Due to the gruesome attack and eyewitnesses claiming that the Prophet, whose trailer was still on the campgrounds, was still in the vicinity, the local police have equipped themselves with assault rifles and taking patrols around the cabins used by the cult members.<br><br>Parked near one of the jeeps is a massive off-road camper truck (https://www.blessthisstuff.com/imagens/stuff/earthroamer-xv-lts.jpg) with "Earthroamer XV-LTS" emblazoned on the side of it. A tattooed woman is casually conversing with one of the park rangers, but obviously, due to the nature of the attack, has been barred from entering any further.<br><br><hr><br><em>Hunters permitted reply to this post:</em> Brook Adams, Jesse
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				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Eliza</strong> on <strong>09-09-2020, 02:45:27</strong>
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				<span style="font-size: 20pt;" class="bbc_size">Keeper Post</span><br><hr><em>September 6, 2020 - 1:15PM</em><br><br>Westward on Everitt Memorial Highway from the Vortex Campground, marking the halfway point between the campground and Interstate 5, is a clearing that looks like evidence that someone with access to saws and bulldozers had taken a chunk of forest to make room for a popular RV Park. The dominant color in this expanse is white, colored in with brownish paintjobs of more luxury RV's and mobile homes.<br><br>Having a position away from the local politics of the City of Mount Shasta, tenants of this park are unaware that the city is slowly becoming a ghost town. Maybe that is why they are here, to forget about the cares and stresses and issues of city life, even small city life, and embrace the freedom the open road seemingly gives you. You'd park in an empty spot, next to another RV and instantly, you'd be neighbors with someone who shares your travel philosophy.<br><br>Close to the back end of the RV park was a grey and tan Winnebago (https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zHI7ueo8nl8/maxresdefault.jpg) owned by an elderly couple in their 70's who had gained popularity with their neighbors. James Ash had a massive haul of fish from Lake Siskiyou and was cooking it up for anybody who was hungry. It was also at Lake Siskiyou that he and his wife of 42 years, Linda, met with a young woman dressed in an unusual outfit. She was hungry and in need of shelter, so out of their generous heart, they ferried her to the RV park, where, once they were hooked up to the utility lines, gave her the luxuries that a mobile home had to offer, such as hot water, electricity and internet.<br><br>Unaware of what had happened about 30 minutes ago at the abandoned campground to the east, James was cooking up a lunch feast of fish and other foodstuffs, conversing with their neighbors. The young woman, named Alyssa, was sitting, observing the vibrant couple, probably finding qualities similar to people she knew. She couldn't observe for long, for there was a whisper in her ear. As if this wasn't a random or first occurrence, she'd slip away without alerting the couple.<br><br>Once alone, the voice, disembodied and seemingly coming from an unknown source and heard only by Alyssa, finally spoke without delay. "Ask for toilet paper at the general store," the voice said and said no more. If Alyssa asked for clarification or had any doubt, the voice would not expose any reason for giving her that message. Before, the messages would be somewhat cryptic, sometimes vague, but never so to-the-point, which was unusual. But Alyssa knew that disobedience was frowned upon and whatever orders she got from the sect, and therefore from the Goddess, it would need to be followed without hindrance or delay.<br><br>If Alyssa tries to slip away to the general store, a squarish building smack dab in the middle of the RV park, Linda would notice and ask her, "Oh Miss Alyssa, are you not hungry, dear?"<br><br><hr><br><em>Hunters permitted to post:</em> Alyssa Strum
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				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>c0i9z</strong> on <strong>09-09-2020, 03:23:20</strong>
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				(https://i.imgur.com/Yg0EHpF.jpg)<br><br>The old couple were... nice. That was the best way to put it. So nice. They had taken a young woman like her who... she knew she looked strange to them. Strange in manner, dress even speech perhaps. They had taken her when she needed it, took her where she needed to be, fed her, let her wash herself and didn't ask too many unfortunate questions. The man, James Ash, was cooking fish, too, to give to everyone. Alyssa already knew that they would be cooked terribly. And taste wonderful. So many kind people, here and everywhere. Most of them good, kind people. And most of them unaware of the danger they lived in, that surrounded them every moment. She wanted to tell them, to warn them of the dangers, to tell them of the Goddess and of the old ways that might protect them. But she knew, they wouldn't, couldn't hear. It would only drive them away and invite the darkness. To her. And to them. No, she needed to steel her heart, to stay silent. They couldn't know. They wouldn't praise her. But it was not praise she sought.<br><br>And then, just as Alyssa felt that she might let herself be at peace came the voice. One of those dull, gruff voices. Just once, she wished that it might be the voice of the Goddess instead, like she had heard once. Or thought she had. But it had been so long ago. Still, this was duty, part of the plan. Sometimes, she wished that she was trusted enough to be actually told of the plan, however.<br><br>"Oh, I am, Eld..." Alyssa bit her tongue. As Kind as Linda was, Alyssa had learned that she didn't take so kindly her usual mark of respect. "Mrs. Ash," she quickly corrected. "But kind generosity and full bellies lead to other needs. Once of, perhaps a more... personal nature?" She gave a small smile, one that, she hoped was appropriately shy. "I will return soon and be pleased to partake of your husband's wonderful catch, so that my belly might be fill once more. And so the cycle goes." She gave the traditional bow given to a great elder. Perhaps the actual Great Elders would object, but they were not there to see. And she headed, then, to the general store, to ask for toilet paper, of all things. 
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				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Eliza</strong> on <strong>09-09-2020, 13:27:00</strong>
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				<span style="font-size: 20pt;" class="bbc_size">Keeper Post</span><br><hr><br>The door of the general store opened, the bells hung on the inside part collided with the wood and alerted the clerk at the cashier to the presence of a customer. The young man, probably not even older than 20, glanced up at the peculiarly-dressed female who had opened the door. A quick glance and an eyebrow raised was all that the young man would give, before returning his focus to the Nintendo Switch he was playing. To the knowledgable and to those who have experienced the sounds of a particular game, would know that he was playing Animal Crossing.<br><br>Compared with the whitewashed exteriors of the RV's and mobile homes parked outisde, the inside of the general store was a sea of colors. On one side were a variety of foodstuffs, like canned food, jerky, trail mix and a whole section dedicated to candy. On metal shelves in the middle of the store were an assortment of toys, some of which were intended for use at the pool conveniently located next to the store, fenced off with a gate that only allowed park users who were issued a key to get in. Other items included tourist items like souvenir apparel, mugs, Smokey the Bear figurines, and Mt. Shasta postcards and magnets. On the opposite wall were items that had more practicality, such as firewood for bonfires, lighter fluid, batteries, and flashlights. The counter where the cashier, named Jake as read on his crooked name tag, was adorned with more tourist items, even a miniature, fake bear rug that was soft to the touch, plus some jars of sweeter candies.<br><br>Jake put down his Switch when he saw Alyssa approach. She was pretty, but dressed weird and his first assumption of her was that she was an Amish girl who was off the reservation and as they call it, "running around." This was sort of evidenced by how she cautiously approached the counter. He spoke up, "Can I help you, miss?"<br><br><hr><br><em>Hunters permitted to reply to this post:</em> Alyssa Strum
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				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>c0i9z</strong> on <strong>10-09-2020, 02:01:49</strong>
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				<div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/Yg0EHpF.jpg)</div><strong>Hunter:</strong> Alyssa Sturm<br><strong>Wearing:</strong> Pictured, but not wielding a mace and a shield.<br><strong>Location:</strong> General Store, Mount Shasta<br><strong>Current Action:</strong> Asking for toilet paper<br><strong>Tagging:</strong> Jake<br><hr><br>Alyssa knew what Jake was playing, of course. Or, at least, she she of what he was playing. In that she had the general idea that there were devices you could hold and play games on. She was aware, too, of how he was looking at her. Like many who she had met since she had left her village. Still, she returned his look with a smile. Be kind, be polite, she was instructed. Things go better, people will forgive more, if they think you are kind and polite. "Greeting, kind sir," she said. "I am loathe to be a bother, but I find myself og a sudden and pressing need. Might I trouble you, please, for some toilet paper?" hopefully, this wouldn't lead to confusion on the man's part. Certainly, she, herself was confused. This was not the strangest request she had been called to act upon. It fact, it might well rank amongst the more mundane ones. And yet its very mundanity made it seem that much more stranger still.
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				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Athem</strong> on <strong>10-09-2020, 09:40:43</strong>
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				<div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/1/1c/Santa_Mira_bad_girl_3_-_small.jpg)</div><strong>Hunter:</strong> Brook Adams (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=324878.msg15583235#msg15583235)<br><strong>Wearing:</strong> Leather jeans &amp; black tube top as pictured; leather jacket &amp; spike-heeled boots<br><strong>Location:</strong> Approaching the Vortex campsite<br><strong>Current Action:</strong> Creeping closer to the Vortex campsite (optionally tagging the tattooed woman)<br><strong>Tagging:</strong> -<br><hr>Brook was drawn to the flashing lights. She'd thought most people were clearing out, and suddenly here were some flashing red lights, and activity at an abandoned campground. It was a sign. Not that Brook believed in signs and portents, but her curiosity did, and her curiosity wanted to be satisfied. Even if it turned out to be nothing.<br><br>She left her bike near the road, just out of sight of opportunist thieves but far enough not to alert the cops, and continued the rest of the way on foot. That meant a longer walk than she'd have liked. She slung her jacket over her shoulder, reflecting wryly she wasn't dressed for a country hike. Leather didn't mix with hot September sun, and her spike-heeled boots weren't designed for rough ground. But her other clothes were packed in her panniers.<br><br>As the campground came into view, she moved more cautiously, not obviously sneaking but keeping the big camper truck between her and the closest cop so she might go unnoticed. Maybe she could overhear what was going on before anyone noticed her. It would be something to report at least.
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				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Eliza</strong> on <strong>10-09-2020, 13:03:21</strong>
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				<span style="font-size: 20pt;" class="bbc_size">Keeper Post</span><br><hr><br>While Brook hid near the front of the large camper, trying to scope the place out for clues on why there was a police presence at this bleak and abandoned campground, unbeknownst to her, one of the skylight hatches of the camper had opened and a pair of arms lifted a furry body out of the interior. With her eyes on the campground beyond the caution tape, she was unaware of the creature preparing to pounce on the unsuspecting woman.<br><br><div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/6/6a/Rubyr001.png)</div>Then it jumped and landed on Brook's shoulders, furry arms wrapped around her head tussling her hair a bit. The scuffle would send Brook and the creature to the ground and would stop when a voice shouted, "Julien! Off, now!"<br><br>Any grip the creature had would let go of the woman and dart from her towards the tattooed woman. The furry creature effortlessly climbed onto the woman's back and mounted itself on her shoulders. The creature was big and could have weighed close to 20 lbs., though it didn't seem like the weight mattered to the woman much. If Brook ws looking, she'd find that it had the resemblance of a lemur (https://www.biographic.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/indri-Indri-indri.jpg), maybe an oversized one.<br><br>"Excuse me, what are you doing here, lady?" the tattooed woman spoke, her gaze, shielded by large sunglasses, and her words directed down to her.<br><br>Out the corner of her eye, Brook was able to see a figure peeking out from behind a building off to the right immediately after passing the sign at the entrance. From what she could tell, the park ranger and the woman with the lemur had not noticed him yet.<br><br><hr><br><em>Hunters permitted to reply to this post:</em> Brook Adams
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				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Eliza</strong> on <strong>10-09-2020, 13:43:07</strong>
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				<span style="font-size: 20pt;" class="bbc_size">Keeper Post</span><br><hr><em>12:50pm</em><br><br>Right as members of the cult, some of them their pure white robes speckled with fresh blood of the Herald, come flooding out of the main tent, screaming in terror, the unsettling presence of a man in a hat and a duster arrives on the scene. Upon nvestigating the inside of the tent, the man, named Jesse to a few, bore witness to the gruesome corpse of the Herald, layng lifeless on the stage, his heart ripped out, literally.<br><br>A blood trail led towards the back of the tent. Once outside, there was no one to be found. No one that was human that is. Jesse would see a grand RV, more lavish that the used cars dotting the grounds, parked about 15 yards towards the back of the campgrounds. At the foot of the steps leading into the RV, was a dog bowl and eating from this dog bowl was a German Shepherd. From afar, Jesse could spot the front paws of this dog caked in blood, one leg soaked in the crimson shade almost all the way to its elbow. The dog was ravenously eating something in the bowl, but once it was finished, it lifted its head and turned to the foreboding man who had just emerged from the tent.<br><br>The dog had an otherworldly grin, the fur around its maw also bloodied. It didn't stick around for long and darted around the RV, heading into the forest.<br><br><hr><br><em>Hunters permitted to reply to this post:</em> Jesse
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				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Eliza</strong> on <strong>11-09-2020, 03:00:05</strong>
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				<span style="font-size: 20pt;" class="bbc_size">Keeper Post</span><br><hr><br>Jake chuckled when hearing Alyssa choice of words, which kind of supported his opinion of her. "No problem, Miss. Toilet paper is complimentary and quite a luxury, am I right?" Jake said and mentioned a jab to her apparent difference in priorities. He assumed the Amish didn't have modern items like toilet paper or other things that people today took for granted. He handed her a set of three rolls wrapped in convenient, yet unneeded paper wrappers. Once Alyssa had the item in hand, she would make her way back to the RV, but once she got out of the door, she'd hear a scream coming from the direction where the Ash's mobile Winnebago was parked.<br><br><hr><br><em>Hunters permitted to reply to this post:</em> Alyssa Strum
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				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>c0i9z</strong> on <strong>11-09-2020, 04:39:19</strong>
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				<div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/Yg0EHpF.jpg)</div><strong>Hunter:</strong> Alyssa Sturm<br><strong>Wearing:</strong> Pictured, but not wielding a mace and a shield.<br><strong>Location:</strong> Near the RV, Mount Shasta<br><strong>Current Action:</strong> Asking for toilet paper<br><strong>Tagging:</strong> Jake<br><hr><br>"Thank you kindly, good sir," Alyssa replied as she took the rolls, likely doing nothing to change his impression of her. "Toilet paper is quite the luxury, indeed. I would be loathe to do without."<br><br>And then she left, holding the paper still, her strange quest was accomplished, though she still couldn't fathom what its goal might have been. Was she to fight some beast which was weak to absorption? She did not dare to imagine that it might be related to the paper's more common use.<br><br>Of course, all such musing were swiftly interrupted when Alyssa heard the scream coming from her destination. It was... wrong. Not merely a scream of surprise. No, it was the kind of scream that let her training take over, putting her weapon in her hand, the other still clutching the rolls she had been sent for as she ran to its source. A scream like that meant danger, pulled at deep, instinctual strings that warned others away. Except for those like her, who ran towards instead.
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				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Eliza</strong> on <strong>11-09-2020, 10:05:16</strong>
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				<span style="font-size: 20pt;" class="bbc_size">Keeper Post</span><br><hr><em>1:20pm</em><br><br>In the quiet of the day, the scream would have cut through the calm air and eventually reach ears that were listening in the distance. The scream would be followed by more screaming and shuffling as people ran away from the site.<br><br>As Alyssa approached the far end of the RV Park where the Ash's had parked their Winnebago, she'd either see campers running away from the location or holing themselves up in their RV's. As Alyssa turned the corner, she'd see James' back turned to her, in his hands was a broom that was probably used by the groundskeeper to sweep trash with. At the other end of the broom, about a yard or two from the bristles was a mangy German Shepherd with a snarling maw. The dog looked dirty, as if it was running through a wet forest, but there was no mistaking the shade of crimson around its mouth.<br><br>Off to the side, supported by the rear tire of the Winnebago was Linda, who was barely conscious. Beside her was the groundskeeper, a girl around the age of Jake. She was tending to a wound on Linda's right arm, a wound in the shape of the teeth of a dog.<br><br>From the looks of it, it looked like James was simply keeping the hound at bay, away from his wife and the girl applying pressure to the wound. It also looked like she had a phone and was calling for help.<br><br>"Back up, dog!" James exclaimed, pushing the broom towards the dog, but this only provoked it more. As the broom got close, the dog lunged forward to chomp on the bristles. After a brief struggle, James' grip on the pole weakened until the broom was pulled from his grasp, the mundane tool tossed aside. Now James had no protection against this dog, which looked ready to pounce on the elderly man.<br><br><hr><br><em>Hunters permitted to reply to this post:</em> Alyssa Strum, Jesse
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				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>HazySky</strong> on <strong>11-09-2020, 10:50:36</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/f/f4/Brian-taylor-gunslinger.jpg)</div><strong>Hunter:</strong> Jesse, the Summoned Dark. <br><strong>Wearing:</strong> The usual. <br><strong>Location:</strong> The Vortex campsite to the the RV camp. <br><strong>Current Action:</strong> Following spilt blood and footprints. <br><strong>Tagging:</strong> Jesse is all on his lonesome right now. <br><hr><br>The crown broke and flowed around him, a tide of white bodies rushing around a black rock. Despite the fact the mob was all but stampeding away in blind terror, shoving, tugging, pushing and jostling each other, no one dared to cross his path. Every one of them veering away from him at the last second as though repelled by an irresistible force. For his part the stranger seemed to pay the crowd no heed at all. To be sure he noticed the splattered blood across the white robes of some of them, but none of them seemed to type to spill it, not from what he could see anyways.<br><br>As quickly as they had appeared the wild eyed mob was gone, their shouts and screams and trampled footsteps are all that was left of them. The stranger simply followed their trail the other way. Whatever had made them run was at the start. That was what lead him to the tent. Everything seemed quiet, but he flicked his coat back, right hand hovering over the butt of his revolver as he walked inside. The air was thick with the smell of copper and iron and sickly sweet edge of death. The footsteps told him this was where the stampede had started and on stage was the source of that smell. A male pale in death, lying in a pool of blood, all of his blood in fact. The stranger had seen men bleed out before, he knew how much there was and this was all of it. The stranger nudging him over with a flick of his boot. The wound in the chest told the man had been killed by a single massive blow to the chest that no human could have delivered. There was a chance to claim an eye for an eye here, to sate the ancient cry of vengeance, to feed. Jesse crouched down and lifted a limp wrist. Soft hands, manicured nails, signs of jewellery in the tan, but no jewellery itself. If he hadn't stunk of blood and death, the man might have reeked of privilege and wealth. It wasn't much, but it was something.<br><br>The Stranger walked outside, looking around for a fancy vehicle. The RV stuck out like a sore thumb and he walked over to it, flicking his frock coat back over his weapon now he was sure he was alone. <br>There was a dog, at least it looked like a dog. Didn't seem to be acting quite like one and Jesse knew looking like something and being it weren't the same thing at all. His hand was back over his holster in an instant, his eyes narrowing, body tense, ready to fight, but the dog just snarled at him, or perhaps it was a grin and then turned and ran into the forest. <br><br>"Oh no. The hell you say." Jesse muttered and drawing his pistol and placing his other hand on his hat he began to run after it, the tails of his frock coat lifting and flicking this way and that. He couldn't keep up with the dog, but he could pick out the trail of its paws in the soft mud and he ran without effort or fatigue after it. In the distance he could see a wagons park and that was where the trail seemed to be leading. As he drew closer Jesse began to listen out for any sounds of commotion or struggle. He doubted that the dog was going to play nice somehow. Sure enough a scream told him where to go and he headed straight for it arriving into a group of people, none of whom particularly interested him at that moment, and aimed his gun right at the dog he'd been trailing through the woods. <br><br>"Alright, you had your fun. That's enough. Back the hell off or I will end you." He snarled, his finger curled around the trigger. He was pretty sure this was a case of looking like and being not being the same thing, it which case he was going to end it anyway, but he'd rather not do it in front of so many witnesses. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>c0i9z</strong> on <strong>12-09-2020, 03:07:26</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/Yg0EHpF.jpg)</div><strong>Hunter:</strong> Alyssa Sturm<br><strong>Wearing:</strong> Pictured, but not holding a shield.<br><strong>Location:</strong> Near the RV, Mount Shasta<br><strong>Current Action:</strong> Protecting James<br><strong>Tagging:</strong> James, a naughty puppy<br><hr><br>Alyssa didn't yell out when she saw nightmarish seen that now spread out before her, where there had only been joy, peace and kindness only moments before. Yelling would have only distracted James and done nothing to stop the dog. In fact, she barely even reacted. There was no need to. She was already at a run, one which, fortuitously, was taking her right to where she needed to be. Her mace was in her hand as well, its weight comforting. her other hand was empty, the toilet paper, which had taken her away just when these people most needed her, as well as the knapsack which usually contained her mace, had been left behind somewhere. Later, she might retrieve them, but right now, they were furthest from her mind. That was, instead, focused fully on the people she needed to protect and that which was now threatening them.<br><br>Alyssa reached James, just as the dog lept. She spun on one foot and swung so that before it reach James, she caught it in the side. The mace was slow, of course. Ponderous, even. Sometimes hard to aim. But in times like this, when she landed a well-timed blow, that was when it became clear why it was her favoured weapon. Once it got started, it had a sort of unstoppable inertia which, though it did its best, biting her back even, still allowed her to launch the dog away a few yards, enough to give herself and, more importantly, James some time and some breathing space. The bite was, thankfully not as bad as it looked, but it seemed to have left her feeling somewhat woozy. Still, she did her best not to show it as she stood in defense. To show weakness now would only invite the dog to attempt to strike again.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Eliza</strong> on <strong>12-09-2020, 04:19:41</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-size: 20pt;" class="bbc_size">Keeper Post</span><br><hr><em>1:20pm</em><br><br>James watched as the girl he had picked up earlier in the day had rushed past him with a weapon in her hand and swiftly took a swing at the dog. The dog's body recoiled from the attack, some of its fur being shaved by the blunt weapon, but the dog retaliated lunging around so it could take a bite of its attacker's forearm. Out of reflex, the girl was able to knock it away. Seeing that he was in less of a danger, James backed up and went to Linda's side, checking the bite that she suffered from the dog. It was much worse that the bite that Alyssa suffered. The teeth had sunk into the skin, but wasn't deep enough to draw blood. However, it stung and in Alyssa's adrenaline-flowing moment, she wouldn't feel until later. Unbeknownst to her, the dog's bite had poison riddled in its saliva and it was immediately slowing both Linda and Alyssa down. Since Linda had been stationary this whole time, the poison wasn't acting as much as it would to Alyssa, who looked ready to make another attack. The poison would slow the person down, harming them if they made any moves at normal speed.<br><br>Seeing Jesse round the corner behind Alyssa, the dog knew it was outnumbered and with a glare at both of the figures before it, the dog turned and retreated swiftly back into the wood.<br><br>Around the same time, sirens would be heard and minutes later, a couple of police officers would arrive and draw their guns on Alyssa and Jesse, assuming they were the ones who were attacking. "Freeze, the both of you! Hands up!" the male officer ordered.<br><br>The female officer, which her gun was still trained on the guy in the duster coat, stated into her radio, "Yeah, Sheriff, we have two suspicious individuals, one female, one male, at the RV Park. We have the two at gunpoint and it seems we also have wounded. Can you you reiterate that 911 call, Dispatch, and if possible, can I get any units to back us up?"<br><br><hr><br><em>Hunters permitted to reply to this post:</em> Alyssa Strum, Jesse
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>HazySky</strong> on <strong>12-09-2020, 16:56:19</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/f/f4/Brian-taylor-gunslinger.jpg)</div><strong>Hunter:</strong> Jesse, the Summoned Dark. <br><strong>Wearing:</strong> The usual. <br><strong>Location:</strong> The RV camp. <br><strong>Current Action:</strong> Standing down. <br><strong>Tagging:</strong> Unknown strangers including Officers of The Law. <br><hr><br>The dog decided not to take Jesse's advice and one of the strangers there turned out to be packing a mace, which was an odd thing for a girl to keep in her purse in his experience. He could most likely have shot both of them and asked questions later, but now was not perhaps the time for that sort of thing. Besides the dog was gone, but not before taking a chunk out of the girl. That was her problem though, not his. So he put the gun away, covering it with his coat. He turned away intent on following the dog and only the sound of sirens and a direct warning from an Officer of The Law caused him to pause. Again he could have just gone for his gun, but Officers of The Law were a fucking nuisance to lose in this day and age. <br><br>"I'm not armed. I'm just passin' by. I saw nothin' and I'm saying nothin'." He lied, making it absolutely clear that he had no intention of giving up the concealed weapon on his hip, or of co-operating with the Officers of The Law. Getting locked up wasn't something he needed, not with the sorts of questions it would throw up. Like how come your fingerprints were taken sixty years ago, but you don't look a day older than your mugshot? Those kinds of questions he could do without. So he was going to do his best to just walk away like nothing had happened. <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>c0i9z</strong> on <strong>12-09-2020, 19:36:19</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/Yg0EHpF.jpg)</div><strong>Hunter:</strong> Alyssa Sturm<br><strong>Wearing:</strong> Pictured, but not holding a shield.<br><strong>Location:</strong> Near the RV, Mount Shasta<br><strong>Current Action:</strong> Protecting James<br><strong>Tagging:</strong> Police officers, Jesse<br><hr><br>Alyssa visibly relaxed when the dog chose to leave rather than attack again. She could hear sirens, too. good. Once police arrived, it should be safe for the Ashes again. She would wait until they did, to make sure the wouldn't change its mind again before then, then tuck her mace into her belt, its proper place, and go check on her hosts. And maybe ask for some help for herself. That dog bite was starting to ache terribly. Of course, just as she was finally getting ready to turn back, the police officer called out to her instead. She lifted on hand. The other, she used to carefully place her weapon down. You didn't drop a mace. Not if you liked your toes uncrushed. That done, she lifted her other hand and stood straight again before turning around. All done slowly, both to avoid suspicion and because of that wooziness from before. She worried that the dog's bite had done something to her. She startled, though, when she saw the finely dressed man. She hadn't noticed him before.<br><br>"I am allowed to own this mace," she called out. "These people were attacked by a wild dog and I came to their defense. They will tell you themselves. More importantly, please see to Linda. She seems to have been badly hurt. This man, I've never seen before. He must have just arrived."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - Mount Shasta (IC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Eliza</strong> on <strong>15-09-2020, 03:08:22</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-size: 20pt;" class="bbc_size">Keeper Post</span><br><hr><strong>Location:</strong> Quartz Valley RV Park<br><br>The police dispatch promptly chimed in on the radio, <em>"Original call was for an animal attack, caller said it was a German Shepherd, no word if it had a collar or not. We have a park ranger or two heading up that way, ETA 15 minutes. Most of the precinct is up here at the Vortex Campgrounds sifting through the code 30 over there."</em><br><br>"Thanks for the info, Dispatch," the deputy said into her radio and released the button as the two suspicious and awkwardly-dressed individuals spoke up to defend their case. The man in the duster had the look out of an old Western and she had a feeling that if the opportunity arise, the man would bolt. So the deputy wasn't taking any chances and held her guard up, keeping her gun sights trained on him, not believing he was unarmed like he said he was. The other one was something her head couldn't wrap itself around. It was the ancient-looking mace that held most of her attention. With a silent gesture, she ordered the police officer with her to check on the wounded.<br><br>He lowered his weapon from the mace-wielding girl and went over to the elderly couple and groundskeeper. When the young girl had removed the makeshift gauze from the wound, it looked more grisly than the one that the girl with the mace had. James had a chance to come to their defense and stood up and approached the deputy. "She's right. There was a rabid dog that attacked my wife and Alyssa here came to the rescue. She was able to fight back and scare it off, even though she got bit herself," he explained and then glanced at the sinister-looking man, whose very unsettling presence had intimidated him into coming to his defense as well. "Him too. I can vouch for him."<br><br>The deputy wasn't buying the second half of James' explanation and she made this clear. She addressed Alyssa first, "You, Miss. You can relax. It seems this couple knows you. As for you, mister, can I have you step aside and place your hands against this RV, right here?" Her gun was still trained on Jesse, it being used in her gesture for him to step towards the neighboring RV, and the other officer came up alongside the deputy to be a second pair of eyes on the mysterious cowboy-like character.<br><br>While still next to the deputy, the other police officer chimed into his radio, "Hey Dispatch, this is Officer Murphy, can I get a paramedic down here at the Quartz Valley RV Park to treat a pair of animal bites?"<br><br><hr><br><em>Hunters permitted to reply to this post:</em> Alyssa Strum, Jesse
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - Mount Shasta (IC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>HazySky</strong> on <strong>17-09-2020, 15:21:26</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/f/f4/Brian-taylor-gunslinger.jpg)</div><strong>Hunter:</strong> Jesse, the Summoned Dark. <br><strong>Wearing:</strong> The usual. <br><strong>Location:</strong> The RV camp. <br><strong>Current Action:</strong> Standing down. <br><strong>Tagging:</strong> Unknown strangers including Officers of The Law. <br><hr><br>"No." Jesse said pointedly, making eye contact with the Officer of the Law, being careful to keep his hands in plain sight, but otherwise refusing to follow her commands. It was clear from his reactions and body language that he wasn't the least bit afraid of her or her gun. <br><br>"I've done nothin'. I saw nothin'. You got no reason to detain me Deputy. Now I ain't walkin' off no place, nor makin' no sudden moves, not with you pointin' that thing at me, but I ain't puttin' my hands on nothin' neither. Not happenin' my friend." He said with a shake of his head.<br><br>"I ain't about to let you put your hands on me neither. Just so we're quite clear I respect y'all, but I know my rights. You can't arrest me for just bein' here and you not likin' my face." He said with a smile and shrug of his shoulders.<br><br>"How come you're more interested in me than a slip of a girl y'all actually caught red-handed with somethin' fit only for bashin' in skulls anyways? Smacks of discrimination to me. Profilin' or some such nonsense." He complained, shrugging his shoulders again and kicking at the dust in front of him with his foot. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - Mount Shasta (IC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>c0i9z</strong> on <strong>17-09-2020, 23:48:58</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/Yg0EHpF.jpg)</div><strong>Hunter:</strong> Alyssa Sturm<br><strong>Wearing:</strong> Pictured, but not holding a shield or a mace.<br><strong>Location:</strong> Near the RV, Mount Shasta<br><strong>Current Action:</strong> Having a rest<br><strong>Tagging:</strong> Police officers, Jesse<br><hr><br>The police officer's suspicions seemed to be allayed for the moment, thanks to James's support, which came as a relief to Alyssa. She lowered her hands, but didn't try to pick up her mace yet. It wasn't going anywhere and she had the suspicion that the officer wouldn't be so easygoing if she tried to grab a weapon. Linda, she was worried about, but she was also being taken care of about as well as she could herself. If she went over to check on her, she would only be in the way. So instead, she found herself a nice place to sit and inspect her wounds. She thought about praying for guidance as well. That strange dog and her being sent away at just the wrong time were worryingly suspicious, but she felt that the place was a bit too... crowded for it.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - Mount Shasta (IC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Eliza</strong> on <strong>18-09-2020, 00:18:04</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-size: 20pt;" class="bbc_size">Keeper Post</span><br><hr><strong>Location:</strong> Quartz Valley RV Park<br><br>When the man simply refused to cooperate, it gave the deputy all the more reason to keep her gun trained on him. The police officer next to the deputy leaned in to the commanding officer on the call and whispered, "He's right, deputy. And you ain't the Sheriff."<br><br>"Like hell, I ain't the Sheriff," the deputy said through gritted teeth.<br><br>The police officer placed his hand on the gun and pushed down, easing the female officer to back down. "Why don't we switch and actually do our job and investigate this call. Animal bite? The way I see it, we got two victims. I got the cowboy, you tend to the wounded." The deputy was pissed, but she knew he was right. From the way things were looking, the next thing she would do if she didn't back down was actually shoot someone. The deputy hissed as she holstered her weapon.<br><br>"Watch him."<br><br>"I will," the police officer said and allowed the deputy to slide past him to approach the wounded as well as the weirdly-dressed girl. He approached the darkly-dressed man, but didn't get in his personal space. He casually just stood to the side, half-facing Jesse. "You gotta forgive the deputy. She's stubborn, but she loves this town. She just feels territorial, is all. I'm officer Gene Murphy (https://www.usanetwork.com/sites/usanetwork/files/styles/629x720/public/eyewitness_cast_MattMurray_1920x1080.jpg?itok=2708gCH5). How about you?" he asked, casually digging his thumbs under his belt.<br><br>The deputy would approach Alyssa as paramedics arrived to tend to Linda. Like Gene, she held herself up in a casual manner, but it wasn't easy letting the other guy go. "So, you were able to scare this dog off. Can you tell me what happened?" the deputy asked, but felt it was impolite to not introduce herself. "Sorry, I'm Deputy Raines (https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xMntdjMW5EU/VxCrfft9_lI/AAAAAAAAM4s/DRil8Fdl1po1ZUglMvnAGcOV7-2Upon9gCLcB/s1600/01%2Borphan%2Bblack%2Bseason%2B4%2Bepisode%2B1%2Bseason%2Bpremire%2Bcollapse%2Bnature%2Breview%2Bbeth.png), of the Mt. Shasta Police Department. And you are?"<br><br>While the two officers were talking, the paramedics were tending to Linda, who didn't feel too bad, despite getting the worse-looking bite. James had assisted with a fresh bottle of water, which the technician opened and slowly poured the water over the wound, cleaning the blood and giving the paramedics a better image of the wound. For some reason, Linda's cheeks were flush with life as if the poison from the bite was simply lifted with the liquid. After disinfecting the wound, they were ahead and bandaged Linda's arm up. They then went to Alyssa and per Deputy Raines permission, was allowed to treat her wound. It wasn't as bad as Linda's, but Alyssa would still feel fatigued due to the poison acting on her. But it all went away as water was poured over the wound and Alyssa too would feel the fatigue lifted from her body. Once the wound was disinfected, they went ahead and bandaged up her arm.<br><br><hr><br><em>Hunters permitted to reply to this post:</em> Alyssa Strum, Jesse
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - Mount Shasta (IC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Eliza</strong> on <strong>19-09-2020, 11:25:49</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-size: 20pt;" class="bbc_size">Keeper Post</span><br><hr><strong>Location:</strong> Cold Creek Inn<br><br>On the northern stretch of the town's main drag was a humble motel named Cold Creek Inn. The parking lot was virtually empty, but it wasn't entirely deserted like most of the town. In a rather large room, discounted by the loss of business caused by the great migration of the city's citizens, was a girl by the named of Lexie Renner.<br><br>In her motel room, Lexie was still sound asleep, though in her dreams, it was like she was up and about and active. Of course, she had no say where she was going in her dreamscape and it was more vivid than a regular dream. It was none other than another vision.<br><br>She saw a series of images. They were static, with hardly any significant motion. First image was a decorative circle of flowers, The perimeter was a thin circle of white iris flowers, surrounding a massive group of blue of the same knd of flower. Deep purple shades radiated towards the outside edges and bright blue hues gravitated towards the center. Spiraling towards the center as well were thin lines of orange flowers, California poppies. From afar, the circle of flowers looked like a whirlpool or vortex placed on the ground of this clearing.<br><br>Next image felt static at first. Lexie would see a rock face, with the colorful flower vortex set on the ground about 15 feet in front of it. If looking upwards, she'd see the unhindered pak of Mt. Shasta. Then to the side, as if appearing from behind the rock face, was a woman with long blonde hair, dressed in a silky white gown.<br><br>The next and final image was this same woman, just more closer than she was before. Her perspective of this woman was below, the blue eyes of the woman ooking down at her, as if Lexie was laying down before her. However, in a manner of seconds, Lexie's perspective would rise up until she were eye level with this woman. The woman gave a toothless grin as Lexie's vision faded to black and she regained control of her body.<br><br>Following her vision. she'd feel the effects of a headache, that would prevent her from falling back asleep.<br><br><hr><br><em>Hunters permitted to reply to this post:</em> Lexie Renner
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - Mount Shasta (IC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>c0i9z</strong> on <strong>19-09-2020, 18:56:16</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/Yg0EHpF.jpg)</div><strong>Hunter:</strong> Alyssa Sturm<br><strong>Wearing:</strong> Pictured, but not holding a shield or a mace.<br><strong>Location:</strong> Near the RV, Mount Shasta<br><strong>Current Action:</strong> Having a rest and a talk<br><strong>Tagging:</strong> Police officers, Jesse<br><hr><br>Alyssa gave her name to the police officer as she extended her arm to the paramedics. The touch of the water made her wince at first, but she soon sighed in relief as something, some sort of weight lifted from her and the wooziness she had felt seemed to clear somewhat. "Earlier, I was on the road, in need of assistance. James and Linda Ash gave it to me, brought me here, fed me..." She shook her head. "I wouldn't have left their side had I know, but as I returned, there was a scream. And as I arrived, I saw Linda hurt and James holding back this dog. I couldn't simply let my benefactors get hurt. At least, more than they already had, so I interceded as best I could. With my mace." She nodded towards the weapon. "It worked well enough, I feel, but as you may have noticed, not without some damage on my part." With the paramedic done, she pulled back her arm. The bandage was good. Nice and tight. As could be expected of a professional.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - Mount Shasta (IC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>HazySky</strong> on <strong>19-09-2020, 23:52:10</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/f/f4/Brian-taylor-gunslinger.jpg)</div><strong>Hunter:</strong> Jesse, the Summoned Dark. <br><strong>Wearing:</strong> The usual. <br><strong>Location:</strong> The RV camp. <br><strong>Current Action:</strong> Standing down. <br><strong>Tagging:</strong> Unknown strangers including Officers of The Law. <br><hr><br><br>Jesse eyed the other Officer of the Law and considered whether or not he wanted to respond to the man. Generally he avoided The Law and The Government, Federal or State as much as possible. However the guy wasn't actually pointing a gun at him or trying to slap some cuffs on him, so for now he was prepared to be civil just to avoid changing that without reason. <br><br>"Jesse. Everyone just calls me Jesse." He said, keeping his hands in sight. He knew better than to say anything he didn't have to to an Officer of The Law, even a passing comment or idle chit chat. That was why he said nothing about how the other Officer of The Law had treated him. Wouldn't do no good to complain. <br><br>He would leave as soon as he could, so what anyone else was doing or saying was of no particular interest to him. As long as he wasn't actively being shot at and no one was trying to arrest him he was as happy as he could be given the circumstances. He was careful to keep his coat over his gun, tucking his elbows in to keep his coat from drifting open and revealing his piece. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - Mount Shasta (IC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Eliza</strong> on <strong>20-09-2020, 11:38:02</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-size: 20pt;" class="bbc_size">Keeper Post</span><br><hr><strong>Location:</strong> Quartez Valley RV Park<br><br>Deputy Raines glanced at Gene who was making small talk with the guy in the duster and then her eyes returned to Alyssa, exhaling a deep breath, which have been a sigh as well. "Well, Alyssa. I'd say thank goodness you were here to help these people and they seem to vouch for you at least. You're not in trouble, though I had my suspicions because you were armed with that mace," the deputy said. "We'll get out of your ear, we'll just be nearby to patrol the RV Park and make sure this animal is long gone."<br><br>Reluctantly, the deputy turned on her heel, gesturing Gene to follow. Before turning to follow Deputy Raines, Officer Murphy bid Jesse a farewell, "Stay safe out there, Jesse."<br><br>They left the scene, not looking back at the two or the Ash's. The groundskeeper also took her leave and in passing, assured the other RV owners that everything was okay and that the coast was clear.<br><br>James had taken Linda to rest in the Winnebago and exited once the officers were gone. He nodded towards Jesse's direction, but made no plan to approach him. James instead went over to Alyssa, noting the similar bandage around her forearm. "Linda's going to be fine, Alyssa, but I think for our safety, it would be best if you find some other form of shelter. Sorry," James said and turned on his heel to return to the confines of his RV.<br><br><hr><br><em>Hunters permitted to reply to this post:</em> Alyssa Strum, Jesse
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - Mount Shasta (IC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>c0i9z</strong> on <strong>20-09-2020, 18:24:29</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/Yg0EHpF.jpg)</div><strong>Hunter:</strong> Alyssa Sturm<br><strong>Wearing:</strong> Pictured, but not holding a shield or a mace.<br><strong>Location:</strong> Near the RV, Mount Shasta<br><strong>Current Action:</strong> Gathering her things<br><strong>Tagging:</strong> Jesse<br><hr><br>"Thank you," Alyssa said to the police officer going to pick her weapon once they had gone, only to be be met with James. Her smile became sadder, then. "I understand, I'm glad that you're both alright." <br><br>Alyssa sighed when James was gone. Truly, she didn't understand. She had just saved them. They were safer with her around. Why couldn't they see that? Maybe it was the mace. But without her mace, she wouldn't have been able to save them at all. She looked to the stranger. "I know what I said before, but I don't believe it to be coincidence that you're here. I have a few things I need to grab before I go. Do you wish to talk about it while I do this?"<br><br>Alyssa's crossbow was first, after the mace, still unstrung on the table. Then, she would have time to go back for her knapsack and toilet paper. She still had no idea why the later was needed, but until she knew, or it proved not to be, she intended to hold on to it.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - Mount Shasta (IC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>HazySky</strong> on <strong>21-09-2020, 10:13:50</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/f/f4/Brian-taylor-gunslinger.jpg)</div><strong>Hunter:</strong> Jesse, the Summoned Dark. <br><strong>Wearing:</strong> The usual. <br><strong>Location:</strong> The RV camp. <br><strong>Current Action:</strong> Standing down. <br><strong>Tagging:</strong> Unknown strangers including Officers of The Law. <br><hr><br>Keeping his mouth shut and his gun hidden seemed to work out. He hadn't done anything and he'd refused to act guilty or to incriminate himself, so the Officers of The Law had ended up with no reason to detain him. He stayed where he was, nodding curtly to both of them until they were back in their patrol cars. However the moment they were moving off he was doing the same. There was more to that dog than met the eye. He had seen the girl slowed by that bite until her wound was cleaned and that wasn't right at all. He'd been keeping one eye on the path the dog had gone down the whole time, making sure he didn't lose track of it and now he headed straight towards it. The girl spoke to him, but he didn't stop or even slow down for a moment. <br><br>"You can think what you want miss. That dog is dangerous. Needs to be put down. You want to talk, you'll have to keep up." He said shortly. <br><br>He didn't actually want her to follow him, but it was a free country and she could do any damn fool thing she wanted to as far as he was concerned, as long as she didn't get in his way. There would be trouble if she did.<br><br>He struck out on the path, the pawprints of the dog easy to follow in the soft dirt. It had been running, of course, he could tell from the length of its strides. That meant he wasn't going to catch it anytime soon, but the trail was still worth following. It couldn't run forever and Jesse was a persistent cuss when it came to tailing a potential target and the Dark saw much potential in this one. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - Mount Shasta (IC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Eliza</strong> on <strong>22-09-2020, 05:41:34</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-size: 20pt;" class="bbc_size">Keeper Post</span><br><hr><strong>Location:</strong> Woods outside of Quartz Valley RV Park<br><br>As he has hunted for many years, much longer than how old Alyssa was, Jesse was definitely able to follow the tracks of the dog and also very well distinguish it from the tracks of other woodland canines like wolves and coyotes. It would become quite obvious to Jesse that as the tracks weaved left and right through the woods that the dog was trying to switch back and forth to throw off any would-be pursuer.<br><br>It would be about a mile into the woods that the tracks started to diverge, as if the dog had multiplied into three or four separate selves and went off in different directions.<br><br><hr><br><em>Hunters permitted to reply to this post:</em> Alyssa Strum, Jesse
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - Mount Shasta (IC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>c0i9z</strong> on <strong>23-09-2020, 01:10:01</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/Yg0EHpF.jpg)</div><strong>Hunter:</strong> Alyssa Sturm<br><strong>Wearing:</strong> Pictured, but not holding a shield.<br><strong>Location:</strong> In the woods, Mount Shasta<br><strong>Current Action:</strong> Going after a strange man. And possibly a dog.<br><strong>Tagging:</strong> Jesse<br><hr><br>"This is all the same dog," Alyssa said conversationally as she finally caught up with Jesse. Sure, she had to take some time to go gather her things, but they weren't all that far and she wasn't the one who had to try to follow a trail that went all over the place. She had her mace in hand already, obviously unwilling to stay unarmed as she went hunting for trouble.&nbsp; "I'm quite certain that this isn't the kind of beast which will split itself, clone itself or make more of itself. At least not quite so easily.&nbsp; And we are in luck, it seems to be quite vulnerable to the mundane sorts of devices, though it will fight back quite ferociously. It's only unfortunate that I am caught unprepared, with my bow unstrung and no leeway to prepare it properly."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - Mount Shasta (IC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>HazySky</strong> on <strong>23-09-2020, 10:43:37</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/f/f4/Brian-taylor-gunslinger.jpg)</div><strong>Hunter:</strong> Jesse, the Summoned Dark. <br><strong>Wearing:</strong> The usual. <br><strong>Location:</strong> The RV camp and out into the woods. <br><strong>Current Action:</strong> Standing down. <br><strong>Tagging:</strong> Unknown stranger. <br><hr><br>"It's not a damn dog. Lookin' like and bein' are two different things." Jesse snapped testily. He had not wanted to be followed and was not especially pleased to have a companion, even if she was obviously not just a regular Jane off of the street. <br><br>He could see what the paw prints were trying to do, the thing that looked like a dog had looped round back and forth over its trail, trying to throw them off, but most of the trails didn't make sense in his opinion. One lead back down a path towards the RV Park, another towards town. The thing was clearly trying to move away from people not towards them. Which left the third trail and the only one that seemed to make sense given what he'd seen with his own eyes. The fact that it had even tried a move like this spoke to an intelligence that no dog had ever possessed and made him even more sure that what was ahead of him was no dog. <br><br>"This way. Seems like it wants to avoid places with lots of people, especially folks with badges and guns. Only trail that makes sense is this one." <br>He pointed to the trail that lead up the slope and up the hill. The thing had wasted time making these trails and that was a mistake that might cost it dear. <br><br>"Seems like six rounds from a big iron should sort this problem out and then we can ask questions." He said and laughed to himself. <br><br>He set out up the trail he'd selected and sure enough it did not come to a dead end, but lead on up the slope through the trees until it reached a clearing with a sheer cliff face. The trail split off to the left and right and at the edge of the wood were the ruins of some building and a plaque for walkers and tourists that seemed to be the reason for the path to come up here at all. Jesse paused and looked around his eyes narrowed. There was an odd feeling in the air. <br><br>"I don't like it." He muttered to himself, flicking his coat back, hand hovering over the revolver at his hip as he glanced sharply this way and that, listening intently for any sound, hunting for any trace of movement. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - Mount Shasta (IC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Eliza</strong> on <strong>23-09-2020, 19:14:31</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-size: 20pt;" class="bbc_size">Keeper Post</span><br><hr><strong>Location:</strong> Woods about 2 miles northeast of Quartz Valley RV Park<br><br>The woods had been considerably as thick as any forest as Jesse with Alyssa in tow, trekked up the trail he had chosen to follow, but his pace slowed as the clearing widened. A clearing this far into the woods held some significance of some sort. There was a T-junction in the path and at the intersection of each of the three trails was a plaque with a partial trail map installed on it. The plastic was worn down some from lack of maintenance, but was still legible and it showed the which trail each path would take hikers on. The trail to the left was called Mt. Shasta Mountain Tail while the path to the right was an unnamed trail that led to the Vortex Campground.<br><br>But beyond the plaque was this clearing that extended about 30 feet behind the plaque until it stopped abruptly at a sheer rock face. There were smudges of ancient art, though it could easily be mistaken for random graffiti by some young hiker armed with a Sharpie. Other than than it was just a mostly blank rock wall, but when looking at it from the trailhead, both Jesse and Alyssa could see the distant peak of Mt. Shasta, whose heavenly top had yet to be covered in white. It was still late summer and the temperature was quite warm.<br><br>To the side of this clearing looked like a building on some sort, though it's exterior facade made it seem abandoned, but it was far from that. Surprisingly, out from behind it, came out this woman dressed a white robe. The purity of the color was so stark, she could have been wearing a gown of snowflakes. The woman looked to be in her 40s, though her most striking feature was her platinum blonde hair, flowing from the top of her head, past her shoulders and end at her waist in large waves. She didn't seem to have noticed the two individuals on the trail and was pretty much minding her own business, tending to something on the ground, but at this distance, it was hard to make out what it was.<br><br>The unsettling thing about this scene was that the paw prints in the soft dirt had continued past the plaque, but mysteriously disappeared after about five feet from the trail. There was no sign of it around in the clearing nor was it hiding in any of the shadows.<br><br><hr><br><em>Hunters permitted to reply to this post:</em> Alyssa Strum, Jesse
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - Mount Shasta (IC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>c0i9z</strong> on <strong>24-09-2020, 03:51:31</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/Yg0EHpF.jpg)</div><strong>Hunter:</strong> Alyssa Sturm<br><strong>Wearing:</strong> Pictured, but not holding a shield.<br><strong>Location:</strong> In the woods, Mount Shasta<br><strong>Current Action:</strong> Talking to a strange. And possibly a dog.<br><strong>Tagging:</strong> Jesse, strange woman<br><hr><br>"Of course, it's not actually a dog," Alyssa replied, surprised that it was something actually worth discussing. "But certainly, you'll agree that some practical way of referring to it would be useful? It resembles a dog, at the very least, so it seems to be as good a term for it as any."<br><br>Alyssa followed along where Jesse lead, trusting his insight. Hers was already spent. "You are referring to your firearm, yes?" She nodded. "I believe that it will do in this case. And it is certainly a good way to keep your distances." Once again, she missed her shield, so useful against the kind of thing that bit back. But it was also big, cumbersome and very obvious, so she had had to leave it.<br><br>Jesse's decision did, in the end, seem to be the right one, unless the dog had somehow managed to go on a massive detour to mislead them. At least, it seemed so until the tracks abruptly disappeared, just past the trail. This certainly did worry Alyssa, but when she saw the woman, then all other concerns took a back seat as her protective instincts rose to the surface. "Excuse me!" she called as she approached the strange figure, putting her mace in her belt to appear less threatening. "Excuse me, madam! Are you alright? It might not be safe to be outside now, there are dangerous animals about!"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - Mount Shasta (IC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>HazySky</strong> on <strong>24-09-2020, 10:44:32</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/f/f4/Brian-taylor-gunslinger.jpg)</div><strong>Hunter:</strong> Jesse, the Summoned Dark. <br><strong>Wearing:</strong> The usual. <br><strong>Location:</strong> The woods. <br><strong>Current Action:</strong> Facing off. <br><strong>Tagging:</strong> Unknown stranger. A mighty suspicious person. <br><hr><br>Jesse shot out a hand and grabbed Jane Doe's wrist. He was careful not to let the palm of his hand touch her skin anywhere, but she would certainly notice that his hand was cold and heavy to the touch like lead. <br><br>"Don't be such a damn fool. Watch and listen and think." He hissed. <br>"The trail just cuts off and now she shows up dressed like that, behaving like that. She don't fit in here. You already got bit once. Actin' like that will get you bit again." <br><br>He released her and glanced around. No sign of thing and he knew it could change shape. As far as he was concerned the woman was mostly likely the dog, which meant she was an it and it was mostly likely the killer. The Dark could feed on it<br><br>"You want to talk to her, fine. Keep your distance though and she makes a move I don't like, I'm gonna shoot her right between the eyes and ask questions after." He warned, his hand now resting openly on the grip of his revolver.&nbsp; He walked backwards slowly, his eyes flicking this way and that, but returning to the figure in white.<br>She or it seemed to have come from the building. Taking a look inside might tell him if she was actually living out here or not and that would tell him whether or not he should draw on her or it or not. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - Mount Shasta (IC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>c0i9z</strong> on <strong>25-09-2020, 02:35:36</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/Yg0EHpF.jpg)</div><strong>Hunter:</strong> Alyssa Sturm<br><strong>Wearing:</strong> Pictured, but not holding a shield.<br><strong>Location:</strong> In the woods, Mount Shasta<br><strong>Current Action:</strong> Talking to a stranger. And possibly a dog.<br><strong>Tagging:</strong> Jesse, strange woman<br><hr><br>Alyssa shook the man's hand off. "And what about you? I don't even know your name and you seem much too eager to use that weapon you're holding. Perhaps you are a dog. Perhaps everyone is a dog. Or perhaps there is an innocent woman here who doesn't know the danger she has found herself in. And I will not risk an innocent be harmed simply because of a stranger's idle worries. But I'll give you these assurances, at the least." She patted her mace. "My weapon shall not leave my side. And if you recall well, you should know that I am quite skilled at its use."<br><br>With that said, ALyssa returned to her original plan, calling to the woman and warning her.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - Mount Shasta (IC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Eliza</strong> on <strong>25-09-2020, 12:41:17</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-size: 20pt;" class="bbc_size">Keeper Post</span><br><hr><strong>Location:</strong> Vortex Caves {exterior}<br><br>The woman had noticed the pair on the trail, but she initially paid them no mind, thinking that they were some confused hikers or ones that couldn't make a decision on which trail to branch off to. When the girl in the dress called out to her, this was when she looked over towards their direction. She had no judging expression towards their dress, thinking they would hold the same opinions for her choice of attire out here in the middle of the wood. She simply smiled at the warning presented to her by the girl.<br><br>"I can assure you, child, there are no dangers around here. I would say both predator and prey are calmed in the presence of the Lumerian Vortices," the woman spoke, her accent having a bit of country twang, overridden by a ephemeral tone. "May I implore you to calm your worries stranger? I like to beieve this place is hallowed ground, allowing those from below to walk freely among those from above. Please, I invite you to come." She said this with arms wide to her side, as if expecting at the least an embrace.<br><br><hr><br><em>Hunters permitted to reply to this post:</em> Alyssa Strum, Jesse
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - Mount Shasta (IC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>HazySky</strong> on <strong>25-09-2020, 13:02:02</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/f/f4/Brian-taylor-gunslinger.jpg)</div><strong>Hunter:</strong> Jesse, the Summoned Dark. <br><strong>Wearing:</strong> The usual. <br><strong>Location:</strong> The woods. <br><strong>Current Action:</strong> Facing off. <br><strong>Tagging:</strong> Unknown stranger. A mighty suspicious person. <br><hr><br>"Get your stupid ass bit again then. It's not like I give a damn." <br>Jesse snapped back as the Jane Doe brushed his advice aside. For a moment, just a moment something stirred deep in the black of his eyes, but then he blinked and it was gone. He glanced at the woman, but her words and gestures did not incline him to be any more trusting of her. He'd seen others dressed like her running away in terror a short while ago and here she was acting like nothing had happened and no shapeshifting killer was out here. Lies. Everyone lies, the question was why. He kept his hand right where it had been on the butt of his gun and continued moving slowly and cautiously towards the building. He glanced at the Jane Doe and the strange woman and then peered inside to see what he could see. He wasn't interested in detail, he was just glancing in to see if someone was living there or not. If not he would certainly draw on the woman. If she wasn't living here she might be the shifter and even if she wasn't the shifter, then she knew something just from the way she was dressed and was talking and she was going to tell him, or he would find the right pressure to apply to make her. <br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - Mount Shasta (IC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Eliza</strong> on <strong>26-09-2020, 12:03:57</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-size: 20pt;" class="bbc_size">Keeper Post</span><br><hr><strong>Location:</strong> Vortex Caves {exterior}<br><br>"Oh alright, if you insist, child," the woman said. "I'll get inside here, only if you come inside with me. You give off a certain aura that you seek an explanation as to why I'm here. So, yes, I'll do what you say, but I'm extending an invitation into this building over here." She was mostly addressing this to Alyssa, but out of politeness, she glanced at Jesse. Her demeanor changed a bit, as if she was disturbed by something. For the split second her eyes laid upon Jesse's form, she got a slight headache. "My, my, aren't you such a intimidator, Sir." She turned back to Alyssa and right away, the pain at her temples dissipated and her fae brightened with color. "It can be just only you. Your friend here can stay outside, protect us from this danger you mention."<br><br>The woman gestured Alyssa to follow her to the building. If Alyssa did go off after the woman, she would see the area around where she was prior to their encounter. Behind the sheer rock wall was a tight entrance of a cave, partially illuminated by the early afternoon sun. To the other side, was the building, which wasn't very big at all. There was an open doorway, covered by a beaded curtain. Not much could be seen past this curtain except for a slightly purple light.<br><br>About five minutes later, there would be a distant scream, coming from the direction towards the Vortex Campgrounds. Given the thickness of the forest, the origin of the shout was probably at least a hundred feet down the trail. Faintly, the same voice shouted seconds later, "Get off me!"<br><br><hr><br><em>Hunters permitted to reply to this post:</em> Alyssa Strum, Jesse
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - Mount Shasta (IC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>c0i9z</strong> on <strong>27-09-2020, 01:57:32</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/Yg0EHpF.jpg)</div><strong>Hunter:</strong> Alyssa Sturm<br><strong>Wearing:</strong> Pictured, but not holding a shield.<br><strong>Location:</strong> In the woods, Mount Shasta<br><strong>Current Action:</strong> Getting invited inside<br><strong>Tagging:</strong> strange woman<br><hr><br>Alyssa hesitated at the invitation, but still nodded her agreement. "Yes, I will agree to that much. But I can't stay long. Just enough to verify your safety. afterwards, I will have to leave again. It would be awful, wouldn't it, if let someone else be endangered by letting myself get held up here?" With that said, she followed the woman to her house and inside, squinting into the strange, purple light as she went towards it.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - Mount Shasta (IC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Eliza</strong> on <strong>27-09-2020, 06:38:09</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-size: 20pt;" class="bbc_size">Keeper Post</span><br><hr><strong>Location:</strong> Vortex Caves {exterior}<br><br>Before leading Alyssa inside, the woman turned around and parted her blonde hair out of her eyes. She extended her hand and introduced herself, "I'm Dr. Samantha Douglass, child. Come follow me inside." She parted the beaded curtain and allowed Alyssa inside. Once she entered, Alyssa would see that the purple light was mostly just a small amount of natural light entering through holes in the roof and shining through a collection of amethyst crystals sitting on shelves along the walls. While Dr. Douglass was standing near the door, Alyssa was free to explore the room and peruse any of the documents mounted or lying in plain sight. A good portion of photos, some of them aged in sepia, occupied one side of this shack that was no bigger than a studio apartment. In the middle of the room was a table with a parchment that told a story.<br><br>While it looked like it was penned by a master calligrapher in the words of Dr. Douglass herself, it made sense of its existence in this shack next to caves venturing into the foot of the mountain. The parchment read, "Long ago, when the continents were fused together, there lived an ancient civilization. In fact, there were two sides of this ancient people. Most people today believe the people to come from a city named Atlantis, which sunk underneath the Atlantic Ocean after cataclysmic event. The other city was lesser known, but believed to have sunk underneath the crust of the earth and resided in a parallel dimension underneath Mt. Shasta in northern California. This city was named Lemuria. The Vortex Caves are believed to be one of many portals around Lemuria that when entered gives visitors an transcending sensation that aids in meditation and holistic healing."<br><br><hr><br><em>Hunters permitted to reply to this post:</em> Alyssa Strum
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - Mount Shasta (IC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>c0i9z</strong> on <strong>27-09-2020, 18:38:25</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/Yg0EHpF.jpg)</div><strong>Hunter:</strong> Alyssa Sturm<br><strong>Wearing:</strong> Pictured, but not holding a shield.<br><strong>Location:</strong> In a stranger's house, Mount Shasta<br><strong>Current Action:</strong> Exploring Dr. Douglass's room<br><strong>Tagging:</strong> Dr. Douglass<br><hr><br>"Alyssa Sturm," Alyssa answered, taking a hold of the woman's name. As she stepped inside, she was relieved to see that it looked as safe as she had hoped. No dogs or anything seemingly dangerous here. Just crystals and documents and things. With Dr. Douglass's tacit invitation, she looked around the small room, taking special not of the parchment in the middle of the room. "You had someone pen this on parchment?" she asked, surprised. Even for her, going so far as to get actual parchment and having someone do calligraphy on it seemed eccentrically old-fashioned. "Are you some sort of researcher, then? How much of this is true?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - Mount Shasta (IC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Eliza</strong> on <strong>30-09-2020, 11:38:17</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-size: 20pt;" class="bbc_size">Keeper Post</span><br><hr><strong>Location:</strong> 200 feet south of Vortex Caves {exterior}<br><br>The voice would have unnerved any normal person, but for Jesse, it only alerted him to danger. He tried to make out what direction the voice was coming from but due to how thick the forest was, paired with the reverbing quality of the foot of the mountain, the voice seemed to come from multipe directions. While Jesse could try to hack through the forest in a straight line, he knew it would not give him the element of surprise on whoever was assaulting the owner of this voice.<br><br>His best curse of action would be to use the path that led towards the Vortex Campground. While it would be easy to navigate, it was open to ambushes from the thick forest, but it would be better than blazing his own path through the wood.<br><br>Fortunately, after about two hundred feet of hiking the path, Jesse would find the owner of the voice come sprawling from the bush some ten feet in front of him. The khaki button-up and the olive slacks was the unmistakable uniform of a park ranger, but that is not what struck him as being odd. It was the face of the ranger. While she had a cut to her cheek, probably from rushing through the forest, the woman before him had the same face (https://media.hollywood.com/images/638x425/1829166.jpg) as Deputy Raines.<br><br>In the heat of the moment, the ranger thought Jesse was just another lone hiker out on the trails and held up her hands to get him to stop. "Don't come any closer, Sir. There's a crazed lunatic with a knife around here. I was just now able to get away," she explained to Jesse. She bent forwards a bit, hands on her knees and catching her breath, showing Jesse that it seemed she had been running a whole lot before appearing out on the trail. When she lifted her head, she caught sight of something behind Jesse and called out, "Behind you!"<br><br>Jesse had no time to react as the entity rushed from behind and dove to the gravel like a runner sliding to home base, slashing a knife to Jesse's leg. He recovered to his feet before Jesse and as the dust settled, showed his form to him. It was a man who wore an all-white outfit with an all white cloak, dirtied by streaks and stains of mud. The most notable areas of focus was the ends his sleeves and collar, which were caked with dried blood. The knife in his hand had the fresh blood of his earlier slash. Removing his cloak, he revealed his identity, that being of a pale human with platinum-white hair and feral eyes.<br><br>He looked up to size up Jesse and he commented, "This is one of my pursuers. So, where's the little bitch with the mace?"<br><br><hr><br><em>Hunters permitted to reply to this post:</em> Jesse
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - Mount Shasta (IC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Eliza</strong> on <strong>30-09-2020, 11:56:31</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-size: 20pt;" class="bbc_size">Keeper Post</span><br><hr><strong>Location:</strong> Amethyst Shack<br><br>"You can say that… Alyssa," Dr. Douglass said, slowly walking towards the other side of the table the parchment was laid upon, directly across from Alyssa. "A researcher studies a subject for endeavors that are either academic or scientific. I don't think they care much about the subject, even though they are passionate about it. I'd say, they are passionate for a grade, a positive critique, or maybe their name on a scientific paper, but in the end, did they really care about what they were studying?"<br><br>She pushed off from the table and turned to peruse the crystals on the shelves, fondling them lightly. "I will say I'm much more than a researcher. I'm a believer, plain as that," Dr. Douglass mentioned and slowly rounded the table to the side where Alyssa was standing. She was right next to her when she bent over the pachment. "Truth be told, Alyssa, this piece of paper is meant to distinguish the tourist from the pilgrim, the stranger from the familiar, the skeptic from the believer. Believe what you will, but I choose to believe that I am someone who truly guides those that seek more than a sensational transcendence."<br><br>She walked over to the doorway and before she went through, turned around and asked, "Say, I can show you what these caves are, if you'll humor me."<br><br><hr><br><em>Hunters permitted to reply to this post:</em> Alyssa Strum
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - Mount Shasta (IC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>c0i9z</strong> on <strong>01-10-2020, 02:56:16</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/Yg0EHpF.jpg)</div><strong>Hunter:</strong> Alyssa Sturm<br><strong>Wearing:</strong> Pictured, but not holding a shield.<br><strong>Location:</strong> Amethyst Shack, Mount Shasta<br><strong>Current Action:</strong> Trying to persuade Dr. Douglass<br><strong>Tagging:</strong> Dr. Douglass<br><hr><br>Alyssa hurried over to Dr. Douglass as she was preparing to leave. "Yes, I will, of course," she said. "I would be delighted. But please, not now. You agreed, to stay here, and now, I must go. The beast that attacked these people I know, it will still be roaming out there. I must go and find it and stop it for good. Once I'm done, I will return. Then you can show me these cave of yours, or anything else you want." Her eyes were filled with worry as she looked at the woman. "I won't be long, so stay here until then? Please?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - Mount Shasta (IC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Eliza</strong> on <strong>01-10-2020, 03:31:14</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-size: 20pt;" class="bbc_size">Keeper Post</span><br><hr><strong>Location:</strong> Amethyst Shack<br><br>Dr. Douglass was surprised at the gesture and remembered the very reason Alyssa agreed to come inside the shack. "You're right. And it seems you're quite capable. More than me," she said, stepping aside to let Alyssa exit the shack. "You go on now."<br><br>When Alyssa stepped outside, Jesse would be nowhere to be found. There wouldn't even be a sound to be heard, as the scuffle that had happened was finished before Alyssa exited the shack.<br><br><hr><br><em>Hunters permitted to reply to this post:</em> Alyssa Strum
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - Mount Shasta (IC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>c0i9z</strong> on <strong>02-10-2020, 02:11:42</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/Yg0EHpF.jpg)</div><strong>Hunter:</strong> Alyssa Sturm<br><strong>Wearing:</strong> Pictured, but not holding a shield.<br><strong>Location:</strong> Outside Amethyst Shack, Mount Shasta<br><strong>Current Action:</strong> Getting back on the trail<br><strong>Tagging:</strong> Dr. Douglass<br><hr><br>Sure, Alyssa had insisted that she she would go find the dog-creature once more. but the question was how? The man was gone now, for better or worse, and there were no obvious clues around. Especially as she hadn't heard the screams that Jesse had. Reasoning that the creature couldn't have gone back without them noticing, she chose to follow the one clue she had left: the trail it had left behind. She returned to it and followed it carefully, then continued in the direction in which it was heading, even to the rock face, if necessary. There had to be something here. Creatures didn't just vanish. Well, some did, but this didn't seem like one of those.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - Mount Shasta (IC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Eliza</strong> on <strong>02-10-2020, 12:32:09</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-size: 20pt;" class="bbc_size">Keeper Post</span><br><hr><strong>Location:</strong> Mt. Shasta Forest<br><br>Through due diligence, Alyssa would find at the end of the trail of dog prints was a single set of footprints, larger than Dr. Douglass's sandals. It was very subtle and could have been missed by anybody, since the ground there was less muddy and more like dry earth. The footprints would lead to the rock face of course and eventually lead back into the brush. Once out of the brush, she'd end up in a small clearing and sitting in the forest floor was a an olive hat with a brim all around the center, with a string that enable the wearer to hang it from their neck. Also with the hat was a radio, that occasionally chirped with a voice.<br><br>"Ranger Raines. Give me a status report of that trail you found," the voice said. It was a male's voice. "Megan! Don't make me come in there after you!"<br><br><hr><br><em>Hunters permitted to reply to this post:</em> Alyssa Strum
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - Mount Shasta (IC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>c0i9z</strong> on <strong>03-10-2020, 01:30:49</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/Yg0EHpF.jpg)</div><strong>Hunter:</strong> Alyssa Sturm<br><strong>Wearing:</strong> Pictured, but not holding a shield.<br><strong>Location:</strong> Clearing, Mount Shasta<br><strong>Current Action:</strong> Talking with mysterious radio voice<br><strong>Tagging:</strong> Mysterious radio voice<br><hr><br>Alyssa dutifully followed the trail once she had found it once more, though it strangely seemed to have become bigger? Well, that didn't matter for now. She had to keep going, though the brush or wherever else it might take her. At least, that had been her intention, but she did freeze when she saw the inauspicious signs she saw in the clearing, the abandoned radio and hat. It was only for a moment, however, before she rushed to pick up the receiver. "Hello? Hello?" She asked into it. "I found this radio abandoned on the ground, right now. My name is Alyssa Sturm and I'm on the trail of a dangerous beast. Whoever this Ranger Raines is, I fear that she might be in danger!"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - Mount Shasta (IC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Eliza</strong> on <strong>03-10-2020, 04:23:28</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-size: 20pt;" class="bbc_size">Keeper Post</span><br><hr><strong>Time Approx:</strong> 2:15pm<br><strong>Location:</strong> Vortex Campground, outside main tent<br><br>While events had been happening elsewhere, progress had been made, albeit slowly, at the Vortex Campground. The sheriff of Siskiyou County, a tall man in his 50's, was casually conversing a shorter, Hispanic man dressed in a Park Ranger uniform, when the ranger's radio chirped with an unfamiliar voice. About ten minutes earlier, the Ranger had asked one of his personnel to take a stroll down one of the trails to help the officers find a dog of some sort that disappeared into the forest towards Mt. Shasta. Did Ranger Raines actually caught up with this beast and had a deadly encounter with it, causing her to drop her radio in the process. This was news to the slow progress they had been getting in the campground, as an investigator was finding little clues in the gruesome scene inside of the main tent. He just had to stay calm and maybe use this random person using Ranger Raines' radio as an unlikely helping hand.<br><br>"It's Alyssa, right? I'm Park Warden Carlos Manna, serving the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. Did you see any sign of Ranger Raines? And where did you find her radio exactly?" he replied into his own radio.<br><br><hr><br><em>Hunters permitted to reply to this post:</em> Alyssa Strum, Brook
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - Mount Shasta (IC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>c0i9z</strong> on <strong>03-10-2020, 17:01:30</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/Yg0EHpF.jpg)</div><strong>Hunter:</strong> Alyssa Sturm<br><strong>Wearing:</strong> Pictured, but not holding a shield.<br><strong>Location:</strong> Clearing, Mount Shasta<br><strong>Current Action:</strong> Talking with mysterious radio voice<br><strong>Tagging:</strong> Carlos Manna<br><hr><br>"I'm now in a clearing about 2 miles from the Quartz Valley RV Park. There was a plaque that&nbsp; said Mt. Shasta Mountain Trail and Vortex Campground and a large cliff with some images on it. All I've seen here are a hat and this radio, though I've not searched the area as I responded to your call as soon as I heard it." She looked around herself to see if she could find more.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - Mount Shasta (IC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Eliza</strong> on <strong>08-10-2020, 09:35:29</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-size: 20pt;" class="bbc_size">Keeper Post</span><br><hr><br>Despite it being a clearing, in the thick of the forest, it was more like a game trail, a pathway blazed by the woodland creatures like predator and prey alike. So there wasn't much to see that was easily visible to Alyssa. However, one step down this slight slope of the trail, she would find a bear trap. It wasn't any danger to her, since it had been trigger by something else, but if it was primed and open, one more step and it could have meant injuring herself.<br><br>Upon closer inspection of this trap, in the teeth of the clamped jaws, there would be strips of white fabric. It also had a bit of blood soaked into the ends of it. The feeling of this fabric was more like material that would make up a pair of pants rather than a shirt, so it would seem someone or something clothes in white pants had mistakenly stepped into the trap and in order to remove it, some of the fabric of its pants would have ripped.<br><br>The voice of the Park Warden chirped into the radio again, "Alyssa. Did you find anything? A clue perhaps?"<br><br><hr><br><em>Hunters permitted to reply to this post:</em> Alyssa Sturm
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - Mount Shasta (IC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>HazySky</strong> on <strong>08-10-2020, 14:17:02</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/f/f4/Brian-taylor-gunslinger.jpg)</div><strong>Hunter:</strong> Jesse, the Summoned Dark. <br><strong>Wearing:</strong> The usual. <br><strong>Location:</strong> The woods. <br><strong>Current Action:</strong> Facing off. <br><strong>Tagging:</strong> Unknown stranger. A mighty suspicious person. <br><hr><br>The path brought him down into contact with a woman who was not the Officer of the Law who had just given him such a hard time, but who had the same face as her, which was odd. Jesse was just ruminating on this point a little and deciding how to respond and wasn't particularly listening to what she had to when the sound of footsteps behind him caused him to whirl round. Too late. He felt the cold of the steel slice thigh his calf. It didn't exactly hurt, he could sure as heck feel it and it would slow him down, but he was more angry than in agony. <br><br>"You fucking..." His hand went to his gun and he tried to smash the butt of his gun into his attackers face, but his weakened leg made him stumble as his weight shifted and the attacker evaded easily, slashing at Jesse's chest, the blow probably aimed at his throat. Jesse's off hand came up and grabbed at the man's throat. He gasped and spluttered, the slash across Jesse's chest knitting closed like it had never been there.<br><br>"Shouldn't have done that boy. I'll God damned kill you for this." Jesse snarled, his eyes black as night.<br>"Vengeance... The blood cries out... Darkness answers..." His voice dropping to base growl. The man struggled and squirmed, dropping his knife and kicking at Jesse's wounded leg. Jesse flinched and growled, but the man squirmed and kicked and tore away, gasping, horribly pale. He grabbed his knife, snarled, spat on the floor and ran blindly into the woods. Jesse swore and raising his revolver fired twice into the brush, but his bullets hit nothing.<br><br>"Son of bitch." He swore, flicking the revolver open, dumping he two spent rounds and replacing them before closing the cylinder and holstering his piece.<br><br>"Next time. You won't get away from my grip. I have all the time in the world to find you and take the debt." He muttered and turned back to the path. He couldn't follow at a decent place with his leg like this. He needed time to rest and let the Dark do its work and knit him together again. There would be another crossing of paths with his attacker and the man would not escape a second time. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - Mount Shasta (IC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Eliza</strong> on <strong>09-10-2020, 11:00:22</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-size: 20pt;" class="bbc_size">Keeper Post</span><br><hr><br>The two shots that Jesse rang out, mostly from frustration, would echo above the canopy of the trees. Alyssa would definitely hear it as she was close. If she followed the source of those shots, she would easily find herself meeting with the path that Jesse had followed. And there would be no more traps like the one she had just found. If Alyssa was about to respond to the Park Warden over the radio and she had her finger pressing on the button, the gunshots would be heard over the radio, alerting the Park Warden and the Sheriff of something happening in the woods. Could it be this Prophet they were looking for? The park rangers cordoning off a perimeter around the Vortex Campground wouldn't hear much, due to their distance to the events happening up the trail, but Joanna, the tattooed woman with the rangers. was for some reason, able to hear the gunshots clearly and she showed concerned for the park ranger sent to investigate the trail. Hopefully, she was alright.<br><br>The park ranger with Jesse was unharmed, but she just witnessed a cowboy-looking man having a little tussle with a crazed madman dressed in white and wielding a knife. She didn't dare interrupt the scuffle, which was thankfully short. The man in the duster seemed to have received injuries, but somehow he was unfazed. What he was in fact was enraged that he was attacked by this person, who swiftly disappeared into the wood below. Was this the Prophet they were looking for? she thought.<br><br>"Damn, what <em>are</em> you, mister?" the park ranger asked, content with keeping her distance from the man. Her gut reaction would be to try to do first aid on the man, but she neither had any equipment to do so nor did she want to invade this man's space after such a short battle.<br><br>Meanwhile, still in the wood, the radio would chirp with the Park Warden's voice. "Alyssa! Alyssa! What were those noises? Were they gunshots?"<br><br>Since the area was calmer and quieter, the park ranger was able to hear something in the brush and she called out to the unknown presence in the wood. "Hello! Whoever's there, we mean you no harm, I think..." she said, trailing off knowing that the man before her was still holding his gun, even replacing the spent bullets with new ones.<br><br><hr><br><em>Hunters permitted to reply to this post:</em> Alyssa Sturm, Jesse, Brook
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - Mount Shasta (IC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>c0i9z</strong> on <strong>10-10-2020, 02:16:31</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/Yg0EHpF.jpg)</div><strong>Hunter:</strong> Alyssa Sturm<br><strong>Wearing:</strong> Pictured, but not holding a shield.<br><strong>Location:</strong> Clearing, Mount Shasta<br><strong>Current Action:</strong> Following the gunshots<br><strong>Tagging:</strong> Jesse, Carlos Manna<br><hr><br>"Yes, I found something. A bear trap. There's white pants with blood on them. It seems like someone go caught by..." The shots rang out. Alyssa looked in their direction. "Yes, I believe that they are. And I might hazard a guess as to what their source was. In either case, I believe that my path is now clear," she said into the radio. <br><br>Going from kneeling to a trot, then to a run, Alyssa switched the radio to her other hand so that she could pull out her mace. Gunshots meant trouble and, while she was the sort of person to run towards trouble, she wasn't the sort to do so unarmed. At least, not eagerly.<br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - Mount Shasta (IC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>HazySky</strong> on <strong>13-10-2020, 21:14:02</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/f/f4/Brian-taylor-gunslinger.jpg)</div><strong>Hunter:</strong> Jesse, the Summoned Dark. <br><strong>Wearing:</strong> The usual. <br><strong>Location:</strong> The woods. <br><strong>Current Action:</strong> Facing off. <br><strong>Tagging:</strong> Unknown stranger. A mighty suspicious person. <br><hr><br>Jesse wasn't really paying the woman any attention at all. The briefest of glances had told him she was neither a threat nor a quarry and he or perhaps it was they at this moment, were not particularly interested in her as a result. He had noticed she shared the same features as the Officer of the Law from earlier, but he'd seen a lot of people with a lot of faces. Two people with the same face was nothing on the scales of things he'd seen over the years. The fight was over and the blood or whatever it was that ran in his veins was stiller now and he did hear when she spoke to him. <br><br>"What am I? The hell kind of a question is that?" He said with a dismissive chuckle. <br><br>"I'm a licensed bounty hunter. I'm tailing a couple of skips that are out of their minds in these here woods. Pills or liquor or both most likely." He lied.<br><br>"Best you make yourself scarce. You've seen their not in the mood to play nice. I'd hate for you to get hurt and not get home to your folks at the end of the day." He said, which was a half truth. He mostly just wanted her gone so there would be no witnesses, but there was nothing to be gained from her getting hurt or used as a hostage either. <br><br>"Tell your friend you got an escort out of the woods and to get everyone else out of the woods. I got someone else working this with me. A girl who is as strange as I am. Might be talkin' a bunch of high and might nonsense. We'll get this mess cleared up and be on our way." He said, walking towards her, his leg clearly hurt, from the way he leaned on it, but without his face twitching or going pale from any pain. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - Mount Shasta (IC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Eliza</strong> on <strong>15-10-2020, 12:20:38</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-size: 20pt;" class="bbc_size">Keeper Post</span><br><hr><em>Location: Trail between Amethyst Shack and Vortex Campground</em><br><br>The ranger standing in front of Jesse found it awkward that she asked such a question and it was probably the fright from the attacking man in white that enabled her to ask the question in that manner. It was pure reaction and her words made her guilty she even used them as a question. She considered his words. Bounty hunter, eh? It did explain the clothes a bit, since she had watched a couple episodes of Dog the Bounty Hunter and the flashy uniforms he and his crew wear while on duty. His lie about tailing some bounties that are wrecking havoc in the woods was not caught by the ranger, who took it as vital information. It made sense and she didn't dare question him about it. Nor did she get in his way as he started walking, down the trail towards the Vortex Campground.<br><br>As soon as he started walking, there was a rustle in the brush, coming from up the trail towards the shack of the crazy vortex lady. She was surprised to see a young woman, her dress almost as unusual as the bounty hunter she encountered, holding her radio in her left hand and a realistic blunt weapon in her right. She looked ready to fight and out of her surprise, the ranger fell back. "Shit, mister. You weren't kidding. Hey, calm down miss. Fight's over. If you're wondering, the guy who attacked your friend jetted into the woods," the ranger said, hands stretched up towards the armed woman, beckoning her to stop in her tracks. "I see you found my radio. Can I get it so I can tell my boss I'm fine?"<br><br>The young woman didn't look like she was calm enough to trust in a stranger's word and she still held the mace in her right hand while reaching her left towards the ranger and placing the radio in the ranger's waiting palm. At once, she pressed the button on the radio and spoke into the device. "Carlos? This is Megan. I'm okay. I'm not hurt or anything. But you may want to tell the Sheriff that your suspect, the Prophet, is on the loose out here. I ran into a bounty hunter and his partner, who looked to be on pursuit of this guy. He cut into the bounty hunter with a knife, but it looks like he'll live, I hope. He didn't catch the guy. He got loose and ran in the direction towards the town, so i suggest you tell the Sheriff to set up some checkpoints, just in case."<br><br><em>Location: Vortex Campground</em><br><br>The Park Warden was relieved to hear Ranger Raines' voice again and put up the volume on his radio so that the Sheriff and those within earshot could hear. It was so loud that even the rangers and the tattooed woman at the roadblock at the entrance could hear faint details. "Alright, Ranger Raines, you done your job well. Get yourself back to the campground and I'll have the Sheriff position his men more near the town center."<br><br>The Sheriff gathered his men and briefed them on the information given by Ranger Raines. The majority of the police force at the campground would leave to set up checkpoints on all the major streets between the campground and the town. A single detective (http://digitalspyuk.cdnds.net/17/30/1280x640/landscape-1500907625-supernatural-season-12-misha-collins-castiel.jpg) would stay at the campground to investigate the site further, see if there was anything left unchecked. There was no sign of the owner of the campground, but maybe one of the checkpoints set up by the county police would catch him fleeing.<br><br>The tattooed woman listened to the radio and she wondered... a bounty hunter? Could it be?<br><br><em>Location:Trail between Amethyst Shack and Vortex Campground</em><br><br>Megan got up to her feet and called out to Jesse. "Guess I'm following you for the time being. If you're headed to Vortex Campground, we could use the help and two more pairs of eyes. There had been a homicide over there, but that's all I'm supposed to tell you. I don't think you're quite interested in dead people, being a bounty hunter and all," she said, following after Jesse. She looked behind her to the mace-wielding young woman and she gave her a kind expression. If she was this guy's partner, wouldn't she be following him? She wasn't going to order her to come along as she knew people got that a lot from her deputy sister.<br><br><hr><br><em>Hunters permitted to reply to this post:</em> Alyssa Sturm, Jesse, Brook
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - Mount Shasta (IC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>c0i9z</strong> on <strong>16-10-2020, 02:30:29</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/Yg0EHpF.jpg)</div><strong>Hunter:</strong> Alyssa Sturm<br><strong>Wearing:</strong> Pictured, but not holding a shield.<br><strong>Location:</strong> Clearing, Mount Shasta<br><strong>Current Action:</strong> Following the gunshots<br><strong>Tagging:</strong> Jesse, Megan<br><hr><br>Alyssa was surprised at how little trouble there seemed to be once she arrived. "I heard shots! Is there...?" She looked around and noticed Jesse. "Oh, it's you again. Did you find the dog? Was that what the shots were for?" She was surprised, even more, at having found the woman so suddenly. "Oh, is this yours?" she asked, handing the radio over. "I found it and your hat, I believe, further that way. As well a a trap. Are you alright?" She crouched to look at the woman's leg. She had been caught in a trap, she would have been severely, and very obviously injured. Or, at least, Alyssa guessed as much.<br><br>"Oh, I'm not this man's partner, or anything of the sort," Alyssa protested as she stood once more. "I've only barely met him today. And for the small time he's accompanied me, he's hardly been the friendly sort. But more importantly," She started following along with Megan, more out of a need to keep up with her as she talked than, apparently any particular desire to keep Jesse's company. "Have you seen a strange sort of dog? He's attacked some people that have offered be help earlier and I worry that it will do the same again of left unchallenged."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - Mount Shasta (IC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>HazySky</strong> on <strong>22-10-2020, 15:36:50</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/f/f4/Brian-taylor-gunslinger.jpg)</div><strong>Hunter:</strong> Jesse, the Summoned Dark. <br><strong>Wearing:</strong> The usual. <br><strong>Location:</strong> The woods. <br><strong>Current Action:</strong> Facing off. <br><strong>Tagging:</strong> Unknown stranger. A mighty suspicious person. <br><hr><br>"It's not a damn dog." Jesse snapped somewhat testily. "I found our friend and he's got himself a knife. Forced me to draw, but he's a slippery one and the brush ate up my shots. Next time he won't be so lucky." <br>He glanced at the Ranger as she spoke into the radio.<br><br>"My advice is tell them to shoot first and ask questions later if they see anyone lookin' like our guy. He's a killer. I should know. Guns, armour, the badge won't mean nothin' to him. Kill him." He advised. <br><br>He could feel the horrible itching and tingling as the slice in his leg closed up. It was like Fire Ants, but worse. The pants were shredded of course and there was nothing to be done about the drying blood on his leg until he could clean it up, but the Dark was strong and nothing kept him down for long. Now he would be able to continue the hunt like nothing had ever happened. Keeping the Ranger and her radio around might be beneficial. The fact it also kept the Ranger safer didn't really figure too far in his thinking, but was briefly acknowledged.<br><br>"I think you better stick with us ma'am. Can't be wandering around on your own with a crazed man with a knife out there. Not until he's stopped." Jesse said. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - Mount Shasta (IC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>c0i9z</strong> on <strong>23-10-2020, 01:52:41</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/Yg0EHpF.jpg)</div><strong>Hunter:</strong> Alyssa Sturm<br><strong>Wearing:</strong> Pictured, but not holding a shield.<br><strong>Location:</strong> Clearing, Mount Shasta<br><strong>Current Action:</strong> Following along<br><strong>Tagging:</strong> Jesse, Megan<br><hr><br>"Yes, yes, I know, of course. But it looks like a dog, does it not? And we must have some way to refer to it," Alyssa replied. She wondered about the cloth. Obviously, Megan hadn't been the one caught in the trap and it couldn't have been the woman at the cabin. So would could it have been? "Megan, have you seen someone else while you were on the way here? Someone who was wearing white pants, perhaps?" The coincidence was strange, that the sprung trap was right next to her fallen radio without being her that had been caught in it.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - Mount Shasta (IC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Eliza</strong> on <strong>29-10-2020, 11:50:45</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-size: 20pt;" class="bbc_size">Keeper Post</span><br><hr><em>Location: Trail leading to Vortex Campgrounds</em><br><br>Megan was already done speaking into her radio when Jesse added his advice. She didn't try to relay his suggestion, as she thought, who would take the advice of some stranger who looked like he time-traveled from the Old West, much less heed the messenger's words when the messenger was but a humble park ranger? Megan deduced it would take a lot more to convince the Sheriff and his men to drop defensive and preventative actions and go straight into an offensive stance.<br><br>"I think you're right. Us rangers don't get guns while out on patrol. If we ever need to bring one, it's to take down an invasive animal or scare off a predator, like a wolf or a bear," Megan said, agreeing with Jesse's suggestion to stick with the odd pair. "White pants? That man who attacked your friend was dressed in white. I didn't observe closely, but I guess he was wearing white pants. He kinda looks like the members of this cult who have been staying at the campgrounds, which is where we're heading to right now."<br><br><em>Location: Vortex Campgrounds</em><br><br>The trail did eventually lead to the campgrounds. Thick forest opened up to several clearings, each occupied with groupings of three to five bell-shaped canvas tents. The campground had a gradual slope, with the tents occupying the higher plots, the larger tent used for worship gatherings somewhat in the middle, which also had the more lavish accommodations of a single modern RV parked nearby, and the lower sections occupied by cabin-like dwellings, which most likely contained the front offices and other facilities, like a public restroom, if a place as old as this still had running water.<br><br>It's around two-thirty in the afternoon when Jesse, Alyssa and Megan arrive at the northwestern edge of the Vortex Campgrounds. At this entry point, they have a vantage point overlooking the campgrounds. Their entrance hasn't been noticed by the occupants of the grounds at this time. The cult members dressed in varying outfits of white are casually (or cautiously) spending the afternoon lounging in their tents or immersed in private conversations outside of them. With news that the assailant known as The Prophet was seen heading toward the City of Mount Shasta, most are relieved, but some are still wary of the mysteries the forest surrounding the grounds hold.<br><br>There is not a police officer in sight, save for a man dressed in a beige trenchcoat, who is currently on the phone, but Jesse and Alyssa are too far to hear what the call is about. There a couple park rangers on patrol, most likely to replace the police officers investigating the crime scene, which is in the process of being cleaned up by CSI. Out near the entrance, a large olive camper truck is parked right outside the police barricade, where a pair of women and a pair of male park rangers are standing.<br><br><hr><br><em>Hunters permitted to reply to this post:</em> Alyssa Sturm, Jesse, Brook
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - Mount Shasta (IC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Eliza</strong> on <strong>01-11-2020, 11:10:44</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-size: 20pt;" class="bbc_size">Keeper Post</span><br><hr><em>Location: Somewhere in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest<br>Time: Around 2:00PM<br><br>A tent had been set up in a clearing some distance north of the RV Park. There was no one around. It was as wild as the wilderness got. No facilities to relieve yourself. The closest source of ready-made food was about two miles away. Cell reception was adequate, but internet was non-existent. Everything was pretty much out in the open, but had the privacy that being in the middle of nowhere could provide.<br><br>The tent was the kind that was bisected by an interior curtain. In one end came the primal sounds of humans mating. They could be as loud as they wanted to be out here and would only be beaten by the roars of a bear, but the groans and grunting would probably scare one off. Behind the opaque panels of the tent, a man with a handheld video camera was documenting how well his cock penetrated the ass of the woman below him, positioned in a doggystyle pose. Behind the interior curtain of the tent, was another woman who held a secret with her. Little did she know, events in and around the town would stir that secret into the light.<br><br>For now, Ashlee Roxxx, rising pornstar, was left to chill in the warmth of her tent for the next few, moments. Those moments to herself would soon be cut short by a loud crack outside the tent. It was loud enough to disturb the scene going on in the opposite side of the tent.<br><br>"What the fuck was that?" the other woman said. To the occupants of the tent, the crack sounded like a tree had fallen nearby.<br><br></em><hr><br><em>Hunters permitted to reply to this post:</em> Ashlee Roxxx
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - Mount Shasta (IC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>c0i9z</strong> on <strong>04-11-2020, 01:12:18</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/Yg0EHpF.jpg)</div><strong>Hunter:</strong> Alyssa Sturm<br><strong>Wearing:</strong> Pictured, but not holding a shield.<br><strong>Location:</strong> Vortex Campgrounds<br><strong>Current Action:</strong> Praying<br><strong>Tagging:</strong> The Goddess<br><hr><br>Now that there was a moment of calm, Alyssa decided that it was a good time to go consult with her goddess, seeking guidance for the trials ahead. Of course, she realized that most people found that sort of thing strange, so she excused herself from her companions for a moment, heading towards a free spot. "Goddess? Greetings, it's me, Alyssa." The Goddess was always with her, of course, so there was no reason to choose a specific direction to speak towards. "Once more, I find myself troubled, my path unclear. Please, speak to me. Tell me how I should serve you." she said, receiving nothing back but a strange, enigmatic sentence. "There is a Prophet who is false and one that is true.... (static) ... RV." <br><br>"Goddess? Are you troubled? I'm having difficulty understanding you," Alyssa said. But there was nothing more forthcoming. "I... understand, Goddess. I will go to the RV," she added before heading in that direction.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - Mount Shasta (IC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Eliza</strong> on <strong>06-11-2020, 10:05:05</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-size: 20pt;" class="bbc_size">Keeper Post</span><br><hr><em>Location: Vortex Campgrounds</em><br><br>Once they had made it to the Vortex Campgrounds, Megan wasted no time and descended the steps down towards the large tent that was erected in the center of the plot. The Park Warden was relieved to see one of his park ranger unharmed, but he noticed that she had come down alone. Last time he had spoken to her on the radio&nbsp; she had been with two others. "Megan? You said that you found a couple of people on your way back? Where are they?" the Warden asked.<br><br>"I may have left them up on the ridge, near the trailhead," she said, glancing behind her and seemingly out of breath, she pointed up the hill. Due to the thick brush at the trailhead, it was hard to see or make out any figures from down below, but it gave anyone posted up thread the advantage of remaining hidden while given them an excellent vantage point. "But it's okay. They mean no one any harm, except anyone who might try to attack. I think they said they were bounty hunters."<br><br>"Alright. Might be best to let your fellow rangers here know everything there is to know about them, for everyone's safety," the Warden suggested and gestured her off to tell the other rangers.<br><br>The path to the RV was clear and devoid of anyone belonging to the Shasta-Trinity National Forest Service, law enforcement, or this cult taking residence in this campground. Better yet, there was no sign of this dog that Alyssa and Jesse had been pursuing. The RV was quite modern and was almost as twice as big as the Ash's Winnebago.<br><br><hr><br><em>Hunters permitted to reply to this post:</em> Alyssa Sturm, Jesse
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - Mount Shasta (IC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>DummieBlondie</strong> on <strong>06-11-2020, 15:14:23</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(https://tubsexer.com/contents/albums/sources/75000/75891/1078671.jpg)</div><strong>Hunter:</strong> Ashle Roxxx (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=324878.msg15642522#msg15642522)<br><strong>Wearing:</strong> "Pictured"<br><strong>Location:</strong> Somewhere in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest<br><strong>Current Action:</strong> wandering around to see if she could find anything about the cracking sound she just heard.<br><strong>Tagging:</strong> the other two, who came with her to record some movies.<br><hr><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;" class="bbc_font"><span style="font-size: 11pt;" class="bbc_size">Ashlee was relaxing on the other side of the tent while the other two she came to shoot a few outdoor movies were busy with a boy-girl anal scene. Even if her lust was rising because of the constant moaning coming from the other side, Ashlee could able to hold herself from joining them. Because she knew she was going to be starring in the next scene.</span></span></div><br><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;" class="bbc_font"><span style="font-size: 11pt;" class="bbc_size">When a sudden big cracking sound came out, Ashlee to jump on her camping bed as it also freaked out the other two who were casually filming a scene too. Ashlee slowly and nervously stood up from her bed and put her black sneakers on before going near the other two. <strong>“Like, what the fuck was that? I hope that it was not a bear or another scary thing?” </strong>The other girl looked back to Ashlee with empty eyes in response. That made sure she had no idea about the reason for the sound. While the guy just seemed like he didn’t give any shits about it. He was only annoyed because whatever it was, it just interrupted his enjoyment. <strong>“Gosh, guys, we are not in a villa in LA right now. We should be careful and stuff…”</strong> Ashlee rolled her eyes before going out of the tent.</span></span></div><br><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;" class="bbc_font"><span style="font-size: 11pt;" class="bbc_size">Ashlee stood in from of their tent. She looked around to see if anything was going on near their camp, which was at a small campsite. Ashlee decided to wander around to see if she could find anything when she was unable to see anything out of the ordinary around the camp. Because of the lust building up as well as the excitement of her little fun exploration, Ashlee was lost in thoughts more than she should be and wasn’t looking around most of the time.&nbsp; </span></span></div><br><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;" class="bbc_font"><span style="font-size: 11pt;" class="bbc_size">Even if she can't find out anything while walking around. There was a constant feeling that she was being watched. She even spun around several times to see if something was watching her. But she couldn't see anyone or anything. However, somehow deep down Ashlee knew that something was watching her. <strong>“Don't be silly about it, Ashlee. There is nothing here watching you.”</strong> She talked to herself quietly.</span></span></div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - Mount Shasta (IC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Eliza</strong> on <strong>07-11-2020, 11:56:28</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-size: 20pt;" class="bbc_size">Keeper Post</span><br><hr><em>Location: Somewhere in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest</em><br><br>"Fuck!" the man said as he filmed his still-erect cock popping out of the tight asshole of the woman below him. The woman was frightened by the loud crash outside of the tent and judging from the pissed-off expression on the man's face, something like a tree falling out in the woods was the least of his concerns. "Kristine (https://i.pinimg.com/originals/59/c6/63/59c663ce3e22980c154c017995051d9d.jpg)! I was just about to--" he trailed off as Ashelee entered from her side of the tent, her sneakers already on her feet.<br><br>"That sounded like a tree falling down, Adrian (https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMWZmZjMyMzUtYTZiMi00Njg4LWE5ZTctNjlhN2UzNTc3NGFhXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNDUzOTQ5MjY@._V1_UY1200_CR130,0,630,1200_AL_.jpg)!" Kristine said, cowering at the other side of the tent, She made no move to put some pants on, knowing that the videographer didn't like when a scene was interrupted, much less preventing him from cumming.<br><br>"I know you're going to hate me, but we have to start from the very beginning. I'm already fucking flaccid, Kristine," Adrian said, not concerned with the other actress making her way outside the tent.<br><br>Outside, there was nothing amiss and it looked like a very natural clearing in the woods. There was a fallen tree, but it had been in that position for much longer than they have been there. This was evident with the amount of wild mushrooms growing from its rotting trunk.<br><br>The figure watched from behind a tree, which was conveniently behind another tree and another tree. Ashlee's watcher moved from tree to tree, drawing closer to the pretty blonde standing outside the modern tent without Ashlee knowing or detecting anything. She had moved behind Ashlee as she stood there, seemingly lost in her thoughts. The person behind her answered, almost as if she was making a comment on Ashlee's last thought. "On the contrary, there are many things watching you. I am one of them," the voice said suddenly. Ashlee would have heard the voice as if it was uttered at an intimate distance next to her ear, which could easily cause her to be startled and turn to face the stranger rather quickly.<br><br>Before her, there stood a woman, dressed in a tie-dye tanktop and baggy cargo pants. Strapped to her person was a large mountaineering backpack, adorned with wrapped bundles of rope and carabiners on its exterior. The woman casually and effortlessly carried a large tree branch in one hand, draping it over her shoulder as if it had been a baton. "That was a close one, don't you think? If I had not been here at the right time, this branch would have crushed you and your friends in your little tent. I think firefighters refer to this as a 'Widowmaker.' If one is not careful, one of these could fall on someone, especially someone's husband, hence the name." With a flick of her wrist, the mysterious woman nonchalantly tossed the large branch aside, making a similar sound to the first,<br><br>The sound caused Kristine to poke her head out of the tent, but by the time Ashlee looked to her fellow actress, she'd find Kristine was somehow frozen on the spot, as if someone had stopped time. If Ashlee looked back to the woman, she'd witness that one, she was unaffected, and two, that the time freeze was done by the stranger, who had done so with a simply snap of her fingers. This same woman also had a wicked smile on her face.<br><br><hr><br><em>Hunters permitted to reply to this post:</em> Ashlee Roxxx
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - Mount Shasta (IC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>c0i9z</strong> on <strong>17-11-2020, 02:08:00</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/Yg0EHpF.jpg)</div><strong>Hunter:</strong> Alyssa Sturm<br><strong>Wearing:</strong> Pictured, but not holding a shield.<br><strong>Location:</strong> Vortex Campgrounds<br><strong>Current Action:</strong> Looking around<br><strong>Tagging:</strong> None<br><hr><br>Alyssa confidently followed the path to the RV, looking around for any sign of why her goddess would send her there. There had been rare trouble with talking to her, but she had never steered Alyssa wrong before. Except... there had been that thing with the toilet paper, that had taken her away from the people she had needed to protect... But, no. There was a reason for that too, surely. There just had to be.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - Mount Shasta (IC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Eliza</strong> on <strong>18-11-2020, 12:45:58</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-size: 20pt;" class="bbc_size">Keeper Post</span><br><hr><em>Location: Vortex Campgrounds, near RV</em><br><br>Once near the RV that the voice of her Goddess had pointed her towards, Alyssa would find the place devoid of any sign of the attack that was mentioned, happened earlier, not too long ago. Ifshe had been here around that time, she'd have a hard time sneaking past the pairs of armed police officers, much less in her current outfit. Now, there was no one around. She could hear conversations, but seemed to low and far away to pick up, giving her a sense she was utterly alone.<br><br>That is, save for a bang she hears when nearing the side door of the RV. The quality of the sound makes it seem it coming from inside the large vehicle. Following the bang, she could hear muffled the moans of either a man or a woman, but the walls of the RV make it difficult to determine which gender the moan came from. Just what is happening inside it?<br><br>If Alyssa looks, she'll find that whatever noise she hears from inside the RV, has not been caught by anyone else around. Just her.<br><br><hr><br><em>Hunters permitted to reply to this post:</em> Alyssa Sturm
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - Mount Shasta (IC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>DummieBlondie</strong> on <strong>20-11-2020, 09:35:01</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(https://tubsexer.com/contents/albums/sources/75000/75891/1078671.jpg)</div><strong>Hunter:</strong> Ashle Roxxx (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=324878.msg15642522#msg15642522)<br><strong>Wearing:</strong> "Pictured"<br><strong>Location:</strong> Somewhere in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest<br><strong>Current Action:</strong> wandering around and talking with the stranger.<br><strong>Tagging:</strong> the stranger.<br><hr><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;" class="bbc_font"><span style="font-size: 11pt;" class="bbc_size"><br>Ashlee turned around to face who was talking to her. She knew someone was there and watching but she couldn’t guess that they were this close to her. When she saw a girl standing in front of her right now, it made her relaxed for a little bit. Even if the girl before her eyes seemed a little bit feral at the first look, a feral looking girl was still better than a psychopath murderer or a frenzied bear she thought.&nbsp; Then Ashlee realized what she was carrying on her shoulder and watched her throwing it away casually.&nbsp; &nbsp;<br><br><strong>“Widow-maker? Oh! What a cruel name for a tree. Sadly, people tend to blame others for their mistakes, right? I mean, I have been called home-wrecker too…”</strong> Suddenly while Ashlee was casually chit-chatting with the stranger like she was one of her friends, she put the pieces together in her mind.<br><br><strong>“Oh! Like you mean that you have saved our tiny tent from one of those?”</strong> Ashlee asked as she pointed toward the big tree branch the girl just threw away. <br><br><strong>“Wait for a second, did you just freeze Kristine?… or like, oh mi gosh! You just stopped time or something...”</strong> Ashlee knew that she could do weird things, yet this was the first time she was seeing another individual performing such feats. Maybe she was not alone in this weirdness department or crazy as she thought before.<br></span></span></div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - Mount Shasta (IC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>HazySky</strong> on <strong>20-11-2020, 14:17:32</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/f/f4/Brian-taylor-gunslinger.jpg)</div><strong>Hunter:</strong> Jesse, the Summoned Dark. <br><strong>Wearing:</strong> The usual. <br><strong>Location:</strong> The woods. <br><strong>Current Action:</strong> Facing off. <br><strong>Tagging:</strong> Unknown stranger. A mighty suspicious person. <br><hr><br>Jesse made his way back down the path following the Park Warden at a little bit of distance. The last thing he wanted was to be right beside her if that beast dog showed up again, or the knife wielding maniac. Better for both of them if he hung back and covered her with his gun. He wasn't exactly using her as bait, but wasn't exactly leaving her unprotected either. He wasn't sure what he was doing. She had nothing to do with this and perhaps her earnestness and concern had nudged at some long buried emotion inside him. They reached a camping ground, which must be the place the Ranger had been talking about and Jesse was vaguely pleased to see her hurry off to some to someone she seemed to know by name. A large RV stood out like a sore thumb, too big and fancy by half for the other tents and towed wagons, or trailers or whatever folks called them these days. Something about it just wasn't right and since no one was paying him any mind Jesse decided to just mozzie over and see what was what. <br><br>He moved slowly, calmly, just idly strolling, but with just enough purpose that no one would question him either towards it so as not to draw attention to himself, trying to work out which side the door was on and also taking a moment to glance at the license plate to see what little information it might tell him. A state plate would tell him where it came from and the license tag might tell him if the person who owned it was straight up and honest or openly crooked. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - Mount Shasta (IC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>c0i9z</strong> on <strong>24-11-2020, 01:31:56</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/Yg0EHpF.jpg)</div><strong>Hunter:</strong> Alyssa Sturm<br><strong>Wearing:</strong> Pictured, but not holding a shield.<br><strong>Location:</strong> Vortex Campgrounds<br><strong>Current Action:</strong> Looking around<br><strong>Tagging:</strong> None<br><hr><br>Alyssa was surprised to find that the man from before had appeared at the RV soon after her. Was this why the Goddess had sent her this way, she wondered. That was until she suddenly heard the banging and moaning from inside. She didn't hesitate and quickly started banging back, at the door. "Hey! Are you alright in there?" she called. "Do you require assistance?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - Mount Shasta (IC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Eliza</strong> on <strong>27-11-2020, 11:54:43</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-size: 20pt;" class="bbc_size">Keeper Post</span><br><hr><em>Location: Somewhere in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest</em><br><br>Ashlee was quite right when she thought the girl before her looked feral. The woman had a fierceness about her and it was evidence by the effortless picking up of the branch and then tossing it aside as if it was a simple twig. Ashlee could see a nonchalance about her too, how she did things without breaking a sweat and straining her body in any way. The young-ish woman nodded with a smile when Ashlee put the pieces together.<br><br>Ashlee could also notice, that when the woman before her snapped her fingers and stopping time,&nbsp; she could still hear the chirping of birds and the rustle of the wind against the trees. It would seem this freezing of time was more like the freezing of certain objects within a certain radius. The woman nodded at Ashlee's confirmation of this.<br><br>When the woman before her finally uttered words to speak, it was as if she knew what Ashlee was thinking of at the time. “You're different from them. You know this. I know so, for I can feel it. Such power comes great responsibility, as people say. I think you could help people, if you really wanted to,” she said. “I'm Sierra (https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/things-patrick-likes/images/7/71/Raven_Reyes.png/revision/latest?cb=20160405050002) by the way.”<br><br>Sierra turned as if noticing something in the distance. If Ashlee turned to see what the woman was looking at, she'd find nothing but forest. When Ashlee turned back to face Sierra, the mysrerious woman would be gone. Kristine was no longer frozen and would just now be emerging fully from the tent. “Ash? What the heck was that sound?” she said.<br><br>In the far distance, sirens would be heard.<br><br><hr><br><em>Hunters permitted to reply to this post:</em> Ashlee Roxxx
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - Mount Shasta (IC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Eliza</strong> on <strong>27-11-2020, 12:19:02</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-size: 20pt;" class="bbc_size">Keeper Post</span><br><hr><em>Location: Vortex Campgrounds, RV</em><br><br>While Alyssa was searching the right side of the RV, Jesse took to searching the left side. He'd find that the Rvhad the latest technology in terms of devices and amenities afforded to such a vehicle. Immediately, he'd see a panel was open, revealing gas and water lines, which provided appliances such as a kitchen sink, a gas range, and a shower endless supply of resources, enabling it to function as a house on wheels, which was very obvious. Along the side Jesse was searching, there were windows, but most were covered by curtains hung inside. There was a table underneath an unfolded awning attached to the RV, upon which were gifts of various kinds, wrapped in a variety of materials. At the end of the RV, which would be its front end, was a single door, leading to the driver's seat. If Jesse peered inside, he'd find it empty. He would start to hear the moans that Alyssa was hearing, along with creaking as the RV itself started to rock back and forth ever so subtly. Jesse would hear Alyssa banging on the other side of the RV, addressing the occupants inside if they required assistance.<br><br>Right after her question, the creaking, the banging and the moaning would stop. After a slight pause, she would hear footsteps coming to the door and the door would unlock and swing open, revealing a rather disheveled man in a white robe. The robe would be open, revealing a bare chest and a pair of patterned boxers. Looking up, Alyssa would see the face of a man with shoulder-length white hair. This man would look as if he was working out or something. If it wasn't clear what he was doing, in the next moment, it would be crystal clear. Slender hands would encircle the man's chest from behind and a voice of a woman would utter, “My Prophet, my well-endowed Prophet, please come back inside.” The face of a younger woman would appear over the man's shoulder and a look of disgust would appear on her face upon seeing a weird girl outside the door. “Who is that?”<br><br><hr><br><em>Hunters permitted to reply to this post:</em> Alyssa Sturm, Jesse
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - Mount Shasta (IC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>c0i9z</strong> on <strong>04-12-2020, 01:14:44</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/Yg0EHpF.jpg)</div><strong>Hunter:</strong> Alyssa Sturm<br><strong>Wearing:</strong> Pictured, but not holding a shield.<br><strong>Location:</strong> Vortex Campgrounds<br><strong>Current Action:</strong> Reddening<br><strong>Tagging:</strong> Prophet<br><hr><br>Alyssa's brightened at the scene in front of her. She took a step back. Then a few more. "I... I must apologize," she said. "I heard banging and muffled cries. I feared that there might be trouble. Someone who needed assistance. But I see now that there was no such need. I will... I will go now and leave you to return to your deeds." She turned and started walking away, confused as to why her goddess would have wanted her to see that. Her ways were strange, indeed, in these recent times.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - Mount Shasta (IC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>DummieBlondie</strong> on <strong>06-12-2020, 12:39:12</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(https://tubsexer.com/contents/albums/sources/75000/75891/1078671.jpg)</div><strong>Hunter:</strong> Ashle Roxxx (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=324878.msg15642522#msg15642522)<br><strong>Wearing:</strong> "Pictured"<br><strong>Location:</strong> Somewhere in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest<br><strong>Current Action:</strong> at the camping site and ready to leave.<br><strong>Tagging:</strong> Sierra, Kristine, Adrian.<br><hr><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;" class="bbc_font"><span style="font-size: 11pt;" class="bbc_size"><br>Ashlee listened to Sierra as she told her about she knew or much likely felt Ashlee's powers. She nodded and agreed with Sierra as she gave her speech about power and responsibility, which sounded like a quote from Uncle Sam's lines from spider-man. <br><br><strong>"Yea, like, I would love to help if there is anything I can do actually..."</strong> Ashlee replied to tomboy looking feral girl Sierra. <strong>"I am Ashlee, by the way. Nice to meet you, Sierra."</strong> She introduced herself too friendly. Then in mare seconds, the girl has vanished from Ashlee's sight, and everything backed to normal.<br><br>Ashlee looked over the tent and saw that Kristine was talking to her. <strong>"It seems like they are cutting down some trees or something, I am not sure. However, those giant logs are falling&nbsp; around, and I totally think that you guys need to hurry up and finish with that scene you have started."</strong> She walked back to the tent then she started packing her bags. <strong>"I am like totally serious guys, I have no intentions of getting trampled by a huge tree..."</strong><br><br>A few minutes later, Ashlee was already out of the tent as her backpack on her back and she was waiting for Kristine and Adrian. <strong>"Guys, there are siren sounds, I guess we should hurry..."</strong><br></span></span></div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - Mount Shasta (IC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>HazySky</strong> on <strong>10-12-2020, 14:22:42</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/f/f4/Brian-taylor-gunslinger.jpg)</div><strong>Hunter:</strong> Jesse, the Summoned Dark. <br><strong>Wearing:</strong> The usual. <br><strong>Location:</strong> The RV. <br><strong>Current Action:</strong> Facing off. <br><strong>Tagging:</strong> Unknown stranger. A mighty suspicious person. <br><hr><br>Jesse heard someone knocking on the door and the the voice of that strange girl again. The one with the mace and suicidal desire to save everyone, even the damned. He also judged what was going on inside had little to do with actual distress and more with the inability of most mortals to control the weaknesses and vices of their own flesh. Still it was a flaw that he would always use to his advantage and he took the opportunity to open the door, step up inside and draw his pistol. He moved slowly and carefully, staying out of their line of sight so that the first sound he made was the distinctive click of the hammer of his revolver locking back and the cylinder rotating. If they turned to look his way he would smile and touch the brim of his hat with the fingers of his left hand in a mock gesture of greeting. <br><br>"Well now. When I see a young lady with a man like that I always think to myself that it's his, uh, good looks and charm she she sees in him and her intelligent and stimulatin' conversation that he sees in her. I'm sure you both heard the hammer on my gun. So I'd suggest you both stay real nice and still. I got shanked earlier, so I'm a bit jumpy. Liable to shoot first and ask questions after in fact. Now, you folks seem real nice and I do so hate to interrupt your party, only your sweetums did just call you Prophet and there's a whole heap of dead folks down the road dressed for one of those. I'm not a believer in coincidences. So you mind explainin' who you are Prophet and why I shouldn't shoot you right where you stand?" He said quietly, his eyes cold and deep as the grave, the covering the pair, his left hand hovering over his weapon, ready to fan the hammer at the first sign of movement. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - Mount Shasta (IC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Eliza</strong> on <strong>16-12-2020, 12:12:14</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-size: 20pt;" class="bbc_size">Keeper Post</span><br><hr><em>Location: Vortex Campground, RV</em><br><br>Around the corner of the large tent that was closest to the scene that was unfolding, was the Sheriff (https://dvdbash.files.wordpress.com/2014/08/eureka-colin-ferguson-salli-richardson-whitfield-cerra-hinson-farentino-day-053-season-4-dvdbash.jpg), the Park Warden, and Ranger Raines. The Sheriff was simply surveying the scene unfold and even caught the sight of a figure entering through the driver's side door of the RV. As the commanding officer on-site, he was adamant that any enthusiastic move to intervene would meet his outstretched arm, keeping the two with him at bay. He had heard of a pair heading in the direction of the campgrounds and seeing the weird outfit the girl had on, he believed she and possibly the figure that just entered the RV were the very same. And seeing that Megan was safe and unharmed, he wasn't going to assume that the unorthodox methods and dress of the two was a clear sign of them being up to no good.<br><br>The man who was addressed as the Prophet had a bitter face when the girl walked away, but he and his maiden were frozen on the spot as they both heard the distinctive click of a gun's hammer. They both turned and continued to stand still. The young women winced and whined, not wanting to be killed today. “De-de-dead people?” The Prophet asked in confusion, stuttering a bit.<br><br>By now, outside the RV, the Sheriff quietly approached and placed Alyssa behind him as protection and he stepped closer to the open side door of the RV and caught a glimpse of the man and her maiden frozen at gunpoint. He saw the pristine, yet disheveled, white robes of the man and no evidence of blood anywhere on his person. He wasn't going to make himself known to the two just yet, lest he cause them to turn and the trigger-happy figure to unleash a couple lead bullets instead. He was just biding his time and letting the bounty hunter do his job and ask his questions.<br><br>“I-I-I don't know what you mean, Sir,” the Prophet answered. “From sun-up until now, I have been inside my accommodations and basking in this young maiden's worship.” A trickle of sweat fell from his hairline. Whether it was from the appearance of the gun before him or the slight confession of sexual innuendo, this wasn't clear.<br><br>The Sheriff had enough to go on and spoke up, even going so far to raise his hands up in the air while keeping his sidearm holstered. With a loud enough voice, he called out to Jesse. “Excuse me, mister bounty hunter with the gun. I think you got the wrong person. This Prophet isn't the same person we're looking for. Why don't we put the gun down and discuss what we know? Even better, I'll putthis man and women in custody, just in case.”<br><br><hr><br><em>Hunters permitted to reply to this post:</em> Alyssa Sturm, Jesse
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - Mount Shasta (IC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Eliza</strong> on <strong>16-12-2020, 12:40:18</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-size: 20pt;" class="bbc_size">Keeper Post</span><br><hr><em>Location: Somewhere in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest to City of Mount Shasta, Downtown area</em><br><br>Adrian removed himself from the tent shortly after Kristine did wearing nothing but a pair of tight-fitting boxers, making no effort to hide the boner that the current moment with Ashlee freaking out was making it flaccid. To say that he was annoyed was an understatement. He looked around and saw tree branches around, but thought nothing of them. Kristine was equally uninterested in them too. They saw Ashlee's state of distress and equally felt like she was ruining the mood. Adrian especially didn't like they needed to be out in the middle of nowhere. Yes, it gave off the out-with-nature vibe, but he quite liked the advances of civilization and on his phone, rented out a room at a nearby motel, one with wi-fi at least. <br><br>With an accent, Adrian protested, “You already did that police scene, Ash. Why are you listening for sirens?” Kristine and Adrian packed up the little car they rented and once the trio was inside, they drove back to the city of Mount Shasta. Along the way were police checkpoints, that only made their trip even longer than usual. The officers insisted on checking the trunk, but soon gave up after seeing it was packed to the brim with camping gear.<br><br>They got to the main stretch of road, passing by boarded up or abandoned businesses. There was one business, a Lumiere Saloon, that looked to be still accepting visitors, but it was flanked and almost surrounded by police cars. The alleyway right next to it had police tape preventing bystanders from entering into it. As Adrian drove past the Saloon, if Ashlee was glancing in the direction of it, she'd see Sierra standing next to a tall man, just outside the doors to the bar. Sierra would wave at the car happily. If Ashlee asked to stop the car and looked again towards the Saloon, she'd only see the tall man entering the building and Sierra nowhere to be found.<br><br><hr><br><em>Hunters permitted to reply to this post:</em> Ashlee Roxxx
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - Mount Shasta (IC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>HazySky</strong> on <strong>17-12-2020, 10:50:45</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/f/f4/Brian-taylor-gunslinger.jpg)</div><strong>Hunter:</strong> Jesse, the Summoned Dark. <br><strong>Wearing:</strong> The usual. <br><strong>Location:</strong> The RV. <br><strong>Current Action:</strong> Facing off. <br><strong>Tagging:</strong> Unknown stranger. <br><hr><br>Jesse never took his eyes off the so called prophet and his whore, not even when the Sheriff spoke to him and the gun in his hand remained steady and pointed towards the pair. The authority of the Sheriff was transitory, the authority of the Dark was absolute. Jesse had more respect for the man's gun than the hand that wielded it. In other situations he might defer, or stand down, but not when it came to this, the moment the Dark drew its strength from, not when it came to Vengeance. There was only two ways this would end, either he would get a straight answer that lead him down another path or the Dark would claim these two tainted ones and move on as it always did. <br><br>"Well now Sheriff, I thank you for your concern, but I'm not quite done here. I'll be right out when I'm happy with the answers I'm gettin'." He said, turning his head all of half an inch in acknowledgement that he'd been spoken to, but he did not stand down. <br>"He might not be you who are lookin' for, but I'm not convinced he's off my list yet."<br>He turned his head back to the prophet and smiled, or at least his lips parted and showed a lot of teeth. Jesse's eyes were empty desolate, cold. The Dark was barely beneath the surface now, the hiss and snarl of it crackling in his voice as he spoke. Its hunger, desire to feed drawing it out of the shadows, or perhaps it was merely making itself known, making it clear that this was the kind of situation where saying the wrong thing would definitely get you killed by something that was far from human. <br><br>"You, prophet, you didn't answer my question and I don't like that. You're sweatin' prophet. It's really very unbecomin' for a man of your stature. You're sure you're not lyin' to me? You're sure that you don't know that a whole heap, and I do mean an actual heap of people, dressed just like you are lyin' glassy eyed down the road from here? That you didn't hear all the sirens and yellin' before that? Because either your sweetums is very distractin', or very loud, or you're not tellin' me the truth. I told you what would happen if you didn't answer my questions prophet and I'm a man of my word. I will shoot you soon as look at you. So, let's try it again. Who are you? Why shouldn't I shoot you? How come you were here whorin' yourself when a bunch of folks was waitin' for you and how come you know nothin' about them being killed in cold blood? Get it off your fat, lardy sweaty chest. Tell me the truth. You'll feel much better for it." He growled.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Cascades Enigma - Mount Shasta (IC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>c0i9z</strong> on <strong>18-12-2020, 03:13:29</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/Yg0EHpF.jpg)</div><strong>Hunter:</strong> Alyssa Sturm<br><strong>Wearing:</strong> Pictured, but not holding a shield.<br><strong>Location:</strong> Vortex Campgrounds<br><strong>Current Action:</strong> Reddening<br><strong>Tagging:</strong> Jesse<br><hr><br>"Wait! Hold!" Alyssa called out, moving around the sheriff to stand between Jesse and the pair of lovers. "By the Goddess, what do you think you're doing?" she called to him. "Bad enough that you would force one to speak through such threats, but worse still, he's already answered you once. Will you truly keep asking until you receive answers you care for? It well seems that it is no truth that you're after, but any excuse to make use of this weapon you enjoy brandishing so much. And then, if you harm an innocent from it?" she shook her head. "Then, it will have been too late. But I'll say this much, to one who seems to care for nothing but violence and the threat of it." She placed her hand on the head of her mace in her belt. "Should it come to that, I and my people will see you as not better than the other forces that we must hunt. And you will be hunted and ended, then. Do not doubt this. For your sake, as well as that of the innocents that will be spared your unearned wrath."
			</dd>
		</dl>
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