[Bounty] Between Gods and Titans

[[God] - Nocturne]

Anything regarding harm to a new generation of people struck something sour with Nocturne. Between tasks she took as a god to maintain the elemental domain of Darkness, she also went to take bounties or did other things whenever she had time to herself.

She skimmed the bounty board to see what the current tasks were. The current criminals, the demands, who demanded something of them. She was concealed, dressed in a cloak of black that hid her face. A particular bounty caught her eye and a hand reached out from under the cloak, flipping a part of the cloak open to reveal an obsidian coloured dress and ebony talons on her fingers. A soft sound of metal grinding over itself sounded briefly and flickered light on obsidian tipped points at the ends of the fingers took the sheet of a bounty in a clean rip off the board.

She walked down the street, reading over any details that could be gleaned from the paper and then brought out her other hand to shred the sheet into pieces. She let go of the rest of the flyer, bits of it fluttering off in the wind on the streets. She didn't care much for money or loot, she had more than enough herself.

The goddess swiftly made her way to Storm Ridge, clouds covered the sky in a thick blanket that blocked out the sun. This place was notorious for some concoction of storms, but today was going to be one that warranted a nice soak and some tea after this was all dealt with. Who was she kidding? That was every day for her. She kept her cloak on, concealing most of her look aside from her legs poking from each step and the lower half of her face.

[Sparky]

    The cloudy weather left the world in a stagnant state of grey. A dreary breeze constantly droning through the mountains. Even now, the world seemed still and silent. Up ahead from where the God tread, smoke billowed upwards from the camp, marking it's location with a stream of black against the grey canvas. It was loosely fortified, with only a thin wall of wooden spike surrounding it. It was obviously temporary, a few scattered tents inside, with only a single man watching the "front gate." 

    Even then, the faunus's posture was... lazy. As she grew closer, voices carried themselves on the wind. Three of them, all relatively youthful sounding. Kids likely no older than their teens. Two of them seemed to be laughing at the third, mocking him for his inability to seemingly cast even a basic spell. Only bits and pieces of the conversation could be heard from the distance Nocturne was at, but it was clear that the world's lethargic aura had a similar effect upon those inside the encampment. No one was really even on guard. 

SPOILER: Click to show

Bounty Key
Weather Conditions: Cloudy; +10% shadow Damage, -10% light Damage
Enemy count: 12
Breakdown: 4 grunts, 7 intermediate, 1 boss
Lookout: 5
Bandit A: 1
Bandit B1: 2
Bandit B2: 2

[[God] - Nocturne]

Nocturne kept walking like normal but each step sunk further into the ground until she was fully submerged in shade. Her only giveaway was just being slightly darker than a regular shadow, but it didn't seem like anyone would notice, especially with such lofty security. The goddess sprung up out of the shadows, attempting to rake her talons against his throat before he could make a sound and catching the body with her other hand so there wasn't a sound as it dropped. For her own sake, she's wipe the blood off her talons on the man's clothing, didn't want to stain her end of things.

It was merely convenient for her that she would be near three relatively younger looking souls. She pressed herself against the wall out of sight, overhearing them making jabs at one that was supposedly on their side. She let out a quiet sigh. Against her better judgement, she would give the young a choice to make. Nocturne stepped around, the teens' shadows darkening and suddenly springing to life, wrapping around their owners to prevent them from moving. She wouldn't speak yet.

SPOILER: Click to show

Spell name: Shadow Travel
Spell Main Element: Dark
-Spell Sub Elements: --
Affinity Strength: 3
Function: Allows a shadow mage to step into shadows and navigate through the darkness, exiting another shadow elsewhere. This aids in quick escapes or simple ease of travel.
Availability: Open


Spell name: Shadow Latch
Spell Main Element: Darkness
-Spell Sub Elements: N/A
Affinity Strength: 3
Function: The caster sends out a shadow that grabs the target holding onto them, capturing the opponent and immobilizing them in place. Higher affinity shadow mages can unleash more at a single moment to a maximum of five. Likewise, higher affinity opponents can have an easier chance of escaping.
Availability: Open

[Sparky]

    The sentry didn't see it coming. Almost falling asleep on his feet, by the time he felt the claws on his throat, it was already too late. The faunus's eyes went wide as they were consumed by the abyss, not even given the chance to die in the light. The three sitting around the fire didn't even notice, too focused on what they were doing. The one that seemed to be taking the brunt of the other's heckling was quietly taking the verbal abuse on the chin, as he sharpened and polished various pieces of armor and weaponry. 

    Before they knew it, they were bound. The three teenagers thrashed around wildly as they found themselves unable to move, trapped by their own shadows come to life. Their eyes went wide when Nocturne stepped out, the presence of a hooded figure such as herself chilling them to the bone. The one that'd been tending to the gear was covered in various cuts and bruises, their left eye swolen shut, while the other two also had faint signs of abuse. Deep scars, and for one, a missing eye. Youth who'd either fallen in with the wrong crowd, or gotten mixed up in something they didn't understand.

    The three exchanged glances, understanding the situation they were in. If they sounded the alarm, nothing would stop the woman from ending them. But if they didn't, then something worse may come to pass. It was obvious none knew what to do, as they fearfully looked towards the woman that very well may be their demise. 

SPOILER: Click to show

Enemy - HP Remaining
A: 20
B1: 30
B2: 30

[[God] - Nocturne]

She took only a few moments to look them over, assessing their outwards appearance with the earlier remarks she heard before coming up to them. Judgement was passed, the two that seemed relatively healthy could beg for mercy, but Nocturne seemed set in her mind that they were passed the point of true redemption.

The god stepped closer, each step met with a soft clattering of plates beneath the cloak. She decided to strike them with fear personally. Talons poked out of the cloak, an arm in a black fabric sleeve concealed her pale, alabaster skin and reached up to her hood. Drawing the hood back, the rest of her face was revealed. Bangs cut with a tidy downwards chevron with its point meeting the bridge of her nose and sharp, silver eyes pierced into them revealed her identity if they knew the bare basics of the Pantheon.

Her hand slipped back into the cloak before it flashed wide open with both hands grasping the two healthier boys by the neck. Her grip grew tighter and tighter on them, strangling both until she would hear a crunch of bone beneath her claws. Despicable, they were not worth of dying to magic.

[Sparky]

    Fear turned to pure panic as the god revealed themselves. The three boys thrashed against their bindings, as Nocturne approached and settled her talons upon the "healthier" two's throats. The boys struggled desperately, muttering out quiet, desperate sobbing please. Promises that they wouldn't tell anyone. The third could only watch in helpless shock as the only sounds that came from their mouths were desperate, strangled gasps. The one eyed boy tried to wriggle away, only causing the talons to bite into flesh and draw blood. 

    The third squeezed his eyes shut, trying to turn his head away from the scene, shaking as their struggles ended with multiple, wet snaps. Moments passed, seconds that felt like an eternity. When he spoke, his voice was hoarse. Quiet. Terrified. "P...please... I-I'll do anything... p-please forgive me..."

SPOILER: Click to show

Remaining Enemy Count: 8
3 Dead, 1 Captured
Breakdown: 1 Grunt, 6 Intermediate, 1 Boss

[[God] - Nocturne]

[smear:#ac75ff]"Then stay put and silent."[/smear:#423159:1], she said in a hushed whisper. The goddess grabbed the boy by the front of his clothes and lifted him off the ground. Her expression was empty and unreadable. Based on her actions, anything was possible. Her shadow extended and she dropped the boy in there. As of right now, he was currently shrouded in a pocket of shadows, but they weren't hurting him yet. For shadows to do so would be under her command, but as far as the boy knew he was in a nightmarishly safe space.

A quick scan around and she walked into the nearest tent. There was a person in there. Unfortunate. If they weren't paying attention, she stepped in and thrust her sword into the person's back. But if they were, at least she wasn't handicapped with a 'hostage' anymore.

SPOILER: Click to show

Spell name: Underdark Banishment
Spell Main Element: Dark
-Spell Sub Elements: --
Affinity Strength: 7
Function: The user casts a shadow that takes a large area around the target. Shadows burst forth and immediately drag any targets over the shadow into a space of total darkness. The darkness within this shadow is intense enough to snuff out most light cast and will entangle the user with ragged tendrils that will proceed to decorate the user in scratches. This attack can be continued for a maximum of 5 turns, and the targets can attempt to fight the tendrils from entering the inky blackness or to escape it during this time.
Availability: Open

[Sparky]

    The boy didn't even have a chance to respond before he was consumed by an inky black void. No longer a concern, the occupant of the next tent was none the wiser to what had just transpired. He was currently sat with a book, the cover gilded with silver and gold. Way too fancy for it to be something he just happened to buy himself. 
    
    With little warning, the man jerked as a blade interrupted his reading. Now that was odd, that didn't look like one from their armory. And why was it covered in blood? Where was the handle? His expression didn't even have time to shift to one of confusion before his life left his eyes. The book clattered to the floor as the man went limp in his seat. 

SPOILER: Click to show

Remaining Enemy Count: 7

4 Dead, 1 Captured

Breakdown: 1 Grunt, 5 Intermediate, 1 Boss

[[God] - Nocturne]

A hand pressed against the man's back and she slid the blade out cleanly. Blood filled its bevels, the sword itself a blade of ebony with an outer casing of pure obsidian. A tough combination but it cut beautifully and cleanly. The man's body was caught from slumping in the similar manner of the others, caught and rested carefully on the ground to reduce noise. She looked at the book, may be something to pick up later and glance over after this little skirmish was over.

Nocturne stepped out and began to peek into another tent nearby. She'd just circle encampment until she was caught or until bodies were found. The next tent she found was empty. Nothing really seemed to strike her interest here so she moved onto the next one. Also empty. She could guess these were the tents of new recruits.

She came upon another tent where two people having a conversation. Unfortunately, she would have to interrupt it. They can resume that in the afterlife. That wasn't her business. Tendrils of shadow, a gritty roughness in texture, seized both of them and shred them into pieces while tightening their grip and simply mangling their bodies so hard they couldn't scream if they wanted to. The shadows let them down gently the moment their bodies stopped twitching and she turned to make her way to the next tent.

SPOILER: Click to show

Spell name: Death's Grip
Spell Main Element: Dark
-Spell Sub Elements: --
Affinity Strength: 6
Function: Named for the sensation this attack brings, Shadow mages cast a shadow onto the target that winds around the body, applying pressure wherever it goes. The main point of focus is the target's neck, attempting to either break it or strangle the target enough to the point they are knocked totally unconscious. An extended use of this attack involves riddling the target's body with hard cuts when the shadows move as well as twisting around the body and applying a hard pressure in attempt to break bones.
Availability: Open

[Sparky]

    It had been a jovial sounding conversation between a male faunus and an elven woman. The content, however, was very much the type of thing one would hear from bandits. Jokes about victims or towns they sacked, how much money they'd made. The loot they gathered. That conversation, however was put to a swift end. There was only a brief moment's realization as the shadows embraced them, but their screams died in their throats as the two bandits were mangled and shredded into bloody chunks. Bones broke, skin tore. The might of a God wasn't one to be trifled with. 

    Silence still clung to the camp. No one was any wiser to the situation at hand. How dire it was becoming. There were noticeable differences between the elder members compared to the young ones Nocturne had started with. They were bigger, meaner looking. If they had been aware, they might have put up a bit more of a fight, and it was clear how the bandit clan had gotten their name. Unfortunately, that mass didn't seem to help them much. 

SPOILER: Click to show

Remaining Enemy Count: 5
6 Dead, 1 Captured
Breakdown: 1 Grunt, 3 Intermediate, 1 Boss

[[God] - Nocturne]

It was a sad kind of serenity. A camp drenched in blood by sinners. A peek in one tent, and nothing. A peek in another with another conversation, and she saw them. One sharpening a blade with a whetstone, the other on a bedroll but facing in her direction.

She hissed out a silent curse from under her breath and went to move immediately, immediately attempting to beat the clock for when they were getting up to make their move. Attack or alert, that was neither option she wanted.

Nocturne stepped in swiftly and stomped down on the leg of the person sitting down, only to be followed with a blade to their face. In another motion, she reached out to grab the other person by their face and lift them, using pure force to attempt to crush their skull. Hopefully she'd make that in time before anyone was alerted.

[Sparky]

    From the outside, the conversation could be heard. One woman chastising the other for his weakness, with the younger man quietly muttering something under his breath. Whatever argument might have been brewing, it was quickly cut short when a God entered their tent. Curiosity turned to confusion, and confusion to heightened fear as the two realized what was about to happen.
    
    When Nocturne stepped in to attack, the first woman managed to react fast enough to avoid her stomp, only to find her back pressed to the wall when a blade was pointed in her face. The boy was much more wiry, as he completely avoided the goddess's grasp, stumbling out of his bed and desperately clawing his way out of the tent. 
    
    The woman hissed and spat as the boy ran. There was no defiance as the woman pressed back against the cloth as much as possible. Her breath was quick, eyes wide. She already knew that if a god was there for her, there was no use in begging for forgiveness. Despite the fact that one had gotten away, still no alarm had been sounded. No support came. The woman pursed her lips as the  realization that she had been abandoned finally settled in. 

[[God] - Nocturne]

Nocturne looked behind her. Sloppy work. She'd be cleaner next time. She turned back to the woman. There was a gentle fury in her gaze. The sword was turned slightly downwards towards this woman's chest and then Nocturne attempted another strike at the woman to finish her off, even going to far as cleaving her with a turned cut down and out her side if her blade struck its mark.

As for the one fleeing, he may be making a racket now, but she'd figure out what to do with him after she was done dealing with the woman before her.

[Sparky]

    The woman squeezed her eyes shut as the god pulled her blade back, letting out a muttered prayer. She yelped and cried as the blade pierced her heart, only giving her a few moments of splitting pain as she fell to the ground in a bloodied heap. Once again, the camp fell quiet. Only the sound of the wind could be heard outside of the tent. 

SPOILER: Click to show

Remaining Enemy Count: 3
7 Dead, 1 Captured, 1 Unknown
Breakdown: 2 Intermediate, 1 Boss

[[God] - Nocturne]

Nocturne turned around, flicking her blade to the slide to release excess drops of blood onto the side of the tent and stepped out. She was on a time limit before that one kid was to be released. Where did that one coward go? She snuffed around, keeping to her scouting the parameters of the tents and continuing where she left off, though much more alert now that she let one slip.

As far as she knew, there wasn't anyone outside. Everyone else were likely in the tents. Same as the last, there were two people in there, and they were facing towards the main opening of the tent itself once again. She made her promise to be more precise, but now it was time to see if that was something she could hold up to.

Shadows around the two grew dark and sprang up in attempts to grapple and strangle the two, all while she made a single turn on her heel and swiped her blade that would aim to strike both of them to down them in a single shot.

SPOILER: Click to show

Death's grip casted twice