[SIGNUP/IC] Monster Hunter Chapter 1: Gathering in Val Habar

[Chevaleresse]

Summoning all Hunters and prospective Hunters to the Gathering Hall, currently located in Val Habar. All are welcome to come; Hunting licenses are available free to anyone who meets the standards. Experienced Hunters encouraged to attend; attendance is mandatory for those possessing G permits of any variety.

- A poster, distributed across the land, with a map drawn indicating the location.

***

The hunter posed on top of the carcass of his most recent kill. The Rathalos had been a fearsome opponent, but the red wyvern had eventually fallen to persistence and his trusty gunlance. The cart back to town would still be a short while, so he had a bit of time to bask in his own accomplishment. His armor had gotten a bit singed in the process, however. Fiery blighters, the Rath wyverns were. His armor wasn't the best at keeping out heat, either, though it wasn't nearly as bad as some armor he had used previously.

There was something exhilarating about bringing down these beasts; out here you only had what you brought with you to rely on, and there was always a sense of accomplishment after conquering something apparently so much stronger than yourself. It was a fresh experience every- What was that? The hunter turned around, climbing down from the carcass - almost not quickly enough. A cluster of what seemed to be blades of some variety whizzed past his head, causing him to flinch and tumble rather maladroitly to the ground a short distance away. Standing up, he cursed to himself. I thought those damn things were out of here! Wasting no time, he sprinted back toward base camp as a rattling roar sounded in the distance.

The source of the roar quickly moved into clear vision as the hunter puffed, trying to measure his pace. A wyvern covered in golden scales streaked with red flew toward him with alarming speed, emitting a high-pitched cry as it prepared to swoop. He dove off of a ledge just as the predator caught up to him, razor-sharp talons sweeping just above his head. They're supposed to live deep in the Everwood, why did this bastard decide to ruin my day? Come to think of it, that Rathalos did seem like it was moving a little slow... damn! His train of thought was cut off - quite nearly literally - by another set of razors flying past him. Fortunately, base camp was just ahead. Seeing that the challenger was fleeing, the Seregios let out one last roar - sounding like a mixture between an eagle and a wooden rollercoaster flying down a hill - and swooped off in search of larger, slower prey. The hunter hurriedly climbed into the cart that had just arrived at the camp, and slumped into the seat as it turned to go back to Val Habar.

After having a chance to settle, sit down, and grab a bite or six to eat, he walked out of his small dwelling and walked toward the Gathering Hall. It was quite early, but there was already quite the crowd outside the structure, including a number of novice hunters and people he had never seen before. It would be an interesting day, for sure, since the Guild seemed to have some sort of announcement to make.

So basically, describe one of two things with your first post: either the last part of your hunter's last hunt plus their arrival in town, or their journey to the town as a prospective hunter. (I recommend that those unfamiliar with the series start as new Hunters.) At the bottom of your post, fill out a short profile for your character, using the following template:

Name:

Gender:

Rank: None, Low, High, or G.

Appearance: Describe your character's personal features, including their armor. If you have no idea what to put here, look up some Monster Hunter armors from low-ranked monsters; a novice hunter would likely be able to purchase this gear, or perhaps a mentor would have given it to them in celebration of them registering as an official Hunter.

Weapon of choice: Weapons in the Monster Hunter universe are varied. I'll give a short description below this, but the list is as follows: Greatsword, Longsword, Sword and Shield, Dual Blades, Switch Axe, Charge Blade, Insect Glaive, Hammer, Lance, Gunlance, Hunting Horn, Bow, Light Bowgun, Heavy Bowgun.

Backstory: This can be as long or short as you desire. Zero-effort backstories aren't okay, but I don't expect novels here. Mention your hometown; this RP will happen in Monster Hunter 4's locales, but you can come from anywhere in the universe (within reason). It's recommended that you come from one of the places listed below, though.

Weapon information. This is just taken from game mechanics; the RP will likely make a number of the more "gamey" mechanics more realistic.

Greatsword: Probably the most powerful and versatile weapon in Monster Hunter, but requires a great deal of skill and knowledge to use effectively. It is capable of blocking at the cost of blunting your weapon faster, and wielders can dodge normally. It makes slow, deliberate, and powerful attacks, and most attacks can be charged to strike with more force. Users move extremely slowly with their weapon drawn, and it can be sheathed at a moderate speed.

Longsword: Approximately the same length as a Greatsword, but significantly thinner and lighter. They have strong, quick combo attacks, and can charge up their Spirit by landing these hits. Charged Spirit allows for a powerful Spirit Combo, and they possess a Fade Slash technique to attack and then quickly get out of danger. Longsword users can dodge normally, but cannot block. Users move fairly quickly with the weapon drawn, and it is sheathed at moderate speed.

Sword and Shield: A more realistically sized sword with a shield in the other hand. The Sword and Shield possesses light, fast attacks, and can bash with the shield. They have a weak block and can dodge normally, and have a rushing draw attack to close distance. Users move quickly even with their weapon drawn, and sheathe quickly.

Dual Blades: A matched set of swords. Attacks even faster than Sword and Shield at the cost of blocking, though dodging is unaffected. Excellent at closing gaps, and can use stamina to enter Demon Mode, allowing powerful but risky combos. Dealing enough damage in Demon Mode causes one to enter Archdemon Mode, allowing access to the quick Demon Dash and strong combos with less risk. Users move quickly even with their weapons drawn, and sheathe quickly.

Switch Axe: A mechanical weapon that can transform into a large sword. The axe has strong attacks and the ability to repeatedly strike one place at the cost of stamina, and the sword consumes the weapon's power supply to deal extra damage based on the phial (Impact or Elemental) installed in the weapon. Time and using the axe mode charge the weapon. The sword has an energy discharge attack that deals damage based on the installed phial, then explodes back into axe mode. Users cannot block, but dodge normally. Users move at moderate speed in axe mode and slowly in sword mode, and sheathe slowly.

Charge Blade: A sword and large shield that can be combined into an axe. The sword and shield perform like a somewhat bulkier version of their non-mechanical counterpart and charge the phials in the weapon when dealing damage, while the axe uses these phials to unleash powerful swings. The axe can perform an "Ultra Burst," using up all of the remaining phials to deal a massive amount of phial-based damage. The sword mode can block, and both modes can dodge normally. Users move moderately quickly in sword mode and slowly in axe mode, and sheathe somewhat slowly.

Insect Glaive: A large staff that comes in blunt and edged varieties, with an accompanying Kinsect. It is capable of vaulting attacks and uses attacks balanced between combos and single strikes. The Kinsect can harvest nectar from enemies, which boosts the abilities of the wielder as well as damaging the enemy. Users move somewhat slowly and can dodge normally, but cannot block. The weapon sheathes at moderate speed.

Hammer: A blunt weapon that uses short, strong combos and can knock out monsters with enough strikes to the head. Incapable of dealing cutting damage at all or blocking, but the only weapon capable of stunning. Some attacks can be charged. Users can dodge normally, move quickly with the weapon drawn, and sheathe quickly.

Lance: A long thrusting weapon with an accompanying heavy shield. The weapon deals both cutting and blunt damage, depending on which is more effective. The Lance can advance quickly while guarding or charge at the cost of stamina, and can leap into the air mid-charge. It has a strong block, allowing the user to weather attacks without staggering, but users must hop backwards or sideways instead of dodging normally due to the weapon's bulk. Users move extremely slowly outside of charging and dodging, and sheathe moderately slowly.

Gunlance: A thrusting weapon with the ability to fire shells a short distance, with accompanying heavy shield. There are Wide, Long, and Normal shells, varying between weapons, and each can be charged or chained together with other shells or stabs. The Gunlance possesses a strong block, but users must hop backward or sideways rather than traditional dodges due to the bulk of the weapon. Gunlancers can perform the Wyvern's Fire attack, charging for a few seconds and then blasting in front of them for heavy damage, but this attack cannot be used in rapid succession due to overheating. They can also perform a Full Burst after a slam attack, discharging every shell currently loaded in the weapon. Users move extremely slowly and sheathe at a similar speed.

Hunting Horn: Performs similarly to a Hammer, but trades some combos and charged attacks for the ability to play melodies with various effects. Melodies can invigorate allies, prevent negative effects like icing, or negatively affect monsters. Users move slowly and sheathe slowly, but dodge normally. Hunting Horns cannot be used to block.

Light Bowgun: A ranged weapon that keeps the user mobile. Holds a few bullets, and various types of shot can be loaded, including elemental or status-inducing. The Light Bowgun has a rapid-fire ability that locks the user in place for a short time in order to fire several of the currently loaded shell at the cost of only one shell. Users move and sheathe quickly, and dodge normally, but cannot block. Variable Zoom Scopes, Silencers, and Power Barrels can be added to Light Bowguns.

Heavy Bowgun: A heavier, more damage-focused variant of the bowgun. Users can crouch in place and set up to fire very large numbers of bullets in rapid succession without reloading, and can load heavier shot than that of a Light Bowgun. Users dodge normally, and can block if a shield is attached to the weapon, but move and sheathe slowly. Variable Zoom Scopes, Power Barrels, and Shields can be attached to Heavy Bowguns.

Bow: A traditional hunter's weapon that fires arrows rather than the ammunition used by bowguns. Incapable of inflicting status, but comes with more mobility than either bowgun. Arrows can be charged through three levels, and come in Rapid, Spread, and Pierce varieties, varying between bows. They can also perform an Arc Shot, which fires a Spread, Focus, or Blast vertically which drops on the area in front of them, or a Power Shot, rapidly firing an arrow of greater charge than the previous one, again varying between bows. Users move quickly and dodge normally, but cannot block and sheathe extremely slowly.

Locations:

Val Habar - Trading town. It moves, but is currently located between the ocean and the Great Desert, also known as the Sandsea. Many people travel through it, though few could be considered "natives." The Ancestral Steppe is also near it.

Harth - Adjacent to the Volcanic and Sunken Hollows, Harth is filled with miners and is home to the industrious Troverians. They supply valuable ore and craftsmanship.

Dundorma - The capital of the land, home to His Immenseness. Dundorma is home to numerous elite hunters, and is a large city, though it is often destroyed and subsequently rebuilt as a result of monster attacks, such as the Kushala Daora. Located near the Dunes.

Cathar - A remote mountaintop village populated with mostly Wyvernians. They receive very little travel, due to being accessible only via extreme climbs or airship. Located near Heaven's Mount.

Cheeko Sands - A seaside village populated exclusively by Felynes. (No, you can't be from here.) Said to only be found by those who have lost their way. Located near the Primal Forest and Frozen Seaway.

[Pyon Pyon Kyuu!~]

Name: Mio

Gender: Female

Rank: High

Appearance:Mio has the famous pointed ears of the Wyvernians, but otherwise looks completely human. She is fairly tall, has knee length pitch-black hair that she usually keeps in two long pig tails. While she has several sets of armor, her most common wear is the high gunner Lagiacrus armor. She doesn't wear the standard helmet, instead wears a headband made out of Lagiacrus bone and hide, with two cut lagia horns that stick out of her hair. When she wears this armor, the bands wearing her hair are also made to match the armor's blue color scheme.

Weapon of choice: Bow: Favorite bow being the Heartshot Bow. She is also able to use a sword and shield.

Backstory: Mio was born on a trader ship, being the daughter to a Wyvernian sailor and a human fisherwoman. The two met in a voyage, and Mio was the result. Both traveled too much, so they dropped her off in Dundorma and visited her on occasion. She grew up living close to the hunter's guild, and became enamored with the idea of being a hunter. Not really because of the fighting, or the prospect of helping others. She wanted to be a hunter, because of the beautiful armors they wear. Even for a clumsy girl like Mio, after a lot of training monster hunting became second nature. Because of being grossed out by blood, she needed a weapon that let her be far away from monsters and therefore avoid seeing the most gruesome parts of her job. That's why she picked up the bow. After quite a few years of hunting, Mio's become fairly proficient at it. She's tried to apply to become a G hunter several times, but has fallen short every time. Deciding to give up on becoming a G hunter for now, she's traveling around and decided to stop at Val Habar.

Mio ran hard, as fast as she could. She ran as if she was running for her life. Well... She was running for her life. Looking behind her, a Rathian was chasing her. Every once in a while she stopped, drew her bow and shot an arrow. It landed on the beast0s wing, or her leg, and once even right next to her eye. However, right after shooting Mio would chose a direction and start running again. The fight had been going on for a while, and she was getting a bit tired. But then again, so was the wyvern. Several arrows had pierced her wings, others stuck to her back, legs and belly.

Suddenly Mio was met with a cliff wall. She looked behind her and the Rathian was running at her full force. She looked around for an escape, but it would be too dangerous to run to either side. The Rathian could easily hit her with a fireball if she ran predictably. As she searched for an escape route she noticed a note left on the wall. "Mio" She read aloud. "Don't forget about the trap you set up at the beginning of the hunt." The note was written in her own hand writing.

As if on cue, the wyvern let out a sharp cry, it's legs having fallen into a pitfall trap. It began to struggle, trying it's best to fly out of it.

"Duuuuh!" Mio slapped herself on the forehead. "This was a capture mission." She took two tranquilizer bombs out of her pouch, and threw the both at the Rathian. It's cries became softer and softer, until it fell into a deep slumber. Mio pat the wyvern on the head. "Nighty night you cute little Wyvern."

Back in the city, a thought passed by her mind. Not all capture quests are for research facilities. Some are private owners. What do they do with these monsters? She thought and thought, but couldn't find an answer. Mio walked through the city, the thought heavy in her mind as she reached the Gathering Hall.

"Hey does anybody know what quest givers do with monsters we capture?" She asked aloud. Then she gasped. "What if they are trying to amass an army of wyverns... We can't let that happen!"

[Flux]

Name: Durango

Gender: Male

Rank: High

Appearance: Durango stands fairly tall at about 6 feet. His long hair flows down beneath his shoulders, a deep red in color. His facial features are almost always hidden, his mouth and nose covered by the trademark red bandana of a blademaster's Wroggi armor. His cowboy-esque hat casts a long shadow over his face, and his eyes bear a sharp and serious gaze.

Weapon of choice: Dual Blades, specifically the Holy Sabers.

Backstory: For as long as he can remember, Durango has been traveling with no specific purpose in mind. He was born into a caravan where he lived his early years, later heading off on his own in search of a place he can call home. He pays for the expenses of his travels through hunting -- Monster hunting to be exact. Though he has not found a place that he finds suitable to live in for the long term, he has gained valuable experience as a hunter through his travels. He spent a whole in Moga Village -- the longest he has ever stayed in one place -- as a hunter for the small town (No, he is not supposed to be the protagonist of MH3U). While he found the solitude of the village comforting, it was not the place he was searching for. Upon hearing of a traveling town known as Val Habar, his interest was piqued. It was a place much like himself -- constantly on the move and looking for somewhere to belong. It was also located near the Great Desert, which could only remind him of the deserts he was raised in as a child. The decision was made instantly -- he would travel to Val Habar. Perhaps it was the place he had been searching for.

Durango returned his sabers to their sheathes on his back. This hunt was finished. The Diablos lay motionless on the ground, its once fearsome form now still. Durango reached down to his belt, finding his hunting knife and removing it from its holster. He began to carve the body, taking everything of value that he could carry. He could see Val Habar on the horizon, and these resources would buy him a warm meal and a place to stay. Not to mention that he'd be left with a comfortable amount of change in his pocket.

When he had finished, he turned towards the city. The sun was setting on the horizon, casting a glare into his eyes. He tipped the brim of his hat low and pulled up his bandana as he made his way towards his new home.