Starr the Slayer (Marvel;Re Relaunch)/Issue 1

The first issue of Starr the Slayer, written by GazzaB9.
== Synopsis ==
== Plot (unfinished) ==
Standing atop of a mountain, staring out at a beautiful landscape of rivers, forests, grass, and mountains, with the shimmering ocean in the distance, stands a man in a billowing cloak with a horned helmet. In one hand is his blade, resting his palm atop its hilt.
* Narrator: This is a tale from ancient times. From before the world and otherworld were separated, forever. From when magic, demons, gods, and creatures of altruism battled creatures of darkness. And, among these beasts and fey, stood a man... A man who rose kingdoms up and tore them to the ground. A man who battled thousands of enemies, whether human or not. A man who stared at the gods and made them blink. That man is...
The narrator does not get to finish his sentence. The man, Starr, is now walking underneath a stone arch and into a stone city. Through the streets are children play fighting with fake swords, a preacher spouting his teachings, and a pair of homeless people, one blind and the other a child. In front of the homeless pair is a metal cup full of copper and silver pieces. The stoic Starr drops something into the cup and continues walking.
* Blind Man: Thank you, stranger.
The child reaches into the cup and pulls out a jem from it. The child's eyes widen and she starts celebrating while the blind man looks confused at hearing her excited yelling. The mysterious man in the horned helm continues marching forward. Someone in a fancy-looking red cloak notices this sight and smiles to himself, running up next to the mysterious stranger.
* Red-Cloaked Man: Excuse me, sir, forgive me for noticing that display just now. Are you a man of wealth?
No response
* Red-Cloaked Man: Well, if you're looking for a good place to spend your jems on items of great value, then come on down to the underground market!
No response again.
* Red-Cloaked Man: I know what you're thinking, "what is the underground market?" Well, answer me this, have you ever wanted to buy or sell items that are considered dangerous or too taboo to be sold? Well, the underground market has you covered! We'll accept anything, no matter what it is. And you won't even get in trouble for it! Sound fair?
Starr sighs audibly, clearly not enjoying the cloaked stranger's company. However, he then notices that the stranger has a pin in his cloak, one which depicts a sword piercing a heart. After seeing this, he smiles. The red-cloaked man smiles back and nods his head.
* Red-Cloaked Man: Peaked your interest, have I? Come on, follow me.
He gestures for Starr to follow him, which he does automatically. He leads Starr down a set of stairs which leads to the docks of the city. Built into the side of the docks is a series of doors, presumably where fishermen keep their supplies. However, the cloaked man stops at one door and knocks it in a strange rhythm, as if putting in some kind of code. Afterwards, a large man opens the door and allows the two inside, where they walk down a set of black stairs which are covered in cobwebs. The stairs are so dirty that Starr unknowingly steps on a few bugs along the way. When they finally make it down, Starr's eyes widen in shock. There is an entire merchant hall set up underneath the city, where they're selling items ranging from illegal herbs or potions to sawed off unicorn horns or entire fairies in cages.
* Red-Cloaked Man: Welcome to the market, my esteemed friend! Follow me, we have a special auction going on.
Starr follows behind the man, who leads him to a gathering of people, all of whom look well-off. They stand in front of a wooden stage which has something covered by a blanket. A man in a bronze mask walks on to the stage and gestures at the blanket.
* Masked Man: Ladies and gentlemen! In tonight's auction, we have the most horrific beast of them all! A monster feared from the Greater Desert to the Deadman's Tundra! A behemoth that anyone would want under their thumb! So powerful that it can even kill other monsters! The greatest of creators and worst of destroyers, I present to you...
He dramatically throws the blanket off.
* Masked Man: MANKIND!
Under the blanket is a cage. Inside of it is a teenage boy, dressed in a cloth. He is slumped up against the back of the cage, covered in bruises and cuts. He looks up at the crowd with eyes that reveal no emotion. Starr stares back at the boy and his mouth gapes slightly.
* Masked Man: Bidding starts at ten silver.
* Better #1: Twelve silver.
* Better #2: Eighteen silver!
* Better #3: One gold!
Starr holds up a diamond. Everyone gasps and murmurs among themselves. The auctioneer waits for more bets, slowly raising his fingers.
* Masked Man: Going once... twice...
He points at Starr.
* Masked Man: Sold, to the man in the helm!
Starr walks up on to the stage and crouches down in front of the cage. The boy looks up at him and all he does is blink in response to his presence. However, his eyes slowly widen and he recoils further into the cage. Everyone else in the crowd stares in shock. As, before them, Starr has just drawn his blade and plunged it into the auctioneer's chest. The auctioneer grips at the sword and stares at Starr, tears streaming beneath his mask. Starr smiles in response and slices his blade through the auctioneer's side, cutting his body in half and instantly killing him. The entire auction goes into a riot, screaming and running away. The entire market panics and everyone, merchants and buyers, run outside. However, the man in the red cloak is stopped, his hood gripped tightly by Starr. Starr pulls the man towards him and rips the pin off of his cloak, showing the man his own pin.
* Starr: This.
* Red-Cloaked Man: W-what?
* Starr: You work for the Lord of this city.
* Red-Cloaked Man: Why are you--
* Starr: I let you live today to deliver a message.
Starr pulls him towards him and speaks directly into his ear.
* Starr: Starr the Slayer has come. And your Lord shall cower in his wake...
Starr lets him go and the man immediately runs away. Starr watches him run away before turning and cutting open the boy's cage with his sword, managing to cleave directly through the metal. The boy watches in awe as Starr proceeds to do the same for the other inhabitants of the market, releasing the fairies, gnomes, and other mythical creatures before burning each of the market stalls one at a time. However, Starr eventually steps when he realizes something, turning and seeing that the boy is following him. The two stare at each other in silence for some time. The boy slowly raises a hand and awkwardly waves at Starr, in a way that seems to indicate he doesn't know how to wave.
* Morro: My name is Morro. My favourite foods are carrots and stew.
* Starr: What are you doing?
* Morro: Huh?
* Starr: Leave.
Starr burns another stall. He continues his process until he hears coughing and turns to see that Morro is still following him, the smoke clearly affecting him. Starr angrily points for Morro to go away, but Morro shakes his head in response.
* Starr: Fire is common in my life, boy. If your lungs can't handle smoke, you're better leaving me behind.
* Morro: No.
* Starr: Get out.
* Morro: No...
* Starr: Why not?
* Morro: Because you bought me.
Starr doesn't respond. He sighs and decides to allow Morro to follow him, though he is clearly not fond of the idea and is likely just humoring him. Starr finally begins exiting the underground market, however, he suddenly stops and turns to Morro.
* Starr: How many entrances are there to this area?
* Morro: Um...
Morro slowly starts raising his fingers, holding up three and showing them to Starr. By the look of Morro's face, it's clear he doesn't actually understand what number he's holding up.
* Starr: ...How old are you, boy?
* Morro: U-um...
Morro tries to count it again, but is clearly getting frustrated with doing so. Starr holds his hand up.
* Starr: Nevermind.
Starr continues up the stairs until he reaches the entrance door, gently holding the knob with his other hand on the hilt of his blade. He suddenly swings the door open and slashes at the air, seeming shocked that there is no one on the other side. He looks around frantically before his panic turns to confusion.
* Morro: What's the matter?
* Starr: My ruckus below should have caused a hysteria above. Yet there are no guards to apprehend me...
Morro tilts his head but suddenly looks panicked.
* Morro: Watch out!
A series of arrows pierce Starr's body. Starr drops to his knees, coughing up blood. A small snear appears on his face as he stares at his bloody hand.
* Starr: Archers. It seems I underestimated their intelligence...
Another arrow shoots through Starr's body.
* Starr: Run, boy.
* Morro: But--
* Starr: They're more likely to kill you than to sell you again.
* Morro: No! I--
* Starr: RUN AS FAR AS YOU CAN! That is an order!
Morro, seemingly on instinct, begins running away as more and more arrows fire into Starr's body. Later, a man with one blind eye that is staring off in another direction sits on a small wooden throne, munching on chopped up carrots in a bowl next to him. In front of him is the man in the red cloak, who is prostrated in front of the strange man.
* Strange Man: So... an auction in the underground market was ruined by a helmed man, who identified himself as... what again?
* Red-Cloaked Man: Starr the Slayer, Lord Haegin.
* Lord Haegin: I see... And what kind of business would you presume this "Starr the Slayer" would have with us...?
* Red-Cloaked Man: I'm unsure, my lord... Given his actions, I presume he does not approve of the market and blames you for its existence.
* Lord Haegin: That would make the most sense, I suppose... Though the logic is preposterous. How am I responsible for the existence of such a thing just by allowing it to continue existing...?
* Red-Cloaked Man: I am... unsure... Perhaps he--
A guard interrupts by entering the room.
* Guard: My lord! You must come see this. It is unbelievable!
Haegin raises an eyebrow. Down in the dungeons, a torturer holds a scorching metal rod up to someone's wounds, searing them shut, getting a groan in response. The man is none other than Starr, somehow still alive after being riddled with arrows, though he is currently shackled to a wall. The torturer steps out of the way and a line of soldiers take turns stabbing into Starr, each sword stabbing somewhere that would be an instant kill. Starr only reacts to each stab with a wince at most. When all of the soldiers are done, the torturer starts searing his wounds shut again.
* Soldier #1: Is he human...?
* Soldier #2: He bleeds, so he can die. We just need to find the right place to stab him.
Starr glances at them, clearly overhearing what they say but not saying anything.