A Hunter and the Hunted

**Date Started**: 27. 09. 2022
**Date Completed**: Ongoing
**Previous Role-Play**:
**Users Involved**: User:Starving Skeleton,
**Characters Involved**:
* **Firewater Pirates**: Shango, Mercedes

## I Need a Compass

"Firewater is Yorubaland's most important export, Shango." The old man said to the young boy who, covered in scars, wielded his signature weapons. A short spear and short sword. The boy panted as he finished his striking drills against a mighty tree. His limbs wrapped with clothes that tied to massive stones. Each in lines of dirt which signified his movement.

"Yes uncle.' He answered. Shango grabbed the cup and took a sip. The burning river flowed atop his tongue and raging down his throat. Firewater. A warrior's drink. Fermented from a sugarcane that grew only in Yorubaland's unique soil, legend told that it was actually the blood of Yorubaland's founding deity. Its fame stretched far and wide as a drink only the mightiest spirits could enjoy. However it served a different purpose. Mental fortitude. Firewater's strength would intoxicate a giant for forty days and forty nights. Yet the warriors from Yorubaland trained extensively to fight against its poisonous influence.

Shango felt it pull at his psyche. He swayed left. Stumbled right. Gripping Thunder and Stone's handles tightly as he fought to retain his balance.

"This world's false gods come to steal our Firewater yet they taint it with juices because they lack the might to comprehend its existence." His uncle said. "You must master it, Shango!"

"Now, use that combination again!" His uncle ordered. Shango quickly caught himself and pounced forward. His powerful legs sending him flying at the tree once more. "Or you will never realize your dream!

*How long ago was it?*

Shango wondered. He could still feel the drums traversing air as his siblings played during his trials. As he fought against men both twice his age and size. The sound of a crying child snapped him outta it. His mind focusing on his walk through the busy Kuyuka Island streets. His permanent snarl and towering demeanor a stark contrast to the colorful shirt wearing and drink holding patrons chatting their days away. His hair, braided, with sides cut and golden eyes to match his golden neck ornament. He usually wears a variety of outer coverings which draped a muscular body clothed only in stretchy pants with today being his favorite blue cloak with bright designs. "It's round here somewhere." He mumbled.

"What was that?!" A voice erupted from besides Shango. A much smaller girl with a slight violet hair that complimented her light chocolate skin. Mercedes tilted her head. "You said you'd find the Log Pose for the next island by now."

'Look lady," Shango rolled his eyes. It wasn't too long ago he ran into Mercedes. A woman who he literally bumped into during one of his marine chases. She was a reporter sent from the newspaper on a merchant ship he attacked. "I didn't ask you to stick around."

*"I want everything! Ya'll are my prey!"* He roared. And yet this girl ripped out a pen, pad and started taking notes. Afterwards she decided to stick to his side...something he *didn't* mind. But something made him wonder if she understood or actually believed him when he said that he was a pirate captain.

*"My crew may be small but we're strong because we have heart!"* Shango roared. *"Give us some time, we're gonna grow and reach-"*

"Oh! So you don't want me to join your crew?" Mercedes crossed her arms. "Fine. I'll go find-"

Shango looked at her midriff. "No! It's fine. Just let me....Let me finish my hunt. This place is a vacation hotspot. Someone gotta be selling poses."

The engine of some sort of motored vehicle stretched across the seas closest to Kyuka Island. Riding it, a young man clenched the throttle pressing it closer and closer to the island. The water spit up in the air above him sa the engine of the small one seater boat motioned, sparks of yellow electricity flying off of the vehicle as if it had been ran through an outside source. On the seas, something that looked a bit like this was called a waver but it was clear that this was much different.

It's name was Volt, a unique jetski that ran off of power much different than any other small compact vehicle on the sea. It moved swiftly and smoothly across the surface of the sea. He controlled it easily, clearly a skilled driver of it. In no time, he reached the coast of the island and docked the vehicle up, taking upon the land.

Stretched arms, he looked to the sun as he paid the dock workers their requested amount for docking fees. "Ho-ly!" The young man said, his brown skin gazed by the sun and his black spikey hair flipped and flowed around as he moved. He wore a pair of jet black denim jeans, with a yellow lightning bolt going down the left leg. Black flat shoes complimented his hair and pants, while his upper torso was bare and open for the world to see. He took up a beautiful golden necklace that was tied around his chest and his wrist found itself occupied by a log pose.

On the right side of his chest sat the head of a dragon in the form of a tattoo, but it was evident that this dragon was more of a western variant. He was a mystery to a lot on this island, but he had built quite reputation for himself over the last year traveling through Paradise and all the way to the New World. His name was Boltdrac Kacey--a wandering pirate man who seemed to have caused quite the commotion with the World Government.

"Finally, a vacation! Woo!" Kacey said, stretching his legs to loosen up. "Now, where the hell we off to first?"

”Excuse me sir,” Mercedes had already wandered away from Shango, her journalistic eye catching the man that also didn’t look like he belong here. But more importantly her eye caught the thing on his wrist.

”DAMNIT MERCEDES!” Shango called. He raced after her and quickly wrapped his arm around her shoulder. “Ah so we’ve finally found you.” He rubbed his small trimmed beard while looking down on Kcey.

”The man who knows about Log Poses!” Shango accused with his deep voice. His smile revealed two canines that’d been worn down to resemble that of lions. “Listen here, I need that.”

Kacey's eyebrow lifted as Mercedes called out to him. At first, he didn't think much of her acknowledging him. He was under the impression that she had simply been a friendly resident of the island, greeting everyone who had landed here and could have possibly been some sort of guide to assist in getting people to the proper resorts for a fun stay.

But, it was the words of Shango that made him throw all of those thoughts out of the window immediately. He pulled his wrist out of his pocket and looked down to his Log Pose. Then, he shifted his gaze back to Shango. "What? Whaddya mean you need my Log Pose? No, buy your own or somethin' I don't know, but I need mine."

"I've been trying to buy one, kid!" Shango said while reaching for Kacey's shirt. "But there's no one selling them here. What typa resort typa place is this?!" He let Kacey go and crossed him arms with angered grumbles.

"What my captain is trying to say," Mercedes slipped into the conversation with a soothing voice. She smiled at the boy. "We're pirates but we're not trying to cause trouble. Would you know where we can get our own Log Pose? I know the marines are monitoring the purchases to keep them outta our hands but...we'd hate to cause trouble this early in our journey. Y'know?"

"Huh?" Kacey said, a dumb expression took up the bulk of his face. "Y'all thinkin' a bit too deep about it. The Marines ain't checkin' to see who's buying Log Poses. There ain't an application that asks you what your profession is. You can buy one from a little shop, literally anywhere."

While her statement may have thrown him off, what did interest him was the fact that they claimed to be pirates. *"What the hell? What kind of logic was that? Maybe I shouldn't be so jumpy, they could be new to piracy is all."*

But what Kacey didn't know was that Mercedes, as she told Shango, saw another smalltime pirate get snatched up when buying a log pose. There's a reason why the marines come here. And what better place to catch bounties than to go where pirates would be to buy necessities. Either way, Shango wasn't about to argue with a brat over strategics and rumors.

"Listen you little-" Shango started when a sudden scream erupted from a nearby shop. The explosive sound of shattering glass interrupted his lecture.

"Hey bitch, you have our money?" A rough, big bellied buffoon barked. His voice thundering loud enough for all to hear and yet...No one did anything. Hell the surrounding shop owners seemed to ignore what was going on. "I told ya either pay us today or we're gonna sell ya daughter."

Shango ignored Kacey. He turned away and started making his way towards the commotion.

"Thank you for the advice." Mercedes bowed at Kacey and worriedly followed Shango. "H-hey Shango, we aren't here to cause trouble."

"I'm not going to cause trouble." Shango mindlessly replied.

"N-no! Please. Just one more week." The elderly woman gabbed onto his shirt. "P-please. One more week. Our shipments h-have slowed since all the recent pirates came over that mountain. Para-"

"WE DON"T CARE!" He slammed his fist down upon her with barbaric strength yet it stopped inches away from the woman's face. It'd happen so fast that it took several seconds for blood to douse the woman. "GrrrraaaaAHHHHHHH!" He bellowed. Stone's blade had not only cleanly pierced through his hand. But its edges kept him from opening his fist. Shango's short spear and short sword, Thunder, were unlike any seen before outside. However, weapon-smith who laid eyes upon them instantly recognized them as masterpieces.

It's shaft, made of a lightweight but durable brown carbon-fiber, was melded perfectly into the spear's blade. A sharp double-edged piece rivaling gigantic swords in sharpness. But its true strength lied in its angle, optimized for piercing.

"MYYYYY HAND!" The abuser kept screaming. "YOU FUCKING MONKEY, YOU'RE GOING TO PAY."

"Shango you said you wouldn't cause trouble!" Mercedes rubbed her temples.

"I didn't cause trouble, this racist piece of shit did." Shango grinned. He weaved another fist, ripping Stone free, and spinning into his opponent's flank where he dug it deep into the man's hip. Another bellow when Shango stepped back. Happily eyeing his work as his prey fell to a knee.

"You're in so much trouble now. You don't know who the fuck I am? I'm tha head collector for Bellona's Brotection Circuit." He exclaimed smugly. "Ain't no one fucked with us and got away freely."

The clackles of heels could be heard approaching, belonging to Kacey who had watched what he could from a distance. Arms stuffed into his pockets, Kacey let out a soft sigh as he was met with the member of the circuit.

"You went from wanting a Log Pose, to starting a fight," Kacey said, his voice carried by the wind as he finally had gotten closer to the group. "I don't know about this whole racist piece of shit thing, you talkin' about, but I ain't gonna let you mess up my vacation time like this. Oh no, no, no, no."

Kacey immediately shifted his gaze upon the injured man, "And you, the Bellona's Circuit, huh? Didn't expect to run into them here."

"See, you filthy monkey," The "head-collector" said with a validated smile. "Even ya friend knows what ya done. This ain't no fucking joke."

But Shango ignored Kacey's musings. This wasn't some random escalation. *"Your duty is to protect the Queen Mother,"* His uncle would say. *"But that doesn't mean you do not have enough time to do good."*

"That's r-r-right. And n-n-now you're g-going ta pay. I-I'm coming back and everyone here," The market was quiet as he spoke. Worried eyes watched his hunched body make its way through the pathway. Blood pouring like a river. Creating a deep crimson stream which revealed Stone's greatest secret to those who understand blade-play. "whoever looks a-at me. I-I'm haaaving ya family murdered." Everyone looked away. Everyone except the trio behind him. The elderly lady ran from behind her stand when he disappeared. Her frail hand slamming against Shango's face.

*Slap.*

"What the hell're you doing?" She screamed. Tears in her closed eyes. "N-now they're goin to come back and kill us all."

However looked down and met her watery gaze with a curious chin rub. "Who're they?"

"The Bellona Brotection Circuit." Another lady answered. "I-it's ran by Bellona whose the daughter of \*\*\*\*."

"Oh no not-" Shango exclaimed. Mercedes slapped him.

"You don't know who that is!"

"Can everyone stop slapping me?"

"He's the head of the Montana Family. A member of the Five Families of the West. They're prominent figures and powerful people in the Underworld." She continued. Her eyes glued to the ground and face devoid of color. "She came over the mountain several years ago and started her extortion ring here. No one knows why...but....but we've lost too much to them. And now...now they're going to come and take it all."

"What about the marines?" Mercedes asked. "Can't you tell them about this."

"Kayuka Island is under the jurisdiction of a dirty officer." The elder lady finished. "I heard she pays him off to look the other way. You've sentenced us all to de-"

*Slap!* Shango slapped the old lady. Mercedes was about to scream except the woman's gaze remained glued to Shango. She seemed...alive.

"No." Shango held her close to his tall, muscular body. "I'm going to stay here and handle this." He said while she rubbed her cheek. "You guys close up shop earlier and I'll take care of whoever comes."

"They're gonna send an army of goons!" A guy said from his shop. 'No way you can take them all."

"I'm not some snot-nosed punk." Shango took a step back. "I'm a pirate. And if there's anyone that's leaving with ya'll shit today, it's gonna be me. You're all under my protection now. Oi, Log Pose brat, you might want to get outta here soon since you're one of the people who saw what happened."

The nerve of Shango to refer to him as a brat. Kacey may have been a year younger than him, but he had traveled much more of the World than Shango. The things he had dreamed about, Kacey had already seen and been into. The only reason he had come to an island such as this one, was to get a nice and well deserved vacation.

Kacey could have easily retorted with facts, but he instead felt it would have been better to just play along. Plus, the show seemed like it was going to get much better, especially if it all started with Shango slapped the woman and bringing her back to reality early on.

"Eh, if I'm thinkin' what I'm thinkin'," Kacey started, rubbing the back of his head, "Then you may need all the help you can get. An eccentric attitude ain't gonna help you be able to deal with Montana Family." He said, warning Shango of what was to come due to his reckless and not thought out actions.

"Montana Family?" Shango asked. Kacey hit the nail on the head. Despite his age, Shango hadn't left his home till recently. He'd always dreamed of his freedom from responsibility, from titles and useless royalties. He always wanted to sail the seas and experience the world. To grow power. Acquire wealth. But Shango had another, more important responsibility. Something which, when it came to light, turned his nation against him.

It was almost like King Father himself pushed Shango to walk his own path.

Either way, Shango didn't understand the politics of *this* world. "I dont' care what family she's a part of. But if ya wanna help you're more than welcomed."

"Like the guy said earlier," Mercedes started. Showing her journalistic aptitude. "One of the Five Families of West Blue. You could say they're one of the more structured families. Resources and connections out the ass. Hell, probably why the marines haven't broken up this ring."

"Eh. We've had gangsters back at our country. How dangerous can it be." Shango looked at Kacey. "Either way, overconfidence leads the lion into every trap. What do you know about how this Montana Family fight?"

Kacey shoulders went into the air, "I dunno, never ran into 'em before." He said simply, a fact that even he couldn't lie about had he opposing information. "Families aren't people you normally, ya know, really fight. You have to deal with a lotta people on their payroll first. So, I couldn't tell ya. Help, sure..."

A silent sigh and a rolling eye would have let one know that Kacey had thrown himself into something he hadn't wanted to be in. In fact, he had no intentions of getting in the middle of whatever it was Shango had planned, but he was interested in the Montana Family.

## First Sight

A young woman walked through the streets of one of Kyuka Island's villages. In her hand was a tenmusu, an onigiri with tempura shrimp inside it. The lovely blonde gladly ate it as she moved, though her steps were with a purpose. As she moved, many looked at her oddly, glaring at the horns on her head. Was she a demon? Some sort of animal? That is what Sophia imagined was going through their heads. This was based on her own past experiences. In truth, she was human, or at least half human. However, that is still a half away from being normal.

Sophia heard a voice that drew her out of her thoughts. A local butcher was advertising his products. Freshly slaughtered cattle, pig, sheep, and various other creatures. She flinched a little, not enjoying flesh of such mammals. She questioned how anyone could, but even she was still eating a once living animal. Perhaps hypocritical, but it was how she was raised.

No, meat was not needed. What she needed as a log pose. Sophia had to eventually reach the New World and finally find a home. As she reached the outskirts, she saw none. No stores, no wearers, none even being used as some underused knickknack. *How can I get off this damn island if I can't find a pose or anything of value to push me along?* she thought to herself. This was by simple window shopping however, she had not looked inside houses. Not yet at least.

Finished the last bite of her food, Sophia ducked into an alleyway. She looked at the trash - various boxes and other materials. "At least I got cover," she said aloud as she grabbed a larger box. To add to her horned look, she also had cursed powers. This only increased rumors of her being some sort of demon when she stays in one place too long. Regardless, she sat within the box and closed it, sending her into darkness and hiding her from any sort of onlooker. From her, multiple ghosts began to form into existence. These spirits flew around rapidly in circles before dispersing. They flew through buildings and relayed information to their mistress.

Families sitting and laughing together, drunks passed out on the floor, acts of violence in dysfunctional homes, and many other sights flooded her mind. She hated it, but she was numb to all of these things. Her travels led her to many such sights before. She had no interest in interfering, especially when many of those she would protect may end up thinking of her as a monster. Her desire, a simple log pose, had yet to appear. Regardless, she expanded her search. That is until her ghosts came across a beach. Here, a spirit relayed a new image - two men and a woman. In the water was a jetski and upon it rested a strange orb. FINALLY! She had found what she desired. As they spoke, the spirit wormed its way into the earth and moved forward. Focusing on the ghost, she could use the ghost to move it, at least to some extent. She could steal the item without even leaving her little hideout, all she had to do was prepare.

Strolling through the streets with a bored look on his face, a dark skinned young man glanced around the area looking for something fun to do or at the very least some ladies to hit on giving that Kyuka was a resort island, it should be crawling with babes and riches both things Kidd was inherently interested after all he aimed to be the World’s Richest Man in the near future so it was important to stack up his treasure from now.

Pausing in his stride as his honey gold eyes fell upon a group of beautiful girls chatting in front of some sort of store, Kidd smirked as he flexed his muscles and rolled his neck before strolling over to the group filled with confidence while flashing them a charming smile revealing his golden fangs.

"Wassup beauties, pardon my interruption cuz it wouldn’t of been fair to the world if I ain’t try to shoot my shot with the obvious jewels of Kyuka Resort." He stated in what he felt was a smooth tone which seemed to obviously work in his favor as the group let out a collective giggle and they blushed at his complement. "The names Samuel Kidd but ya can call me Black since like ya’ll Black is beautiful so we’d make the best group." He stated rather cornily having figured that they seemed to like the more corny and cliche pick-up lines.

Honestly at times it was way to easy being him, collecting money and treasure and picking up girls was the life he lived and god did he love every moment of it, especially times like this as he continued to chat up the girls for a few minutes before they agreed to be his guide and show him all the "fun" spots of the resort. He may have came here seeking treasure but he suppose he could take a little break to enjoy the other finer things in life after all this was a Vacation Island so he might as well "unwind" with these lovely ladies.

Laughing internally Kidd gestured for the ladies to lead stating he wanted something really pretty to look at instead of the boring resort.

The other ghosts that Sophia conjured faded, their purpose becoming moot thanks to the discovery of the log pose. Her options were limited. At least three were there and she couldn't fight all of them in person, making the option of strolling up inconvenient. Her ghosts were mostly intangible as well. However, with only one spirit active, Sophia could make it tangible to the point of interacting with the environment. Even then, a ghost suddenly appearing could set off the people.

She was hesitant to use the negative powers of the ghost. It would still allow them to see the ghost and note her abilities, making it so they might hunt her down. Sophia wasn't a famous figure, but rumors of her had spread around the island. The demon wasn't very loved, those aware of her may turn on her. Instead, she had to set up a distraction. All she had to do was get closer.

With the one ghost - staying out of sight by hiding within the earth - Sophia was able to move around at this point. She left her hide out and emerged back into the streets. An elderly couple saw her and her horns, scoffing at her and where she just emerged. Sophia assumed the were thinking she was doing something scandalous back there, it was whatever. If this panned out, she could start making her way to a new island, a new home, and a new start. As she walked, she walked past a man trying his best to gain the attention of a group of women.

Reaching the edge of the beach, she saw her target in the distance. Instead of approaching, Sophia went to a lonely pier to the west of where they stood. She looked at to the sea. It was beautiful - a deep blue blue that gave it the splendor of a sapphire - but terrifying. Aside from the beasts that lay beneath the waves, Sophia would sink like a stone within its waters due to the curse she held. She leaned against the railing and felt her nerves slightly tense. Part of this was due to the ocean, the feeling many who feared heights had from the top of a tower, and from her plans coming underway. She conjured a few small spirits, explosive ghosts. She sent out the playful little beings towards the group.

Just as Kidd had gotten the attention he desired and began to make his way towards a more "secluded" area with the ladies leading, one of his sixth senses, which he refers to as his Ultra Instincts, went off alerting him to something in the area, causing him to quickly grab the ladies scaring them and rushing off the path. Not long after he moved, an explosion rang out a few feet away from their previous location, one that wasn't large and destructive but still had enough force to injure a normal person.

"Wait, what the fuck?" Kidd inquired as he quickly checked on the ladies to ensure they were not injured before looking around the area.
"That ain't cool, I don't know what kind of beef you got with me, but can't you wait until a player gets his treats?" In response to the explosion that ruined his plans to get laid, he yelled angrily at the area.