Bounty Tales [a collaborative fiction forum game]

[OrangeRKN]

Bounty Tales is a collaborative fiction role playing forum game about galaxy-travelling bounty hunters. Players can drop in and out at any time, with no ongoing commitment needed, and write at whatever pace or volume suits them individually.

In Bounty Tales players can both post new bounties and claim existing bounties as posted by others. Create a hunter and develop their character - and the shared universe of the game - through your writing!

Expand for game explanation and rules:

Claiming bounties

The main objective of the game comes in claiming active bounties. The hunter rankings will keep track of each player character's total bounties claimed and total credits earned. Grow your reputation and compete to be the galaxy's greatest bounty hunter!

Claiming a bounty is as easy as writing how your character goes about catching the bounty. The core of the game is short story writing - what form that takes, other than a required word count, is entirely up to each player.

To claim a bounty, first post a reserve post before you start writing with the name of the claimed bounty - this makes sure two or more people don't end up spending their time writing about the same target. Whoever posts first to claim a bounty has it reserved! Once you finish writing (make sure you reach the bounty's required word count!) post your piece in a new post!

Remember, a bounty claim won't be accepted unless the required word count (the bounty in credits) is met, so choose wisely when picking your targets!

Posting bounties

Before hunters can claim a bounty, they need a bounty to chase. That's where posting bounties comes in. Newly posted bounties will be listed in this opening post under active bounties.

The posted bounty essentially serves as a writing prompt, so try and set up an interesting character for whoever claims the bounty to run with. Keep it in-universe and themed as a bounty posting - you'll want to include the bounty's name, a short description, what they are wanted for, and any restrictions on how they must be brought in (your classic "dead or alive"!).

You must also include the bounty itself - the credit price on their head. This price is equivalent to the required word count for claiming the bounty. In other words, you choose how much of a writing challenge chasing your bounty will be! A bounty claim won't be accepted unless the required word count is met. You can set whatever bounty you like, and it should become clearer what size bounties players prefer as the game develops, but a general suggestion is anywhere between 200 and 1000 credits (words).

Here is an optional template you may follow:

Code: Select all

[size=200]WANTED[/size]

[size=150][b]Bounty Name[/b][/size]

[size=120][Reason for bounty][/size]

[Short description of target] [i]-- [Bounty origin][/i]

[size=200]XXX credits reward[/size]

There is no reward for posting bounties, but the game won't be playable without them - so all players are encouraged to contribute! In fact, even people who haven't created a character and aren't claiming bounties are welcome to still post them.

Joining the game

To join the game, first you need to create your very own bounty hunter! The galaxy is a big place, full of countless planets and species, so let your imagination run wild - but don't feel any pressure to flesh out your character here! You will have plenty of opportunity to develop them and reveal any backstory you wish while writing of their adventures.

Here is a quick "character sheet" to make signing up easy, but feel free to adapt it as you see fit:

Code: Select all

Name:
Species:
Description:
Origin:

You can create multiple characters if you wish, but be aware they will be ranked separately under hunter rankings.

Setting

Most of the setting is left undefined so that it can be developed throughout the game. The basic premise is that of a futuristic sci-fi version of the Milky Way: Earth (and humans) exist, but in what form is left up to the players. This is a galaxy teeming with life, where faster than light travel is a standard technology, and where bounty hunting is a standardised and widely recognised vocation.

Collaborative fiction and consistent world building

Inconsistencies between player's writing won't be punished, but players are encouraged to read each other's work and try to incoporate and develop different ideas. A consistent, interconnected universe makes for better and more interesting collaborative fiction!

Special consideration should be given to other player characters - as these characters are owned by their player, you should leave their development to that player unless you reach some explicit agreement amongst yourselves. That doesn't mean you can't write a story that intertwines with another, just that you should take care to respect each player's autonomy!

One post per submission

This is a simple rule to keep things tidy - each submission (creating a character, posting a bounty, claiming a bounty) should be in its own post. This opening post will be updated to link to all characters and bounties, which will work much better if this rule is observed!

Anyone can of course post in the thread otherwise, and commenting on other's writing is encouraged!

Active Bounties

Arkansas Moonshine - 1000 credits
X Æ A-14 - 850 credits
Lothar Bastium - 800 credits
Xychotla Rissick - 500 credits (Job taken by Raan Massu) (Part 1)
Prisoner 24602 - 500 credits
Daisy Du'Qam - 400 credits
Angie Dylan - 200 credits
Crazy Ignatius - 200 credits (Job taken by X Æ A-14) (Part 1)
S-T-A-R - 200 credits
Arwen Chan - 50 credits

Claimed Bounties

Mad Dog Woofard - 200 credits (Claimed by by Zil Czotski)
Asset #192403-B - 500 credits (Claimed by Lauren Hartridge)
Herman "Tap" Mannings - 600 credits (Claimed by Ansel Bishop)
Buddy the Boxer - 50 credits (Claimed by "Buck")
Ricardo 'Rick' Gonzales - 400 credits (Claimed by Ansel Bishop)
Bumpo Fred - 50 credits (Claimed by "Buck")

Hunter Rankings

Character (username) - Total bounties claimed - Total credits earned

Ansel Bishop (OrangeRKN) - 2 - 1000
Lauren Hartridge (DarkRula) - 1 - 500
Zil Czotski (Zilnad) - 1 - 200
"Buck" (Dan) - 2 - 100
Raan Massu (Ironhide) - 0 - 0
Yoama Lzarmi (Karl_) - 0 - 0
X Æ A-14 (Dan) - 0 - 0

[OrangeRKN]

Starting off with my own character...

Name: Ansel Bishop
Species: Human

A middle-aged middleweight with a muddled complexion. A stubbled jawline rounds off his Roman nose, while his dyed black hair is slicked back in a typically "mandated by company policy" manner. He carries himself in the way of his former profession - calmly imposing, and deeply deficient in mirth. A glimpse of carbon behind his right ear suggests some light communicative augmentation.

Formerly private security with Tannhäuser, Bishop served three tours of the Casino belt before breaking bond to avoid draft at the outbreak of the one month war. With a corp price on his head, but thousands of others in the same situation, Bishop took to bounty hunting himself and quickly earned an official reprieve - not that it meant much with the corp's rapid withdrawal and red victory across the local systems. Taking advantage of the regional upheaval Bishop continued in his new vocation, finding useful contacts from his old life on both sides of red space, and was soon taking on larger contracts from further afield.

[OrangeRKN]

And some bounty postings to start off too - of course anyone can post their own as well as these!

WANTED

Arkansas Moonshine

For smuggling of arms, narcotics and alien species

This no-good pirate has run one too many of our blockades, which means I've finally been authorised to drop some credits on his head. Consider him armed and dangerous, and if you catch him outside of republic space... well our laws on a fair trial only reach so far. He flies an old Rigel helium freighter called Moonshine, which tells you all you need to know about this guy's ego. Scrap it, sell it or take it for yourself, but for Kalev's sake change that name.

Arkansas was flagged up recently on the pleasure moon of Lambda Boötis IV - looks like he enjoyed an inebriated overnight stay with the local authorities. I suggest starting your search there. -- Commissaire Hilbard of the Orion Trade Republic

1000 credits reward

[OrangeRKN]

WANTED

Asset #192403-B

For unsactioned leave

Asset believed to be travelling under pseudonymn "Lucy Green". Last logged location at Plucastle Space Port. Request retrieval with minimal damage. Line manager notes asset survival is preferable. A price of 500 credits has been sanctioned to be paid on asset delivery. -- HR Corp

500 credits reward

[OrangeRKN]

WANTED

Mad Dog Woofard

For aggravated assault, grand larceny, and public urination

Bill "Mad Dog" Woofard is a bipedal and moderately intelligent human-daschund hybrid, recently reported laying low in the outskirts of Helix City. Past experience suggest he will probably be armed, but his bark is stronger than his bite. Bring him in, dead or alive. -- Helix City Animal Control

200 credits reward

[Jenuall]

Great stuff! I'll be joining in once I get a chance to write up my hunter bio!

[Zilnad]

My Bounty Hunter

Name: Zil Czotski
Species: Human
Description: An up and coming bounty hunter, still to complete his first job. Earth is a harsh place to survive without friends and Zil has recently found himself alone and without a place to call home. Zil will need to toughen up, fast, if he's ever going to live day to day, let alone make it off world.
Origin: Earth, Helix City

[Zilnad]

WANTED

Mad Dog Woofard

For aggravated assault, grand larceny, and public urination

Bill "Mad Dog" Woofard is a bipedal and moderately intelligent human-daschund hybrid, recently reported laying low in the outskirts of Helix City. Past experience suggest he will probably be armed, but his bark is stronger than his bite. Bring him in, dead or alive. -- Helix City Animal Control

200 credits reward

I'm claiming this bounty!

[DarkRula]

Name: Lauren Hartridge
Species: Frizzic

Not much is known of the Frizzic, except that they are human-like in every way. But there needs to be something different about them for the classification as a different species to be made. As though trying to find something to diversify them from human, researchers note the pale yellow skin tone and shockingly blue eyes. Those researchers only know of one Frizzic, and it is that Frizzic who the researchers are after to learn more about the species.

For Lauren, she has done her job in making people curious about her and where she comes from. But rather than sitting down and telling people about herself, she'd much rather show them by racking up bounties within this galaxy and earning a reputation. She is aware that there will come a time when those researchers put a bounty on her, as she'd be too valuable to pass up for more intimate research, but should such a thing happen, she knows what she has to do.

[OrangeRKN]

I'm excited

Thinking about it, it'll probably work better just to make a new post when you've written something, rather than editing the claim post - I've edited the OP to reflect that!

[That]

I will definitely write something for this eventually, I'll be reading the stories too!

[DarkRula]

Within the Cordial Crusader, a mercenary cruiser that welcomes hunters, Lauren flicks through the bounty listings, hunting for a simple job that would test her tracking skills. One in particular catches her eye.

WANTED

Asset #192403-B

For unsactioned leave

Asset believed to be travelling under pseudonymn "Lucy Green". Last logged location at Plucastle Space Port. Request retrieval with minimal damage. Line manager notes asset survival is preferable. A price of 500 credits has been sanctioned to be paid on asset delivery. -- HR Corp

500 credits reward

"Plucastle, huh?" She grins, with a manic gleam in her eye. "This should be an easy one."

Bounty Reserved

[Zilnad]

It's not very good but it's my first bounty. Hopefully I'll catch more and improve as we go on.

Mad Dog Woofard - 200 credits reward - 305 words

Nobody noticed the momentary flash of the stun rod or the sound of clattering trash cans reverberating down the grime slicked alley behind Poochie’s Bar on the night of Zil’s first successful hunt. Woofhard, the mark, a violent human-Dachsund cast off, had reportedly taken refuge in Poochie’s after a police sting had caught him trying to fence a wealth of stolen government assets.

Poochie’s Bar was a notorious anti-human establishment and so Zil had had no alternative but to sit tight down the darkened back street, tensely watching from the shadows, while the night’s polluted rain saturated his worn overcoat.

Close to an hour of hiding had passed when Woofard’s overbearing, lupinelike form finally stumbled, unknowingly, from the quiet street into Zil’s proximity. As Woofard turned to take a leak, the stun rod, held tightly in Zil’s grasp, sparked more violently than anticipated, leaving a visible cloud of crackling, static charge and a wisp of smoke hanging in the air. Perhaps fortunately for Zil, as well as helping mask his unwashed scent, the heavy rain had been the cause of the extra forceful shockwave that had floored Woofard in an instant.

It would be some time before Zil could forget the appalling smell of burnt dog hair clashing with the stench of month-old garbage as he hogtied and heaved his bounty’s bulky frame from out under the strewn waste bags behind Poochie’s. Zil briefly considered calling the bounty agency for help with the pickup but, after taking a moment to catch his breath and encouraged by the need to impress on his first job, he decided instead, with great effort, to lug the beast’s considerable form into the back of his truck, one street over. Should there be any witnesses to Woofhard’s abduction, no one in this damned district would even look twice, he thought.

[DarkRula]

Asset #192403-B - 500 Credit Reward - 606 Words

Plucastle Space Port was a hive of those who wanted to appear like upper class citizens. Everything had that refined and almost dignified feel to it, and deeper into the port, the same could be said of the people who wondered around.

It was a place Lauren knew well. She could fit in with the faux culture that had taken hold of the place, and wondered whether her target would be able to do so.
Turning into one of the cocktail bars, she took a seat, looking around at those who were enjoying themselves. She noted no-one out of the ordinary, except a few pirates making a nuisance of themselves in a corner.

“Would one like to order a drink?” asked a suave voice.

Lauren faced the person to see exactly what she had expected. A waiter ready and waiting to collect orders of anyone who took a seat. It would be rude not to order something, but she had been here enough to know her favourites.

“I will have the Maddening Murdock, please.” She paused for a second to allow him to write that down. “Incidentally, perhaps you can help me with something?”

“I will help if I can,” came the reply, a bit less smooth than before.

“I have a friend, who said they would meet me at this Port.” She gave him the full name. Not to do so would make it seem suspicious.

“I don’t recall… hearing the name.”

She kept quiet, sure there was more coming.

“However, there was someone… It can’t be the same person.”

She took a risk. “She said she had recently broken out from somewhere. Wanted help to hide.”

“I’ve heard a story similar to that.”

“Well, Miss Green,” she just about heard from outside.

“Excuse me,” Lauren said to the waiter.

Not rushing, appearing unconcerned, she headed into the hallway, looking both ways. She heard the voice again.

“…far away from here.”

It was obvious that someone had asked that waiter before. Whoever was with her was the friend. The story had been true.

Setting off at a walk, she followed them, aware that the friend could be tipped off, which seemed to be happening.

He was talking to someone over an earpiece. Carefully, but she caught it, he looked over his shoulder. It seemed he had noticed her, for he sped up slightly. She guessed he didn’t want to outright run for it, and thus give himself away. If she made to go faster, it would give him the excuse to speed them up.

The two were within the hangar bay when she made her move. She knew she could be faster than them, and he noticed her break into a run. As she had predicted, he also launched into a run. The ramp of his ship extended to allow them access, but it was already too late for them to block her entrance.

She sidestepped his punch, which had been poorly aimed, grabbed him, and threw him from his own ship, grabbing the control fob from him as she did so. Before the asset could make any response, she grabbed her neck with her gloved hand, and a certain position of her ring finger activated the shockwave to stun the asset into unconsciousness.

“I’ll take it from here,” Lauren joyfully stated as the ramp closed.

It was a shame to have to leave her own ship here, and she knew she could never return for it unless she made this quick.

No trouble had followed her to the destination, and the handover had gone smoothly.

Now it was time to get her ship back.

[Zilnad]

WANTED

Herman "Tap" Mannings

For unwarranted surveillance and sextortion

Herman is a depraved lech who spends his days and evenings alone in his bedsit, comforted by the hum and glow of his computer monitor. Under the alias "Tap", Herman advertises his services on the dark web, offering his skills as a hacker to other like-minded degenerates. Forever alone, Tap makes sure he covers his back wherever possible and, as a result of his paranoia, has amassed a stash of illicit footage on a number of his clients.

Unfortunately for him, Tap's most recent blackmail victim has reached out to us anonymously with the request to capture Tap and ensure all the footage is destroyed. The bounty is official, the source is anybody's guess.

600 credits reward

[OrangeRKN]

And we're off the mark! Great to see two bounties claimed so quickly - I especially liked the development of both locations when all that was given was a name, Poochie's Bar being notoriously anti-human especially

First post has been updated. At some point I'll collapse the intro/rules down behind a spoiler so the leaderboard and links are more easily accessible.

[OrangeRKN]

Herman "Tap" Mannings

600 credits reward

Reserved! Was waiting to see if anyone else would jump in - think we could do with a couple more bounty postings just so there is some choice, if anyone is feeling creative

[Ironhide]

Name - Raan Massu

Species - Human?

Know simply by those in the criminal world as 'The Hunter', there a few who know or even imagine that beneath the hulking 7 foot mass of highly advanced combat armour there is a raven haired, slender young woman, and Raan herself prefers to keep it that way.

Orphaned and stranded on an apparently uninhabited planet at a young age, Raan managed to survive long enough to be taken in by a small group of alien refugees who were hiding in the abandoned ruins of a long gone advanced civilization, over the following 15 years Raan discovered she wasn't quite an ordinary human, possessing incredible athleticism and agility she was also somehow able to activate and use the ancient technology found deep within the ruins, including the armour she now wears.

Ah, plagiarism

[Zilnad]

Herman "Tap" Mannings

600 credits reward

Reserved! Was waiting to see if anyone else would jump in - think we could do with a couple more bounty postings just so there is some choice, if anyone is feeling creative

Have fun! I'll try and imagine up another bounty while I'm enjoying a relaxing soak later.

EDIT - Sod it, I'm not busy at work at the minute. I'll see if I can post another bounty or two in the next hour.

[Ironhide]

WANTED

Ricardo 'Rick' Gonzales

Wanted for a multitude of crimes across the galaxy ranging from theft and violent assault to drug trafficking and inciting genocide.

Bounty hunters are advised that this is an extremely dangerous individual due to his unprecedented intelligence and utter disregard for all other life

Last known sighting: Sector 17 trading post, believed to be heading towards the planet XR72

400 credit reward