Chapter 1 - Knightfall

Vlax pauses and make sure to stop and chat with each of the first responders, seeing the anguish in their face. This wasn't his first encounter with horror, although this particular seen might be unique. What was most disconcerting at the moment was the look on the faces of his comrades. He took a few seconds, making sure to reach up and touch them on the shoulder, his training coming in and knowing that physical contact was important when delivering a psychologically influenced message. He reminds each of them that they've done a great job this evening, and while they would need to remain a while longer to keep things secure, they should remind themselves that this is why they chose this life. They want to make sure that these kind of things don't happen very often, and while there's no way to stop horror forever, they can certainly work together to protect the next family who would be victim.

Once he feels confident that he has supported that crew, remembering back to the days when he was just a beat cop, Vlax approaches the edge of the scene and prepares to study it with the tenacious fervor of someone who now must deliver on the sermon he just gave to the other cops. He would leave no stone unturned, and make absolutely sure that if the perpetrator of such a horrendous crime could be found, that they don't muck it up. As his training dictates, he starts at the furthest edge, slowly working his way inward, searching for evidence so that it can be properly cataloged and collected. Only after this is done can he take a step back and study the wider picture.

Ooc: Sorry, I didn't get a notification on this one, because it's a new thread I suppose which I just subscribed to. In any case if there is a special convention that I should be using, let me know. If there isn't one then I tend to just write in there to style like you would if you were reading a novel.

Ps: If possible, Vlax will utilize his skill set involved in investigations. I don't know if a roll is needed, if we're just working through the initial story. If one is, you might better work me through the methodology of how to make this roll thing work... Or point me to some directions if it's the same in every game on this website, then I'm sure there's somewhere I can read up on it.

PSS: spectacular first post by the way. I don't know if you're copying and pasting this from somewhere, or if you are truly the narrative genius that this writing in tones. I can totally feel myself drawn to the scene. Takes a true PbP GM with a gift of literary writing, not to mention the creative mind, to pull this off. Admit, I am not easily impressed having been a DM for long as I have but this is a spectacular start.

Vlax draws his own weapon and begins to back out of the scene, toward the officers who are there to render aid, but his vision trained on the dark alley. You no longer cares whatsoever about preserving evidence, when preserving life takes presidence. It's not that he believes the officer saw anything, but he's not stupid enough to discount the observation. Fear can do a great many things to people, and they can see things, but these men went through the same training he did and they are supposedly readied for situations that required discretionary use of a firearm. Most people never actively discharge their weapon in the line of duty, so no one will ever really know what happens until they face it, and his heart races as he wonders if that's about to be the case here. Head on a swivel, he's backing up and trying to get to the relative of safety of his comrades.