Chapter Text
March 2nd, 2011
So, you’ve decided/been traumatized enough to become a hunter!
Congrats.
(And no, it doesn’t get any easier. Ever. My heart bleeds for you. Behind any great hunter is the mother of all sob stories.)
So, for the next few months, you’re classified ‘Fresh Meat’ to any fanged, ectoplasmic or black-eyed son of a bitch within a mile of your ass. Odds are, you’ll be dead within a few months. And don’t cheer up too much if you make it that far- lucky is the hunter who makes it past the age of forty. I speak from experience. And hunters ain’t lucky people.
Congrats again.
Anyway, it’s come to the attention of the hunting community that something had to be done to stop the process of the time-old tale; Human living a normal life, Human loses loved one(s) in a tragic supernatural incident, Human discovers existence of the supernatural, Human decides to become hunter out of grief/rage/etcetera, Hunter encounters something they haven’t before and immediately loses his or her life. It’s a classic. And everything’s gone to hell in a handbasket on earth since the resident demon and long-lost angel population skyrocketed in the last few years.
Hunters by definition are almost always good at what they do, because a bad hunter is already a dead hunter, whether they know it yet or not. But everyone makes mistakes and bad calls from time to time, some bigger than others.
So here’s the new plan. You get given this kit, and you study EVERYTHING in it before you even leave your crappy motel room. It is the BARE basics you need to become a hunter who’ll last longer than five minutes. There’s some information on equipment, commonly sighted monsters, some important symbols and rituals, a few basic supplies and some emergency material. Learn it all.
Remember this kit is not going to automatically boot you up to professional hunter status (for a loose definition of the word ‘professional’.) This stuff is here to keep your ass alive for as long as it takes you catch up with the rest of us. Your best bet now is to find the nearest hunter, ask them about the most experienced hunter they know and then track them down. At the very least, find a partner who won’t ditch your ass as soon as a job gets too hot.
There’s no tried and true method for hunting. Other hunters can only give you so much information, but the most valuable quality in a hunter; beyond knowledge, strength or the ability to smart-mouth your way out of trouble; is the ability to think on one’s feet. If you can’t out-think an opponent and get creative, you’re best off confining your hunting prowess to game.
If you find something you ain’t encountered before, call for advice or get the hell out of dodge and let another hunter handle it. Going up against a monster with the wrong weapon is a sure-fire way to punch your heaven-card a few years early. (Or hell-card, as the case may be)
Number One Rule for you at the moment: Get informed, or get out.
Welcome to the hunting life. Keep both hands on the wheel, a tight grip on your soul, a tighter grip on your shotgun and you might make it out in one piece.
Unlikely.
But you’ll save a damn lot of lives doing it. And there ain’t no shame in that.
Idgit.
- R.S.
P.S. Given what I mentioned about the term ‘Professional’ Hunter being loose terminology, you’ll get why I didn’t pack silver in every kit. Do what you have to; raid your grandmother’s heirloom cutlery chest for all I care; but get your hands on some silver. You’re going to need it.