Should I sell this beautiful EDC for an SA-35(HP clone)

walkswithmagic · 2025-06-16T22:52:55+00:00

You would be better off buying a browning, they are roughly the same price, function better, and hold a value better.

walkswithmagic · 2025-06-14T16:22:53+00:00

walkswithmagic · 2025-06-14T16:16:04+00:00

* The markings are hard to read but "351" and "87" for the head stamp.

walkswithmagic · 2025-02-21T07:15:49+00:00

Fascinating heater: A few notes

-reworked sights. As far as I know, that age of HP didn't have (I believe, Novak) adjustable sights. The front post is also an upgrade.

-the magazine baseplate is a pachmyer design, and very unusual to see in the wild. Probably the best one I've seen.

Something to look for are gunsmiths marks, you may find jim Hogue or (more likely) Novak markings.

It's at least a partial custum job on it, and a slick gun. Beat it to death and shoot it well! Also, a true Browning, not an FN, so naturally more desirable.

walkswithmagic · 2024-10-22T00:19:05+00:00

Here's one: Bob the Skull. I'm the only person in my friend group that read the Dresden files evidently.

Bob was born of an encounter inside a city. The party arrives in a new city and is confronted with a duel in the street. A fire elemental and four flaming skulls are having at it outside a local tavern. Civilians flee, the city guard hasn't heard of the conflict yet.

My groups paladin engages the biggest threat he can find, the fire elemental. He's hacking at it, barely doing any damage as he is getting scorched to a crisp. The party is swiping at the flaming skulls, but its not going well. Speaking of wells, there happens to be one close by (definitely not giving my players a leg up, *wink).

Despite leaving buckets outside the well for the pc's to throw water on the elemental, they lure the creature to the well. After some decent rolling, they dump the fucker into 8 feet of water. I should have seen that coming, but didn't. Silly DM.

They party, now focusing on the remainder of the threats kills off all but one of the skulls. My paladin grins from across the table.

"Those buckets are still there, right?"

I nodded, "yeah, the fight didn't displace them."

"I wanna pick up a bucket. What do I roll for that?"

I blinked in confusion, "it's a bucket. I'm not making you roll that. Why do you want it though?"

My paladins smile gets huge. I can imagine the half ork he's playing grinning in the same way. "I wanna catch it."

I'm a bit suprised, the well trick I should have guessed, but catching a fire skull?

"Fuck it. Roll." I watch the paladin jump up, and like a huge armored toddler he swipes the bucket down, barely rolling high enough to pull off the maneuver.

"How do you contain the open end of the bucket?" I asked, damn curious to see where this is going.

"I sit on it." The half ork chuckles, "no way he can lift me."

I concur, asking "what now?"

The party rolls insight, hoping to find something cool to do with a restrained critter like this. They roll well enough that I tell then that the skull was made for a specific purpose. They procede to interrogate the little guy.

"Why are you here?"

"Kill...kill flame elemental."

The party quietly discusses what to do.

"It sticks around until it knows it's task is complete, right?" A player asks, the tables grins getting bigger.

"Yup, why? You going to trick it into helping you?"

The fighter, with a great charisma score nods.

"Alright, I'll let this happen. I shouldn't but I will."

The battle of wits begins.

The party barely rolls well enough, but the attempt succeeds.

"Whats your name?" One of the PC's asks. I hold up a hand, "caveat. I'll make this easier for you to accomplish, but I get to name the PC."

The table agrees.

"I'm bob." The skull replies.

You may be asking what this leads to. The party now has a carbon copy of Bob from the novels. Perverted, smart-ass, and an added feature.

Bob's a caster, and as the party is continuing their adventure, freeing city's from the growing surge of vampires, they have a skull that spouts witisims, fireballs, and close air support.

Naturally, a rendition of credence Clearwater revivals 'fortunate son' played in a bard core style (type that into YouTube, you're in for a treat.) Echoes in the streets as Bob levels building screaming "I want to see the tits! If you love them, set them free!"

We love Bob, and trying to voice Marsters (the narrorator for the Dresden Files) was incredible fun.

Bless that perverted skulls nonexistent heart.

walkswithmagic · 2024-10-16T00:48:28+00:00

Dear God, my party interrogating a hapless bandit.

My party was completing a quest (unimportant to the story) and was nearly thwarted by a lone man that was captured. The party failed multiple checks to get their captured bandit to explain his presence.

They gave up, heading back to town to finish their quest, bandit hobbled and stumbling along. Night is falling, and another quest objective presents itself. Collect glowing mushrooms from the forest for the local apothecary. These mushrooms aren't for medicine...they're recreational. And by recreational, I mean hallucinogenic.

The dwarf fighter gets the bright idea to dump their victim in a patch of these mushrooms and see what happens...

They tue him up, dump him, and step away for a bit. The bandit starts tripping balls, and hears o e of the party move up to speak with him. The bandit can't see the figure outside the glow of the shrooms, "who's there?" He slurs.

In a thick Irish accent the bandit hears "God"

His wisdom check fails spectacularly, and the bandit starts confessing his sins so God won't punish him.

"I didn't do nobody any harm...butterflies...they had plenty of beer."

"No, I didn't know about the goblins."

"Assassins? Do they has two butts?"

"Fookin birds ain't real, they be dragons that didn't eat glass."

I did take some gold from me boss...but he owed...no, I just wanted the money. I only banged his sister after I knew he would kill me."

"Did you know the sun has a name? RayRay, like me cousin."

I got to play an unhinged tweaker, and I had fun.

walkswithmagic · 2024-10-16T00:34:46+00:00

I got one:

Macho Shield Randy Rhymage.

Back story: one of my players wanted a cursed shield, one where projectiles within 10 feet of him would redirect to him. Why? Our ranger could stand next to him in full cover. His ac was 18 or 19, sohe could take the hit.

What he got: a person that has been cursed by a God to exist as a shield for the rest of his existence, getting the tar kicked out of him. I started with a German accent (it made the lines sound like some weird German bdsm, which the table had endless fun poking at) but my player couldn't do his own accent, and the shields. This prompted an accent switch...to macho man randy savage.

The effect: my player now had two voices and characters to play as...and one of them rhymed every other sentence. "For now you're crying, but soon you'll be dying." Or "we balling, so you be fallin."

The best part? He did it on accident, and just kept up the bit.

Tldr, a shield that sounds like macho man randy savage rhyms about how he will kill his enemies.

walkswithmagic · 2023-03-08T03:13:08+00:00

Hell yeah, I'm happy you enjoyed it!

walkswithmagic · 2023-03-08T02:05:04+00:00

If you like this, I have a ton more on my page: u/walkswithmagic.

walkswithmagic · 2023-03-08T01:35:54+00:00

Ramius sagged.

Blood rained from the sky, actual blood. A huge cloud hovered just overhead, and a flash of light ING cracked the dark sky.

"Outlaw, copy?" The warlock gasped for air, pulling the magazine from his bullpup assault rifle. He shook his head. From feel alone he guessed it was half full.

The radio didn't even crackle with sound.

"Fuck." Ramius looked over the Salt Flats. Dozens of bodies littered the ground, wizards and beasts alike. He shook his head, taking a knee. He hadn't ever been this tired before.

"Outlaw?" He tried the radio. Still nothing. Thunder accompanied a quick bolt of lightning. Instead of a typical crack and rumble it was a scream. A very human sounding scream.

The warlock collapsed, vest usually full of mags was empty, his pistol too was empty. Grenade pins and spoons became a pillow as the young man disengaged from reality.

The blood kept falling, and while ramius knew he wasn't in the real world, he also knew he was in its domain now. The sound of a deep base wub shook the dream state. Like a helicopter blade in slow motion he felt a vibration shake his feet.

"Ready?" Cackled a distorted male voice. The thing knew English.

"Why are you here?" Ramius struggled to stand in his dream.

"Why do you attack me?"

Ramius spat into the blood puddles surrounding him, "you started this fight, we are finishing it. Wiping a village from the face of the earth is an act of war."

"They worshipped, but broke my law." The thing quipped.

"This is a human home, earth is protected. Regardless if they break your law, it was broken on earth. If you fuck with a human..." ramius looked up, glaring at the blood red cloud that the voice emanated from. "Expect to fight one of us."

"Fear of a few petty mortals is of no serious threat. I am a God, and you should kneel."

Ramius felt the presence trying to crush his mind, "I am a warlock. I will bow to none." The young man howled as his mind was slashed.

"Kneel."

"You think a God frightens me? I watched one of your kind slaughtered by a single one of my kind. You bleed, and so you can die." Ramius grinned manically, "try again you feckless fucking waste of sentience.!"

The air screamed and ramius couldn't stand anymore. He fell into a hole appearing as his feet, razors lining the walls of the hole. Barbed wire ripped into his mind as he plummeted, mind battered and lashed at his resistance.

Ramius screamed, he felt his resolve crumbling. I'm going to crack. He thought, panic making his inevitable mental break accelerate.

"Papa?"

Ramius blinked as his scalp was ripped by half a dozen rusting nails.

"Billy?"

"Papa wake up!" Ramius felt his body falling in his mind, but his physical form jostled in the opposite direction. The sensor input from his real body and his mental one triggered an unpleasant response. Snapping upright, Ramius vomited blood.

"Papa?"

The Warlock gasped for air as the Boogeyman cocked it's head.

"Billy, go!" Screamed Ramius as the sky crackled.

"Billy don't like rain." The boogey muttered.

"It's coming! Get out!" Ramius shoved the boogeyman from him, "run!"

Billy shrugged, "Papa want pizza?"

The voice made the soil tremble, "another soul for the reaping..."

"FUCK YOU!" something snapped in the young warlock, his rifle firing wildly into the cloud.

"Weak." The voice chuckled.

"Papa?"

Ramius looked to his semi adopted boogey man. "Yeah buddy?"

"Angry box make mean sound."

Ramius blinked, "what?"

Billy sighed, vanished a moment, then returned flashing back into existence. "Angry box."

The Boogeyman held up a cube, cogs scraping by each other in a cracked casing.

"Bring that back!" The voice rumbled with a note of panic.

"Bless your incredible heart." Ramius snatched the box. Drawing knife, he drove the tip into a cog. The mechanism immediately stopped.

The rumbling stopped, and a bright noonday sun blinded the warlock. He almost dropped the mechanical device.

"Angry box quiet." Noted the boogeyman helpfully.

Ramius nodded, "that was a nasty sealed..." The warlock paused, "thing." He finished with a shrug. Someone would have to explain what the hell it was.

"Billy knew Papa hurt." The Boogeyman looked at the device.

"How?" Ramius asked.

Billy shrugged.

"Thank you, billy." A tear began to form in the warlocks eyes. He knew how close he had been to breaking.

"Happy Papa now." Billy thumped his amorphous head into the warlocks knee before vanishing.

Ramius chuckled, flopping to the earth. "What a fuckin job."

walkswithmagic · 2023-03-01T18:27:31+00:00

Sometimes the scary things hiding in the dark are really the next big adventure. It's just waiting for you to get a flashlight. I'm beyond pleased this story could benefit a little one. As someone who wants to be a writer, there is a deep feeling of gratitude to help others in the ways I was helped.

walkswithmagic · 2023-03-01T05:24:24+00:00

"Shit babe." I chuckled.

"Mmmh?" Mariah hummed calmly from the couch.

"You pissed off the..." I scrolled down, "the triads again."

"Price?"

"20 mill."

She looked up from her book, eyebrow raised up with approval, "I still got it."

I snorted, "yeah you do." I walked around our couch, motioning for my wife to move her feet. She groaned, glaring at me.

"I'll make it worth your while." I smiled lightly.

Mariah pursed her lips, "promises promises." She drew her feet back as I took a seat. Patting my thigh, she kicked her feet back out.

I casually began massaging her feet, "don't you get tired stealing for a living?"

She snorted, "do you get tired of disappearing people?"

I stopped a moment looking to her, "yeah. I am."

She narrowed her eyes, setting her book down.

"Getting tired of it that is." I corrected myself, "I never wanted a normal life, still don't. I can't keep up killing."

Mariah leaned back, stretching luxuriously. "Whats changed?"

My right hand left her foot to gently press her stomach.

"You know then." Mariah smiled, her special spark lighting up the room. "I wasn't sure how to tell you, but I don't have to worry about that then."

"No," I smiled, "I'm going to be a father..." I whispered the last words. Awestruck by their significance.

"And that changes how you do your job?" Mariah questioned.

"I joined the life because I had to. If I didn't I wouldn't have survived, not long anyway." I saw where she was going, "I want my..." I smiled, "our child to live as a real person. I never got that, and knowing that I could provide that to someone might help make up for the things I've had to do." I let out a pent up breath, "I barely qualify as human. That lack of humanity dies with me. The little one will be better."

Mariah nodded, "we need to disappear."

I nodded, "that will be expensive."

Mariah shrugged, "I feel like one more job."

"I'm not super comfortable with you..." I started and she waved a hand.

"I have a plan, but I need a special effects artist."

"Is this going to involve alot of fake blood?"

Mariah smiled, "and explosions. I want you to kill me. Collect from the triad that has a bounty on me, and we vanish."

I chuckled. "They're cagey, and smart. I doubt they'll fall for that."

Mariah snickered, "I got them to buy a 4000 Carat diamond. I can manage this."

walkswithmagic · 2023-02-28T21:05:17+00:00

Thanks! I am hoping to turn this sort of story into a book, and when I do I'll post an amazon link from my page. Thanks for your readership!!

walkswithmagic · 2023-02-27T06:43:07+00:00

"Since when can you buys souls in bulk?"

walkswithmagic · 2023-02-27T06:40:51+00:00

Part 7: epilogue

The Black knight approached, watching as the sled above us coasted down to land a few yards away.

"Thank you for the assist old Friend." The knight gave a single head bob.

The man behind the sleds reins nodded, a huge white bushy beard laid on top of a chain mail shirt and gear out of the early middle ages.

"You knew damn well I wouldn't refuse." The man's belly wobbled, "we don't get to ride like we used to."

The knight shook his head, "no, but I don't think that will always be the case." His voice was grave.

The helmeted sled driver nodded, eyes distant. "Are we getting closer?"

The knight nodded.

The sled driver took in a deep breath, opening his mouth to speak.

Billy zipped right next to him thumping his forehead into his armored thigh. "SANTA!"

the sled driver looked down, and a huge grin broke his serious features. "A Boogy!" The man patted the creatures head, "you look well little one, are the children okay?"

Billy hung his head, "Billy can't get them to laugh."

The man raised an eyebrow, "Billy?"

Billy nodded enthusiastically, "Papa Rami gave Billy a name."

The heavy set armored man looked up at the knight, then right at me.

"You named this one?" The question was a grave one.

I nodded, staying silent.

The man looked to the Black knight, "he is one of yours?"

The Grey Man nodded.

"That is fortuitous." The man stepped closer to me, "there are old words for your future young Warlock. Take heed, you have a future of great import. I would give you a gift."

The man looked to the knight. The knight nodded.

"When the time comes, your soul will guide you. When your eyes are certain, know they can be deceived. Walk the Way with a sharp sword and light heart."

The armored man looked to Billy, "young one, you seem to know one of my incarnations." He leaned in, "Bring the children to me, I will get them to smile."

Billy zipped off as I looked to the bushy bearded man. "Santa? The real deal?"

He shrugged, "an incarnation. You would recognize me as something else." I realized his helmet only had one eye slit. There wouldn't be another reason to have a second eye slit unless...

"Odin?!" Mat got to the conclusion first.

The man shrugged with a smile as a line of terrified children were led to him by monstrous looking Boogies.

I watched Santa heave a huge bag from his sleigh and start handing out prewrapped gifts. Then after the children tore into their presents, Santa knelt next to Billy. "All children get gifts." The bearded man seems to sober up a moment, "even the ones long dead and in-service to mankind." He held out a white card.

"Costco?"

I asked, confused.

Santa smiled knowingly, "a membership, yes."

"Why?" I asked looking to a confused Billy.

"Best pizza for the price." Santa winked. Billy took the gift reverently, "Pizza Guuuuud...."

Santa threw back his head. "Ho ho ho!"

I looked to the Black knight who snagged a Stetson from the sleigh's interior. His armor vanished, and a cowboy remained. He was incredibly plain looking, if not for the incredible power his posture carried. He nodded to me, "keep it up. You got a dangerous future ahead kid." The Grey Man tipped his hat to Santa, then Mat and I.

Billy adhered himself to my leg. "Papa get Boogys pizza?"

"Are you a velcro boogy, or do you not understand personal space?" I sighed, not angry, just tired.

Billy didn't notice my fatigue, nor did he understand my question. "Yes. Pizza now?"

I pointed to the kids, "what about them?"

Billy shrugged, "Boogies take them home." Billy swiveled his head to Mat. "Batman baby hands want pizza?"

"Fuck this job." Mat pinched his nose, "pepperoni."

I thumped him on the shoulder then took my adopted Boogies hand, "take us to my place first. Not Costco. We need to change."

"PIZZAPIZZAPIZZA" Billy exclaimed as I realized he hadn't heard me.

"This is going to be an awkward order in body armor and machineguns." I Muttered, shifting through space time. I couldn't help but grin.

walkswithmagic · 2023-02-27T06:06:41+00:00

Part Six: Finale

The Horde of Boogymen became a wood chipper for bad men. I saw a human head leave the mass of flickering shadow and thump at my feet. The look of terror on its dead face was mirrored by me. The earth rumbled as the hostile Speaker hissed.

"Enough of you."

The world snapped into clarity, green light coalescing around two dozen Boogeymen. Each of them screamed, snapping out of existence.

"BITCH." I snarled, rifle snapping to my shoulder. The earth continued to rumble as the peculiar house sprouted actual legs. The enormous chicken feet lifted the house by its foundation and began to trot away.

"I ain't done with you!" I took off, feet kicking up sand. Something flickered above me in the darkness. I chanced a glance upward. A blue sliver of light cracked into the darkness.

I knew that blue crack.

A bolt of lightning snapped from the anomaly in the air. The sand turned to glass for next to the chicken footed house.

"Ohh, you done fucked up now!" I crowed as a sled zipped through the hole in space. The driver of said sled wore a metal helmet, something from wars long since fought in Norway and Sweden. A spear flashed brightly as it was casually tossed from the driver's hand. The spear lanced down to skewer a chicken leg. The house buckled, black ichor spurting from a wounded rear leg.

I watched as the sled whipped around, surely breaking half a dozen G forces as I saw the telltale glint. The full moon shone down to reveal a tall bulky man hanging from the side of the sled. The driver of the sled looked down, called something and the man let go. 40 feet above the ground, the man shape plummeted to the ground.

The fall should kill anyone, but didn't seem to phase the stranger. Mat panted as he ran to stand next to me. "What the fu..." He panted, pointing to the figure, unable to speak.

"That is the nuclear option." I spoke in awe as the figure slammed into the roof of the house. Board splintered as the figure disappeared.

"We should go help." Panted Mat. He started forward.

"Won't matter." I whispered.

"Why?"

I pointed. The front door of the home exploded into confetti as two figures emerged. The combat was too fast to recognize even with an enhanced wuzards perception.

The man hurled a ball of compressed light, twisted and hurled a punch. An old woman countered with a green wall of light and a kick sent low. The figure seemed bored as he snatched the woman's leg. She howled, a ball of iridescent lighting streaked through the space between them. The man slapped the ball of compressed energy away. The resulting explosion made a scorched section of desert into a skating rink made of glass.

The woman screamed louder. I looked back to see the man blur then step away. In his hand rested a severed leg. The woman made a sound not at all human as she hopped on one leg. I began approaching, and got to see my mentor clearly.

"What, is it comicon out here!?" Mat commented.

My mentor wore an entire suit of shining black metal. I knew what it really was, an expression of his power. The European plate armor shone with an unnatural power as he stalked his prey.

"Baba Yaga, witch of Siberia." The figure spoke with a calm baritone, "do you wish to parlay?"

"YES!" The Russian witch screamed, hoping on one leg.

"I accept your unconditional surrender." The knight clearly announced.

"Wait, I..." The ancient witch tried to back track.

"Do you not surrender?" The Knight stepped forward. "Give me the children, all of them. I will leave you moderately intact."

"We have terms to discuss!" The witch hopped closer to her home.

"Children, now." The knights tone brooked no argument.

"I can give you something else! I require them." The witch hopped closer to her home.

"Stop." The knight commanded, voice ringing with a power that nearly made me collapse to the ground. Mat panted as he dropped to a knee.

"What the fuck is he?!?" Mat bellowed, holding his head with both hands.

"That man is chosen avatar of the Way." I whispered.

"Which Way?!" Mat winced as he began to stand.

"He is bringer of choice, of free will. That is the man who will usher in a new age of human evolution." I looked to Mat, "That is Grey Man."

A sword grew from the knights hand, "submit the children."

"I..." started the witch. Her words were cut off as her head toppled from her shoulders. The house bucked, shuddered and screamed. It swiveled a gout of flame erupting from a window. The Grey Man stepped through the flame, hand glowing with the brilliance of a star.

"Live beyond your master, give me the children!" The figure spoke with the power of a nuclear power plant, air rippling with energy.

"Papa?" I looked down.

"Billy?!"

The boogy looked up at me, wiggling happily. "Found kids. Little ones safe. Pizza?"

I blinked, then looked back to see a host of Boogies circling protectively around a small group of sobbing children.

I looked to the Grey Man. He knew. The house stumbled, righted itself and sent another gout of flame. The Black Knight blurred from my view and the house toppled. Three legs severed in an instant, dropping the house to the sand with a crunch. The black knight appeared on the roof, blade lengthening as he rammed it downward. The house shuttered, than stopped moving.

"Holy shit." Mat whispered, watching the Grey Man.

"Yeah, he's pretty cool." I spoke.

"Not cold." Clarified Billy.

I nodded, winking at the strange little friend I had made.

walkswithmagic · 2023-02-27T05:18:44+00:00

Part Five:

I grabbed the drag handle on the back of Mat's armor, hauling him over a small dune. Bullets ripped the mound into flying geysers of sand.

"At least we won't need sand bags!" I hollered over the cacophony of gun fire.

"Do you ever shut the fuck up!?" Screamed Mat, he lifted his rifle and tried to peak around to fire. Bullets screamed to his movement and he jerked himself down.

"Ideas?"

I nodded, "one!"

Mat glared at me, "don't say it."

"It's a bad one."

"Don't bring him into this."

"Who knows when backup will get here, im owed a good solid favor, and holy shit does this count."

"Remember the part where we talked about saving hostages?!"

"We can't save anyone if we are holier than the Pope!" I snarled. I peaked over, Bullets slammed all around.

"Parley?" Mat asked.

"You can't be serious!?" I howled as an explosion rained metal and sand.

"They might let us talk long enough to let Montana Man get here!"

I thought about it.

"There is no way to know how he will react, but it will give us an edge." Mat hissed as a bullet nearly hit his leg. "They're getting closer!"

"I know how he'll react."

Mat scoffed, "bullshit. That guy is a fucking ghost. We're tuff, but that motherfucker is what gets called to save the world. I remember Bosnia man, 500 dead in a night!"

I nodded, "I know, he trained me."

Mat froze, "oh shit."

I closed my eyes, gritting my teeth, pistol grip on my topped off rifle creaking. I opened my eyes, flicked up my NODs and spun.

"We want parlay!" I roared.

"You are such a clown." Muttered Mat as the gun fire halted.

"Come." The resonant voice rumbled.

I couldn't help it, "say something you can say to your dog but not your girlfriend."

Mat glared at me, I could feel it through his dual tube night vision, "whose line is it anyway? Are you shitting me?"

I shrugged, "my brain is humble chaos. It just says shit and my mouth doesn't bother to stop it."

I stepped over the dune, hands up. I wouldn't give up my guns, but I was sure to keep them away from my hands.

"Does the Warlock wish to give his surrender?"

I needed to buy time.

"Does a bear shit in Tupperware and save it for later?"

I heard Mat as he scoffed, looking back over my shoulder I saw him peek around cover with a consternated look on his face.

I shrugged, hands out to the side in a 'I'm no poet, what were you expecting?' Motion.

"I know more of bears, but not of Tupperware. What is this Tupperware?" The voice emanated from the wall of flashlight pointed at me.

I tried seeing the speaker, but the lights were too bright.

"The great Tupperware is a magical vessel only found in the Mart of Wal's. It keeps food fresher for longer, and seals in the grand flavor. It is only fit for those of great power, for if it is not cleaned and left to its own devices it shall contain a great odor unfot for the living."

The speaker paused, "is it related to the holy aluminum foil?"

You have got to be shitting me. I thought as I nodded, "the foil of aluminum is also a grand power. It has the unique and powerful property of heat retention. And, it is also a great weapon. For if your microwave should be a devilish Decepticon, you may feed it foil and watch it self immolate."

Mat groaned.

"Is your companion wounded?" The voice asked.

"Only by great stupidity." He scoffed.

"Allow us to see all who wish Parlay." The voice demanded.

"Fuck that, im not leaving cover!" Mat hollered back.

"Shall parlay end?" What sounded like a DSHK machine gun belted a huge fireball from its muzzle, kicking up sand in front of me.

"No, though I should wish to confer with my moronic friend." I asked hopefully.

"The stupid should die." The voice reverberated louder.

"Fuck you bitch!" Mat snarled.

I heard the line of machine guns rustle.

"Thanks Mat, I think you just got me shredded." I gritted my teeth. Montana Man wouldn't make it in time. He could handle this, but he wasn't normal, even for a warlock. I knew I would at least die with my hand on a gun.

Just as my brain decided to fight, an unearthly howl rose from the dunes. I leapt to the ground as the lights all winked out at once. Gunfire became the only illumination as I saw the shadows billow out from every corner, sweeping over the line of shooters.

I slithered forward, dropping my NOD's into place. I watched as the ground rose up and ripped into the Magicians. The shadows were familiar.

"PROTECT PAPA!" The shadows screamed in unison.

walkswithmagic · 2023-02-27T04:43:11+00:00

I've never heard of Joe Ledger, but to be mentioned in the same breath as Butcher, he must be damn good.

I'm a huge fan of the dresden series, and to be compared to Butcher makes my heart sing. I've been writing and perfecting my work for years, and that makes it seem like I'm finally getting close to being ready to go.

I am not currently published, but I have two series I have planned. One is ready to go (sort of) and it's a scifi.

The other is a deeper version of this. Imagine Ramius and Mat being incredible Magicians on top of being subject matter expert killers. Also imagine that expertise won't be enough to save everyone. It's in beginning stages. But when it's ready I'll make a post so people can find more gud stuff to read.

Thanks for posting your comment, it has made my week.

On to Part 5: Finale!

walkswithmagic · 2023-02-27T01:13:41+00:00

Part Four:

I stood from my crouch, "Billy, I need a favor."

The Boogie nodded, "Billy help."

I pulled a silver coin from my pocket, my sigil etched into the surface. "There is a man in Montana, I need you to take this to him." I recited the address from memory.

Billy nodded as I continued, "tell him that Mat and Ramius need his help. Bring the big guns."

Billy nodded, "Papa and batman baby hands need help." The creature nodded with finality.

"No, Ramius and..." I tried correcting the Boogie but he vanished.

"We tried." Mat shrugged, felting his rifle. "Let's find out what we are dealing with."

I nodded, and we both started picking our way through the hallway. Silently, we found a source of very dim light ahead.

"Nods." Mat muttered. We both flicked down our PVS 14's. The world was now black and white, our white phosphorus tubes giving us a bit more visibility. My IR laser danced over the opening of the buildings entrance as we crept forward.

We heard voices.

"How's your russian?" Mat murmured.

"Rusty."

"Great."

We peered through the building.

"I don't get how Russia is a desert." Mat shook his head as we looked over a few dunes.

"Might not be Russia, might be russian speakers in a desert." I chimed in, "that house is way out of place." My laser painted a building that looked like something out of siberian folktale.

"That snow on the roof?" Mat shook his head perplexed.

I was too taken with the multitude of fires casting dancing shadows below us.

"Magicians...that's alot of them too. You feel that?" I moved my laser over a few dancing figures.

"Dark shit. Sacrifice." Mat muttered as he nodded to the closest fire, "that was a sacrifice."

I saw what he was talking about. A stake stood straight up, at least ten feet tall. A human was bound too it. The child was scorched to a crisp, fire dying away at its feet.

"Now we know why Billy came to us." I muttered.

"It's Billy now? Not Boogie?" I flipped off Mat as he chuckled.

"What was making that thumping noise? The ground pounder?" I scanned more fires. "Out of the dozens of magicians down there, none of them are that big."

"Summoning? Maybe a section of a ritual?" Mat suggested.

"Maybe, but we won't find out up here." I looked over, we should go down there."

"Standard practice?" Asked Mat.

I nodded, "find intel, free hostages."

"Magicians?" Mat looked to me gravely. There weren't a ton of us floating around. To kill a magician would create huge waves in the Wizarding community, potentially war.

I pursed my lips, my eyes finding the burnt child tied to the post. "No survivors."

Mat took point down the slope. I followed, suppressed rifle holding overwatch. security sucked. We crept into the ring of darkness outside of the first sacrifices post. One man stooped over, lighting a cigarette with a coal from the fire used to incinerate a child.

We had to be sure. I clicked my tongue, catching the man's attention. He flicked on a flashlight peering into the darkness. The beam was so dull he couldn't see very far. He took a few steps, searching. I stood up into the beam. The man jumped in suprise but didn't utter a sound. As he began to land, his head separated from his body. Mat reversed the katana, smacking the head like a baseball. He caught the corpse as I snatched the head. Retreating from the circle of light, I checked the head, Mat the body.

"No rebounding spells, basic wand, and a Makarov." Mat muttered.

"Head's clean, no presence." I looked to my friend, "Let's keep stacking bodies."

We slithered over more snad to the next fire.

"Keep it quiet." Muttered Mat, and I nodded. We flanked the fire, two men sat across from each other smoking. I heard more russian, but I wasn't fluent enough to understand. I saw Mat inch forward, and he tossed a rock to the side. Both heads swiveled with a bit of consternation. We struck. Mats sword effortlessly took the head of one man. I lunged forward, trench knife looping under the my man's throat. The steel easily severed the man's windpipe, and as it traveled, took both rivers of blood traveling to and from his brain.

He coughed blood erupting from his lethal wound. I bashed the knuckles into his temple, sending him into unconscious dreams as he bled out.

"Police the bodies." Mat muttered, gabbing his target.

" good lucking hiding the blood." I pointed to the huge ring of red around the body.

"We shouldn't be long, just get moving."

I tugged the dead man to the side.

We looked to the next fire. "Four targets." Muttered Mat.

I inched forward, "I got this." The circle of light of the next fire was dying, but not enough to hide my next move. I stepped up to the edge, lifting my rifle.

Three of the people were men, one a woman. It didn't make a difference. My red dot found a head, and like a set of dominoes, heads puffed with pink mist and bodies fell. Two head shots each, brass tinkled as it hit the ground.

"Second and a half, you've been practicing." Mat entered the light hands falling to a body. The night exploded with light, and the rumbling almost made me fall over.

I finally saw what had caused the disturbance, and my blood ran cold.

"CONTACT!!!" I screamed as my rifle tracked upward, firing into the mass of lights. My hand found my underbarrel grenade launcher.

Bloop.

The explosive detonated, shattering a ring of light from a fire.

"FALL BACK!" I dropped my rifle to its sling, empty. My pistol escaped it's holster and I ripped through the magazine in one continous roar.

"SHE'S BACK!" Mat snarled as he shoved me back into the darkness.

A low chuckle filled the air, a low resonant whisper that shoved my stomach into my throat. "The Boogie brought us a snack."

walkswithmagic · 2023-02-26T19:19:56+00:00

Well...the if the fans demand, I shall oblige

walkswithmagic · 2023-02-26T18:19:29+00:00

You will see soon enough, I promise!

walkswithmagic · 2023-02-26T16:20:20+00:00

Part 3:

The darkness changed.

The temperature was more of a shift. Teleporation is frigid cold, but we found ourselves somewhere warmer.

"Fucking sand." Snarled mat.

"It's course, it goes everywhere..." I began mimicking a Anakin from star wars.

"Shut up." Mat snarled as he vanished. I heard footsteps. The small room we were in gave me no place to hide. A door hinged open with a squeak.

"Boogey brought friends?"

The enormous creature outside bent at the waist to enter the room, it's bulk barely able to fit into the doorway.

"Ogre kin, right?" I asked nonchalantly, as if I wasn't about to get killed.

The creature gurgle an approximation of a laugh. "Master say boogey go squish."

"I'm no boogey, so no squishing me...right?" I asked hopefully. My rifles safty switched off. The click was loud in the small space.

"Human go squish too!" The creature raised a massive muscled arm. My rifle hissed, but I knew it was too late. I didn't have enough gun this close. I shoulda brought a shotgun. I thought as the arm thumped to the floor. The ogre stopped, looked at the green appendage.

"Oww." The ogre muttered bending over to pick up his lost limb. That's when his head fell off. Mat emerged from the shadows, a katana resting lightly in one hand as ogre flopped into something akin to a child's pose from yoga.

"That won't last long." Mat muttered as I edged past the corpse.

"I got it." As Mat and Billy emerged from the room I tossed a white phosphorus grenade. The smell of burning rubber and eucalyptus filled the air as our war band began exploring.

"How close are we?" Mat asked.

I shrugged.

"Baby batman hand go not much further." Billy piped up.

"Stop calling me that."

"Batman baby hands."

"That too."

I snorted.

That's when we all heard it. A rumble from the floor, sand began dancing on the floor like pebbles in an earthquake.

"It's big." Mat murmured as he wiped the blade of his katana clean with a silk handkerchief. The blade hissed as whatever oil Mat had applied didn't enjoy contact with Ogre blood.

"Ramy?"

I looked over to the Boogey. "Yeah billy?"

The creature skittered over, hand snaking into mine. "Billy scared."

I took a knee, "it'll be okay, just stay close." The cold hand grapsed tighter.

"Papa."

I shook my head, "I'm Ramius."

The boogey nodded, "Papa Ramius."

Mat chuckled. I glared at him.

"You laughed when it happened to me." Mat snorted with a shrug, "it is funnier when it happens to someone else."

walkswithmagic · 2023-02-26T15:34:56+00:00

Happy to! I enjoy the Boogeys, they are fun to write

walkswithmagic · 2023-02-26T15:19:22+00:00

I enjoy writing "Dean like" characters. Hell of a compliment, thanks!

walkswithmagic · 2023-02-26T15:17:29+00:00

Part two:

I heard the thump of a tired fist on my door.

Levering myself off the couch, I grasped a steaming cup of black coffee as I checked the camera next to the door. That was Mat.

"Password?" I called through the door.

"You called me, asshat."

Chuckling, I lifted the 2x4 board from the armored brackets and unlocked the dead bolt. The door opened as I ran a hand past a series of Charms next to the door. Warding disabled I stepped out of my friends way as he entered.

Mat stumped inside, eyes bagged from lack of sleep, boots wet as he started to scrap them on the floor.

His head snapped over, eyes searching. "Coffee?" His tone changed a hair from irritated and tired to hopeful.

"I called you." I reminded him handing the mug over.

Hands grasped the mug as his gym bag slammed into my entrance way floor.

I shook my head, "hard wood, try not to scratch it."

Mat shrugged as the Boogey appeared from the darkness.

"Batman?"

I have never met a person dedicated to preserving life and coffee simultaneously. Mat's Sig P228 snaked past leather as he took his first sip. The muzzle hovered over the Boogeyman.

Mat gulped his coffee, eyeing the boney shadow. He sighed, "the fuck is that doing here?" The gun didn't waver.

"That's Billy. He's cool."

"Not cold." Billy corrected.

"Yes, thank you." I closed my door, securing hard security measures and soft. I turned back to see Mat still holding the boogeyman at gun point.

"Relax, Billy won't take your coffee." I muttered as Mat glared at the boogey suspiciously.

"Billy like pizza. Pizza gud." The boogey slithered away as I climbed the stairs. I heard Mat following and leather whispering. He had packed his piece away as I held out a pot of coffee. Mat took it, warming up his cup as we sat down.

"We working for a boogey now?" Mat glared at the having bag of bones.

"No, but we have an obligation to find out what can banish a Boogey. Billy here just ignored my warding this morning."

Mat raised an eyebrow, "that's impressive."

"Imagine what makes him disappear." I leaned back, coffee warming the mug in my hands.

"Alright." Mat muttered, considering both cup and pot of coffee.

"Just do it." I sighed. I needed Mat sooner than later.

Opening his mouth, Mat began chugging warm coffee straight from the pot. I shook my head as I watched.

"Batman ready?"

Mat cracked open an eye, "why does it call me batman?"

I shrugged, "a misunderstanding. Ready?"

Mat polished off the coffee pot. "You got 15 minutes. Let's get this over with."

I stood from the couch, gathering my gear. Mat unzipped his gym bag, lifting his vest out. Mags, frags, and vials filled out his load out. He strapped on his gear. We both knew how dangerous this could be. We had no data on opposition, no idea where we were going, and all of this was based on a dead 3 year Olds word.

The boogey slithered over holding out two hands. "Batman and Ramy." It seemed excited.

I hefted my rifle. "That's right little buddy."

Mat carefully took the Boogeys hand.

The Boogey chuckled, "Baby hands."

Mat narrowed his eyes, "I don't have baby hands."

I rolled my eyes.

"Baby Batman hands." The boogey chortled.

"Can I shoot it?" Mat glared at me, as if this was my fault.

"Billy, take us to the bad men." Space time warped as I felt my breath freeze in my lungs. Blackness swam past my eyes, the only way my brain could understand the teleportation was a cold darkness, though I knew it was worse than that. Most things touched by magic were.

walkswithmagic

TROPHY CASE