Nazir Beacon Board Log [Action] [Semi-Open; pm if you wanna interact during vigilante stuff]

[youfool]

It's amazing how many veils one can wear; how many layers of darkness a man can put on. There was the nundu cloak, granter of magical invisibility. There was his wretched new uniform, which bound him with ebony threads. There was the city itself, providing many a rooftop and ghastly shadow from which to blend in. Finally, there was the night sky itself, with few enough stars to light one's way. Gengar, the ghost pokemon who lived in his shadow during these nightly escapades, was elsewhere, serving as a scout for incoming trouble. Ted had just escaped prison for a crime he never committed, and he was eager to bring the desert on one more deserving. In this case, Nizor, the man with a meaningless name and, according to the board, the most notorious sinner of them all. If Everglade had devolved into a city of predators and prey, Ted would become the former.

It had been months, and still the sinner roamed Everglade, taking valuables and lives. If Fai was honest about his labors, this meant he was either a profound liar, or else the city were in worse trouble than he thought. But Ted knew the city well; who to talk to, who knew the movements of its vermin. Sometimes he could find people by eavesdropping alone. His nosiness, and his talent for seeing patterns is what led him to narrow down Nizor's next mark. Gengar was sent to watch an alternative.

Fog swirled about the city, covering the dilapidated houses. Ted would not let it cover crime, as he watched warily through Nova City's 'sightseers', allowing him a range of vision not enjoyed by most. Patiently he waited till he found Nizor traipsing about. Ted was disappointed that he was a man; a shame to the lineage of Adam. Judging by the mystical flickering of lamplight, Ted knew he had struck pay dirt. He alighted with softened step next to Nizor, and quietly--how quietly!--followed him in.

The house was abandoned. The robbery didn't need to be armed. The man, a lanky yet beastly-looking brute, was rough with the place. Drawers were yanked and containers were upturned with an almost savage efficiency. After a minute of this, Ted started to toy with the criminal. Drawers were put back, out of sight but not of earshot. Doors Nizor thought he'd fully searched were slammed shut. He was beginning to fear. Finally, a greedy wrist was caught and wrested to the ground when Ted had finally had enough.

His next monologue was something he'd been a while in preparing. Ted didn't want to play criminal whack-a-mole. He knew the problems of Everglade went far deeper than its flesh. If it were ever to change for good, he'd have to try and go for its spirit. And the best thing for that, he thought, was the Holy Spirit. In other words, Ted would, at the moment of their realized guilt, impress upon them their dire sin and need for repentance. And yet, what the man had done was sinful as scarlet. To extend the tender mercies of God to a murderer...could it be done? Was there any hope?

He had to try. That was practically all Ted lived for anymore. He had no confidence of success,  yet someone has to try.

"Nazir!" He bellowed. From his costume, Ted's voice sounded like it came from some ethereal well of the damned. The man's base instincts kicked in, as he drew a knife with his free hand and made a lunge towards his unseen assailant. It found no purchase; the man had merely struck into a hole. Threads emerged from that point, yanking his arm and crushing his wrist till he let his weapon go. The blade clattered to the ground while Ted went on.

"I know your sins. You have killed and stole, and have outed yourself a son of hell. Do you think you'll escape damnation?"

Nazir trembled; good. His fear, even now, might power the barrier. But the benefit was incidental. "What do you want," he cried. "Money? Who are you?"

"I want repentance. I am the dreaded vigilante you fear. Yet the fires of hell, and the worm that dieth not, are your true horrors that even now await you." In Nizor's state of mind, these metaphysical threats took on an all-too-real quality. Yet his animal mind forbid him thinking too deeply on this, instead exchanging 'fight' for 'flight.'

"I'm sorry, all right, I'm sorry! Just lemme go!" By the way Ted's grip tightened, he knew it would not be so easy.

"No," the vigilante denied. "I will show you a vision of hell. It will be but a small taste of what's to come should you keep to this lower path. Think upon your damnation, and pray to God to be spared." Not suffering any further protest, Ted drew him into the well, and swallowed him whole.

Ted was deaf to his pleas as he carried the criminal within himself to the station. It would be an awkward transaction; the law was none-too-friendly for a convict who'd escaped mere days ago. Yet they begrudgingly allowed it, not eager to look a gift bounty in the mouth. Hopefully this would ease the vigilante's reputation, if not detract from his menace. Ted left with dark assurances, letting Nizor know that he'd be keeping an eye on his spiritual progress.

Ted was desperate to get out from under everything once the deed was done. He'd never been so dark to a criminal before; usually his forays into justice were more light-hearted. Would that grim talk really make any kind of dent in their hardened hearts? He could only hope and pray that, somehow, it would lead to good. At least one more criminal was off the streets. But what did it matter? If Everglade's flesh is spared, what of its soul? What of his own? Ted was more relieved than he imagined getting out of that uniform. It was powerful, yet it reminded him of his own sins. May God grant mercy to them both.