Bounty Hunters ~ Induction speech given by Maximillian Black,
trouble-shooter for the Hunter’s Guild
Okay people, listen up. You’ve chosen to enter one of the most damned hard
professions this side of hell, so what I’m going to tell you may just save
your sorry asses. I’ve been in this profession for many years, hell, some
of you punks were just a twinkle in your momma’s eye when I was out there
tracking fugitives. Some of you may have romantic notions about bounty hunters;
others are probably clueless.
The distinction between our profession, and that of common mercenaries and assassins can seem blurred at times, but ultimately we are a superior breed. Never forget that. Mercenaries are soldiers-for-hire, pure and simple. Assassins are usually lone individuals hired to terminate the life of a target. You too will often be called upon to fight and kill for money, but that is where the similarity ends.
You’ll spend at least as much time hunting down the poor saps that have offended someone else for whatever reason. Sometimes they’re scum that deserve to be eliminated or captured; other times the reasons they’re wanted may not even be known to you. None of that matters. If you undertake a task, you’d better damn well see it through to the bitter end, because no-one hires a quitter, and this guild has no time for unreliable fools.
I can see some of you think you’re tough; real hard-cases. Wise up. The Wastes and gutters are filled with the corpses of fools who thought they were ‘hard-core’. No matter how mean you are, there’s always someone out there meaner. This profession requires cunning and sheer ugly stubbornness. Let’s not forget people, that you’ll be trying to outwit desperate people. Desperate people can be very resourceful. Also, at least half the Bounties you pursue will require that you bring in the quarry alive, and in one piece. Capturing someone without hurting them is no cake-walk, especially when they can use the lethal force that you can’t.
Sometimes you’ll be hired directly, but just as often you’ll have to seek out information on the Wanted yourself. Luckily, nearly all the current bounties are posted in the main Guild Hall, so you can go there and pick a likely target. To avoid the unpleasant business mess created when more than one bounty-hunter or team is pursuing the same target, you are required to inform the Guild who your current quarry is. Obviously, there are freelancers out there, operating without the aid of the Guild, and some clashes are inevitable. Remember though, that most legitimate concerns post their bounties through us. Those few who do otherwise are often suspect, and you deal with them at your own risk. If a client refuses to pay for a well performed bounty, inform us. We’ll have them removed from the register of reliable employers, and the scum won’t be able to hire reliable hunters such as yourselves ever again. If they try any funny business (and many disreputable employers do); such as eliminating you to avoid payment; feel free to respond with force. The Guild will back you in this if necessary.
Play it cool at all times; a blaster bolt, fist or bullet is not always the best answer. Sometimes it creates trouble rather than eliminating it. If you can get what you want without force; either by persuasion, bribery or intimidation, do so. Try to avoid making unnecessary enemies; you never know when someone you’ve offended will slip an unexpected knife between your shoulder blades.
This job is not glamorous; most people out there view bounty hunters with fear and distrust. Don’t do anything to worsen the situation. Try and obey local laws when they don’t interfere with the hunt, and don’t hassle citizens and innocents. Be discriminate and avoid killing bystanders. Otherwise, you could end up as the next posted bounty.
Try and establish a good web of contacts; grease a few palms if you need to. Contacts can often provide useful information about your target; sometimes even their present whereabouts, people who associate with the target, or where the target was last seen. Treat your contacts well and they’ll make your job easier.
Chose your targets intelligently. It’s not brave to try and take in an entire gang on your own; it’s stupid. No-one celebrates brave corpses. Don’t try to tackle more than you can handle. For larger bounties you may have to team up with other Guild Hunters. Team-work cannot be over-stressed, people. Be loyal to each other; team conflict leads to mistakes that the quarry can exploit.
Remember all this and you’ll go far, but don’t be afraid to kick ass when you need to. Be professional, and above all, be prepared.
Just one last thing people; welcome to the Guild.
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