New Moon of Yharnam
A World of Darkness x Bloodborne crossover
Chapter Six
As Gavlan walked down the stairs to the first floor, he saw that Velia was waiting for him at the bottom. As the Executioner walked up to her, she took a moment to look him up and down. As the Healing Choir Hunter spoke, he could see that Micheal was left behind, his body a charred husk from the flames that consumed it after he died.
"What happened up there?" Velia asked, drawing Gavlans' gaze away from the corpse. There was no time to take him away from the nest for a burial or the like, that the Executioner understood. Such was the hazards of being a Hunter.
"Apparently, at least one Vampire was willing to negotiate with me about hunting down one of their kin who was responsible for the plague that broke out into the city. I'll have to speak with Eileen for more details." Gavlan then showed the map Jeanette gave him. Velia looked at it, then turned to Gavlan.
"Are you sure they can be trusted?" Gavlan grimaced, and it was then she noticed his posture was different.
"Is there something wrong?" Gavlan wondered for a moment about how much to tell Velia about the encounter.
"The Vampire in question knows about the Old Blood, or at least seems to know of us. Not only that, but I believe she was also in communication with other Vampires like her, as I could hear voices in conversation while in her presence when it was only me, her, and her Ghoul in the room." Gavlan said. Velia stared at the Executioner, clearly surprised by this reveal.
"How much did she know?"
"Enough that, rather then confront me head on, she had me disarmed and stole my Blood Vials after attacking me with some form of hallucination. The Vampire also knew not to drink-"
"Wait, she has some of your Blood Vials!?" Velia interrupted, her voice slightly raised.
"No, she gave them all back, and on the way back here I made sure none of the vials were tampered with. Even so, we have a mission to complete before the Vampire that this nest belongs to arrives with reinforcements." Gavlan replied. Velia rubbed at her forehead.
"We better let Eileen know about this, since this Vampire...what was her name?"
"Jeanette. She also said where she could be found whenever we have to meet again for me to call in a favor from her as payment for doing this." Gavlan replied. Velia placed a finger under her lip as she began thinking about it.
"Jeanette and whoever was with her know too much. However, having a potential contact within Vampire society would be useful, so long as we can find a way to keep her on a tight leash." With that, Velia began walking down one of the hallways, while Gavlan followed her.
"Eileen will be the one to decide how we'll proceed of course." Gavlan replied as they turned left.
"I'm aware. I'm only stating the usefulness of having an inside contact..." Velia said, only to stop after rounding a right corner and she saw they were both back at the entrance. "...what the... how did we end up back here?"
"Well, looks like navigating this is going to be a pain." Gavlan answered, when Eileen and the Imbued Hunters walked up to them.
"Oh, you got lost here as well?" Eileen asked.
"Apparently so. We ended up back here at the entrance just now while discussing about Gavlans' encounter with one of the Vampires."
"What about it made the Vampire different from the others?" Philip asked.
"For one it claims that one of the Vampires responsible for the plague outbreak has been hiding in the sewers, and even gave us instructions for us to find them. Second the Vampire also said it had been dealing with a political situation within the Vampires' kind that we derailed,and wants us to leave as much as we do." Gavlan said. Philip once again
"It could easily be a trap though. Get us to go into the sewer system, then they can take us out without anybody to find the bodies." the Avenger countered. "Where was the Vamp when you found it?"
"Upstairs in the nests' second floor. As for her own goals, I know not what she has planned, but like it was explained on the way here, the Vampires do not like the fact their own have been spreading the plague." Gavlan explained in response.
"Hmm... even so, we should consider caution when hunting this particular Vampire down after we hide long enough for the Vampires to be distracted with other matters before doing so." Eileen said.
"Well, you guys can do you after we find out where the Vampires are located, I'm planning on getting some rest once we get out of here and we start sending word of what we found here to HunterNet." Maurice replied.
"Shall we get moving then? The longer we stay here, the more likely the Vampires will catch us with our pants down." Eric said, now dressed with a change of spare clothing that was brought to him and Derick. After he spoke up, the other Hunters silently agreed to his point. As they continued on, Gavlan felt the arcane energy growing larger, something the rest of the party seemed to be aware of.
The next minute or so was spent wandering the hallways based on this sense until they came across a room which drew their attention due to how it shimmered with brilliant light from the arcane power used upon it. The Hunters gathered around the twin doors leading to it, only to find it was somehow sealed up by the walls of the hallway itself.
"Ok, what the hell is this nonsense?" Philip asked. Velia approached it alongside Maurice, the latter of which Gavlan noted had a bright golden flash emit from his eyes.
"I just took a look past the wall, and there is definitely a room there. Good news is I didn't see anyone in there. Bad news, I think we're dealing with Warlock bullshit. It might not even be what we are looking for in terms of where the other Vampire nests are and any particular names to hunt down." the Judge Imbued said with a frown.
"Any little bit helps in dusting the dirt bags." Derick replied in response. As Velia began feeling at the walls, the other Hunters looked at her.
"Got any ideas for breaking in?" Maurice asked. Velia took a few seconds to respond, first sniffing at the wall, specifically the arcane haze that was radiating from it. When she turned around, the reply she gave was simple and direct and Gavlan could see that she seemed to have found something familiar with the arcane haze.
"Maybe, but I'll need several minutes to break the seal here. I would also like to discuss getting in with Eileen and Gavlan in private." the Imbued seemed to be ok with this, as the three Hunters got out there notepads and began writing out their conversation.
"Make it fast, we don't have all night."
You seemed to recognize this magic. Is there anything you wish to share with us? Eileen wrote to Velia. The Choir Hunter wrote out her response in notes.
A lesson I have learned involving my being taught in the field of magic came with identifying who used what spells was ways in identifying the different types of magic. Much like how a dog can be trained to follow a persons scent trail by giving it an object they possess, one will find that the nature of anything involving magic leaves traces in the magic itself.
In the case of the seal, a form of blood magic was involved, but Human blood was not involved. I was able to recognize that the arcane haze that was left by the seal was created using blood, but I am not familiar with the type. At this point Gavlan interrupted by raising his hand, and then began writing.
Blood magic? Was it perhaps made using Vampire blood?
Given that we don't know the full extent of what the Vampire is capable of, I am going to assume that that is what we are dealing with yes.
What will you require to undo it? Eileen requested. With that, Velia thought about her response before replying.
Depending on the complexity, around three to five minutes with a small vial of Ritual Blood and a Haze Extractor.
That's three to five minutes we don't have. Surely you can get through it faster then that. Eileen wrote down with an impatient tone.
I don't know what will happen if I try to undo the ritual faster then that. The only way we will be able to get in here will be to hold out as long as we can until I can break the seal and open the door.
Do you have to break it open? Gavlan asked.
If I plan on getting all of us into the room, yes. Why do you ask?
Is it possible to undo just enough to allow the Messengers entry into the room and go through it in our stead? Velia looked at the Executioner for a moment, and then realize what he was saying.
That could work. Eileen, I can put down a lamp post down on the ground to open a hole in the nests outer arcane barrier. That way I can set up and start disenchanting the seal in but a moment.
I cannot approve such an action. That would that we would have to let the Imbued enter the Dream, something that Fauna will almost certainly not approve of since we would be bring those who are ignorant of his existence and that of Queen Yharnam.
Yes, but if I can breach the barrier with a direct entrance to the Dream, we can have the Messengers go through the lamp and I can open the room up for them. Not to mention having a convenient escape route. As for letting the Imbued into the Dream, they clearly trust us enough to tell us of HunterNet. A moment passed as Gavlan and Velia awaited Eileens' answer.
This better work, otherwise it's on all our heads if this backfires on us. With that, the other two Hunters nodded, and Eileen walked up to Kayla and Eric.
"We have a plan for getting into the room, but there is a slight catch in that we will have to hold our ground against the Vampires for around three to five minutes." the Hunter of Hunters explained. The Imbued looked at her for a moment.
"Ok, what is the plan? Frankly, I am not willing to wander further through this mess. If the Vampires don't want us here, they'll have to just come here and drive us out themselves." Kayla replied.
"Well this is going to absolutely suck fighting them in a set battle." Eric muttered. The other Imbued who were listening in on the conversation looked at each other nervously. Even so, most of them steeled themselves for the coming fight, since they knew leaving empty-handed meant they risked everything for nothing.
"So in order to get into the room, Velia is going to be utilizing a magic ritual to break the seal open."
"Wait, she knows magic?" Velia pressed a hand at Philips' question, and muttered under her breath.
"Oh for the love of... yes, I am in fact knowledgeable in the arts of the arcane. However, before you start pointing your guns at me, I was trained specifically for situations like this." Velia explained with a half-truth as the Imbued looked at her like she grew a third eye.
"You don't have the tell of a Warlock though." James said.
"What do you mean?"
"When we look at the monsters and beasts that secretly control the world through what is known as the Second Sight, any and all vestiges of a disguise they use is peeled back to reveal what they truly are. It's our main way of finding and killing them. Vampires have elongated canines, Werewolves develop wolf features, so and so forth."
"So what would a Warlock have as a tell, and is there anything off about us that you noticed?" Gavlan asked. Philip sniffed before answering.
"Warlocks have a third eye. As for you guys, the only thing that is off is your smell, and the way your eyes look like they have glowing yellow pupils. Even so, word traveled fast about how you were only observed hunting down the same monsters as the rest of us, so as far as I'm concerned, you're just another group of Hunters like us." Philip explained. Gavlan raised an eyebrow as the other Imbued stared at him and the other two with him. When he looked at the Warlocks earlier back at the motel, his insight did not show them as having a third eye, nor were he or the others having glowing eyes of any kind. Perhaps this 'Second Sight' was how the Imbued experience the revelation of the world around them?
"Well then, I'm going to acquire some things I'll need to undo the seal." Velia said, as she produced a small pen and began drawing on the floor with it. After scrawling a quickly drawn circle on the ground with Faunas' Rune on it with perfect clarity from her mind, the Healing Choir Hunter pulled out a small silver bell, and began ringing it.
*Ring... ring...*
A moment passed as the circle glowed, but the Rune did not. Velia waited a bit as the light from the circle faded away, then rang the bell a second time to no avail. She looked at Eileen and Gavlan, a look of befuddlement on her lips.
"I supposed it will take more then one of us to call forth our way into the Dream."
"What's this about a dream?" Maurice asked.
"Nothing."
Eileen then procured her own bell, and motioned for Gavlan to do so as well. All three Hunters stood so that the circle could be evenly divided between them. With a deep breath, they all rang their bells at once.
*Ring... ring...*
This time however, the Rune also glowed along with the circle, and a lamp post appeared in the center of the circle, slowly coming up from the ground as a black hole appeared for. However, it was clear that the establishment of the lamp post to the Hunters Dream was not a perfect connection. Even so, when the Messengers appeared around it, the Imbued were clearly unnerved, with most of them pointing their guns at the small humanoids.
"What the fuck are those?!" Kayla shouted, pointing a shotgun at one as the creature made a beckoning motion. Gavlan watched as Velia raised a hand in a stopping motion and interceded before things escalated.
"They're with us, don't worry. They're also the ones that will be able to collect whatever is in that room. This lamp will also allow us to quickly escape if the need arises." she explained. With that, she gestured to one of the Messengers, which crooned as it nuzzled against her hand. The Imbued were still unnerved by them, but even so it was clear that they were willing to give the Hunters a chance to show what they mean.
"So where is it that we will be going to if we follow in there?" Philip asked.
"It would be easier to show then to explain. But first, there is someone who I'll have to explain my actions too, as they may not be particularly... enthusiastic about our revealing their home to outsiders, and bringing them here." Kayla held to her chin as she went deep in contemplation for her answer. Gavlan noted her eyes began to glow with that glowing golden light that seemed to indicate when the Imbued were using their powers.
"...Alright, we'll wait here then. Let us know what your boss or whoever says." Kayla replied. Eric raised an eyebrow at this, but did not raise any argument. Gavlan noticed the listening to Kayla despite the clear misgivings that some of the others had with her decision. Even so, it was time for Gavlan to resupply at the Dream, and also prepare for a scathing dressing down.
BGM: Hunters' Dream from Bloodborne
He made a grunting noise as he felt like he was being shoved through a hole in a wall. His travel to the Hunter's Dream from the city was much more painful then when they traveled to the forest outside Los Angeles, as it seemed the Messengers were struggling to through whatever barrier was impeding them bringing him to the Dream. And he felt like they were being crushed against his chest, and the Executioner was even feeling a shortness of breath. Eventually however, the pressure relented, and Gavlan woke amidst a field of white flowers, staring up into a foggy sky.
When Gavlan saw he was indeed in the middle of the Hunters' Dream, the Executioner immediately made his way to the Healing Church Workshop to report to Clemont of what was going on, as well as his encounter with Jeanette. Velia and Eileen both left to go to Queen Yharnam and Fauna. As he walked down the road to the Workshop, Gavlan noticed that a number of the Hunters from the disparate Workshops were looking around the edges of the Dream, and even watching the sky.
When he entered the Workshop, he saw a couple of Healing Church Hunters who were also watching the horizon past the edge of the Hunters' Dream, one of them Benjamin as he recognized his posture and outfit. Gavlan walked up to them, and cleared his throat. When they turned around and recognized Gavlan, the Executioner spoke up.
"What's going on? Everyone seems to have been spooked by something." he asked.
"Some kind of machine was observed flying like a bird without flapping it's wings from out of the mists of the Hunters' Dream around three hours or so ago. After it flew around the area in a circle, the craft disappeared back into the mists and has not been seen since then." Gavlan frowned as he processed the implication of what Benjamin said..
"Are you saying something or someone has just discovered the Hunters' Dream? That shouldn't even be possible."
"Apparently it is in this world. Not only is there several other dimensions connected to it, but the inhabitants have their own means of entering and leaving them. Clemont has been meeting with Yharnam and the other Covenant leaders to discuss what to do about this revelation. While the one who found this place was not hostile, that doesn't mean anything when it comes the next time another visitor finds it." Gavlan placed a hand on his forehead, scowling as he felt a sense of anger arise.
First the discovery that there are those who have an awareness about the Old Blood, and the Healing Church already, now to find that Hunters' Dream might be vulnerable to outside incursions? It was supposed to be where the Hunters can retreat when the sensations of the Hunt threatens to overwhelm them, an isolated island of calm amidst a sea of madness.
"Gavlan, is something wrong?" Benjamin asked, snapping Gavlan out of his thoughts.
"Ah, yes and no. My team and I had been hunting down a number of Vampires, but have found that the Vampires have more to them then it seems."
"How so?"
"For one, I encountered one that has displayed an awareness of us that shouldn't have been possible." Gavlan then recounted his tale to Benjamin, from the attack on the motel to his return from the Vampire nest after encountering Jeanette. The other man listened intently to what Gavlan had to say. Upon finishing his tale, clearly off put by the thought of what Jeanette might know.
"That is cause for concern." Benjamin replied. With that, Gavlan saw no reason to stay any further.
"I'm going to resupply myself, then tell Clemont what has transpired. Farewell." Gavlan said.
"May the Good Blood guide you." Benjamin replied in return as Gavlan turned around and left. After resupplying his Quicksilver Bullets and Blood Vials it occurred to the Hunter it might be time to trade it the Threaded Cane for another Trick Weapon. When the Executioner went into the armory he took a quick scan through before deciding that he will switch it with a Kirkhammer, a Trick Weapon in the form of a large hammerhead with an inscription on the side of it praising the Great Ones.
He took the time to repair and clean it off first however, and then placed it back on the weapons rack where he first got it. He then grabbed a silver sword with a Kirkhammer slab next to it, and then examined the blade. After becoming satisfied with it, the Executioner took the Kirkhammer and with a audible grunt lifted it with the sword placed and locked into its shaft. After attaching the Kirkhammer head to his back, which was made of polished stone and clearly brand new from the lack of cracks indicating use Gavlan pulled out the sword, and walked over to the Old Workshop. However, there was a rumbling that shook the Dream, causing the Hunters around the area to get down on the ground. When nothing happened afterward for a few seconds, Gavlan got up and continued on.
As he was walking up the hill, the Executioner saw that Clemont and the others were exiting the building. Gavlan then walked over to him, and saw that he was clearly disgruntled. Gavlan understood the situation just from the expression on Velias' mouth before the man spoke.
"Fauna has decreed that the Imbued are not to be allowed into the Dream, even if it means potentially leaving them to die. Not only is the Great One angry enough at the possibility of exposing them to the Elderitch Truth that they ended their communion with us on the spot just now, the reckless summoning of the Messengers along with a Lamp in front of them in the middle of a Vampire nest has made Fauna issue a command that as soon as the mission is completed, you, Eileen and Velia are to leave Los Angeles immediately as soon as it is possible. Is that understood?"
"...Yes sir." Gavlan replied, as he held himself back from arguing further with his superior. The Plain Doll could be seen walking up to Clemont and Gavlan, watching the two from a distance.
"Good." Clemont then sighed, relaxing as he placed a hand over his eyes and rubbed at them. When he looked back at Gavlan, he was much more calm as Clemont continued speaking. Eileen and Velia walked on to where the Lamp Posts to and from the Hunter's Dream in the mean time, as Gavlan was pulled to the side by the man while the Plain Doll stood nearby.
"So, tell me about this Jeanette. I was informed of the basics of what you told Velia, and the others will be looking for a solution to her abilities. If we find it first, it'll may at least help blunt any further punishments Fauna comes up with for the potential breach with the Imbued knowing about the Dream. She was able to make you see a Beast with your face, that was not real?" Clemont asked.
"Well, it wasn't just that she made me hallucinate it, I could feel how real it was as it tore into me, and she even referenced Cainhurst by showing it drinking the blood of a man who died protecting Cainhurst Castle."
"How did you recognize him?" Gavlan did not answer, however the Plain Doll prodded with a question of her own.
"Did you recognize his uniform or perhaps the smell of his blood?"
"No. In my... imprisonment, the fighting style of the Executioners ensured I was constantly privy to the faces of the defenders of Queen Annalise and the Cainhurst family when I was engaged in a melee with them. And in each repetition, it was always the same faces I saw, and the same voices I heard." Clemont actually seemed to soften his stare somewhat as Gavlan explained how he knew what it was he was seeing. The Plain Doll walked over and placed a hand on the Executioners' shoulder, as he continued on.
"I do not know how the Vampire in question was able to conjure the image into my mind, but she was able to bring out such a personal experience that I had to stop and process what I was seeing. Not only that, but Jeanette seemed to be aware of the Old Blood being dangerous, and returned the full amount of Blood Vials I had at the time." Gavlan explained. After doing so, Clemont nodded.
"If anything, while I am still angry about what has transpired, your story just shows that it is ever more important we learn about the Vampires and whatever else is in the Waking World. Head back to the nest, and be on your guard." With that, the Executioner walked back to the Lamps and allowed the fog that emerged from it to envelop him.
The journey down to the Waking World was spent with him feeling the hands of the Messengers all over him, as the Executioner bit back the anger that was roused from what had happened. His thoughts were interrupted however, as he began feeling a pressure that was like being pressed against a wall. He then growled in a combination of pain and shock, as once more he felt like he was being pushed through a gap between two walls that was too small for him to fit.
Something must be responsible for the difficulty of traveling from world to world... and traveling back and forth in a city in this world cannot be meant to be this painful. Gavlan thought to himself. A moment of relief came and went as he was finally back in the nest, and took a moment to stretch out his limbs.
When he saw the Imbued were looking at him, Gavlan remembered the Kirkhammer was on his back. Philip was the first to ask about it.
"How heavy is that?" he asked. Gavlan, upon putting in the silver sword in his hand and then showing that he can lift the Kirkhammer over his shoulder.
"About a hundred twenty four or so kilograms." Maurice and Kayla then seemed to enter a stupor of thought, as Philip and the other Imbued stared blankly at him. Then Kayla pulled out a note book, and began writing in it.
"So what is that in American?" Philip asked of the two after a second passed.
"Gavlan is carrying approximately two hundred and seventy three pounds." Kayla concluded, showing a math formula that she had written down. Philip nodded, as the others stared at Kayla. Gavlan considered asking about what Philip meant by American, but knew that not speaking was likely better for preserving his identity. Velia proceeded to produce the Haze Extractor and got to work on the seal as James spoke up.
"So what did your sponsor say?"
"They said no. Not only that, but the formation of a entry way into their domain was something they did not approve of either, though that was to be expected. After we get whatever is in that room, we are to find another way out of the nest." Eileen replied, gesturing to the Lamp Post.
While the Messengers around looked at her, Gavlan readied himself for the eventual wave of retaliation that should be coming. However, as the sound of gunfire and screaming could be heard, the Hunters looked at each other with confusion. With the gunfire continuing, they then realized it was from outside the nest.
"What the hell? Are... are the Vampires shooting at the people outside the nest?" Philip asked, his voice filled with disgust at the thought. With that, the Avenger Imbued cursed under his breath.
"They're firing on the people outside to try and force us to leave this room alone. Unless there just happened to be a gang shoot-out." James concluded in agreement.
"Shit... and if we leave, we might get jumped by them. Stay here, and more people die to their bullshit." Eric muttered, scratching behind his head.
"Are you aware of any methods that the Vampires will suspect us of knowing to get through the seal here?" Velia asked.
"No." Eric replied.
"Then go on without me." The Choir Hunter said bluntly. As the other Hunters looked at her, she began to chisel away at the seal with a tool kit she brought with her.
"Are you sure?" Gavlan asked. As Velia produced the Arcane Haze Extractor and replied, she stuck it into a glowing spot.
"Yes. I'll hold my ground if anything tries to sneak up on me, so don't waste anymore time standing here. Unless you want to watch me break down Vampire blood into Arcane Haze for several minutes..." Velia reminded them.
"...Alright then. Gavlan, you're with me and the Imbued. We are going to find out what is going on, and do what we can to stop it." Eileen replied. With that, the Hunter left Velia to her assignment. It took awhile, but Gavlan began to feel like he was starting to get the general idea of how the Vampire nest was arranged to disorient and confound mundane senses.
When they reached the door to the nest and ran out, it was then they saw what was happening. A horde of walking corpses had filled the streets down the road, and had begun attacking people out in the open. In the middle of the panic and terror were various L.A.P.D. who were fighting the undead, with mixed success while getting civilians away from the horde of undead.
"What the... who unleashed a bunch of zombies?!" Philip cried out.
"Does it matter? We have to kill the freak show responsible for this!" Kayla shouted back. As she did so, Gavlan looked down an alleyway and saw one of the 'zombies' as Philip called them climbing out of a manhole cover. Before it could do anything he ran towards it and then smashed the undead being with the Kirkhammer.
When he looked down it, another zombie appeared, and tried to grab his foot. The Executioner lifted it, and then stomped on the zombies' hand. Afterward, Gavlan kicked it in the face, and the force of his Blood-enhanced strength was enough to make its' head explode from the impact. As the zombie fell back into the sewer, he then saw there was more zombies in the sewer grate.
"Kayla! Eileen!" he shouted, drawing the attention of the other Hunters. One of the zombies then tried to grab at Gavlan, to which he answered with a Repeating Pistol shot to the head. When the Hunters looked and saw what he found, Eileen was the first to speak up.
"Looks like we found how the plague is being carried... Gavlan, go down there and start hunting." Eileen ordered, to which Gavlan kicked yet another zombie down the sewer, and then jumped down the sewer. Or at least he tried, only to realize at the last second that the Kirkhammer did not fit into the hole leading into the sewer.
Ah sh- his thought was interrupted by the Kirkhammer hitting the ground, and detached from his sword to prevent it from breaking, leaving the Executioner to fall on top of the zombies on the ladder, breaking various limbs off as he crashed into the tunnel it lead too. The zombies that he fell on top of broke the force of the impact thankfully, which unfortunately also meant he got covered in rotten blood and gore from the impact. As he got up, he cringed from the smell and the feeling of the viscera on his face combined with that associated with the average sewer, though different from that of Yharnam.
After quickly assessing the situation, he immediately began cutting and hacking the zombies around him apart. Once he cleared the tunnel of undead, he took stock of the situation. The sewer was constructed with a form of concrete, and the various wastes which was produced and required being disposed of was flowing down a trench filled with black water. The groaning of an entire horde of the undead could also be heard, which Gavlan got into a combat stance to slay the shambling creatures as a crowd larger then the one he fought off based off the sounds he could hear. However, except for the immediate area around him, Gavlan couldn't see his surroundings.
"Are you alright Gavlan?" Eileen asked, her voice echoing down the hole the Executioner fell through.
"Yes, but I'm gonna the Kirkhammer now! The zombies are using the sewers to travel unmolested by police and Hunter cells!"
"Fucking hell! Thanks for the tip, I'm going on HunterNet!" Philip shouted as he pulled his phone, stopping to shoot a zombie walking up to him in the head. A moment passed as the Messengers appeared, pushing the Kirkhammers' other half up through it. Gavlan quickly wiped off the fluids of the zombies onto his sleeve, then attached it to the hilt of the Kirkhammer. Along with the hammer, a lantern was handed to him, which Gavlan clipped onto the belt at his waist so that it illuminated the area in front of him.
"Thank you..." the Executioner whispered to the creatures. "...I'm going to start clearing out the sewers of zombies. If there is anyone who wishes to come down here and assist me, now is the time to do so." he then requested of the Hunters above him.
"No, we got to focus on the ones up above on the surface. Not to mention some big wig Vampire going to pissed beyond reality and show up at this point." Kayla replied. Gavlan could hear just the slightest hint of disgust in her voice, no doubt from the thought of just what might end up getting on her. It also made Gavlan remember that while he and his fellow Hunters from Yharnam are immune to any disease they could catch here, the same might not be said for the Imbued.
"I concur. Gavlan, Valtr or one of the other Hunters under his command should be in the area, remember? If you can find them, they'll help you out." Eileen reminded the Executioner. He then remembered the note Valtr left, and wondered if he was nearby.
"Alright, I'll see if they're in the area." It was then that he saw that the horde of zombies had finally just come around the corner, and thus had to end the conversation. "Ah, looks like a second wave of zombies are here. If you may pardon me, but the Hunt must go on."
"I understand. When you are done, come back to the nest. If there is signs that the mission is already complete or has failed however, I'll send you an update." Eileen's voice echoed down as Gavlan charged the zombie horde. With a growl, he then struck the lead zombie, smashing it and sending the undead flying into the wall.
BGM: The Hunter from Bloodborne
When the zombies behind the first one suddenly reached from the Executioner, Gavlan back stepped, avoiding their grasping hands and arms and returned their grapple with a sideways swing. Unlike the Vampires, the zombie horde were slow and shambling sacks of flesh, rotting and diseased. Even underneath the miasma of the sewer, Gavlan could tell they were plague victims as his returning strike sent some of their viscera into his mouth, allowing him to taste the tainted blood.
Quickly spitting the blood out, both to get the flavor of it out of his mouth and to avoid the possibility that it was transferable orally. While Hunters cut and transformed from mundane Humans by the Old Blood into the servants of the Great Ones were immune to mundane diseases, no such thing as mere disease could raise the dead naturally. Therefore, the plague must be unnatural, and be treated as dangerous to him until proven otherwise. He would have to take any and all precaution to also avoid their bites, a thought that came to him as him brought Kirkhammer down on top one.
The impact caused cracks to form as the Kirkhammer smashed into the ground, and he brought it up to deliver an uppercut to a second undead that reached out at him. As the second zombie fell over with its jaws and skull bashed to pieces, the Executioner rolled back. He proceeded to swing the hammer sideways, sending more broken limbs and bodies into the wall and smashing them to pieces.
Yet another groaned as opened its hands to grab him, only for Gavlan to deliver a hay-maker with the back of his fist that crushed the side of its skull and broke its neck. Yet more of the zombies shambled towards him, causing the Executioner to frown. These things weren't a threat to him, and the closest he could think of what it came to the undead were the tales of how the Old Blood was first discovered.
As Gavlan once more knocked out a chunk of the horde in front of him, stories of how the Tomb Prospectors explored the remnants of Pthumeru, that civilization of old that went underground. The power of the Old Blood, or so the myths went, was so great that the Pthumerians and their queen were immune to the curse of death, and thus when the School of Byrgenworth discovered them, they sent the Prospectors who risked life and limb fighting the undead who populated the underground empire and dodging many a cleverly made trap. When an expedition returned, the rewards were worth it, but none compared to Laurence and his discovery of an incoagulable and miraculous blood.
When he learned of its power and how the Pthumerians worshiped it as the center of their culture and civilization, it was not long before he finally founded the city of Yharnam. Gavlan was brought out of his thoughts as a zombie managed to jump onto his back. The Executioner smashed another zombie in front of with with the Kirkhammer, then pulled out the sword and stabbed the one that got on his back in the face before it could bite him.
As the zombies began to swarm around him, he swung his silver sword widely and hacked them apart with several swings. When he saw there was even more of the undead around him, Gavlan growled in annoyance.
"To the Nightmare with this nonsense." he muttered in anger, as he slotted the sword into the Kirkhammer, and then pulled out the Hunters' Ax. Then Gavlan pulled on the handle, causing the Ax to extend into its two handed form and began spinning it over and around him repeatedly while avoiding the walls of the sewer. It was not long before he began to chop, slice, and hack through the horde, the ax head whirling through with enough force to cleave through the zombies by the dozen in all directions around the Hunter.
As he got faster and faster, it was not long before the tunnel walls, ceiling and trench was covered in viscera and rotting blood. Once he stopped, Gavlan looked around to see that the zombies were exterminated to the last. Letting out a sigh, Gavlan walked over to the Kirkhammer and put the Hunters' Ax away to his side. After picking up the Kirkhammer, he then turned around and began walking down the tunnel where the zombies came from.
The next few minutes passed with Gavlan exploring the sewers, occasionally hacking apart a zombie or two as he searched for any note Valtr or any of the Hunters in the League hunting under his command left for each other. When he finally found a spot where the Messengers appeared and showed him a note. Before reading it, Gavlan noticed a crocodile that was torn apart and ripped to shreds, and the Executioner could tell this was not a recent kill. Based on the decomposition, the writer of the note left it there at least two days ago.
Be wary: Sewers are infested with shape-shifting vermin men and blood-addicted beasts. Approach them with caution, for they wield magics not yet understood.
-Valtr
Gavlan then wrote out a note of his own, which he handed to the Messengers.
"Take this to Valtr if you would." with a happy groaning sound, one of the Messengers took the note, and disappeared with it. Gavlan then waited for a moment, when the Messenger returned.
On my way. As it happens, I am aware of the sudden flood of undead, so I'll shall assist in uprooting one of the causes of this plague here.
-Valtr
Gavlan then waited in the darkness of the sewer, his lamp the only source of light. It did not give very much, and due to a combination of the fact that the sewer tunnel was both underground and had no lights installed in anyway meant that the tunnel beyond the lamp was hidden underneath an absolute darkness that strained his vision. As he waited, the Executioner listened for any sounds beyond dripping and the occasional rat. The latter he kept open to the possibility of being one of the shape-shifters Valtr mentioned, his finger hovering just above the trigger of his Repeating Pistol in case one of them tried to sneak up on him.
After about half a minute passed, he felt something was off, and recognized the sensation as being from the Werewolves from earlier. It was then that a voice spoke up, slow and guttural with a rage that was radiating from the source.
"You there, friend of Kin-Slayer." Gavlan whipped around, Repeating Pistol drawn as he pointed it at the Werewolf. It was clearly one of those same Werewolves that were hidden in the guise of homeless men he encountered earlier, but he had more fur then before. He also had lupine eyes and claws where his hands and feet should be, and the blood on them indicated they saw recent use in killing zombies. However, the biggest oddity was how he had a hunched back, and what appeared to be a cleft lip.
"Kin-Slayer? I'm afraid I know nothing about what you're talking about." Gavlan replied, to which the Werewolf snarled.
"Moon-Howler back off, I'll handle this." a voice said, making the Werewolf heel. The one who said appeared, along with the third Werewolf that Gavlan and Philip saw before raiding the Last Round. This one was still in his human form, and then addressed Gavlan.
"There is another like you, a Hunter that has been in the sewers of this city, and slaying shape-shifters that take the form of rats. Don't try to deny it, you just now interacted with those spirits that he is in communion with. I believe you called him Valtr." Gavlan mouth tightened at the mention of Valtr.
Spirits? Does he mean the Messengers, and how far away were they to hear me mention Valtr, yet remain undiscovered? The Executioner placed the Kirkhammer on his back, and heard a clicking sound as he set the silver sword and prepared to pull it out should the Werewolves attack.
"On the topic of your rat kin, perhaps you can explain why killing them is a bad thing since as it happens I'm focused on a Vampire that might be in the sewers here. His killing your friends and my calling out to him is nothing more but a coincidence of circumstances." the lead Werewolf frowned at Gavlans' response.
"As it happens, our relationship is more like that of very distant cousins. We may not like them, but we cannot turn a blind eye to someone hunting them. This, Valtr as you called him thus drew our attention. Is it also a coincidence that you just happened to come here to hunt Vampires at the surface while Valtr hunts underground in the sewers, and was unaware of his activities?"
"Yes. We were barely aware of what the other was doing while I was here." was all Gavlan replied with, not moving a single muscle. The third Werewolf then approached the one that was interrogating him and whispered something into the lead Werewolfs' ear. When they stared at him with a look of anger in his eyes, the Executioner knew that somehow, the one that whispered knew or sensed that Gavlan was lying. Whether it was his not knowing Valtr, his activities, or both he did not know, but it was clear that they were angered by this.
It was at this point he knew he couldn't delay the Werewolves any longer, and thus he had to fight them off. Before the Werewolf could even open their mouth to call Gavlan out on lying about not knowing about Valtr, he simultaneously pulled out the silver sword from his Kirkhammer and shot at the Werewolves with his Repeating Pistol.
The lead Werewolf grunted as he took the shot from the Repeating Pistol, while his companions rushed at Gavlan with blowing cries of pure rage. The Executioner swiped at them with his silver sword, only for a metallic clashing sound to ring out as he found himself locked by one of them wielding a short sword of their own. As Gavlan looked at it, he realized it to was made of shaped scrap metal embedded into a wooden core that was glowing with arcane power.
What, how in Oedons' name did this block my strike? Gavlan thought, as he pushed himself back to avoid an attempt by the second Werewolf to stab him in the stomach. While he was rolling backwards, a growling began to echo throughout the sewer tunnels, as he heard rags tearing and ripping while the noises turned into something of a combination of a man and a Scourge Beast from Yharnam. When he looked up, it was to see that the lead Werewolf had shed his human guise, and turned into a two legged beast around nine to ten feet in height with hands ending in claws. Among many of the changes to his form, Gavlan noticed first and foremost that the Werewolfs' body was faintly glowing with a pale green light, indicating there was some form of magic to their forms.
"SLAY THIS APE, AND FIND VALTR!" they snarled with pure hatred while pointing one of their claws at Gavlan, the words disjointed as the Werewolf pack leader screamed as best he could despite his lupine muzzle distorting his language. He then suddenly heard a whistling sound, and just barely managed to dodge sideways as an arrow flew past his head. The other two began to shift and change as well, while the lead Werewolf ran at him, and howled while leaping at the Executioner.
Gavlan grunted as the Werewolf tackled him, their dagger-like claws tearing into his flesh, and began to tear at his chest and stomach. Reacting quickly, the Executioner stabbed the Werewolf in the stomach, and twisted the silver sword in to cause as much damage as he could before slicing sideways to the left, gouging a severe wound into the beast and forcing it back.
As the Werewolf jumped back to avoid further injury to his pack, Gavlan stabbed himself with a Blood Vial. However, he was still forced back as while one of the Werewolves, this one being the hunched back one stayed with the leader, the other bounded up to him, holding the scrap metal sword in one of their hands. The blade was small for a human, so in their true forms it was more like a knife, and was wielded as such. This particular Werewolf looked like they were sick, as where the other two were muscle-bound creatures this one looked malnourished and thin.
"Die!" it growled, attempting to stab him in the diaphragm. However, Gavlan was able to parry the blade away, but was stopped from taking advantage of using the opening he created when an arrow whistled, making him duck as the missile flew over his head from the right. As the Executioner stepped back and jabbed himself with another Blood Vial, he turned and watched as a figure carrying a bow and arrows disappeared behind a wall just before he could get a look at them.
A war cry from the Werewolf attacking him drew Gavlans' attention away from the archer, forcing him back as the Werewolf swung their sword at his neck. Gavlan then swung his own silvered blade at the neck of the beast attacking him, but the Werewolf ducked, and then attempted to bite his arm. The Executioner pulled up his Repeating Pistol, and shot the beast in the leg.
They yelped as the Quicksilver blasted into their knee, causing them to fall over on top of the blade of Gavlans' silver sword, causing the beast to screech as he ran the Werewolf through its lung. Acting fast, Gavlan began to pull the sword out, when his opponent grabbed his arm, and wrenched it.
"Graah!" he cried out, as his arm made a snapping sound and bent the wrong way.
"NO! YOU DIE!" the beast roared as they lifted and slammed Gavlan into the ground by said limb, coughing out blood as it did so into his face. The Hunter was smashed into the ground back first, and thus the Executioner immediately felt regret for bringing the Kirkhammer when it focused all the force onto the small of his back. As Gavlan wheezed, he brought up the Repeating Pistol, only for the Werewolf to grab it from his hand, and then started bashing the handgun into the ground. The beast screamed, as it raged and slammed the device into the brickwork of the sewer floor.
What is going on?! Gavlan thought, as the Werewolf began to snarl and scream, completely focused on the tool the man used to shoot its leg. He then punched it in the muzzle, making the Werewolf cry out and let go of both him and the pistol. Rolling to the side, the Executioner snapped his arm back into place, as the Werewolf pulled out the silver sword in its chest, and then threw it at him with a scream of anger that he heard and felt with his Insight.
Gavlan just barely managed to dodge the thrown object, as flew like a gray blur and bounced off the ground. However, as he was injecting himself with a Blood Vial, Gavlan felt one of the other Werewolves tackle himself from the side. As he fell to the ground, the Werewolf slammed it's hand onto Gavlans' head, causing the Executioner to wheeze as he felt it began to crush it. Suddenly a gunshot struck the Werewolf, which recoiled in pain. As the beast recovered, he then heard the unmistakable squealing of the Whirligig Saw, which flew over his face.
When it slammed into the beast, Werewolf blood flew everywhere. Gavlan found himself being bathed in the substance, and closed his eyes to stop it from getting in them. When the noise died down, the Executioner wiped the blood from them, and looked up to see who just saved him. It took all but a fraction of a second to recognize who his savior was, as Valtr pushed back the Werewolf that was but a second ago holding Gavlan in its grasp.
With his Saw, Valtr managed to tear and rend the lupine beast, such that when he stopped his assault to make sure he was able to project the wounded Executioner, the Werewolves gathered around their own injured companion. They cast looks of pure anger and disgust towards the two Hunters, or at least an approximation of what a wolf face would look like if the lupine in question was experiencing such emotions.
"Well now, just a minute down here, and you have already made friends with the natives without me Gavlan." the Master of the League himself said. His voice was deep and guttural, but nonetheless was teasing in tone. Dressed in his blue constable uniform and a one-eyed helm that looked more like a bucket, the man offered a hand to the Executioner.
When he grabbed it, Valtr pulled Gavlan onto his feet. Once he was up, the two Hunters examined each other. As the Executioner spoke, he saw that the Messengers were picking up the pieces of his Repeating Pistol, and Valtr was handing him a normal Hunters' Pistol, apparently a spare he kept in case of an event like what happened just now.
"I have gotten a taste of what you meant by strange magics." the man said as he grabbed the spare gun, as the Werewolves growled while staring at the two. One of their number had its hands glowing as they laid them on the maimed pack member. Gavlan then realize that that Werewolf was healing the one Valtr attacked, although the process was slow and not flawless from the way the packs' leader still had a sizable cut in his stomach.
"Well then, let us not loiter any longer here." Valtr replied upon seeing them, as he revved the Whirligig Saw while his victims' flesh and bone were being re-knit and healed. When he spoke again, it was with a blood lust that echoed the brutal design of his own weapon.
"We have a wolf pack to slay."
At that, the lead Werewolf roared, and the entire pack charged the two Hunters...
**POV SHIFT: Velia**
"Now, just one more... ah ha! Done!" the Choir Hunter muttered to herself in self-congratulations. She then stepped back and watched as the Messengers flooded into the room, standing guard in case the Vampires tried to ambush her. However, it was not long before she heard them letting out something that sounded like distress, and the Messengers fled the room.
As she was about to ask what was wrong, the Hunter heard the sound of footsteps, and looked up to see that there was a shadow at the end of the hallway. She readied herself for whatever was coming to face her. When the figure appeared, she saw that it was a Vampire, dressed in a red robe and wearing spectacles. On he frowned upon seeing the Choir Hunter, and the Vampire spoke with an elegance that made Velia wonder if he used to be a noble or academic.
"So, Jeanette and her louts couldn't keep you mortals out of my Chantry." he then looked around, as his eyes glowed. "It also seems that they're either dead or ran away... either way, you are not making it out alive, whoever you are."
"Well good sir, I'm afraid that we humans are not something to underest-" the Vampire lifted his arm and stretched it out towards the Choir Hunter. Velia then ducked as a lighting bolt shot out from his hand. Velia looked back at the scorch mark, then the Vampire as she realized that if it wasn't for her Blood-enhanced speed her head would've been blown off. The Vampire seemed surprised she dodged his attack, but nevertheless stayed composed as she ran towards him.
"So you are more then mere human then most of the Hunters. Shame then, because unless you are undead... there is only one conclusion to this encounter." he then raised a hand and caught Velia by the wrist, then Velia fell as her body began to heat up as he channel his blood magic.
"What?" was all she could say before she then felt an overwhelming raise in temperature that made her scream in agony. Velia collapsed onto the ground, as she felt her blood burst out all over her body, and was even rendered deaf as she felt her eardrums explode and her eye-sockets leaked with more of the substance, coating the inside of her glasses. Even her eyes within weren't spared from whatever kind of assault the Vampire laid upon them, as she could sense that several of the eyes lining her brain burst, and could feel that there was massive internal bleeding throughout her body. As she stared at her body and barely moving limbs, she could see that what blood was oozing out of her was literally boiling hot. Velia realized that was exactly what happened, as she could feel the heat emanating from it, and see the steam floating off of her body.
What kind of magic is this? How was he able to affect my blood so easily? Velia thought, her mind racing as she tried to make sense of what happened.
If it weren't for her Insight that wasn't affected, she wouldn't have been able to perceive the Vampire blood-mage as he reached down to her, and then stomped on the Church Pick when she reached for it. Then he grabbed her by the neck with a hand that felt cold as a corpse, and lifted the Choir Hunter. A moment passed as he examined her, then lifted her glasses off. Velia could only groan as she felt him stick a finger into one of her open wounds, and then sniffed at it.
His face was one of confusion, but then he looked towards the room she was working at breaking into, it turned into one of realization and anger. Dropping and leaving Velia, he began to perform some form of blood-magic, clearly focused on getting rid of the Messengers as they scattered. Velia reached into her pockets, and pulled out three Blood Vials.
By the time the Vampire turned around she already stabbed all three into her thigh at once, causing her to experience a sudden onrush as she began to feel a rush from the Old Blood coursing through her body. When she flipped and grabbed the Church Pick, her hearing was restored fast enough for her to hear a crackling sound.
When she looked up at the Vampire, a bolt of lighting struck Velia before she could move out of the way, which sent her flying into the wall. The Choir Hunter grunted at the impact, and looked up to see that her opponent kicking the Lamp Post, knocking it over as the Messengers around it fled to the Dream.
He then muttered a phrase in some form of language that Velia did not recognize, which undid the seal. The Vampire turned around to look at Velia readying her Blacksky Eye, and sidestepped the meteor that she threw at him and hid behind the wall. She then sensed that the Vampire was using his magics, and walked out into the hall with a multi-barreled gun in his hands. The Choir Hunters' eyes widen as he began cracking the handle on its side and the barrels spun.
"Damn!" Velia cried out upon recognizing it as a small hand-held Gatling gun, as she dodged the hail of bullets that flew out towards her. Taking a breath to still her frenzied heart and mind, the Choir Hunter knew that a head-on charge was futile due to the layout of the hallway. As she looked around the corner, she saw the Vampire draining a blood pack, as a creature resembling a skeleton made purely of blood received the Gatling gun from his hand.
Several more such creations were also crawling out of the room the Vampire mage opened, one of which held a struggling Messenger in its hands. He looked at the small impish being as it it was handed to him, and there was a look of anger that crossed his features as he glanced in her direction.
"Kill that wench, and make it fast." he snarled, to which his minions responded by charging Velia while the Vampire himself walked into the room with the Messenger. The constructs then began to run after Velia as the Choir Hunter fell back to avoid some more gun shots from whatever it was the Vampire was sending after her.
Velia pulled out a phantasm which wriggled and twitched and pointed it down the hallway. When the blood construct with the Gatling gun ran around the corner, she crushed the phantasm, casting A Call Beyond and fired several glowing stars at it. As the creature was blown apart by the projectiles, a second and third rushed out towards her. Velia ran at them, and then hacked apart both of them with the Church Pick.
With the constructs reduced to puddles of blood, Velia ran to the room the Vampire entered, and saw that the walls were growing back to cover the room. Realizing that the seal was being renewed, Velia sprinted as fast as she could, and just barely managed to smash through the door before the room was fully covered up. The Vampire then turned to see that Velia made it into the room with him, growled.
"Enough of this. You have been running around in my Chantry long enough as is." the Vampire snapped with annoyance, to which Velia pointed her Flame Sprayer at him in reply. However, as she aimed it at him, the Vampire locked eyes with her while he fixed his collar. When his pupils began to glow, the Hunter barely had enough time to pull the trigger as he spoke.
"Freeze." Velia felt her body freeze up, and couldn't move a muscle. The Vampire then pulled out a jar that was encircle about blood, and stuck the Messenger into it without concern for what she may do with his back turned on her.
What, what in the world is this?! The Hunter thought, as the Vampire grabbed her Flame Sprayer, and then examined it. After setting it on the floor carefully, the Vampire looked at Velia, and began talking.
"Whoever you are, you're definitely more then a human, despite your claim otherwise earlier. That much was clear even if I hadn't smelled your blood."
"Oh, and I suppose this is the part where you try to drain my blood, see if you can read my memories through it?" Velia asked. The Vampire frowned, and his eyes widened slightly. It was clear that she struck a nerve, likely by guessing what he was capable of correctly. Nevertheless, when the Vampire gazed into her eyes, he maintained an emotionally cold tone and posture.
"Who told you that such a thing was possible?" Velias' mouth moved on its own, and she spoke despite her efforts not to.
"My teacher in the days of the Healing Choir."
FUCK! Velia thought, as the Vampire stared without giving away his expression.
"Something tells me that if I continue asking you questions, your answers will only raise more of them in kind. Now, follow me." the Vampire said. He then walked over to a mirror that was covered up with a thick cloth. A moment passed, as the Vampire recited some form of passage in a tongue that while unrecognizable, was clearly human in origin. Once the mirror began to ripple, the Vampire grabbed Velia, and dragged her through it...
Authors' Note: Alright, that is this chapter dealt with. So now comes the part where I respond the reviews for the previous chapter. As a side note, there was a character I planned to have appear, but decided to have him appear later in the story as the final boss of this particular part of New Moon.
SpartanTerran: Thanks, but if I do anything involving Changelings, I'm more likely to focus on doing the nWoD versions.
Najee: First contact with the Vampires has been made, and now Gavlan has gotten a taste of Werewolf Gift spam. And yeah, Thaumaturgy and Blood Sorcery is 100% the Kindred answer to Bloodborne Hunters. "Oh, you have special blood pulsing through your veins? It would be a shame if something happened to it..."
ManwithaPlan113: What can I say? I'm a sucker for lore-heavy settings, and it's good to know that you enjoy the action and such. And yeah, creeping people out with Dementation is pretty much the main pass time of Clan Malkavain, second only to derailing other Vampires' plans and annoying them in the process.
Akashic Silhouette: Whelp, some things take time to perfect. As for underselling the Bloodborne Hunters, not really. To very quickly summarize why, here is a summary of the capabilities of WoD's Big Three gamelines, named for the fact that they were the first three Old WoD games: Vampires, Werewolves, and Mages.
Vampires: Humans cursed with undeath due to events I'll eventually reveal in the crossover, Vampires (a.k.a. Kindred as they call themselves) come in 13 main Clans in the Old World of Darkness continuity, and are borne of the 13 Antediluvians, who are to vampires what the Great Ones are to the Hunters. Each Clan has it's own set of blood-based powers that the Clan specializes in called Disciplines, which grow more powerful the older the Vampire is, with some more dangerous then others. Tremere is one of the few Clans that can, and will end a confrontation with a curb stomp victory when attacked by a Hunter Bloodborne.
For example, Strauss is an Elder Vampire from Clan Tremere, and thus has access to their Discipline known as Thaumaturgy, a set of magic powers and rituals centered around manipulating their blood, or the blood of others to accomplish various effects ranging from setting up an alarm for when spirits or other non-material beings like the Messengers enter a place that they like them to stay out of, to calling lighting bolts on an enemy, to even turning their blood into water (which btw is an instant kill if a Tremere smacks a regular human with, but is more along the lines of a mana-drain when done to another Vampire.) Not only that, but Clan Tremere in the lore of V:tM have over the course of centuries made their Clan an in-expendable part in the running of Kindred society, so going after one means that Tremere can and likely will in the event they're somehow out-numbered and out-matched, call in a favor from any Vampires that required their services to gang up on a Hunter.
And if there is one thing the Hunters are going to learn, is that getting ganged-up on is a death sentence for even them in World of Darkness Earth.
Werewolves: Probably the closest equivalents to Bloodborne Hunters in WoD, the Werewolves, or Garou as they call themselves are a race of shape-shifters created to fight the Wyrm, a lovecraftian entity which is essentially the Moon Presence on steroids that seeks to end the world. As for who created them, it is none other then Gaia the manifestation and personification of WoD Earths' biosphere, who is pretty much their version of the Good Hunter in this story. The main assets of the Garou are Gifts, powers and abilities that they can acquire for doing certain tasks for Gaia and other various entities similar to her and the Good Hunter. And while they do suffer from issues concerning controlling their rage (biggest understatement of the century as far as the other were-beasts are concerned), the Garou are more then able to hold their own as they are meant to hunt in packs.
Gifts range from making technology around them fall apart, to manipulating the four elements like they are in A:tLA, to hitting someone from across dimensions depending on various factors about the Werewolf in question. As a result, Garou Packs almost always arrange themselves to make up for each others' weaknesses, and retain their intelligence when they transform. Not only that, but the Garou can travel and gaze into one dimension to the next when meditating on or near a reflective surface, meaning if a Bloodborne Hunter tries to run away to the Hunters' Dream, there's going to be that chance of the Garou breaking into it after said Hunter.
Mages: Refer to the following below.
Mage: *Pulls out and shoots gun at Hunter.*
Bloodborne Hunter: *Dodges bullet, then rushes at Mage.*
Mage: *Traps Bloodborne Hunter in a block of solid air, then shoots the Hunter in the head while they're not able to evade said gunshot execution-style.*
2nd Hunter: *Tries to backstab Mage.*
Mage: *Curses 2nd Hunter with a spell that causes them to suffer a heart attack Death-Note style.*
3rd Hunter: *Runs away.*
Mage: *Turns the ground under the 3rd Hunter in a pool of acid which they fall into.*
Mage: "Good thing I invested into the Sphere of Time, allowing me to see the future, and giving me the foresight to trick these Hunters into attacking me in a private setting!"
There are plenty of things that the denizens of WoD can do, which the Bloodborne Hunters are going to have to play catch up with before they can really have a hope of being effective against them. That, and acquiring actually useful knowledge, as killing the wrong Vampire, Werewolf, or Mage could easily backfire and make things worse such as opening room for a more malevolent monster to take the place of whoever they killed.