Memory 1: Awakening
The scent of blood, it was the first thing he noticed before he opened his eyes and found darkness staring back at him. Paleblood echoed in his mind as the memory of the blood transfusion returned to him. Rising from the gurney he made his way out of the clinic unaware of his surroundings, mind still clouded from the operation. The stranger had no problem sneaking past the wolf beast and yharnamites that blocked his path.
Pure instinct took over as he dashed his way up the ladder and into central Yharnam finding his first lantern and companion "Oh you must be a Hunter, and not one from around here either. I'm Gilbert, a fellow outsider. You must have had a fine time of it. Yharnam has a special way of treating guests. This town is cursed. Whatever your reasons might be, you should plan a swift exit. Paleblood, you say? Hmm... Never heard of it. But if it's blood you're interested in, you should try the Healing Church."
The foreigner stayed silent still taking in everything as he made his way back to the lamp and into the hunter's dream.
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The Hunter's Dream consoled the foreigner none as confusion, fear, and panic lurked in his mind. He only had one thought in his mind; survival. It seemed so unreal, not knowing who you are, where you're at. Like a bad dream, except he would never wake up.
Walking up the steps of the workshop the man found the owner and his new teacher "Ah-hah, you must be the new hunter. Welcome to the Hunter's Dream. This will be your home, for now. I am... Gehrman, friend to you hunters. You're sure to be in a fine haze about now, but don't think too hard about all of this. Just go out and kill a few beasts. It's for your own good. You know, it's just what hunters do! You'll get used to it…".
Talking to the old man revealed nothing, only reinforcing his role as a hunter. Glancing back toward the headstones he found tiny messengers gifting him a pistol and saw cleaver. Before accepting the messenger's gifts he shifted his gaze to the cracked mirror in front of him and to his appearance. An average face with brown eyes and a short nose looked back with the only other detail being the faded scar on the right eye. Even his height and build was average with the exception of his body being a bit lean and his skin marking him as a stranger of Yharnam.
Reaching into his pockets he searched for anything that would give him an inkling about his past, and yet the only thing he dug up was a crumpled note, "Saer, your mother is dreadfully sick. Seek out Yharnam's paleblood, and save our family "
Only providing more questions than answers, the letter seemed more dreamlike than the hunter's dream itself. Saer, the name rippled in his mind as he realized that must be him. With nothing but a name and a letter, he made his way back to the headstone grabbing the weapons the messengers left for him, and traveling back to Central Yharnam
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Memory 2: Confrontation
The sound of Gunfire and bullets rang in Old Yharnam as Saer dashed his way to cover, holding his hunter pistol close. Quite a bit of time had passed since his arrival in Yharnam, but adjusting to the denizens still took some getting used to, especially since most Yharnmites wanted him dead. Yet something drove him forward, the need to move for his family, to save them gave him strength; however, the only thing that Saer needed right now was to kill the lunatic shooting at him from the tower above. If only his assailant reloaded, then he would have his chance. "...You are a skilled hunter. Adept, merciless, half-cut with blood. As the best hunters are. Which is why I must stop you!". Bullets continued to rain down on Saer's hiding spot as the thin brick walls of the building he was in started to break down.
Rising from his hiding spot, Saer dashed past the cloaked beasts before dropping down a ladder and rolling to cover. "The things you hunt, they're not beasts. They're people. There's nothing more horrific than a hunt". Saer scoffed, this guy really was crazy. "Beasts are just beasts, nothing more. Let me pass and I swear no harm to you" ". you've failed to realize...One day, you will see, but before that happens I must not let you pass". Bullets rained down on Saer again, but this time the gunfire was more sporadic, less focused. Seizing his chance, Saer rose from the iron statues guarding him and made a final dash towards the ladder dodging beasts, bullets, and even a hostile hunter along the way.
Climbing up to the top of the tower, he found his adversary facing him, ready for combat. They said nothing to one another, using only weapons to speak. And although the old hunter fought hard, Saer came out the victor. "It's you... You're the beast... Can't you see what you're doing? It's madness…". Saying nothing, Saer watched as old hunter Djura faded away, leaving only his bloodied Powder Keg badge and Gatling gun as proof of his time in the waking world. Before heading back down, Saer thought about what he had done. He had killed a human being, not a beast, not a mad hunter, a person. He could make excuses; Djura left him no choice, or he was just as mad as Gascoigne, but in his heart, he had committed evil. The hunt does not make heroes, it makes killers, and that's exactly what Saer was now. But he wasn't sent to Yharnam for hunting, he was sent to save his family and he would save them even if that meant becoming a beast.
Cleaning himself up and picking up the badge from the floor he made his way back down the tower but not before stopping to mark a small grave next to the tower. Not the burial Djura deserved, but it was something for the foolishly kind old hunter.
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Saer found himself alone. Killed by a Darkbeast in Yahar'gul he did not awaken in the Hunter's Dream like he usually did. Instead, he was just alone. No light or darkness just empty, and then footsteps from behind him. Turning, a figure towered above him, "I haven't forgotten, I'll see you very soon".
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Memory 3: First Contact
Saer's continued search for paleblood had proven fruitless. There were no records of paleblood anywhere in Yharnam. Even in Iosefka's clinic, no records exist of anything called paleblood. Strangely enough, there was no record of him either. "How can I find paleblood when it doesn't even exist?".
Saer sighed, he shouldn't waste time, he needed to keep moving. Deciding to give up on his search for now and continue hunting was the only thing he could do right now, better to act than react.
Making his way back to Oedon Chapel he made sure to greet its friendly, yet eccentric denizens. First saying hello to Arianna, then Adella, then greeting the compassionate beggar, and lastly, the little girl he had saved from the dangers of Central Yharnam.
"Hi Mister Hunter. Thank you for letting me stay here, everyone is so nice. I'm still sad about Mum and Dad but at least I'm safe here with you.". The little girl displayed courage but Saer could tell she was nearly in tears from his news of Viola and Gascoigne.
Saer thought for a moment, then dug in his bag before finding what he was looking for. He knew she was filled with grief, but maybe this gift would help "Here, I know this won't bring them back, but maybe it can help you preserve their memory" Saer handed the girl a red jeweled brooch along with a tiny music box containing a note inside.
"Thank you, Mister Hunter. I- I love you almost as much as mum and dad, and grandad!"
Saer couldn't help but smile under his mask, despite all the hunting he was glad he could still bring a smile to another person's face. Saying his goodbyes to the citizens of Oedon Chapel Saer made his way down the aqueduct and back to Oedon Chapel. He had received an unknown letter from a league member simply stating "Gascoigne".
Once in the tomb, he saw a battle occurring right in the middle of graves. He quickly assessed the two combatants as hunters. A hunter dressed in crows garb probably the Hunter of Hunters Eileen, and another he recognized as Old Hunter Henryk.
Due to Saer's constant search of Paleblood, his findings often led him to the Healing Church and its origins. Some details were shrouded in mystery, known only by high ranking church officials, but names like Ludwig, Laurance, Maria, Gehrman, among others popped up here and there. That list of names included the two hunters fighting in front of him.
No longer satisfied with just sitting around, Saer quickly dropped down to the tomb and engaged in battle against old Hunter Henryk. Henryk was fast, but he was faster and before he knew it the fight was over. "That wasn't necessary of ya, But you have my thanks, we made it with our lives... You're not bad at all. Try to keep your hands clean… A Hunter should hunt Beasts. Leave the hunting of Hunters, to me".
The crow hunter headed up the steps of the Tomb before stopping at the top before stopping at Saer's "Before you leave, may I ask, do you know anything about Paleblood?".
" Paleblood is none of your concern. A hunter must hunt. ". Eileen continued her way back up towards Oedon Chapel leaving Saer alone in the tomb.
Yet he wasn't alone, footsteps from behind caused him to turn and draw his weapon ready for a beast. Instead, another hunter greeted him. "Seems I'm too late, poor Gascoigne turned mad. Well I appreciate you putting him down, he was a good man, and a dear friend".
"You knew Gascoigne?". Saer scanned the hunter, clearly a woman by the voice and posture yet she towered him by four inches of height.
"Yes, from my old hunting days. I used to always see him with Henryk, but that was a long time ago". Piercing green eyes gazed at Saer as if he was prey causing the hunter to grip his cleaver tighter.
"Do I know you?". A strange feeling came over Saer, he knew this woman. Something about her was so familiar, like experiencing the cold of winter again with its harsh winds but beautiful snow.
"Silly me, forgetting to introduce myself. I swear sometimes I lose myself in thoughts. My name is Maria, I've come to Yharnam for Paleblood"
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Memory 4: Guidance
At first, Saer was extremely suspicious. He had read about her, the infamous Lady Maria of Cainhurst Castle, a half vileblood who came to Yharnam in search of holy blood only to be defeated and subsequently recruited by Gerhman. But Maria gained his trust partially by not killing him on the spot, and by explaining to him why she had come back to Yharnam.
Paleblood, apparently, was actually two things that were used by church officials to describe the ancient holy blood found in the ruins below Yharnam, and the gods that the blood came from. Maria had come to Yharnam to find the source of the Healing Church's blood and destroy it to prevent any more beasts from being created.
This information about Paleblood reignited Saer's search. Now that he knew what paleblood was, he could find some and use it to save his family. However, with the new information came a horrifying revelation. Holy Blood is what caused beasthood, and thus what started the hunt. But he couldn't be disencouraged, after all Maria did explain that only by taking high amounts of paleblood caused beasthood. Surely if he stopped using so much blood, and only took a little for his family he wouldn't be corrupted.
After she was done explaining, Maria handed Saer a gold pendant housing a green jewel within. "I must take my leave now, but if you ever need assistance with anything, wear this necklace and I'll come". She smiled under her mask and began to walk away leaving Saer alone once again.
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"This is impossible". Mind running at 100 miles per hour Saer dashed through graves and dogs avoiding bullets simultaneously.After beating Vicar Amelia in the Grand Cathedral, albeit with some assistance from Maria, Saer found a small path leading to a forest filled with ash and bullets before his search was ended by a rifle headshot. Following the same path again had him dodge countless enemies and bullets before dying over and over and over again.
This time, however, Saer had managed to come up with a strategy to avoid most of the gunfire. Hug the left side of the graves until encountering two dogs and one marksman. Then run straight through them and return to the middle path. It took some trial and error, but he finally made it to Hemwick Charnel Lane and met back up with Maria.
Pushing through Hemwick was child's play for them, but he had a sneaking suspicion that they were being lured there. Eventually, Saer and Maria found the Witches of Hemwick and disposed of them quite quickly, and yet he still had that gnawing feeling that someone had guided them there on purpose.
Opening the door to the Witch's Domain he found another hunter tool, along with a fellow hunter. "Poor bastard, I wish I could have stopped them. (sigh) Done something to save you. All I can do now is give you a proper burial". Carrying the hunter on his shoulder Saer walked to the edge of the broken bridge before lightly letting the hunter fall into the sea. "Rest, and dream well fellow hunter".
"That was kind of you. Not many would have taken the time to give a proper burial". Maria stood behind Saer holding her hat in respect of their fallen comrade.
"I couldn't just leave him there, that easily could have been me"