Artful

Waiting place for killers

During breaks between rounds, the assassins remain in a separate area, off-limits to civilians. This place feels more like an abandoned hideout, created specifically for those going hunting. There's no sense of security here—even in quiet moments, the air is thick with tension.

The space is divided into several sections: dark corridors, spacious waiting rooms, and training areas where assassins can test their skills or simply pass the time until the next round. The walls are covered in signs of destruction, old mechanisms operate intermittently, and the lighting flickers frequently, creating an unsettling atmosphere.

Each assassin has their place. Artful prefers quiet corners where he can calmly plot and play with his music boxes. Pursuer is usually on the move—he wanders around the area, surveying everything around him, or irritating others with his behavior. Kilroyd chooses places where he can observe what's happening and maintain control of the situation. Harken stays away from loud areas, choosing the quietest rooms. Badware occupies areas with technology and wires, where he can maintain his existence and study the surrounding system.

Despite all working toward the same goal, there's no real unity among the killers. Arguments, conflicts, and tensions often arise among them, as each has their own personality, methods, and approach to hunting.

Badware is a sentient computer virus that has taken over a tall mechanical body and used it as a vessel. Instead of a face, it has a monitor that constantly displays symbols, error messages, and changing images. Its entire body is composed of metal parts, wires, springs, and mechanisms, and its movements are accompanied by a quiet hum and electronic sounds. The virus itself is not bound to the body—it is merely a tool that allows it to exist in the physical world. Badware is capable of infecting nearby equipment with its virus, bending it to its will and gradually expanding its influence.

Cold-blooded, calculating, and incredibly intelligent. He views the world around him as a system that can be hacked and subjugated. He almost never expresses emotion and speaks in short, mechanical sentences. He takes no pleasure in killing—he eliminates only those who hinder the spread of the virus or attempt to stop it. He always strives to expand his network and gain control over as many devices as possible.

Relationships: The other assassins are more of a nuisance to Badware than allies. He's especially interested in Kilroyd, constantly trying to find a way to bypass his defenses and infect his system, but so far without success. He's indifferent to Pursuer, considering him a mere animal. He views Artful as too unpredictable, and Harken prefers not to provoke him unnecessarily. His primary goal remains spreading the virus, not collaborating with anyone.

Artful is a tall, powerfully built man with unusually pale, almost white skin. Due to his lack of a distinct odor and his deathly appearance, many mistake him for a corpse. He always appears neat: he wears a white shirt and tie, a black jacket, and loose black trousers that allow him to move freely. He wields a baton as a weapon, which he uses to control the music boxes and perform his attacks.

Calm, serious, and extremely disciplined, Artful prefers to carefully consider every action, rarely relying on luck. When hunting, he acts coolly, trying to corner his prey rather than mindlessly pursue them. He dislikes unnecessary noise and chaos, believing they only hinder his progress. Despite his immense patience, he can lose his temper if someone repeatedly thwarts his plans.

Relationships: He treats Kilroyd with respect, valuing his restraint and prudence. He trusts Harken and tries not to make unnecessary noise around her. He has a neutral attitude toward Badware, although his unpredictability can sometimes be alarming. Pursuer irritates Artful more than anyone else: his reckless dashes, loud roar, and habit of interfering with other people's hunts regularly derail all carefully prepared plans, often leading to conflicts between them.

Kilroyd is a tall, powerfully built man, always calm and confident. His appearance is neat but cool, and his heavy gaze rarely betrays any emotion. He moves measuredly, without unnecessary fuss, but is capable of sudden acceleration when needed. He prefers to act precisely and efficiently, without wasting his energy.

Kilroyd is a disciplined, patient, and level-headed killer. He rarely gives in to emotion, preferring to analyze the situation and use his prey's mistakes to his advantage. He dislikes chaos and senseless cruelty, believing that hunting should be organized. He almost never raises his voice, and his composure remains even in the most tense situations. If a plan begins to unravel, he quickly regroups and continues without losing his composure.

Relationships: He respects Artful for his prudence and ability to think several steps ahead. He treats Harken calmly, trying not to provoke her sensitivity to noise. He considers Bedwar unpredictable and prefers to keep his distance. He frankly dislikes Pursuer: his impulsiveness, loud roar, and habit of rushing headlong constantly interfere with any thoughtful actions, which is why Kilroyd often gets into verbal altercations with him.

Harken is a tall, humanoid construct crafted from sandstone and hails from another dimension. Her body is covered in cracks, and her movements seem fluid yet unnatural. She possesses incredibly acute hearing and is highly sensitive to any loud sound. She prefers silence, perceiving noise as a mortal threat. Despite her intimidating appearance, Harken derives no pleasure from killing—for her, it is merely a way to silence the world around her. In her calm state, she is cautious and reserved, but the more noise she hears, the more enraged she becomes, becoming far more dangerous. She communicates through gestures and writing, and speaks her own language, consisting of clicks and ticks.

Relationships: She's more tolerant of Artful than the others—the melody of his music boxes soothes her and reminds her of a dear creature from her past, though the noise itself still bothers her. She dislikes Pursuer because of his constant roaring and noisy hunting. She's wary of Badware and neutral toward Kilroyd, as long as he doesn't make unnecessary noise. She considers any source of loud noise, regardless of who makes it, her main enemy.

Pursuer is a medium-sized creature with black skin and a white neck and head, giving the appearance of wearing a mask. His slightly curly white hair contrasts with his turquoise eyes and equally sharp teeth. His legs resemble animal paws, allowing him to run quickly, and his long claws are capable of piercing a throat with ease. A tail with mottled fur trails behind his back. He usually wears a simple black T-shirt and dark pants.

The Pursuer lives by instinct. It rarely makes plans, preferring to instantly launch itself into pursuit of any prey. Tenacious, swift, and aggressive, it pursues its prey to the very end, and its loud roar can deafen and frighten those around it. It fights with a sword, but without hesitation switches to claws and fists. It loves human flesh, but is very picky: after a few bites, it can lose interest in the prey, deeming it no longer fresh enough. For some unknown reason, it regularly sniffs Artful, confirming that it still smells like a corpse and is not worth eating.