General > AMA > Samurai

  Topic: Hey, I’m the Arizona Samurai Bone Hawk, Ask Me Anything!

  By: BoneHawkAZ (Verified Samurai)

  Published: April 12th, 2054

  Hey everyone! I’m Bone Hawk, a Samurai initialized and currently stationed in Targ, AZ. I was one of at least two Samurai who initialized during the Targ incursion. I may not have the most experience with only being a Sam’ for two months at this point, but I am happy to answer any question regarding myself, my fighting style, or any other Sam’ I may know about.

  Ask me anything!

  > RockyOysterz67

  Can’t wait for mods to take down this- WAIT HOLY SHIT THATS VERIFIED OH WE COOKIN

  Freakout aside, glad you could spare the time to talk with us worthless peons Hawk. Moving the clock back to Targ incursion for a second, what was the nastiest thing you faced? Did you have any assistance from the other Samurai before the Phoenix ones arrived?

  > ItsMeAndMew

  So cool to hear about a new Sam’ in AZ! It’s been pretty sparse on fresh blood for a while there.

  It’s been generally reported by other Samurai that they are essentially on call 24/7 regarding incursions, hive hunting, or other miscellaneous Sam’ related happenings. Has that been the case for you so far in Targ?

  > DaquiriDowner

  > > @RockyOysterz67

  It’s already been confirmed that Bone Hawk was working with the Samurai Death Punch for most of the Targ incursion. Do some research for once in your life.

  Speaking of Death Punch, do you know how much they were involved in the recent happenings in Orson, NNM? Allegedly there was a stealth hive forming near one of the town’s mining sites, and was dealt with by two Samurai. One we know was a new initialization by the name of Staccato, but the other is completely unreported.

  > Mr. E. Pearson

  Fourth favorite ice cream flavor, go.

  > BoneHawkAZ (Verified Samurai)

  > > @RockyOysterz67

  Yeah, as Daquiri did point out, I worked with another newly-minted Samurai named Death Punch for most of the incursion, and it was basically the two of us for a while trying (badly, I might add) to keep the Antithesis under control until the Phoenix Samurai arrived. After the incursion I was briefly introduced to the Phoenix Family Branch and some of their Samurai. Trigonometry and Eye Spy, if I remember correctly, although only the latter was there in person.

  As for the hardest thing I’ve faced so far? Probably the Model Fifteen. I have a very mobile fighting style, what with my wings and all, but the Fifteen is the only one I’ve faced so far that was able to actively snipe me out of the air with their projectile attack. There isn’t usually a lot of cover in the sky, after all.

  > > @ItsMeAndMew

  Sort of yes, sort of no? In a way I am sort of on call, usually for any happenings located in Targ specifically, but I’ve had a solid amount of agency for anything outside of it. The Family is fairly lax about organizing Samurai for specific incidents, as they know someone will take it at some point. I’ve said no to stuff, usually because I have outstanding appointments, and they’ve been perfectly fine with that. With that said, I still have been busy with the post-incursion cleanup. Antithesis are just the worst to try and exterminate; there’s always one that gets away and that means a few days later a new blossoming hive to hunt down.

  > > @DaquiriDowner

  Can’t say I’ve been kept too in the loop about everything that happened in Orson, mostly because I’ve been preoccupied with Targ’s day-to-day. Death Punch is also a Sam’ who very much likes their privacy, so I can’t give an answer there. Even as someone that could be called a friend, what she chooses to disclose about her current efforts is very little. What I will say is Death Punch went east after finishing up with Targ, so the odds that they stopped in Orson was pretty high.

  Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

  Edit: Ah darn, I guess I let that slip. Yeah, Death Punch is a she.

  > > @Mr. E. Pearson

  Fourth specifically? Uhhh…Vanilla I guess? Safe option and almost always good, but lacks the little bits of texture that my favorites have.

  > DaquiriDowner

  @PleaseInsrtGirlder Death Punch is a she.

  So from what I’m hearing, Death Punch takes the Red Ghost mindset of making appearances. Will come in to deal with some hives or an incursion, then will disappear into the fucking wind for like eight months.

  > PleaseInsrtGirlder

  YES YES YES YES YES ADDING TO CHART ADDING TO CHART

  Btw Bone Hawk what r your pronouns :3

  > Holeindawaaagghh

  Ooh, a new Samurai to ruthlessly chastise >:)

  Samurai weaponry is always a delight to learn about, so I must ask what particular poison you partake in.

  > BoneHawkAZ (Verified Samurai)

  > > @PleaseInsrtGirlder

  Happily he/him!

  > > @Holeindawaaagghh

  Great question! And one that absolutely goes to my crossbows, more specifically my bonespur bolts from them.

  The crossbows themselves aren’t anything particularly special by Samurai standards, at least from what Aytos has said. They use some offshoot of railgun tech that is able to propel them quickly and quietly, which I prefer to the loudness of guns most of the time. In my case they are designed to be extra light as to be dual wielded. Mostly because dual wielding is cool, macho, action hero stuff and it makes me feel alive. Reloading becomes a bit of an issue with both hands full, especially when airborne, but I’ve devised a hands-free reload method and the turrets on my wings can fill the lull in fire.

  But the real stars are the bolts. I do have other varieties of crossbow bolt, namely sticky, incendiary, and explosive, but the bonespur ones are my favorite. There’s actually not that much tech involved in them, but instead they are laced with a very specific venom from an alien species that I base most of my kit around, the Lykyr. Once organic material i.e. Antithesis are exposed to the venom, the cells of the body undergo a process of…hyperossification I think it's called. Basically, it slowly petrifies them and converts their bodies into a sort of bone-like material. Its potency tends to taper off once you get to the double digits and above, but it is great for restricting movement and area control, and watching a Model Three slowly turning into a dog statue is really fun every time.

  > PleaseInsrtGirldr

  YES YES THANK YOU THANK YOU CHART CHART CHART CHART

  > BadaBing333

  How do you see your kit evolving over the next say…year?

  > ItsMeAndMew

  Actually, since we’ve opened up that door a bit already, what is working with Death Punch like? How does it compare to working with other Samurai?

  > BoneHawkAZ (Verified Samurai)

  > > @BadaBing333

  Hard to say for sure, just because a lot can happen in a year and it's totally possible to pivot my focus within that time. Right now? Leaning towards some level of expanding my ammunition’s capabilities rather than my weapons. I’ve grown to love my crossbows– I’ve had them since the very beginning–and I don’t see them as anything but an essential part of my kit. Modifications I am open towards but full replacement? Unlikely. Outside of that, probably just looking at general upgrades to my drones, wings, and other miscellaneous equipment.

  > > @ItsMeAndMew

  Death Punch is…hmm. I want to say she’s simultaneously inconspicuous and insane. She very much tries to cultivate this image of normalcy when in more casual, public company, to the point where it's entirely her goal to pass by in the street without the idea of her being a Samurai ever crossing anyone’s mind. We’ve talked about it pretty blatantly, and it's one of the reasons why she doesn’t really show herself publicly.

  Once you get her fighting, though, the mask breaks and you realize that she’s kind of an adrenaline junkie. Like seriously, who else would willingly square up against a pack of Threes with just their fists? Maybe she stays away from everyone because she doesn’t want to be seen covered in gallons of xeno-fluids with a battle crazed smile on her face.

  As for working with other Samurai? Can’t say, ‘cause I haven’t worked with any others. Heard there is an event in Phoenix coming up soon that I’ll likely be asked to join, some sort of party with a big name Samurai? I’ll see if I can hook up with some new faces there.

  > DaquiriDowner

  Mmm, Scurvy’s Soiree is gonna some time within the next couple weeks, yeah. Always likes rubbing shoulders with whatever new Sams pop up during the year as far as I’ve heard, so it wouldn’t shock me if she tries to drag you, Death Punch, and Staccato into it.

  > RockyOysterz67

  Hawk, I believe the word you are looking for to describe Death Punch is ‘fightsexual’.

  > BoneHawkAZ (Verified Samurai)

  Oh my god that’s amazing, I’m stealing that.