BOUNTY HUNTER | Laviniastateroleplay

BOUNTY HUNTER

INFORMATION

Representatives of the courts - men and women who make their fortunes on the blood of outlaws and criminals. By the late 1800s, the United States government had implemented express support to bounty hunters, offering payments for the return, dead or alive, of wanted men. Perhaps it is not a glamorous life... but it is one that is one of allure.

Bounty Hunters are a often sought-after role, but only a select few are trusted with the work - those who prove effective in their work and follow the rules laid out by the government. Gaining access to bounty boards in every county, work is never hard to find.

REQUIREMENTS

Bounty Hunter are considered equal-opportunity. Characters of any race, gender, or presentation will have an equal review in these applications.

BENFITS

Base Paycheck of $16.00
Access to player bounties
Access to NPC bounties

GUIDELINES

Bounty Hunters must portray their role as written; as a state-licensed bounty hunter working and acting within the State of Lavinia. Bounty hunters found in contempt of their role will have the career removed.

A certain degree of realism and proper portrayal is expected in the roleplay of a bounty hunter - a detailed guide of integrating realism into your roleplay is listed below.

ROLEPLAYING A BOUNTY HUNTER

In the late 1800s, a bounty hunter was a person who was hired to track down and capture fugitives or criminals for a reward, known as a "bounty." These individuals were often independent contractors rather than law enforcement officers, though they sometimes worked in conjunction with the authorities.

Bounty hunters operated in a time when law enforcement was less organized, particularly in frontier regions or places with fewer resources. They would pursue criminals who had escaped justice, including outlaws, thieves, or individuals wanted for more serious crimes like murder. They would often use tracking and survival skills and sometimes had to navigate the challenges of a lawless or rough environment. In return for their services, bounty hunters typically received a percentage of the bounty offered for the criminal’s capture, whether dead or alive.

Roleplaying a bounty hunter is about embodying a certain type of character: someone who’s hardened by the unforgiving landscape and the rough, lawless world. The life of a bounty hunter is tough.

Emotionally distant, they’ve seen the worst of humanity and learned to shut down their feelings. Death, betrayal, and violence are part of the daily grind. Very little room for softness, only giving mercy when you choose to, and that’s not often.

Traits of a Bounty Hunter:

Calculating and Methodical - You’re always paying attention, watching for signs, tracking footprints, or listening for small clues. You know how to read people and places. While you can think fast when a situation calls for it, you prefer to set up your job from the shadows. Whether it's an ambush, a carefully planned takedown, or getting information from a local, you take your time and work methodically.

Independent and Self-Reliant - Lone wolves by nature, they’re more accustomed to working alone, trusting only themselves or a small group of like-minded individuals.
Skilled - You know how to survive in the wilderness on your own, whether that means hunting, fishing, or finding shelter when the weather turns bad. You're proficient with a variety of weapons: revolvers, rifles, knives, and maybe even a lasso. You’re quick to draw, and you’ve been in more than your share of gunfights. Every shootout has its own rhythm, and you’ve learned how to dance with death. You don’t just walk into gunfights; you think about escape routes, terrain, positioning, and timing. If you’re fighting, you make sure you’re fighting on your terms.
: People never quite know where you stand, what you’re thinking, or why you do what you do. Maybe you’re chasing a personal vendetta, or maybe you just like the hunt. You might carry a reputation that precedes you, but you let that reputation do the talking. People might whisper your name in fear or respect. You don’t advertise yourself.
Resourceful and Street-Smart - You’re always looking for leads and paying attention to rumors. You can blend into town life when needed, acting like just another drifter, but always listening for the next tip on your target. You know how to work, whether it’s a saloon keeper, a gambler, or a sheriff who might owe you a favor. You can be charming when needed, though you’re never above intimidation or a little bribery.
Clever and Strategic - Whether it’s tracking down someone through rough terrain or convincing an uncooperative witness to talk, a bounty hunter has the wits to get it done. You’re always thinking two steps ahead of your prey. You know people, places, and patterns. Maybe it’s the quiet saloon in a sleepy town where fugitives hide, or the high mountain passes where a wanted man might be holed up. You know the lay of the land and how to use it to your advantage.
Loyal to the Pay, Not the Law - Driven by the reward, you don’t care much for the big picture, the "greater good" or being the hero. Reward money is typically the only driving force that motivates you. Every fugitive has a price, and it’s that price that keeps the bounty hunter going.

JURISDICTION

In the late 1800s, the jurisdiction of a bounty hunter was often vague and depended heavily on local laws, the region, and whether the bounty was private (from a bail bond, business, or landowner) or official (posted by a sheriff, marshal, or state authority).

Bounty hunters were not official lawmen, so they did not have universal jurisdiction. They usually operated within the county, state, or territory where the bounty was issued. In practice, however, many crossed county or even state lines in pursuit, especially in frontier regions where law enforcement was spread thin. So, their jurisdiction was technically limited, but in practice, it often stretched as far as their willingness to risk breaking the law or the willingness of local officials to look the other way.

Sheriffs and their deputies were generally restricted to their county. In turn, sheriffs could deputize bounty hunters temporarily, giving them lawful authority to capture fugitives. U.S. Marshals had broader jurisdiction, especially in federal or territorial areas, will also sometimes contract bounty hunters for help.

In the State of Lavinia bounty hunters often coordinate with sheriffs or marshals.

This meant bounty hunters could sometimes chase fugitives anywhere in the state, but their actions were only tolerated if they brought the criminal back lawfully.

If a fugitive fled within the same state, a bounty hunter was usually allowed to pursue them across county lines, as long as the original warrant or bounty was still valid. Since local sheriffs might not like outsiders operating in their area, so bounty hunters often presented papers or letters from the issuing authority to avoid being treated as kidnappers or vigilantes.

Courts in the 19th century often sided with bounty hunters if the fugitive was indeed wanted and properly turned over to authorities. But if mistakes were made (wrong person taken, abuse of power, or killing without “dead or alive” wording), the bounty hunter could be charged with false arrest, kidnapping, or murder.

In Lavinia, all Bounty Hunters are granted full statewide jurisdiction, meaning you're authorized to track down and apprehend fugitives no matter where they are within the state's borders. Whether it's the bustling cities, remote towns and ranches, or the rugged wilderness, you have the freedom to pursue your quarry across the entire state, utilizing every resource and location to your advantage. No corner of Lavinia is off-limits in your hunt for justice.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

In the late 1800s, bounty hunters played a vital role in the American West, where law enforcement was often sparse, and justice could be slow or inconsistent. A bounty hunter's duties typically revolve around locating and capturing fugitives who have skipped bail or failed to comply with legal obligations. Their role is both challenging and vital to the criminal justice system.

Bounty hunter roles are multifaceted, requiring a balance of investigative skills, physical ability, legal knowledge, and interpersonal communication. They play a crucial role in the justice system by ensuring fugitives who skip bail are brought to justice.

Bounty hunters are independent contractors working in an era where justice was often delivered by the fastest and the fiercest. They need to be resourceful, skilled trackers, and capable of surviving in harsh conditions. They also need to be able navigate a rough, unregulated frontier, relying on their wits, reputation, and firearms to track down and bring in fugitives.

Local Knowledge and Informants:

Gathering Intel from Locals: Small frontier towns have tight-knit communities, and bounty hunters often gather information from local residents, saloon owners, or people who have connections to the criminal underworld. They rely on these sources to get leads on the whereabouts of their quarry.
Interrogating Criminals and Associates: Often, bounty hunters will use social skills to interrogate people who might know the fugitive, relatives, associates, or even other criminals. They often have to use persuasion and sometimes intimidation to gather information.

Tracking and Capturing Fugitives:

Pursuing Outlaws: Bounty hunters are often hired to track down criminals who skip bail, evade arrest, or are wanted for serious offenses like murder, robbery, or theft. These fugitives are often elusive, hiding in remote locations or traveling across the State to avoid capture.
Traveling the Frontier: Lavinia is full of rugged terrain, and bounty hunters have to traverse deserts, mountains, forests, and small, lawless towns to find their quarry. A successful bounty hunter needs to be well-versed in wilderness survival and able to travel long distances.
Tracking Skills: Bounty Hunters rely heavily on traditional tracking skills, such as reading signs in the environment (footprints, broken twigs, disturbed earth), and local knowledge of where outlaws might hide (caves, remote cabins, etc.). They might also interrogate locals or use informants in small towns.
Living Off the Land: Many bounty hunters set out with minimal supplies, depending on their ability to hunt, fish, and forage for food. They often sleep under the stars or in makeshift camps, sometimes for weeks or months at a time, as they pursue their targets.

Apprehending Fugitives:

Violence and Confrontation: Bounty hunters are often faced with violent confrontations. Lavinia is a place where outlaws might be armed and dangerous, and the bounty hunters need to be prepared for gunfights, ambushes, or even betrayal. Unlike modern times, where arrests are often made with the help of law enforcement, bounty hunters have to rely on their own wits, guns, and sometimes intimidation.
Hand-to-Hand Confrontations: Physical confrontations are common, usually involving fistfights as the first line of avoidance.
Capture Techniques: Once located, bounty hunters must apprehend the fugitive, often without the assistance of law enforcement. They are legally authorized to use necessary force (within the limits of the law) to make an arrest. Lassos are a great resource for subduing your bounty.
Transporting Fugitives: After apprehension, Bounty Hunters are responsible for transporting the fugitive back to the authorities who hired them.

Collaboration with Law Enforcement:

Understanding Laws: Bounty hunters must have a deep understanding of local, state, and federal laws regarding their actions. They must know when and how they are allowed to pursue and apprehend individuals.
Cooperation: While bounty hunters are private citizens and do not have the formal powers of law enforcement, they often work alongside local, state, or federal law enforcement. However, their role differs from that of law enforcement officers in that they are focused solely on fugitives who have skipped bail, not general criminal law enforcement.
Sharing Information: When necessary, bounty hunters share information with law officers and Marshals, especially if the fugitive is involved in serious criminal activity that requires coordinated efforts.

Successful Bounties:

Dead or Alive: Bounties do vary but the majority in Lavinia are to capture alive and obtain the fugitive to serve their jail time and possibly await trial if needed. The only time that a bounty will be requested as Dead or Alive, the sheriff issuing the bounty will put a CK request in with Staff and then whichever Bounty Hunter obtains the fugitive first is allowed to CK.
Payment for Success: Bounty hunters are typically paid a fee for bringing in fugitives, often in the form of a reward. The amount varied depending on the severity of the crime and the value of the fugitive to the community.

PRESENTATION AND ATTIRE

A bounty hunter in the late 1800s was a rugged, practical figure, often blending elements of both lawman and outlaw. They typically have a tough exterior, with a quiet intensity. Their faces might have a permanent scowl or grim look, hardened by time and experience. Some of their unique traits may include a jagged scar on your cheek, bruises and gashes from previous brawls, or they may even have a permanent limp from a previous bullet wound. Their eyes are sharp, constantly scanning their surroundings, while their expression is as unreadable as a stone. While most folks would avoid trouble, Bounty Hunters seem to invite it, walking into saloons where others would hesitate. They always have a plan, even if no one else knows it. Trust is earned, and loyalty is something they hold onto until someone proves their worth it.

Clothing:

Shirt: Simple cotton or flannel shirts, often in earth tones or plaids that are practical and durable. Sometimes layered with a vest for added warmth or to carry items.
Trousers: Wool or canvas trousers, often tucked into boots.
Coat: Canvas or leather duster used for protection from rain and trail dust. Dusters were common among riders and Bounty Hunters, especially during bad weather or in pursuit.
Leather leg coverings for riding long distances or going through brush.
Hat: Wide-brimmed hat like a slouch hat, cowboy hat, or sombrero used to protect from the sun and rain, usually battered or stained from long use.
Footwear: High leather boots, often with spurs, designed for long hours on horseback.

Gear:

Sidearm: Revolvers like the Cattleman Revolver would be most commonly used sidearm for quick draw.
Rifle or Shotgun: Winchester rifle and double-barreled shotgun were the most commonly used long arms.
Other Items: Knives, gun belts with cartridge loops - often double holstered, lassos, binoculars, canteens and bedrolls for nights on the hunt.

Grooming and Demeanor:

Not always clean-cut from long stints on the trail meant they could look scruffy, unshaven, and grimy. Their appearance is often rugged, with scars or weathered clothing, from years in the wilderness.
When in towns or visiting saloons, bounty hunters might try to keep a low profile by dressing a little nicer to avoid spooking their quarry and to blend in with locals in order to obtain information.

ETHICS AND MORALS

The ethics and morals of a bounty hunter in the late 1800s existed in a gray area, balancing between the law, personal survival, and sometimes self-interest. While they’re technically "lawmen" in their own right, a bounty hunter’s sense of justice is shaped by experience, not by law books. They might bring criminals to justice, but it’s often through methods that walk the line between right and wrong. While they were technically on the side of the law, their actions were often violent, opportunistic, and sometimes ruthless. Some crossed ethical lines, abusing their power or targeting the wrong individuals.

Many bounty hunters had questionable moral codes, as the law of the frontier was less clear-cut. Some bounty hunters were former criminals themselves, with little concern for the rights of their targets. Others believed they were performing a public service by capturing dangerous outlaws. It wasn’t unusual for bounty hunters to be seen as both heroes and anti-heroes, depending on the perspective.

A bounty hunter's reputation was crucial. A tough, reliable bounty hunter was respected and feared, but failure could mean losing out on future work. Reputation often came with a certain "code," which could vary from one bounty hunter to another. In the absence of formal regulation, a bounty hunter’s reputation often dictated their moral compass. Those known for excessive cruelty or dishonesty could be shunned by reputable law enforcement.

Bounty hunters were usually paid per capture, not based on guilt, innocence, or fairness. This incentivized led to catching as many fugitives as possible, even by questionable means. Justice wasn’t always the primary goal. If the reward was higher for a fugitive dead rather than alive, some hunters might choose lethality over restraint, even if the fugitive could have been taken peacefully.