Schadr's Hunt
The spectral hunt of Schadr and his ghastly procession of companions who roam the night sky instill terror in any who see or hear them.
Summary
Schadr, the enigmatic leader of and namesake of Schadr's Hunt, is a figure long shrouded by the fog of time, memory, and mystery. One can see Schadr as embodying the chaos of life, and the inevitability of death. His hunt is not merely a physical pursuit, it represents a spiritual and existential threat to the world and all its inhabitants. The purpose of the hunt, unknown to many is multifaceted. Schadr and his hunt serve as the heralds of Dresirea, the end times, and as an ominous sign that the world is hurtling toward that inevitable day. Schadr and his hunt symbolize the chaotic forces that will ultimately bring about the end of all things. Schadr and his hunting companions, monstrous and ethereal beings, instill terror and fear wherever they roam. Schadr himself is among the most mysterious and ill-understood beings in existence. Theories range from his presence as a crowned rider of the apocalypse, to delving even further into the history of the world. Schadr, a being seemingly outside the grasp of time, is believed to be a son or fragment of the Gehn, the primordial monsters that were supposedly vanquished by the twin deities Nila and Kataka in making way for the creation of the world. While the Gehn at large were destroyed, Schadr seems to have survived, existing on the fringes of existence. His presence is the manifestation of the unfathomable depths of the unknown, he is a force that defies categorization and comprehension.
Schadr's significance lies in his role as a provocateur, not only does he challenge the established order of mortals, in his mocking of kingship and the rule of power based on blood, but he mocks even the High Ones, beings unable to rein in this primal and unliving force outside their control. Crowned by blood and bone, his very existence calls into question humanity's relationship with death, the unknown, and their gods. The true nature of the hunt is unknown, and Schadr's final plan remains a mystery yet some believe that his ultimate goal is a simple challenge to the gods, to bring about a true reckoning that will reshape the hierarchy of the cosmos itself. Others believe that he will plunge the world into eternal darkness, he desires to eradicate the structures of existence and leave the world a cold, barren, and lifeless place, life simply being a momentary event in the early stages of a universe that will remain cold and dark forever, as time becomes meaningless.
As the end approaches, as time moves on, Schadr's power grows, his influence seeping into the fabric of the world with each passing day. It is said in tomes, when the sun wanes, and the stars dim, Schadr will arise in power and the world will finally come to an end. For the first time in the life of the universe, entropy will finally win, and full order will be restored to the universe where the chaos of life once endured. His presence in the world reminds all of the coming end, of the annihilation of all things.
In the tapestry of the cosmos, Schadr and his hunt remain at the end, representing the culmination of all existence. He is the final adversary, the Final Enemy, that being death, all things are united in this fear of death and of the finality of it. He represents the universal fear and acceptance of mortality, challenging individuals, societies, and ideas themselves. The fragility of life becomes all too apparent and the struggle to find purpose in the face of such unfeeling doom can overwhelm one. To all, Schadr rides on as the timeless symbol of the eternal struggle between life and death, embodying the fears, anxieties, and inevitabilities that accompany the condition of life. His role as the final enemy and the bringer of the end casts a shadow over the world, reminding all who encounter him, of the inevitability of the ultimate end.
Historical Basis
Once thought to be pure myth, in the times since the Dykairos, Schadr's Hunt has become a known reality as reports of the Hunt have accompanied reports of kidnapped men, women, and children and sometimes stories of the finding of corpses impaled on treetops missing their eyes.
Spread
Told in folktales by the Herodi and Iolans, the tale of the Grimmingr and the Iolan version, called the Askoriean, was popular enough to be noticed and written about by numerous literary peoples neighboring them, namely the Rasenna after their consolidation of the Lakic peninsula where they shared a small border with the Herodi. After the conquests in Areul, the Rasenna shared a long history with the Herodi and Iolans who exchanged stories and methods with the growing Republic and eventually the Empire.
Variations & Mutation
Depending on the storyteller, location or time of season, various changes can be made to the story of the Hunt, from different leadership, different cast of characters or even what the Hunt's purpose is.
Cultural Reception
Generally seen as a story to frighten, the story of the hunt is one that warns of an unstoppable force of riders from the other side of mortality coming to do as they please and reap vengeance on those who step before them. To some more thoughtful listeners, the hunt came be seen as time itself, unmovable and unstoppable with no remorse or reason.
(Schadr, flanked by his hounds, rides eternal through the night)
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