Blood Hunters
Only those with the resolution to sacrifice the essence of themselves have the right to spill the blood of another- Founding Doctorine of the Blood Hunters
The Blood Hunters are a classification of warriors native to Kilvas that operate under the greater umbrella of the Pathfinders and are known for their use of Hemocraft, a form of magic that draws its power from the caster's blood. The combat style originated during the Reclamation Era as a means of fighting against Surtr's forces and was developed by emulating the techniques used by a particular species of his creations, the Mantichora.
The history of the Blood Hunters states that the Mantichora were ferocious creatures that devoured and manipulated the flesh, blood, and bone of their foes. After witnessing such horrifying feats, various individuals thought to mimic such an effective form of combat, terrifying as it may be.
Though they could not perfectly replicate the effects of those fabled creatures, they devoted extensive effort to uncovering the basis of their magic and were eventually able to reverse engineer the core principles of the process, forming their own unique styles of blood magic. The names of the progenitors of this style have sadly been lost to time, but their legacy continues with the practice and evolution of their craft to this day.
Becoming a Blood Hunter
Once an individual has finished their basic education and has decided to become a blood hunter, they will be formed into small squads consisting of fellow prospects, who will receive direct education from an established Blood Hunter. The Blood Hunters who are assigned the role of a teacher are determined by the Conclave on a case-by-case basis. Residents of Kilvas who choose to become a Blood Hunter on the Day of Divergence will be formed into small squads consisting of fellow prospects that will receive tutelage from a Blood Hunter that has been deemed capable enough by The Conclave. They will begin their training by learning the finer details of the history of Hemocraft, such as prominent individuals or milestones. They will also begin to receive personalized physical training from their instructor in order to ensure that they survive the most important event to become a Blood Hunter, the Rite of the Hunter's Bane.Rite of the Hunter's Bane
In order to become a Blood Hunter, two things are necessary. The first is an innate talent or capability for Hemocraft. This is no different than individuals who can or cannot use magic, though (safely) determining whether or not one is capable of Hemocraft requires fairly extensive knowledge and testing. Should an individual possess the capabilities, they must then undergo the Rite of the Hunter's Bane. The Rite of the Hunter's Bane is an extremely painful and dangerous ritual that is necessary for every Blood Hunter to truly gain and utilize the art of Hemocraft. It is a sacred Ritual amongst Blood Hunters, and the process itself is not widely known by any who are not members of the Conclave. Discussion of the Rite with others is considered to be taboo. The Rite involves infusing a specialized substance - the exact contents of which are known only to a select few Blood Hunters - into a recipient's bloodstream. This substance ravages their body, tearing it apart from the inside out in order to forever change their physical being. It is an agonizing process that takes place over the course of several hours, and without the proper preparation and supervision, is extremely deadly."It's a sensation you never forget, as though millions of insects are inside of you, stabbing through every vein and blood vessel in your body. Rarely does an individual not wish for death at at least one point in the process. If you survive though, you gain a level of control and... comfort in your body that simply can't be described. You wonder how you ever lived without it."- Memoires of Korrik Ulkram
Surviving the Rite
Should an individual survive the Rite of the Hunter's Bane, their teacher will impart the basics of Hemocraft to each student over the course of the next 5 years, until their Graduation . This includes the origin of the practice, basic knowledge of each different order, further refinement of a basic fighting style best suited to each student, and assessments to determine which order will best suit them. Instruction includes formal lessons, practical instruction, and the occasional mission to assist the residents of Kilvas. This will continue until a generation’s Graduation . For Blood Hunters, it is extremely common for a squad to engage their teacher in combat as a practical test of their skills. A squad will all face the teacher at the same time, but before beginning, will inform their teacher as well as their fellow students which Order they will pursue. the Order of the Ghostslayer, Lycan, or Mutant. The one exception to this rule is those who show compatibility with the Order of the Profane Soul. In such an event, they are inducted into the order, regardless of what they may have wanted. Once each has announced their intentions, and once the teacher has given their approval, the test begins. Should a squad pass their test, their teacher will share a drink with each student, made from a unique recipe known only to Blood Hunters who have reached a sufficient rank in their order. It is during this time that they share a drink that a teacher will give his gifts to each student, in order to celebrate their graduation as well as their 18th birthday. Presents are unique to each individual student/instructor and are often extremely cherished items. Once the celebration has concluded, a squad's teacher will impart their final words of guidance to each individual member of the squad. They will inform each member what to do on the following day to begin the next stage of their training, where they will receive private teaching from a member of their chosen Order, one that they will call Master.Orders of the Blood Hunters
Though the core principles behind the Hemocraft used by every Blood Hunter are the same, various individuals would go on to find ways to build upon them, creating various different methods to effectively wield its power and fight Surtr's forces. A total of 4 different orders have since emerged since the creation of the first Blood Hunters: The Order of the Ghostlayer, The Order of the Lycan, The Order of the Mutant, and The Order of the Profane Soul.Order of the Ghostslayer
The Ghostslayers originated from an individual who sought to utilize his Hemocraft in direct service of the goddess Yuné. They sought to utilize their skills in conjunction with divine might in order to combat Surtr’s fabled undead legion and specialized in the act of tracking and killing such foes. With the absence of Surtr’s forces, in the modern era, the Ghostslayers are a largely ceremonial order amongst Blood Hunters. Some look down on their teachings, viewing them as an obsolete and inferior form of Hemocraft. As such, there are much fewer practitioners of this order.Order of the Lycan
The Order of the Lycan was created by an individual who sought to match the ferocity of Surtr’s forces by utilizing Hemocraft to further augment the blessings granted to the Lethe. History records it as the first Order to be created and is said to bear the closest resemblance to the fighting methods of the Mantichora. It is often considered to be the purest form of Hemocraft, at least in regard to its initial purpose. The Order of the Lycan tends to attract individuals who place priority on self-sufficiency, those who wish to hone their bodies beyond their natural limits, and who are drawn to the thrill of combat. The Order of the Lycan is the most populated of the Blood Hunters. Some say it is because it is the most natural form of Hemocraft amongst Blood Hunters, while others claim it is due to its simplicity in comparison to other orders. No matter the reason, its expanded pool of practitioners means that there is a wider variety of proficiency amongst its users, resulting in many having a skewed impression of the capability of the order, for better and worse.Order of the Mutant
The Order of the Mutant was founded by individuals who sought to modify and expand the benefits of Hemocraft used by the Order of the Lycan, in order to provide better adaptability and utility in the fight against Surtr’s forces. Those who follow the Order of the Mutant are those who tend to have more analytical minds than those of the other orders. It is composed of those who are intrigued by the methods of Hemocraft created by their ancestors, and wish to gain mastery over it through the power of their intellect, rather than through an innate sense of ability. Due to the necessity of study and experimentation necessary to follow this order, there are not quite as many practitioners of this order as the Lycan. However, since progress in this order is mainly precipitated through study and experimentation, rather than innate talent, it manages to attract a fair number of individuals who might not otherwise ever cultivate their talents for Hemocraft.Order of the Profane Soul
The Order of the Profane was created by an individual who sought to combine his own natural talent in magic with the teachings of the Blood Hunters. The Order of the Profane Soul is the least common amongst the Blood Hunters. This is not due to a lack of desire from individuals, but rather, a lack of talent. Those who show capability for this order are immediately recruited into their ranks, regardless of what Order they may have been planning to follow. Those who are inducted into the Order of the Profane Soul are extremely capable warriors. Their methods of teaching and rituals are much more closely guarded secrets than those of the other paths, though it is common knowledge that is extremely thorough, as all who join this Order emerge as amongst the most capable of all Blood Hunters. Their secretive nature has caused many to view them with a certain sense of distrust, however.
Type
Military Order
Ruling Organization
Parent Organization
Location
Related Traditions
Notable Members
Friendly
Allies that serve under the greater umbrella of the Kilvas Pathfinders. Due to the inherent nature of their skills, the two styles often find themselves fighting together on the front lines.
Comments