White Striders

The Monster Hunters

Slay what needs slaying.

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OVERVIEW

A GUILD OF HUNTERS

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The White Striders are respected and hardened minor guild of made up of specialist hunters, serving as a branch of the Boros Legion. Each school focuses on a specific classification of monstrous creature, from Draconoid to Undead. Every division has a headquarters located in areas where one might typically find their focused creature, for instance the Undead division's headquarters would be found in the Undercity. The White Striders serve Ravnica by tracking these dangers and using a combination of highly skilled fighting along with magical capabilities to eliminate these threats. The guild may also serve as a general bounty hunter service specific monsters, or even people.

THE SEVEN

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The Striders are made up of seven schools, located throughout the city of Ravnica based on the frequency of encounters with specific monsters. Each school has a master who teaches its students, approves missions and membership, oversees its resources, planning and expansion, and takes part in the overarching decisions of the guild as an Oligarchy. One member in a school represents the White Striders as a Grand Master. This Grand Master takes part in diplomatic discussions between other guilds, oversees the entire guild, and acts as a final vote, should a council's decision result in a tie. Despite being a branch of the Boros, the White Striders still retain a comfortable amount of freedom in their decisions, backed by the military might of of an entire army. Final say on certain matters does however, come from Aurelia, the Boros guild leader, should it be required.

MUTATION

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Membership of the guild is not easy. As with Boros, training is deliberately difficult and cruel to cut the wheat from the chaff. Each school has their own training syllabus ranging from urban fighting, to blind combat along with the basic training one would receive. All membership is voluntary, though criminals put on death row, or serving a life sentence are given an option to join the White Striders or serve their sentence. Reason for this is because of the last steps of training within the guild. A master alchemist conducts a series of injections from a special mixtures upon its members. These injections give the Strider enhanced powers and mutations, but the survival rate is terribly low. These mutations are different for every school, but one mutation is consistent throughout the guild; the lost pigment in one's hair, turning it into a icy white color. Many trainees either drop out to become part of the Boros Legion, or die from the shock their body goes through. Only a few elite members make it through the process and as they grow, so too does their mutations, enabling even greater powers and abilities.

The ingredient and process of creating this mutagen is a closely guarded secret, only known by the school masters and the alchemists. The guild often recruits one off scouts to retrieve the indigence they need, and through a convoluted system of dummy buyers, transports them down a chain of couriers until they get what they need. There are rumors that say the alchemists get their indigence from the Golgari, or that the Simic are the ones who administer the injections.

"Death row or the White Striders? Might have a better chance of living with death row, actually."

— Fento Buyip, mass murderer

An Undercity Golgari confrontation

HISTORY

BEFORE RAVINCA

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The White Striders have been around since before Ravnica was created. They existed as a major service to the sparsely populated planet as monster hunters who put their lives on the line to quell the most dangerous of creatures for their people. As they brought safety to the land, cities grew and populations expanded, paving the way towards a metropolis that would be known as Ravinca. As the cities grew and the major guilds became founded, many of them sought the business of the Stiders, hiring them to clear out vast amounts of wild beasts and monsters for city growth. The apex of this guild saw its numbers in the hundreds of thousands, armies of Striders sent out to eradicate all that would threaten the lives they promised to protect.

MASS EXTERMINATION

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Ravnica was soon dominating the planet with sprawling cities and populations in the billions. The need for a guild to hunt monsters was beginning to fade, and the lack of business saw the guild become diminished and exhausted of resources and soldiers. The guild's members drastically fell, but those who remained continued their duty by clearing out the last vestiges of threatening wildlife. The guild would eventually near its end by the time the Ravnica reached its peak, seeming more like a pest control than the once respected hunters of old. Their prestige and respect weakened, especially when they began taking in death row inmates as recruits. On the verge of disbanding, the Boros Legion offered the guild to be absorbed into their own, respecting and admiring the dedication and toil. Facing dissolvement, the leaders of the White Stirders reluctantly agreed to become a branch of Boros.

BORN ANEW

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The absorption of the White Striders into the Boros Legion left many of the guild members discouraged by the strict and callous nature of the Boros. The already dwindling numbers of the Stiders fell to its lowest point, but the added help from the Boros, a new spark was about to be ignited into the guild. Conservation guilds like Selesnya and the Simic had either created or preserved many of the beasts thought to be slain long ago. The Undercity proved also to be a major breeding ground for terrible monsters and abominations created by the Gogari. Demons and giants resided within Rakdos and Gruul. Horrors still lurk between the endless alleyways and stark nights of Ravica; the White Striders were still needed.

THE SEVEN SCHOOLS

SCHOOL OF THE SCORPION

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The headquarters of this school is located within the Undercity with outposts mostly scattered and littered in or around Golgari territory. Hunters within this school specialize in the undead, insectoids, and nefarious spirits. While skirmishes with the Golgari members are rare, a Strider is taught to immediately attack anyone practicing Necromancy. There are often instances of these creatures attacking outposts, but often can't be proven to be Golgari related.

SCHOOL OF THE RAM

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One of the more active schools of the White Striders, these members focus their efforts on wild beasts that roam the alleys and rooftops of the city. From wild bears, dogs, and wolves, to the giant Batterhorn that wreaks havoc among the streets. The headquarters for this school is located within the The Utvara Reclamation Zone with outposts placed throughout the other districts. Selesnya and Simic conflicts and arguments happen fairly often with this school.

SCHOOL OF THE EAGLE

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Similar to the Beast quarter, this school specializes in eliminating beasts and humanoids afflicted with a curse, such as Werewolves. The clear difference is the level of intelligence between beasts and Cursed Ones. These Striders usually carry silver weapons to fight their enemies, and often find themselves in conflict with failed Simic hybrid experiments and Gruul abominations. The head school is located in the Second District, with outposts in the Ninth and Third District.

SCHOOL OF THE DRAGON

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Dragons and their line of species are relatively rare in Ravinca, but just as deadly as one might think. Basilisks, Wyverns, and classical dragons fall under this category of school. Life expectancy among members belonging to this school is short, and as such recruitment is fairly low within their ranks. Their headquarters is located in the Second District near the center, and contains no outposts elsewhere.

SCHOOL OF LION

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This branch offers a skillset to its members to combat the larger creatures of Ravnica. Giants, ogres, trolls and the like fall under this category. The Gruul and Rakdos are notorious for allowing their Ogroid members to rampage through the streets and Undercity. Their headquarters belongs to the Ninth district, with outposts in the Fifth and Undercity as well.

SCHOOL OF WOLF

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A school dedication to the taming of the elementals. These include natural elementals such as air or fire, but also magically or unnaturally enhanced species like a Flesh elemental, or a Rust Elemental. Izzet experiments often to the accidental creation of such elementals, and as a result the headquarters of this guild is located in the heart of the Fourth district with outposts scattered throughout the others.

SCHOOL OF BOAR

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A relatively new school founded much later than the others, this branch is tasked with fighting the mechanical constructs and magical weapons found throughout the city. All too often the Izzet League is found responsible for producing rampaging constructs and haywire devices, though they are not the only ones capable of such. Still, the headquarters is located in the Fourth District, with at least one outpost within all the other Districts.

"They're good at what they do. I hate 'em, but I'd give a leg to have a few of 'em in my team. Bunch a white hair'd freaks they are."

— Netar Olag, leader of one of the Gruul clans.

Membership

Every member must be humanoid, monstrous races are strictly forbidden from joining. Each new member must attend mandatory classes at the headquarters of the particular school they wish to join. There they must show an exemplary understanding of the monsters they will hunt and a general understanding of survival, combat, and guild teachings. Training is particularly brutal to weed out the unmotivated and undesirables. Death row and life sentence criminals are given the opportunity to join the White Stiders so long as they meet the bare minimum requirements to join. Magical skills are taught to those able to learn. After the rigorous training, each member must undergo the mutagen injections, only if they survive will they be considered a guild member.

EQUIPMENT

New members are given a Boros and White Strider insignia, a set of weapons retaining to ones chosen style of combat, a collection of tools retaining to one's school, a set of common clothes, and a belt pouch containing 100 sp worth of mixed coins.

RANK

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INITIATE

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Fresh recruits. Subjected to the rigors of training and conditioning as well as many months of close study regarding the chosen prey of their school.

APPRENTICE

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After one year as an Initiate, a prospective Whitestrider begins learning the arts of magic and potion making. Also, they begin taking low-danger contracts for the guild, always in the company of a senior member.

WHITE HUNTER

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Two years of successful apprenticeship results in an intense physical exam. Those who pass are allowed to leave the school for a time (no more than a year or two). What they do is their business, for it is in preparation for the final trial. Upon their return, the Apprentice must undergo the Trial of Needles. None but the Whitestriders themselves know just how horribly the test taxes their bodies. It is during this test that many meet their end. Typically, only two in three survive the process and a few that do end up crippled for life. Those who emerge from the Trial whole are finally given the title of White Hunter allowed to pursue local contracts for the guild on their own.

WHITE STRIDER

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Hunters must undergo 10 years of service to their school performing duties, training and taking contracts on the school's behalf. After this period (or under special circumstances), the school's Instructors come together and evaluate the member. Those who are approved are sent to their respective School Masters to receive further training. Those that emerge from these lessons are true masters of the hunt. They have mastered all the skills a Whitestrider practices and typically their mutations have advanced considerably, making them formidable individuals.

INSTRUCTOR

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Exceptional Whitestriders that have achieved many decades of successful service to the guild are offered positions within the schools to train the Initiates and the Apprentices, laying the foundation for future members. Often retired Whitestriders will come back to their schools to teach.

MASTER

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Truly exceptional members who have gone beyond the expectations of the guild may be given the title of Master by the Grandmaster. These masters are the leaders the the seven schools and are responsible for making decisions that affect the guild as a whole. Very rarely, the title of Master can be given to a Whitestrider without putting them in charge of a school. These Masters are heroes and paragons to their fellow hunters and garner the respect that befits any other master.

GRANDMASTER

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All of the Masters are responsible for electing a new Grandmaster upon the death of the previous one. Elected for life, the Grandmaster is responsible for the entire operation of the guild. Additionally, they are the liason between the Whitestriders and the Bros Legion and is often present at large gatherings of Boros leadership.

Gifts

What the guild offers its more loyal and trusted members. Upon reaching that status, members may be given one of the following gifts.

The gift one receives is the mutagen they get from their respected school. Each mutagen is different, and gives the Strider different powers over the course of their life.

Restrictions

Rules that members must adhere to.

• Slay what needs slaying. A Whitestrider shall only kill what is necessary to protect the people. A Whitestrider never kills for pleasure.
• A Whitestrider shall be fairly paid for services rendered.
• All Hunters must hunt. All full members must hunt at least one monster a year, no matter what rank.
• Never take the life of an innocent
• A Whitestrider shall not attack a member of the Boros Legion, unless in self-defense or if that member is acting against the tenets of the Legion.
• No more than three Whitestriders may work together on a contract, barring the most dire circumstances. We are few. We must be self-sufficient.
• Honor the guild. Do nothing that brings shame to the Masters.

Public Agenda

To keep the city safe from the monsters that lurk between the alleys, the sewers, and outskirts of our districts.

Foreign Relations

Azorius Senate

A bureaucratic nightmare of a guild who more often abuses their power for personal gain than to help the people.

Cult of Rakdos

Nothing but a group of insane clowns who worship a literal demon and cause nothing but havoc.

Gruul Clans

A broken guild full of power hungry monsters who kill their own to try and grasp at any authority they have left. What a waste.

Selesnya Conclave

We respect their ideals and intents, but their blind love towards protecting life only serves to help destroy it.

Orzhov Syndicate

They are out of touch and deceitful vampires and ghosts who would love nothing more than to see the world starve while they sit on a throne of gold. We keep our stakes and silver close in their territory.

Izzet League

Led by a dragon no less, however their insights do often prove useful for our barracks and members. Their lack of restraint and forethought might be their undoing.

House Dimir

Who?

Boros Legion

We have worked well together, and we owe them for pulling us from the brink. They are strong, and brave warriors, though their totalitarian and authoritative concepts conflict with us.

Simic Combine

A waste of great minds set on creating abominations they cannot seem to contain or control. We seem to be nothing but a babysitter for these mad scientists.

Golgari Swarm

They should stick to their farming. Instead they can't help to dabble with the dead and the reach for immortality.

Their crest is as old as the world itself. For as long as there are monsters and beasts, the White Striders have been there.

Type

Guild, Adventuring

Demonym

Strider

Government System

Oligarchy

Parent Organization

Boros Legion

Skills

Skills held important by the organization which it both teaches and may require as part of the promotion process.

Standard Skills

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Athletics, Brawn, Endurance, First Aid, Insight, Ride

Professional Skills

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Craft (Potions, Poisons), Healing, Literacy, Lore (Specific to ones school), Navigation (Specific to one's school), Streetwise, Survival, Track

Combat Styles

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Combat Style Scorpion
Combat Style Rram
Combat Style Eagle
Combat Style Dragon
Combat Style Lion
Combat Style Wolf
Combat Style Boar

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A Strider patrol

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Magic

Magic related to, or often times exclusive to a particular guild which can be taught to members for a small fee. Not all spells are available right away, many might be reserved for more skilled, loyal, and/or trusted members.

Folk Magic

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Bladesharp
Bludgeon
Calm
Demoralize
Firearrow
Fireblade
Heal(FM)
Ingnite
Light
Might
Repair
Vigor

Animism

Mysticism

School of the Scorpion
School of the Ram
School of the Eagle
School of the Dragon
School of the Lion
School of the Wolf
School of the Boar

Sorcery

Theism

Nylea, God of the Hunt

Kefnet, God of Knowledge

Hazoret, God of Zeal

A White Strider sorcerer