Blood Hunter Orders

Blood Hunters are specially trained warriors who have undergone the Hunter's Bane, a dangerous ritual granting them the power of blood magic. This is an ancient practice that has become increasingly taboo in modern society. Olimandias has forbidden the practice, both for moral reasons and because the government fears it won't be able to fully control the Hunters.
Blood Hunters are divided into four Orders, listed here from oldest to newest:

• The Order of the Ghostslayer
• The Order of the Lycan
• The Order of the Mutant
• The Order of the Profane Soul

These orders once had multiple chapters based in keeps around Verden, but have now been driven back to four primary strongholds. They have a loose alliance with each other, and it is considered taboo to fight a fellow Blood Hunter. Blood Hunters primarily work alone and roam with wilderness for extended periods of time, only checking back in at their headquarters once in a great while.

The Order of the Ghostslayer

The oldest of the Orders is headquartered in Helgeist Castle, north of the Lost Woods and northwest of Sornaiid. This Order predates the founding of Olimandias and devoted itself to vanquishing all manner of undead threats. They've had occasionally bitter relationships with various domains, but maintained a tentative understanding with the Hall of Heroes and even trained some of their warriors in techniques to better combat the roving spirits of the Lost Woods. They study death itself and harness the power that lies in the veil between worlds.

The Order of the Lycan

Based in Vargstava Keep at the base of the Tor-Denma mountains, north of Roslen. This area is often shrouded in mist, and path to the keep is a tough climb even for experienced explorers. Warriors from the Order of the Lycan have mastered their bestial transformations and can shift into a hybrid state, giving them enhanced abilities while retaining their senses... for a time. This Order devotes itself to slaying dangerous monsters that would otherwise assault poorly guarded settlements. Though Hunters are unwelcome in cities, it is common for village elders to offer them food and lodging for the duration of their hunt.

The Order of the Mutant

Their home is Vita'Salin, a modest fort on one of the Lalvican Sea's many islands. A more recent Order that was founded shortly after the collapse of the Hall of Heroes. Advanced alchemy provided Hunters with the ability to consume mutagens to enhance their abilities, not unlike the ritual of the Hunter's Bane in smaller doses. These Hunters have mastered crafting and using mutagens, providing them with a variable and potentially complex set of abilities suited for any occasion, so long as they have time to prepare. They are methodical, well studied, and very professional in their approach to danger.

The Order of the Profane Soul

The youngest of the Blood Hunter Orders, and perhaps the one least likely to work with the others. They are located in Dysteris, a keep not far from the Labyrinth. These Hunters forge pacts with immortal entities -- fiends, celestials, fey, etc. -- in order to combat similar otherworldly threats. Indeed, their order is essentially built on the premise of "the enemy of my enemy is my friend." A devil may wish to form a pact with a Hunter in order to slay as many demons as possible, or vice versa. These Hunters focus their efforts on slaying ancient threats from other planes of existence. Other Orders dislike that these Hunters source their power from the very creatures they'd fight, and distrust their seemingly close relationship with the Labyrinth even more.

Type

Military Order