Shadow Huntresses
The Gerudo have numerous warrior societies dedicated to specific combat styles, but the Shadow Huntresses have a very specific and unique purpose -- to hunt down extraplanar threats (such as fiends). They are also tasked with hunting down agents of the Zal'saar, a criminal order of Twili assassins dedicated to destabilizing the civilizations of the Material Plane.
Shadow Huntresses are meant to be neutral, independent arbiters of extraplanar justice and follow a strict code of conduct. They are given considerable free reign to make their own decisions while in the field.
A Gerudo surrenders her tribal affiliation when joining the Shadow Huntresses. She may not return home. She may not take part in politics. She may not serve in the conventional army. She may not hold titles. If she passes through a settlement, she does not draw attention to herself or involve herself in any aspect of society that is irrelevant to her current hunt. She may only interact with others when attempting to suss out the location of an extraplanar threat -- such as a shapeshifter that may be masquerading as a member of a court. Or a Zal'saar assassin that may be using an alias.
A Huntress is free to resign whenever she sees fit, at which point she may rejoin her former tribe (or change her allegiance to a new one).
The Gerudo are taught to immediately respect a Huntress's authority, especially since that authority is backed by some of the most lethal techniques a warrior can have. Most Huntresses are taught to be self-reliant, and so their skill sets require minimal maintenance. Most Huntresses are rogues, rangers, and the rare natural born sorceress.
Structure
The Shadow Huntresses are almost entirely independent -- from both the Gerudo tribes and each other. Each memorizes a code of conduct. If a Huntress breaks that code of conduct, the Gerudo council puts her on trial at the Spirit Temple. If found guilty, she is stripped of her titles and exiled.
The Huntresses have a guild hall, Riftbreaker's Fortress, in the Taj-Nar Mountains near the Midanis tribe's territory.
Though Huntresses choose their own assignments and come and go as they please, there is a Guildmother (usually the most experienced Huntress who has moved beyond fighting age) and a Lorekeeper on hand to provide Huntresses with intelligence and active rumors/requests for aid. The guild hall also provides Huntresses with a library detailing known outsiders and the tactics that are best used to defeat them.
The Huntresses are already elite warriors at the time of their recruitment and do not go through additional training, beyond a recommended period where they extensively study fiends and other threats at the guild hall before embarking on their first expeditions.
Public Agenda
The Shadow Huntresses exist to root out fiendish and otherworldly forces from civilization, and, perhaps more actively, hunt down and exterminate agents of the Zal'saar. They are designed to rise above petty tribal squabbles and continental politics, and are granted the authority to move even in the highest circles of Gerudo society in the pursuit of their goals.
History
Gerudo warriors used to have informal bands and adventuring parties that pursued fiends and other threats throughout the ages -- successful hunts often bolstered the legend and reputation of especially popular warriors. But tribal leaders would often start making excuses for why their families or territories could not be investigated, almost always for petty, ego-based reasons. Likewise, the rise of the Hegemony and the Zal'saar growing more bold in their tactics necessitated a more vigilant and consistent watch.
The Gerudo held a popular vote to found a dedicated organization after enough public complaints, and the Shadow Huntresses were formed with the blessing of the reigning King of the Gerudo. Since then, the Huntresses have patrolled the Innagos Desert and beyond in pursuit of threats -- single minded in their goals. If you're trespassing on the Material Plane with malicious intentions, it's only a matter of time before they find you and end you.
Many of their hunts are not known to the public, though one Huntress was said to kill a later "King of the Gerudo" after a rakshasa murdered and impersonated him -- and even that caused considerable upset and turmoil at the time. But later proved the value of granting the Huntresses elevated authority in the pursuit of their mission.
More recently, the Shadow Huntresses helped rescue High Chieftain Sabiya nai Urborran after she was abducted by Uradiel and agents of the Zal'saar, killing several Zal'saar agents in the process.
Founding Date
106
Type
Military Order
Notable Members
Related Species
Comments