Introduction:
Blood Hunters are monster hunters made using ancient and dangerous rituals. When humanoids first awakened in Thinia they had a very poor understanding of magic. In order to defend themselves against monsters some turned to dark rituals that altered the subject and turned them into powerful hunters. Those who survive this ancient and deadly ritual are able to wield the signature sanguine magic that marks them as a Blood Hunter. Over the long course of recorded history these rituals have fallen out of favor, but there are still those willing to undergo the ritual in order to hunt and kill monsters.
Subclasses:
The following subclasses available to players;
- Order of Alchemists: Blood Hunters that join this Order make use of alchemy and dark transmutation magic to mutate their physical form.
- Order of the Pale Moon: Blood Hunters who purposefully contract this curse in an effort to increase their combat effectiveness. These warriors willingly give their lives so that they may draw on this bestial power to rid
the world of lycanthropes and other shapeshifting monsters.
- Order of Salt & Iron: Trained exorcists that defend the living from the undead. Willing to sacrifice all that they are, these Blood Hunters stain their souls with spectral power.
- Order of Undying Thirst: A group of vampire hunters brought together by a powerful vampire who despised his own kind and his own misddeeds. After the hunters vowed to scour the curse of vampirism from the world, the vampire passed his curse to them and instructed them in the power of ancient blood magic.
- Order of Witch Knights: Blood Hunters willing to give up anything to combat evil monsters. They are contacted by Eldritch Powers, beings of otherworldly might. These benefactors offer power in return for a fraction of the warrior's soul or unquestioning fealty.
Blood Hunters in Thinia:
Blood Hunters operate in Orders similar to the Knightly Orders formed by Paladins. Unlike the Knightly Orders formed by Paladins Blood Hunter Orders are always secret. A Blood Hunter Order may be whispered about in rumors, but their headquarters, members, and rituals are all closely guarded secrets. A Blood Hunter may operate by themselves at times but a Blood Hunter cannot be created outside of an Order as the rituals that create a Blood Hunter require multiple people and specific ingredients. Moreover, Blood Hunters need to be trained in the usage and control of their abilities or they will be a danger to themselves and others. Although Blood Hunters operate in the shadows they are a force for good. The original Orders have either split or changed, but their methods and ideals exist in descendant Orders. Some Blood Hunter Orders that can be found in Thinia are detailed below;
- The Cauldron: A Blood Hunter Order in Totecum. The Cauldron is an off shoot of the Order of Alchemists. The Cauldron was formed initially to enhance warriors to help them kill Yuan-Ti Abominations.
- The Silver Mantle: A Blood Hunter Order in Fensalar. The Silver Mantle is descended from the Order of the Pale Moon. They operate predominantly in the west trying to keep the forces of the Feral Woods in check.
- Sanguine Sisters: A Blood Hunter Order in the Heartlands. The Sanguine Sisters is an all female Order of the Undying Thirst led by a powerful female Vampire. Legends of the Sisters claim their Vampire patron is the daughter of the original Vampire who gave his blood to form the Order of the Undying Thirst.
- The Ferrymen: A Blood Hunter Order based in Hartha. The Ferrymen are descendants of the Order of Salt and Iron. They specialize in exorcising and combating undead. The Ferrymen operate more openly than other Bloodhunter Orders but are sometimes labeled as charlatans and monsters by holy orders and temples.
- The Empty: A Blood Hunter Order in Marzana. The Empty are descendants of the Order of Witch Knights. After they make their Eldritch Pact they strive to shun all personal atachments in an effort to limit any leverage the Eldritch Patron may have over them.
A player interested in palying a Blood Hunter should consider their Order and work with the DM to make a new Order if none of the examples given fit their idea. The Blood Hunter is defined partially by their Order and they should have motivations tied to the group that made them into a Blood Hunter. Additionally, the player should consider that most people are scared of Blood Hunters and sometimes mistake them for monsters. This bias can be overcome, but most Blood Hunters conceal their abilities and affiliations as much as possible.
