Guilds

Name: Shadow Hunters

The Shadow Hunters formed 50 years ago after the Occultists inadvertently caused the beast curse. They specialize in hunting and killing all forms of Beasts, and it's their job to cleanse the world of the curse.

Where are they?: Headquarters is set up in Tregaron.

Notable Gear: 'Trick weapons' that have multi-functionality. For example, an axe that can lengthen into a halberd, or a pair of swords that can fuse at the handles, creating a twin blade.

Hunters, still being sensitive to the beast curse, often employ the use of masks, bandannas, or some way to keep their mouth hidden. This is to prevent accidents involving beast blood during their hunts.


															Hunter sub-trees

In addition to your basic Shadow Hunter, the guild employs a few other specialists that have unique duties compared to other Hunters.

Hunters are known to make rather nasty beasts if they go through affliction. As a result, the Shadow Hunters employ sleeper agents trained specifically to track, hunt, and combat other hunters should they somehow lose their way. These sleeper agents often make use of a specially bright white porcelain mask, with only two eye holes.

Alchemists and Priests are important parts of the facility, and employ holy water or alchemical tools that aid them in identifying civilians from beasts. Priest Shadow Hunters will generally wear a white garb to symbolize their faith, in addition to a white mask of Aine, the first Apostle of God (A mask that depicts a full face; including a mustache/goatee). Alchemist Shadow Hunters often wear a plague doctor's mask to symbolize their specialization, but also make use of leather trench coats/hats that conceal their whole body.


Notable/Historical People


Grandmaster Malachi Bramson: Some consider Malachi to have been the first to have learned the art of Shadow Hunting. Regardless, Malachi eventually spread his secrets to a few more apprentices, before eventually fanning out to recruit more brave folk to form the Shadow Hunter's guild. While Malachi has been long dead, his legacy still lives on in the Shadow Hunters, and his trademark 'Raven's Claw' weapon was passed down to Garland Rye.

Grandmaster/Sir Garland Rye: The Grandmaster of the Shadow Hunters. Garland is a relatively harsh and brusque old man that's been part of the hunt since near the beginning. One of the first apprentices of Grandmaster Malachi. Garland is easily one of, if not the strongest Shadow Hunter in the world as of now.

Enoch the Hammer/ Hammer of God: As the younger brother of Garland, Enoch too was one of the first Shadow Hunters to become apprenticed by Malachi. Like Garland, he possesses incredible skill in Shadow Hunting -- and earned his name from the bizarre hammer he employs in combat. Essentially a hammer with a unique ignition chamber built into the head, causing it to release combustion upon impact. Enoch is stationed over in Marei, where he and his fellow Shadow Hunters watch closely over the various tunnels for any beast lying within.

Lady Olivia, Duchess of Blades: The third apprentice of Malachi. Lady Olivia is no different from Enoch and Garland, possessing an extraordinary skill in Shadow Hunting. Olivia's outpost is stationed in Farglen, where she and her Shadow Hunters root out any and all beasts before they can reach the holy city. Olivia's name comes from the usage of special prosthetic hands that she had placed after losing both in battle, as well as her trademark saber.




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Name: The Holy Church

While not necessarily a guild in itself, the Church is still a broad organization of several people found throughout the world. One thing that makes the Holy Church so valuable is that it manufactures what is quite possibly the most important ware to Shadow Hunters: Holy Water. The Church also provides special training towards Shadow Hunters that wish to smite the beast's in the name of God, making them an important ally in ridding of the beast's curse.

Where are they?: Headquarters in the Holy City of Llyne.

Notable Gear: Holy Water. The Church also has a liking towards employing blunt weapons against beasts.



																	Beliefs


The standard duty of a Witness of Aine is to spread as much order mutual benevolence among the world as possible, for the greater good of mankind and in hopes of creating world peace. They see selfishness and hatred as a form of disease and curse in on itself, and believe that said diseases must be rooted out through any means possible. Their God is the one and true creator of the world, and it was by his hand that he wove together the universe. While this is true, Aine's worshipers also believe that their god can be a very vengeful one; such as the case when referring to the ritual that caused curse, as they believe the creator had punished mankind for their hubris.

The Witnesses of Aine are somewhat stubborn. While they don't care for men with no belief or God, they have a known animosity towards the other Gods. (Mainly due to their association with the Occult.) This has been seen several times in the past, such as the crusades that were sent over in an attempt to slaughter the natives of Northern Lyranova. Unfortunately, this ended quite badly on their behalf due to the lack of preparation against the harsh environment.

Aine's witnesses follow a historical figure back at the beginning of 0 BA (Before Aine), the supposed chosen Apostle that was found worthy of being witnessing the creator with his own eyes. After receiving this great wisdom, Aine spread his teachings to two more Apostles, Samual and Jeremiah. In the end, however, when the Creator was intent on smiting the world for its sin, Aine had sacrificed himself in a selfless act to preserve humanity.

																	Ranks

Allfather: The Allfather is the head of the Church throughout the world.

Archbishop: Archbishops are specially picked members of the clergy, chosen specifically by the Allfather of Llyne -- there are only 2 Archbishops are any given time, who act as both elite Shadow Hunters and faithful priests.

Bishop: Title given to anyone that leads a church.

Father/Mother: Father/Mother is a rank given to any high ranking priest or priestess.

Brothers/Sisters: The overall clergy of a Church.





																Notable People

Allfather Warren: The current Allfather of the church. Needless to say, Warren is a very important figure to the world as a whole, as he leads the entire church of Aine. As far as Llyne goes, his word is the final 'okay' to just about anything to do with the holy church. The Allfather himself has trained in defending against beasts, but doesn't consider himself a Shadow Hunter.


Father Todd: Father Todd is a priest and Shadow Hunter that's stationed himself in Cairnholm. There, he leads a small group of Shadow Hunters in keeping the peace among the small colony. Fortunately, all has been well for his people, and many see Todd as not only a leader, a hero.

Archbishop Michael

Archbishop Wolfgang

Saint Svallin: A legendary Shadow Hunter and priest that served as a powerful weapon for the church. Svallin spent his days in the mountains of Marei, where he purged any and all beasts that plagued his land. Svallin is renown for dressing in armour so thick, that many men would be unable to properly move due to its encumbering weight. He also handled his the legendary cross hammer of Aine, a weapon that was later passed on down to Father Todd.



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Name: Merchant's Guild

Ah, the merchant's guild. A bunch of shrewd negotiators found throughout the world that only look to strike it rich in the business industry. In short, this guild was constructed long ago to speak in secret of the merchant's trade and -- unbeknownst to even a few members of the merchant's guild the world, the Thief's Guild.

Where are they?: No real headquarters; everywhere and anywhere.

Notable Gear: Merchants themselves don't really use any tools. Shopping wagons count? Thieves, on the other hand, employ all sorts of goodies. Wax keys, lock picks, window openers, climbing gloves, grappling hooks, you name it.



															Merchant's Code

A special and complex language that's illustrated through a series of taps (e.g Morse Code.), the merchant's code is used by thieves and merchant's alike to communicate secret languages to one another. They also make good use of sign language to exchange hidden information.


															Thief's Guild

Hidden within the Merchant's Guild is the Thief's Guild. It's essentially the dark alley of the merchant's guild that most prefer to not speak or talk of. While the Merchant's Guild wants to make their money's worth through the use of negotiation and good business practice, the Thief's Guild prefers making their money's worth through more sinister means. Members of the Thief's Guild are well hidden, and usually carry a special coin to represent their membership.

Despite their willingness to steal, the Thief's guild has a specific code of conduct that prevents them from conducting unsavory acts; murder, after all, loses potential future client.


														Notable People

Sven DeVry: Renown painter throughout the world! Sven has created a lot of works that inspire fear, happiness, and courage into anyone that lays eyes upon his paintings. Also what the merchant guild considers their guildmaster.







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Name: Alchemist's Guild