Hunter's Guild of Noelictus

The Hunter's Guild of Noelictus is an organization dedicated to slaying undead in Noelictus.

Overview

Noelictus has a higher number of undead than any nation in Innworld, due to the high concertation of death magic in the land. Stationed at the frontline, Hunters play a critical role in the kingdom's defense against the constant threat of the undead. They are specialized warriors and survivalists who protect communities, patrol dangerous areas, and deal with rogue undead and necromantic threats. Aside from the army, the Hunter's Guild is the largest force in the nation, and are famed across Terandria and the world for slaying undead and monsters. Even the nobility of Noelictus cannot order the Hunter's Guild without a good reason.

The symbol of the Hunter's Guild is a compass-like cross of an arrow with fletching, a crossbow bolt, and a [Light Arrow]. Hunters dress in black trenchcoats with long balck leggings and wide-brimmed hats.

Operation and Logistics

Similar to [Knights], regular [Hunters] have the autonomy to act on their own when dealing with undead. They have the right of way when out on mission. The Guild hires no outside help save for cleaning staff. Assignments are handed out by Desk Hunters or the Guildmaster.

Hunters also have the task of staying by people at the end of their life during their final moments to ensure they don't rise as undead afterwards, which is called corpse-sitting.

Guild Chapters

There are multiple chapters of the Hunter's Guild spread across Noelictus, each led by a Guildmaster or Guildmistress. They are considered akin to outposts, where Hunters can rest before being assigned to the next undead outbreak.

The main Hunter's Guild is located in the capital city of Menorome, led by Guildmistress Deilfec. Only Veteran Hunters are allowed on the third floor of the main guild.

Indulgences and Virtues

In Menerome's Guild, each regular and Veteran Hunter is assigned indulgence tied to one of seven sins—Sloth, Gluttony, Greed, Pride, Wrath, Lust, or Envy—during which they may only engage in related activities. For instance, a Hunter of Sloth is only permitted to laze around and do nothing "exciting," while a Hunter of Greed is granted a large budget of gold to spend for themselves. During their indulgences, Hunters are not allowed to even train, though they can do certain activities such as go to an archery range. Regular Hunters go on their indulgences every three months while Veteran Hunters can go every month. Indulgences of Envy and Wrath are restricted from regular Hunters.

For regular Hunters, indulgences are a way to relax and combat the stress of being overworked. This holds even more true for Veteran Hunters, as it serves to keep them sane from their immense duties of slaying the thousands of undead in the Tombs. Furthermore, falling deeper into an indulgence can bring opportunites for quick power by way of gaining Blood Skills and classes. To balance the indulgences, Veteran Hunters also practice the seven virtues, initially those of Chastity, Temperance, Charity, Diligence, Patience, Kindness and Humility, though some have been discarded or altered due to not being considered helpful, like Chastity. Known current virtues include Charity, Companionship, and Creation. Unlike indulgences, virtues are seemingly held to a less stricter degree, with each Hunter doing whatever they want for their virtue.

The indulgence system was implemented two Guildmasters before Delifec's tenure, and was suggested by Belavierr.

Hunter's Cards

Each Hunter receives a gold coin budget for specific indulgence-related activities, which they can pay via a Hunter's Cards, similar to a debit or credit card. Each card made from wood and copper and require a special quill and ink to write on. They can be used in any Menerome shop, but foreign merchants generally refuse them due to the hassle.

Hunter Ranks

Applicants and Novice Hunters

To be accepted for training to the Hunter's Guild, applicants must pass an interview conducted by a [Hunter], a Watch representative, and a third person unaffiliated with the law or guild appointed by the local mayor. Afterwards, there are several tests for physical fitness, including running a mile in six minutes without Skills, cocking a crossbow with a hundred pounds of draw, marching fifty miles in a day with a pack and wearing armor, climbing a cliff barehanded, and swimming across a lake. Those who fail the first round of training must do chores or pick up skills such as basic alchemy and blacksmithing in order to continue.

Applicants are accepted as Novice Hunters after six months of training, and are given a hatchet, custom crossbow and iron-tipped bolts. Also called Junior Hunters, they are mentored in a squad led by an older [Hunter]. In Fiskren, Novice Hunters are assigned to slaying zombies and other lesser undead. Novices are promoted to Hunters at the discretion of the guild.

Squad Leaders

As the name implies, Squad Leaders lead groups of Novice or regular Hunters to slay undead.

Roaming Hunters

Roaming Hunters patrol certain areas or regions. They are trusted to make their own decisions in dealing with an undead threat. They can work solo, in a group or with a partner. They also have the ability to summon the local Watch or militia.

Dedicated Hunters

Dedicated Hunters are experts considered proficient enough to deal with more dangerous undead threats, such as Ghoul packs, Crypt Lords or [Necromancers]. Rather than keep to a patrol, they are sent to dangerous areas to deal with significant threats. In Menerome, Dedicated Hunters can requisition anything made of steel or a wand with a Tier 3 spell or lower. However, they are strictly limited to one enchanted bolt. While they can request a Scroll, they are only to be used in emergencies. They can also be censured for using too many crossbow bolts.

Veteran Hunters

Veteran Hunters are senior members of the Guild who answers only to the Guildmaster. Promotion to Veteran Hunter has a Level 30 requirement, as well as a weapon-art Skill unless they are a magic or trap specialist. Upon being inducted as a Veteran Hunters, the Hunter is sworn to secrecy about the Veteran Hunters' activities, and refusal means their memories will be taken away. Veterans are given bags of holding, enchanted weapons and armor, 6 healing potions, and 3 stamina potions. They can requisition as many quivers of bolts as they want, with six enchanted bolts from the regular stock, and spell scrolls under Tier 5. Anything higher is rationed due to the difficulty in replacing them.

In Menorome, Veteran Hunters are assigned to slay the rampant undead within the Tombs of Noelictus. Due to the strenuous nature of their duties and the few number of Veteran Hunters, they are not allowed to deal with undead threats outside of the Tombs, which regular and Dedicated Hunters are forced to handle to make them level up faster. And the secretive nature of their work fosters resentment from those regular Hunters, who feel they are worked to exhaustion while the Veterans are indulging, which is also used to motivate them to level. Veteran Hunters can make use of Guild carriages, large vehicles similar to the civilian carriages identified by their black wheels and black windows, which hide the number of Hunters they actually transport to their missions.

Desk Hunters

Also called Paper Hunters, Desk Hunters are those who organize the assignments, collate supply logistics, and deal with the paperwork in the Guild. Most Desk Hunters were former [Hunters] who grew old or were wounded.

Foreign Hunters

Foreign Hunters are those who take on duties beyond Noelictus's borders to slay greater monsters like Crelers, or take on significant threats such as the Demons or Belavierr the Stitch Witch.

Royal Deathhunt

Members of the Royal Deathhunt are the most elite group of [Hunters] within the guild. They are led by Commander Agshiga.

Conscripted Hunters

Conscripted Hunters are sentenced criminals. Considered the lowest rank within the Hunter's Guild, Conscripted Hunters are sent out in squads led by a regular [Hunter], often with no training and bad equipment.

Members

• Cassielle - Foreign Hunter(?)
• Choirene - Conscripted Hunter → Novice Hunter
• Fitz - Novice Hunter
• Goshawe - Havens Guildmistress
• Ikhoven - Desk Hunter
• Ikolz - Conscripted Hunter
• Jekom - Novice Hunter
• Leitne - Novice Hunter
• Loekr - Novice Hunter
• Marvekh - Desk Hunter
• Otoc - Dedicated Hunter
• Teirn - Fiskren Guildmaster
• Wais
• Withrel - Dedicated Hunter
• Yolls

Veteran Hunters

• Agshiga - Commander of the Royal Deathhunt
• Ceinra
• Deilfec - Guildmistress of Menerome
• Filtresk
• Haeight
• Iskizn
• Leshee
• Loshell
• Pictirm - Member of the Deathhunt
• Piortesenzth - Ancient Hunter
• Veni
• Visc
• Yoreka

Former Members

• Aishe - Squad Leader (Deceased)
• Cara O’Sullivan - Conscripted Hunter (Sentence Served)
• Delezza - Foreign Hunter, Demon Hunter (Deceased)
• Dorikhem Fiskren - Veteran Hunter (Deceased)
• Eirne (Deceased)
• Erashelle - Foreign Hunter, Witch Hunter (Deceased)
• Faigen - Foreign Hunter, Witch Hunter (Deceased)
• Gaile - Foreign Hunter, Witch Hunter (Deceased)
• Greina - Dedicated Hunter (Resigned)
• Ikren - (Deceased)
• Ridine - Novice Hunter (Deceased)
• Rodeleic - King and Guildmaster (Deceased)
• Sylind - Foreign Hunter, Witch Hunter (Deceased)
• Tagil - Foreign Hunter, Witch Hunter (Deceased)
• Tirenor - Guildmaster (Deceased)
• Yorkev - Conscripted Hunter (Deceased)

Trivia

• The address of the main Hunter's Guild is 442 Nightghast Street.
• The main Hunter's Guild has been besieged 11 times in its history, and taken 3 times.
• A former tradition for [Hunters] was to shout "Beastbite" before hitting another [Hunter].
• Hunters used to be assigned "spheres" that were areas surrounding the Hunter's Guild, with the "4th Sphere" representing all of Terandria and considered the most dangerous.
• The Guild used to employ Necromancers before they were outlawed.
• Hunters used to be assigned to 'Spheres', which referred to how far afield a hunter travelled, and thus how dangerous their hunts were. The 4th Sphere meant all of Terandria.
• A rank that has been disused for a thousand years is that of Fang Hunter, which hunted monsters. Gorefang Hunter is a higher rank that hunted the worst monsters.