Bestianader

The slayer of the great beasts

Unnaturalist Wanted
The township of Godriks Quay are in dire need of a slayer of monsters! A naga is hounding our fishermen and have eaten some of our children! The sea is our lifeblood but whit this beast nearby non dare fish. We shall starve and die whit out aid!
We are willing to pay one hundred gold crowns for the slaying of the naga!
Whit respect Baron Samuel af Drutz Lord and Master of Godriks Quay

/A leaflet asking for a Bestianader services

This brooding men, and rarely women, could be mistaken for well armed bandits. If it wasn't for the trophy's from slain "monsters" that hang from their belts, hoods or spears. This and the scroll on which is written their bestiander license that show what they truly are. Slayers of the great bests and dragons.

Career

Qualifications

All bestianders have been trained by other bestianders in the field. This apprentices most show their masters that they know all the ins and outs of the trade before being given their license. Most start as children and never complete their training, either because they die or because they don't have what it takes. But the few that do succeed have to train for at least ten years, but for more often 13-16 years.

Career Progression

First you are a apprentice to a master. Then you get your license, then after your third solo job you are seen as ready to get your own apprentice. The whole process takes around twenty years.

Payment & Reimbursement

Bestianders always gets to take part of the slain best as a trophy. And are most commonly payed in gold coin.

Other Benefits

Bestianders often deal the killing blow to basilisks when their being hunted and is therefore given the first taste of their meat.

Perception

Purpose

To slay what is commonly known as "monsters". That is to say dragons or animals whit magical powers, tho not cats for obvious reasons, or that for some other reason has been deemed unnatural.

Social Status

Bestianders are seen as a necessary evil. And are therefore respected when their needed and dismissed and despised when no "monsters" are near by. Many a warrior even doubt the need for their existence as surly said warriors could deal whit what ever monster that threatens the land. But no one questions them when it comes to dragons.

Demographics

Only one man in a thousand has the will and skill to become a bestiander. So to said that they are few would be a understatement.

History

Their profession was once called Bestia Venandi in the Old Empire. In time that name got transformed in to the modern word "Bestiander", but then as now their role is the same to hunt down and slay "monsters". In the early Old Empire the Bestia Venandi was part of the legions and patrolled the empire along side the legionnaires. But as the empire grow the beast hunters where more often then not needed in the heartland as the legions move to the frontiers to fight barbarians.
Those began the practice of the monster hunter showing up leading the local forces in a hunt and then leaving whit his pay. Soon few remembered that this slayers of "monsters" for hire had once been soldiers of the empire. There where no elven variant of this profession as their hunters mastered the hunting of all bests whit or whit out magical power.

Operations

Tools

Depends on what their hunting but in general they bring:

• A long spear to slay beasts whit.

• A crossbow or longbow to slay beasts whit.

• A hunting knife the field dress fresh kills whit.

• Nets and traps to trap bests in.

• And a short sword to deal whit unfriendly folks.

Some also use:

• Hunting hounds.

• Falcons.

• And at times cats when hunting wild Maras

Workplace

Where ever the "monsters" are. Most often the wild.

Provided Services

A few examples are:

• Basilisk hunting, for the meat or dragons blood.

• Naga slaying, to stop it from stealing fishermans fish, and in some cases their wife's and lives.

• Magic blood gathering, a service that wizards are always happy to pay for.

• Ghoul extermination, next to all nations have a standing bounty on ghouls.

• Wyrm hunting, for glory and/or the safety of the land.

Dangers & Hazards

As a bestiander you may be:

• Burned to death.

• Poisoned

• Eaten by some beast

• Hit by lightning

• Ripped to pieces

• Lose any number of limbs

• Or be tricked out of your pay by some nobleman

Alternative Names

Dragon Slayer, Monster Hunter or Unnaturalist

Type

Public Services

Demand

Is highly dependent on if there is any "monsters" near by that harms the community. If yes, then they become needed. If not only the rich and glory hungry hire them.

Legality

It is illegal to claim to be a bestiander when your not. Therefore all bestianders are expected to carry a license.