The Darkstalkers

In 3A Y203, under the guidance of the founder of House Belo, Melka Belo, a proposal was made to take the tools and techniques that had been developed and honed by the clan in the hunt for the remnants of the Lothorne loyalists and refine them further through a defined training program to produce practiced hunters. It took a number of months of coordination between the 5 Houses, but an officially recognized program with trusted instructors and leaders was formed. Melka Belo was named the first Arch Hunter, the commander of the force. With an envoy of 50 strong, Melka trekked north to Hekate's castle to present their new forces to her in service. It was there at the foot of her castle that they were pledged not only to Hekate, but to the people of her Queendom. She gave them the name of Darkstalkers, those who hunt what lurks in shadow.

Current Status

The Darkstalkers have been maintained to current day through a continual dedication to maintaining a private defense force and the unending hunt for remnants of The Black Hunger. As it is accepted that the last of The Black Hunger's descendants were wiped out, The Darkstalkers are seen primarily as a peacekeeping and protectorate in modern times, similar to The Aegis or Circe's Blessed. When Clan Veruza was exiled back to their own lands and stripped of their authority in The Queendom, The Darkstalkers also lost their position of power in the region. The Queendom at large views them with a mixture of pity and fear from a distance. As the official leadership of The Darkstalkers has always passed down the lineage of House Belo, the schism in Clan Veruza has left an uneasy state to the organization, as members from different houses are admitted but must officially swear allegiance to House Belo as part of their entry.

Tools of the Trade

While other more secretive techniques and skills are rumored about, the most widely known are the Darkstalker Tools; a series of personalized magical implements that have been developed and refined over centuries that all Darkstalkers are trained in and must master to be given their proper title and rank. While there is a defined list of Core Darkstalker Tools, most Darkstalkers are trained in advanced courses of Alchemy, Biology, and Herbology and encouraged to experiment with strange or powerful resources they find in the course of their duties to create their own new tools. Very few of those tools ever go beyond the Darkstalkers that made them, but every so often the design is able to be refined to such a degree that it can be tought to others and it enters into the training process of new Darkstalkers, empowering the organization as a whole. There are few accomplishments more proudly celebrated in The Darkstalkers than a hunter bringing a refined tool formula back to the Arch Hunter and being approved for inclusion.

Defined Tools

The following are the current 6 core tools that all Darkstalkers are trained on as part of their repetoire.

Weapon Silvering Kit

By spending 10 minutes and one use of this tool, you can apply silvering oils and powders to up to 5 weapons or 50 pieces of ammunition for 8 hours.

While silvered, a weapon counts as both Silver and Magical for the purposes of overcoming resistances and immunities, and any creature that is capable of changing shape automatically reverts to its true form when damaged by these weapons.

When you reach level 11, weapons silvered by this tool also deal an additional 1d8 Radiant damage on a hit.

Arcane Replenishing Potions

As an Action, you may drink this potion of powdered arcanum and specific herbs and oils. While the taste is nauseating, the effect is immediate. You regain any expended Spell Slots of up to 3rd level.

1 minute after drinking this potion, your body recoils from the strain of working beyond your limits; You gain 1 level of Exhaustion for each level of the highest level spell slot you recovered. Only a Darkstalker’s body is trained to respond to the effects of this potion.

Blessed Purifying Salts

As a Bonus Action, you can cast a handful of these sacred salts at a creature within 10ft. The creature must make a Wisdom Saving Throw using your Spell Save DC. Undead, Fiends, and Fey creatures have Disadvantage on this save. On a failed save, the target creature suffers from Disadvantage on all of its attacks, has Disadvantage on all of its Saving Throws, and grants Advantage on all attack rolls made against it until the start of your next turn.

Tracking Censer

By placing at least a handful of material from a specific creature inside this censer and lighting it, the smoke drifting out will always drift in the most expeditious path to the target creature. The censer can burn for up to 4 hours per use but can be snuffed out early as an Action. The source material is not burned up and can be extracted.

Blood Purifiers

One preparation of the Blood Purifiers is enough for 4 uses. By spending 10 minutes per creature, a purification solution can be injected. The creature is immediately cleansed of any poisons or toxins and can make a new save against any Diseases affecting it with Advantage.

In addition, for the next 8 hours after treatment, any creature that attempts to feed on a treated creature’s blood immediately takes 2d10 Acid damage. Any unused applications become inert after 8 hours.

Immobilization Anchor

As an Action, target a creature within 5ft of you and make a Melee Weapon Attack using your Strength or Dexterity and Proficiency Bonus. On a hit, the target takes no damage, but has its speed reduced to 0 and is Restrained. At the end of the creature’s next turn, it may make a Strength Saving Throw against your Spell Save DC. On a failure, the creature is Restrained and Paralyzed until you remove the anchors.

In order to function properly, the Immobilization Anchor must have a solid surface to embed into after striking a creature

Dead Drop Tools

New tools that are still in the process of having their formulae refined may be practiced on by creating long-term stable versions that are used for Darkstalker Dead Drop locations where Darkstalkers in the field leave a hidden cache for their brethren to find and resupply from. The following tools are currently unique to Dead Drop Caches.

Dispelling Band

Created by a Darkstalker approximately 40 years ago who spent a lengthy time hunting a particularly manipulative fey creature that was terrorizing hunters and travelers in The FEN, this iron band is specifically enchanted to provide a one-time failsafe against mental control. While worn, this has two functions.

First, if an outside force is intruding into the wearer's mind, such as Detect Thoughts, the band will turn a deep blue color while they are being intruded upon.

Second, if the wearer comes under the effects of a compulsion or control spell of 1st level or higher, such as Friends, Geas, or Dominate Person, the band will shatter and immediately end the effects of the spell as soon as it takes control before any commands can be given. The band dissolves away to ash when its power fades.

Structure

The Ranks of The Darkstalkers

Arch Hunter -
Master Recruiter -
Master Hunter -
Recruiter -
Instructor -
Hunter -

Territories

Operating Territory

The Darkstalkers are granted the freedom to move, travel, and operate throughout the whole of The Queendom as their business needs them to, however, outside of The Red Pines and any further north than Morgarta they hold no true authority and are only as respected as the local populace and authorities choose for them to be.

Hunt the Hunters

Founding Date

3A Y203

Ruling Organization

Clan Veruza

The Darkstalkers