Ohotnik

The Ohotnik Family

Status: Former nobility, currently seeking redemption Past Title: Unofficial Counts of the Ohotnik County (lands granted akin to a church land grant) Known Survivors: Ouro Ohotnik, Lyosha Ohotnik

Overview

The Ohotnik family once stood as legendary monster slayers, their name whispered with both reverence and caution. Renowned across the lands for their unparalleled skill in destroying creatures of darkness, they were specialists in the occult and researchers of the arcane, always with an eye toward eradicating monsters.

Their lands were granted not as a traditional county with titles and privileges, but as a church land grant, tethered to their purpose of serving the greater good through their monstrous expertise. However, their methods carried a dangerous edge.

“Beware fighting monsters, lest you become a monster.”

This warning would prove prophetic for the Ohotniks. Their relentless pursuit of knowledge led them into the shadowy realms of necromancy and demonology, testing the limits of morality in their war against darkness. When their dabbling in these forbidden arts was revealed by an overzealous united inquisition of the followers of Pelor, Pholtus, and Stern Alia, the consequences were catastrophic.

The house was declared heretical, their lands seized, their names struck from the noble lists, and their remaining members hunted. Once a family that inspired hope and fear in equal measure, they became a cautionary tale of hubris and the thin line between heroism and monstrosity.

The Fall of House Ohotnik

The inquisition’s findings shocked the realm. Evidence of necromantic rituals and demonic pacts were laid bare, some claimed as tools to destroy monsters, while others suggested darker ambitions. The exact truth remains murky, but the judgment was swift and merciless. The Ohotnik family lands were seized, their keeps burned, and the family scattered or executed. Their downfall marked the end of an era, and their name became synonymous with cautionary tales told to aspiring monster slayers.

Survivors and Redemption

Two confirmed survivors of the purge, Ouro and Lyosha Ohotnik, have emerged in recent years, determined to restore the family’s name—or at least reclaim some measure of dignity.

Ouro Ohotnik: The elder of the two survivors, Ouro is a grim and calculating figure. He has a sharp mind and an unrelenting will, working tirelessly to distance the family from its dark past while preserving its knowledge and skills in fighting the occult. He operates as a monster slayer for hire, emphasizing traditional methods and avoiding any hint of necromancy or demonology.

Lyosha Ohotnik: The younger sibling, Lyosha is more idealistic, though equally determined. They see redemption not just in destroying monsters but in helping the innocent and protecting the weak. Lyosha often clashes with Ouro over how best to restore the family’s reputation, favoring transparency and humility over calculated pragmatism.

Together, Ouro and Lyosha walk a treacherous path, trying to rebuild what was lost without succumbing to the darkness that once consumed their house.

The Ohotnik Legacy

While the Ohotnik name remains tarnished, their methods and research in monster hunting still influence the craft today. They pioneered techniques in recognizing signs of monstrous infestations and developed rituals and weapons specifically designed for combating supernatural threats. However, many of these tools are now shrouded in suspicion due to their association with forbidden practices.

The family motto, though rarely spoken aloud today, reflects their purpose and their hubris:

“The darkness cannot hide from us.”

Rumors and Whispers

Some believe the Ohotniks were framed by rival families or jealous clerics, their fall a result of political machinations rather than true heresy.

Whispers persist that Ouro secretly maintains some of the family’s forbidden knowledge, using it discreetly when desperation demands it.

Lyosha has been seen aiding the downtrodden, with rumors suggesting they are trying to gain the favor of commoners to rebuild the family’s support.

Quotations

“They were heroes once, before their ambition outgrew their wisdom.” - An Inquisitor of Stern Alia

“I would trust an Ohotnik to slay a beast, but I’d watch my back while they did it.” - Anonymous Monster Slayer

“The Ohotniks walked too close to the abyss, and it swallowed them whole.” - A Cleric of Pelor

Current Goals

Restoring the reputation of House Ohotnik without relying on the forbidden arts that destroyed it.

Reclaiming at least part of their ancestral lands, though likely not the full privileges of a county.

Using their expertise to protect the realm from supernatural threats, proving their worth to a suspicious world.

"The Ohotnik brothers are trouble stitched together with blood and ambition. Ouro pulls the strings from the shadows, and you can bet he’s the one holding the map, the match, and the alibi. The other one? He’s busy playing pious cleric of Pelor, all charm and light, and cozying up to Sophia Amadis. But their reputation sticks to them like old blood—monster hunters with a knack for dabbling in black magic. That kind of contradiction doesn’t sit right with me. You don’t hunt monsters and play with the same fire unless you’re a little too comfortable with the darkness."

Sorek Redmarch

Type

Family