Aether Hunters
We circled the town market blending in with the crowd trailing our target. We couldn't make a move yet there is far to many innocent bystanders that could be hurt and collateral damage was frowned upon by Father. Stealthily trailing the target, he moved into the alley. Two of us broke off and circled around the next alley to try and cut him off. Midway down the alley, the target froze...did he notice us? With a quick flick of his wrist, a few muttered words, a raging stream of fire arch down the alley towards where we took cover. Reaching out with my senses I found the strings of his spell and leap over the box reaching out to the flame just before they hit, I bundled the strand of Aether in my hand and with a forceful pull ripped his spell apart. The flames died out immediately, a look fear was now worn on our targets face. Looking back down the alley, he noticed the other members of my family. He knew at that moment we had him.Situation Report from Hunter Squad Delta
Composition
Manpower
Aether Hunters composed of squads no more them five members at any one time. Squads house so few numbers because the qualifications to become an Aether Hunter are exhibited in only 1 in ~5000 arcane sensitive births. Those birth develop a rare mutation that instead of allowing the person to access Aether and the arcane abilities it provides, they instead develop a different effect on any Aether strain. These users are able to pull apart and destroy any Aether pattern they encounter.
Equipment
Hunters are provided a specially made suit of flexible armor crafted from Caldrite and Orichalcum called, Shadowskin, that allows the wearer to disguise themself in multiple ways. The suit also includes a helmet of the hunter's desired design as well as a partial face mask, also made of the same materials. They are provided cloak that offers resistances to damage from arcane attacks and minor resistance against physical damage. Each Hunter is also provided with a set of Binding Chains which can be used to nullify the Aether connect to a captured Volitate. They also are required to carry basic survival supplies as they could be hunting a target for an extended period of time. Each commander of a squad is also provided a Whisperstone for communication with their handlers at the Otemus Arcanium.
Weaponry
The weapons provided by the Otemus Arcanium are specially crafted with Vectrium in the type of weapons of the wielder preference. Most hunters carry at least two melee weapons and a range one as well.
Vehicles
Hunter squads make use of any transportation that they can acquire. Most are provided at minimum horses for their initial journey.
Structure
Aether Hunter squad consists of one commander with a maximum of 4 subordinates under their command. Each squad is commanded independently and are really ever seen working together. All squad, however, to report back to the Otemus Arcanium on a regular basis.
Tactics
Aether Hunters squad uses stealth, infiltration, and subterfuge to reach and capture a target. They make forth an effort to take a target by surprise to prevent collateral damage. The make use of the Otemus Arcanium intelligent network of arcanist that can be found in most towns and will sometime employee members of The Blades for additional support if needed.
Training
When those that come of age and develop their arcane trait toward destruction. These children are immediate taken from their family with no recourse to the Otemus Arcanium. The families are paid a monthly stipend for their silence but are also intimated and threaten into utter obedience to the narrative, as long as their child remains alive and part of the Aether Hunters branch. Once there they are put with a rigorous physical, mental, and emotional stress to break them down and essentially brainwashed into becoming completely loyal to the Otemus Arcanium. As new members are brought on board they are assigned to a squad that becomes like their closet family members. Each squad is assigned a ranking arcanist who comes be know as their Father/Mother that oversees, trains, and becomes their direct report when they begin to be sent out on missions. All thought and knowledge of previous family and friends are systematically erased from their minds and past and they come to rely completely on the Arcanium for survival, love, and companionship. After they have been completely broken and rebuilt their training to become Aether Hunter begins with a strict regiment of physical fitness, tactical, survival, combat, and espionage training. Training continues until the instructor believes that the Hunter is ready for fieldwork. The average training time for a student usually lasts between 5-7 years. This strict regiment turns these Hunters into the pinnacle of military special force.
Logistics
Logistical Support
Hunters are provided logistics through a long embedded network of arcanist that represent the Otemus Arcanium either public or in secret. This work has been well established for thousands of years and is how the Arcanium is usually informed about new children who's aether sensitive actives as well as tracking them if they escape. The Blades also provided assistance and intelligence as long contracts are fulfilled for that purpose. Resupplies are usually available at any city that houses a branch office of the Arcanium. The Arcanium also work through The Blades to provide hidden caches of supplies in various areas depending on needs.
Upkeep
The small number allows for the Hunters to easily supported financially and materially supported as they are basically wards of the Otemus Arcanium and they completely livelihood is cared for by the Arcanium.
Recruitment
History
The Aether Hunters were first established roughly around 8001 AC by the still young Otemus Arcanium. The discovery of those with this power would become known as Ravagers happened by pure accident when a child attempting to escape unconsciously used his just developing power and ripped through the spells holding him before escaping. Knowing the danger they pose to the fledgling Arcanium made it a point to make use of those with this power for their own needs. Eventually, the Arcanium developed ways to detect the type of arcane abilities of any newly awakened child.
Historical loyalties
The Aether Hunters are completely devoted to the Otemus Arcanium due to the intense brainwashing and training they are put through from a young age. To this day, none have ever betrayed the order and all are willing to put their life on the line for their duty.
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