Overview
A guild of hunters who specialize in eliminating the occult and supernatural entities within the city. Due to the influx of monsters infiltrating the city the Black Cloaks are enjoying a period of steady income and relative popularity amongst the lower class and those who reside within the grounded districts. Some hunters utilize the blood of their enemies to enhance their own skills and abilities, but this taboo garners fear and disgust from the Church of Undying Faith and its devotees. However, rumor has it that the church secretly employs them to handle exorcisms and creatures they themselves can’t defeat. The BCHS is headed by 12 hunters, one for each district (including the outer farmlands, undercity mines and the spire city).
Head Hunters
Each district has a head hunter that acts as the de facto leader of that branch. Head hunters are not voted into leadership, nor are they sworn in or granted any special permissions by way of title. The role is gained by earning the respect and trust of fellow hunters until they are naturally elevated to the position. As such, each head hunter is is held accountable by the rest of the organization and can easily be deposed and replaced by a more reliable or trustworthy member should the need arise. The ages, races and skillsets of each head hunter also varies wildly, and while they mainly operate within their respective districts can sometimes be commissioned to help in other areas if their expertise is required.
Hunters
Members of the guild are referred to as hunters though not all members actively participate in the hunting and extermination of monsters. Once a member joins, they are trained by a senior hunter until deemed fit to operate on their own. If a new hunter is not combat capable, then they are placed in a role more befitting of their skillset and roles vary wildly including smithing, butchery and cooks to ensure that each district's operation runs smoothly.
A majority of hunters are "afflicted" and join the society out of necessity to gain access to medical care, employment and, most commonly, revenge. They don't expect to live long and focus all their energy on eliminating the creatures that did them harm or supporting those who can.
Attire
There is no standardized uniform and most hunters clothing is piecemeal from whatever odds and ends each District's headquarters can supply or what can be purchased. However, one key element is the black cloak issued to new recruits upon completion of their training. Due to the high mortality rate of hunters, cloaks are often repurposed from previous members and each is a storied article with rips, tears, stains and stitches revealing the history of the previous wearer(s).
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