Hunters of Dharkness

Hunters of Dharkness are fierce, single-minded stalkers of demonkin and other dark entities. They have an imposing presence in the city of Draught. Outside not so much, as their name does not carry much clout in regions unaffected by demonic issues, which is most the Veritian Leaf. Yet, all those knowledgeable in the secret affairs of the world do not want to be marked by these hunters. The hunters are like family and will come to the aid of their comrades in a second if they are near. But their mission comes first, and will not veer from that task unless the Head Hunter commands it.

Structure

The organization was founded by the elf Aleesia Dharkness. She had led the organization since its inception, and her second in command, Karmal, took over after her death in 1052. Other than that the hunters are divided into five ranks, each receiving more sway in the organization the higher they become. These ranks are earned by merit. First there is the Initiate, new recruits still aiming to prove themselves. Second the Demon Hunter, official members who can recruit new initiates, but otherwise have no authority to set up hunts. Third is the Exorcist rank, receiving their official armor and are called upon for the greater hunts. Fourth is the Vanquisher, given the authority to commission hunts. The fifth is the head hunter. While they have ranks and structures of honor, much of the time it is more like a guild where the members mostly work privately and in small groups rather than a collective order.

Culture

They are a hunter culture, seeing successful hunts as signs of merit and honor. Other things like wealth and power are insignificant if one has not succeeded in hunting a strong foe.

Public Agenda

Their goal is to rid the Veritian Leaf of extra planar threats that seek to corrupt it. This originally came from a sense of penitence for Draught's role in the planar problems, but it evolved to moral justification of the hunt of evil. Though not specifically a religious organization, they stand heavily on the pursuit of law, order and goodness.
Once Karmal took charge, the Hunters became more political in Draught, seeing a need to be more than just a guild of hunters. To do so they needed to build up their strength in a fortified city. Not long after his rise to leader, the Dharkness hunters kick out their competition in Draught, the Order of Vengeance, and absorbed the other guild, the Last Guard (though the Last Guard remain distinct within the Hunters). Karmal hoped to do more against the evil of the world than the Dharkness family did, and for that he needed a city.

History

Founded in 814 by Aleesia Dharkness after the planar disaster in Draught. There was a demand for monster hunters, and Aleesia was a charismatic leader in that specific pursuit. Her repulsion of a powerful demon that slipped through the planar error cemented her fame, and followers followed. She was at first reluctant, but the number of threats were too many for her to defeat on her own. It became a lucrative and successful venture, and her hunters became the first of many hunter guilds to be founded in Draught.
Three events in recent history shaped the hunters in significant ways. First was the death of Gabriel, the human husband of Aleesia Dharkness in 1035. His death was mysterious and went unsolved, and while his son Julius later learned that the paraclete of Uz killed him, that knowledge died with him. This put the order in disarray as Aleesia became far more reckless in her hunts. One of these reckless actions was to send her son north after a cambion named Sestycius that slipped their grasp.
The second was the death of Julius. Though he died in the assassination of Tommy Drummer and not for any planar issue, his death brought the bulk of the hunters to Tumult with Aleesia at their head seeking to complete the task her son was sent on. They got engrossed in the Demon Troubles there, finally fighting in the Battle for Dusk, one of their member's helping slay both Sestycius and the avatar of Asmodeus. They helped bring Tumult's victory, but their numbers were greatly diminished and Aleesia was greatly hurt. They have returned to Draught, but whether they would be able to help Draught repel the Dormant Advance in their current was unknown.
The third was the death of Aleesia herself in 1052. Though her death marked the end of the wars sparked by the Dormant, it marked a shift in the Hunters. Their new leader, Karmal, planned to lead differently.
In 1102, the Dharkness Hunters sent emissaries to the Stallion of the Eternal Empire Fourth Fleet, seeing if they needed to hire some mercenaries. While they were not keen to join their fight against other Veritians, other monsters the Eternals had in their sight were fair game, and the Eternals had the money to pay. A couple things they did during this visit was help the hero Urg reincarnate a beholder, and fight against the vampire criminals of Arman. They didn't get much pay though, as Capitol soon fell to the Winter Contingency.

For a Neih free of Evil

Founding Date

814

Type

Guild, Fighter / Mercenary

Training Level

Professional

Veterancy Level

Experienced

Demonym

Hunter

Leader

Hunter Karmal

Location

Draught

Neighboring Nations

• The Dormant Cult

Notable Members

• Aleesia Dharkness
• Gabriel Dharkness
• Hunter Karmal
• Julius Dharkness
• Talia