Witch Hunters

in: Orders, Cults & Groups

*"I’d better burn all Nocturnim than leave one sorcerer walking the earth."* — High Marshal, Hadrian Quintus

The Witch Hunters are a fierce order of people who seek to police magic and the supernatural. They aim to suppress magic users of the darker arts, blood, dark, and mental specifically - imprisoning, killing, torturing them in order to suppress the threat or rid the world of it entirely. Along with these magic users, they also hunt many monsters, including the afflicted. They perceive the afflicted as being widely beyond help, their blood and soul forever tainted by their curse, though if they possess the means to cure one then they choose to spare it; though not without a watchful eye for the remainder of their lives. While most of them are human; they have been known to accept Elves (all but dark elves) and Dwarves as well. Their Orders were formed after The Dark Age, embarking on their mission to prevent such a calamity from happening again. Many of the Witch Hunters were trained from young ages, and as such their prowess in combat is rarely rivaled. They are masters of martial prowess, investigation, and endurance, favoring gunpowder and melee combat. They train for one single purpose. To cleanse. Believing that they are the judge, jury, and executioner - they chase their prey across continents, oceans, islands; wherever they must in order to achieve their goal. The Witch Hunters are renowned for their ferocious and thorough pursuits - some of those unlucky enough to have crossed their paths claiming to have been pursued for years on end without relent. Some Witch Hunters are more purist and by-the-book. Others are far more radicalistic, believing that the fire and brimstone approach is the only way to truly purge their foes.

The Witch Hunters are based on the isle of Immitus, which is found to the north of Nocturnim. It's an island that's been fortified over hundreds of years; large towers and walls coating the island's coast and inside like layers. Seemingly impenetrable, an intense security system in place unforeseen in many castles and keeps in all of the world. It's said to host a stockpile of weapons, armor, and essential supplies to last decades under siege. The Witch Hunters are split into multiple Orders, each one specializing in different tactics and hunts. The Orders each have their own Marshal, the ones who oversee the Order's ceremonies, overall operations, strategies, and equipment allocations. They are, effectively, Barons. All of the Marshals report to the High Marshal, Hadrian Quintus, who oversees the Orders as a whole alongside managing the isle of Immitus. Hadrian is the only one who can declare an attack on another country rather than an individual. Hadrian has led the Witch Hunters for decades, some say that he is even hundreds of years old, kept alive by unknown sources that lay secret.

## The Orders

### *The Order of the Venerable Blade*

Marshal: Lord Leo Von Murghul

This Order of Witch Hunters specializes in smaller scale hunts. Often taking their work to the smaller towns and cities, investigating rumors, and chasing their prey across so far. These are the members that are often featured in many tales told in taverns, the ones who give relentless pursuit, who crawl through the city streets and tear tavern rooms apart in search of their targets.

### *The Order of Immolation*

Marshal: Lady Elizabeth Vibben

The Order of Immolation are trained to focus on siege warfare. Often mustering the largest forces of all of the Witch Hunters; they are dedicated to besieging and subduing cities the High Marshal has declared as an enemy. They look much more like a traditional army than most other Witch Hunter Orders, heavily armed and armored rather than the more preferred, lighter loadouts. This Order has been known to burn entire cities to the ground without hesitation.

### *The Order of the Shrouded Dagger*

Marshal: Lord Sugihara Toshiki

The Order of the Shrouded dagger inherit many tactics and missions that are used within their Marshal's homeland of Nihon, preferring assassination and stealth - focusing their efforts upon the enemies of the Witch Hunters that have more protection than the majority of foes. Nobles, royalty, and high profile targets are where this Order shines.

### *The Order of the Sea's Embrace*

Marshal: Captain Edward Hitch

This Order of Witch Hunters prefers to sail the open seas, taking their specialty in sea combat; they field a large, well armed fleet that sails between several ports. Often taking the role of escorting supplies to Witch Hunters around the nearby continents, though they intercept vessels, conduct sea-bound searches, hunts, and security for Immitus.

### *The Order of the Argent Edge*

Marshal: Lady Violette Baudelaire

This order is much more closed off than the others, it’s an order of elite combatants, earning a revered reputation through years of tireless service within the Witch Hunters’ ranks. They are almost solely recruited internally, however it’s been known that occasionally they will accept an uninitiated within their ranks given their mental and physical prowess can make up for lack of experience.They serve as bodyguards to the High Marshal, alongside maintaining security of Immitus to the highest standard. They serve not only as an internal police and investigation force, but also deadly hunters sent to kill the most dangerous foes that previous witch hunters have failed to subdue.The order’s hunters clad themselves in rich and decorative attire, many of them choosing to wield weapons of finesse such as rapiers, sabres, and glaives. Their combat skills are considered an art within the order, strict teaching and graceful execution of their training are paramount to upholding their fearsome reputation. Those of the Argent Edge fight with grace, precision, and dexterity. They are master duelists; valuing honor much more highly than the other orders. Though honor will never stop them from securing their kill.

## Ranks of the Witch Hunters

### *Captain*

These Captains are used as local ranking officers, designated to different "districts" throughout the world. They give orders to lower ranking Hunters in times of war, or large scale hunts. They are veteran Hunters who have served for years and achieved many goals during their time. They are usually decorated for their service, wearing strips of parchment, medals, and other trophies around their equipment.

### *Witch Hunter*

The standard rank and file Witch Hunter. They are judge, jury, and executioner. Each Hunter holds much power in his hands, trained to assess threats and dispose of them with ruthless efficiency.

### *Initiate*

New recruits that are still in their training phase. They dedicate much time to honing their knowledge and martial skills, and whatever other tactics their Order employs. They are usually tied with a fully fledged Witch Hunter who acts as a mentor.

## Appearance

Witch Hunters are clad in dark pigments, their attire always leaning towards a dark shade of brown, grey, black, and red. They all wear the crest of the Witch Hunters upon their armor with pride, when they're not trying to hide. When not hidden and or on a hunt, they almost always wear a hat or a helmet along with their crest. The crest of the Witch Hunters is known as the Iron Rose, a dark silver rose with the image of a sword piercing through diagonally across the top left of the emblem, with a flintlock pistol crossing the opposite side to match.

## Racial Relations

Many lands tolerate the Witch Hunters' presence in them, unless the country has a prominent magic user presence. The Witch Hunters do not care if they're welcome in a country, they will disguise themselves and conduct their work in enemy territory if need be. Some towns or cities even show a blind eye to the Witch Hunters' presence, effectively giving them free reign over the people. Though, it isn't uncommon for the city guards to assist the Hunters in their work, as more evil creatures and magic users are a threat to the realm itself.

*Credit for Lore: Geraldo Da Witchi*