Huntsmen

Huntsmen, or Monster Hunters are exceptional mercenaries that take only the most dangerous jobs on offer - hunting monsters. This line of work has a massive turnover rate, even surviving the first hunt is usually a tall order if one is hunting solo, therefore you will normally see huntsmen, especially the less experienced ones, working in teams. Veteran huntsmen that hunt solo are extremely rare and to hire even one is very expensive, but they'll also, most probably, deal with any job you offer them with efficiency.

The first monster hunters came around long before the Firstlings appeared, as monsters harassed mankind seemingly since the dawn of time. Wizards tried to push the huntsmen out of business during the Wizard Epoch, but its hard to end one of the oldest and most necessary professions of the world.

Due to the influence of Old Carver - a legendary huntsman, the cross has became synonymous with monster hunters around the world.

Huntsmen have no guilds or organizations, most are freelancers or permanently employed by some patron. You can usually come into a contact with a huntsman through tavernkeepers, as they tend to meet more hunters than the average person.

## Hunter Specializations

Huntsmen are all master trackers, survivalists and combatants (well, the good ones anyways), however they tend to specialize in one of four schools of monster hunting. None of the specializations are perfectly suited for all tasks, which is why they often work in groups to cover each other, but a master of any of these specializations is a force to be reckoned with.

### Bladesman

Bladesmen are masters of the blade. These huntsmen work with all form of bladed weapons - from daggers to halberds, usually concentrating on broadswords and greatswords. Do not be surprised if a bladesman fights someone from afar - throwing daggers are also on the table.

A bladesman will usually focus on medium and large monsters, bravely taking them head on with both exceptional combat prowess and agility.

### Trapper

Trappers are much more traditional, as far as hunters go. Instead of taking their foes head on, they lay traps and use contraptions to deal with their contracted targets. If traps fail, trappers are usually armed with an axe and a throwing hook, they're no strangers to using poison either.

Trappers will focus on targeting smaller and human sized monsters, given enough preparation time however, an experienced trapper might even manage to take on a larger monster.

### Ranger

Rangers are much more nimble than their counterparts, as they tend to keep their distance from the monsters they hunt. A ranger is an expert in ranged combat and will usually carry around a bow, but you will occasionally see them using more unconventional ranged weapons, like crossbows or javelins.

Rangers will rarely take on foes larger than a minotaur, as there's only so much hide an arrow can pierce.

### Alchemist

Alchemists focus less on directly damaging their opponents with sharp and blunt objects, they instead try to alchemical (or common) poisons and bombs, set on fire, freeze, etc. the monsters they hunt. An alchemist's vial belt is filled with various vile concoctions, which if used correctly could topple any beast without putting oneself directly in danger. Even so, alchemists are less dangerous than others if not properly prepared, therefore they are more drawn to working in groups with others.

With the right alchemical ingredients, an alchemist is capable of taking on any foe.

## Notable Huntsmen in History

Throughout the history of Tosarch, there have been many hunters, some of which were so notable that their legend has been passed down from generation to generation.

### Old Carver

Carver was a legendary bladesman who was famed for taking down a dragon all by himself. Due to his pastime of carving crosses, the cross has become a symbol synonymous with huntsmen. Its hard to say exactly when Carver was around, but due to the fact that Quintex has an entire district dedicated to him - Carver's Cross, its safe to say that he lived either before or during the date of Aerinth's Ascension.

### Espeid von Crass

Espeid, also known as the mad-trapper, was both famous and notorious. Espeid was known to trap and trick fey themselves deep within Amberweald, let alone other monsters. Due to his shenanigans, the fey took revenge by turning him raving mad instead of just killing him. This didn't seem to change much, except for the fact that his traps turned a tad bit more deadly afterwards. Espeid lived in the first half of the Disaster Epoch.

### The Fletcheress

Probably the most deadly monster hunter in history, the Fletcheress was both a ranger and an alchemist, using arrows coated in Aerinth-knows-what to rain death upon any monster she came across. She single-handedly almost drove the brays to extinction. She lived towards the end of the Firstling Epoch.