Blood Hunter

Blood Hunters are a Race native to The Crowned Isles that utilize Magic to hunt Monsters with great proficiency.

## Biology

Blood Hunters are a cousin race to Lycanthrope Beastfolk, being descended from the same original race. They were part of the original “human” race of The Isles known as the Precursors, but when their species was threatened by imminent genocide by the Elves, they all made a pact with the God Ultimus. This split the race into two new races: The Beastfolk of today and The Blood Hunters. After human migration, Blood Hunter culture was heavily influenced by that of Japanese culture, resulting in what is now a race of Samurai and Shinobi.

Due to the nature of their magic, a Blood Hunter is able to use their unique manifestation of magic the day they’re born, something that other races are not capable of, and thus are able to start their training long before others will. In almost every Blood Hunter family, the children begin extensive training, ruthless mental and physical conditioning, and initiation rituals at the age of 5 to train their body. These go non-stop until they reach 14, where they attend a Magical Academy to focus on training their Respiration.

## History

Blood Hunters were and have been born and bred as efficient Monster Hunters, commonly seen as a more powerful variation of Passerine. Whereas the Passerine of the Earthen Plane are humans incapable of casting magic, Blood Hunters use their magic to aid their attacks rather than to create new ones. These attacks take different appearances and specialize in different things based on the subrace of Blood Hunter. While a Flame Blood Hunter imbues flames into their attacks to create a more powerful slash, a Tidal Blood Hunter imbues water into their attacks to make them move more fluidly. This unique way of fighting is known as Respiration, and relies heavily on the breathing of an individual.

## Culture

Blood Hunters of the past were tribalistic, very similar to ancient Beastfolk. While not much is known ultimately of their culture, as the ruins of sites theorized to be built by ancient Blood Hunters are nearly identical to those of ancient Beastfolk, they are known to have been an imperial dictatorship, deciding emperors through a trial of combat where a challenger would do battle with the emperor. Modern Blood Hunters find their culture similar to ancient Japanese culture, primarily a mixture of various periods from Edo to modern day. They've kept their monster slaying traditions, however they've molded their beliefs into the culture of their Earthen influence.

### Clans

There are many clans among the Blood Hunters, usually derived from family trees. There are 12 currently recognized clans, which are named after mythological Japanese culture. A Blood Hunter's clan affects many things, including naming conventions, the coloration of their armor, and even the places and things they're allowed to indulge in.

## Subraces

Blood Hunter subraces don't follow the usual elemental naming conventions, instead following the names of their Respiration.

### Sky Blood Hunters

A Sky Blood Hunter has eyes that appear to be made just of the sclera that glow white while using their Respiration. Sky Blood Hunters utilize Sky Respiration to fight. Their Patron Element is Air and thus are stronger at the Air Primal.

### Shadow Blood Hunters

A Shadow Blood Hunter has eyes that appear to be made of pure shadows that emanate black smoke while using their Respiration. Shadow Blood Hunters utilize Shadow Respiration to fight. Their Patron Element is Chaos, and thus are stronger at the Chaos Primal.

### Stone Blood Hunters

A Stone Blood Hunter has eyes that shimmer like gemstones that glow green from deep within while using their Respiration. Stone Blood Hunters utilize Stone Respiration to fight. Their Patron Element is Earth, and thus are stronger at the Earth Primal.

### Flame Blood Hunters

A Flame Blood Hunter has eyes that flicker like fire which light fire while using their Respiration. Flame Blood Hunters utilize Flame Respiration to fight. Their Patron Element is Fire, and thus are stronger at the Fire Primal.

### Sun Blood Hunters

A Sun Blood Hunter has eyes that glow like the sun which emanate a powerful radiant glow while using their Respiration. Sun Blood Hunters utilize Sun Respiration to fight. Their Patron Element is Light, and thus are stronger at the Light Primal.

### Star Blood Hunters

A Star Blood Hunter has eyes that glitter with stardust which brighten while using their Respiration. Star Blood Hunters utilize Star Respiration to fight. Their Patron Element is Mind, and thus are stronger at the Mind Primal.

### Tidal Blood Hunters

A Tidal Blood Hunter has eyes that swirl like whirlpools which excrete water like they're crying when using their Respiration. Tidal Blood Hunters utilize Tidal Respiration to fight. Their Patron Element is Water, and thus are stronger at the Water Primal.

### Metal Blood Hunters

A Metal Blood Hunter has eyes that like silver pearls, which appear to melt while using their Respiration. Metal Blood Hunters utilize Metal Respiration to fight. Their Patron Element is Technology, and thus are stronger at the Technology Primal.

### Feral Blood Hunters

A Feral Blood Hunter has eyes that are slit-pupiled like a cat, which glow a deep brownish orange while using their Respiration. Feral Blood Hunters utilize Feral Respiration to fight. Their Patron Element is Wild, and thus are stronger at the Wild Primal.

## Racial Traits

* Blood Hunters are able to use their unique manifestation of magic from the day they’re born

## Respiration

Respiration is an assortment of swordsmanship styles that makes use of an esoteric breathing technique to temporarily infuse normal weapon attacks with magic. It's only usable by the Blood Hunters, who have learned and passed down the technique for generations.

As a whole, it is an advanced and esoteric breathing technique where a user inhales the maximum amount of oxygen within a specific breath pattern to raise their physical and mental prowess to their utmost limits. The effects include a plethora of enhanced physical and mental abilities, like superhuman physical characteristics (i.e. strength, speed, stamina, durability and agility), faster thought processes, maximizing concentration and hyper-information processing. At a more advanced level, Respiration is also capable of clotting wounds from severe injuries and slowing down the circulation of poison in the bloodstream. It is possible, through great training, to utilize this breathing technique 24/7. This keeps a Blood Hunter prepared for battle at all times. However, this usually takes decades to perfect, and the youngest documented user of this technique was 72 years old.

Respiration users don't suffer the normal side effects of magic. Instead, every time they use their Respiration style, they slowly pull the Magic away from their soul. Overuse will prevent them from using their Respiration styles, and potentially cripple their ability to use their Respiration style altogether. As their soul splits, their body slowly falls into a paralyzed and exhausted state, making their movements slower and more painful to execute.

Each style of Respiration relates to an elemental magic form, which allows the user to tie themselves back to the element's concepts to better themselves as a user of their Respiration Style. There are various "spells", known as Dispositions, which allow the Blood Hunter to efficiently utilize their Respiration techniques to help them kill monsters. They learn these Dispositions in order of how they are listed, and they must have some understanding and skill with one Disposition to unlock the next one, just like traditional magic's spells.

Respiration Styles
2. **Second Disposition: Rising Storm** - The user slashes from a distance, spinning their blade in their hands to launch a quick and powerful gust of wind towards their target.
3. **Third Disposition: Gale, Sudden Gusts** - The user makes multiple quick jabs with their blade.
4. **Fourth Disposition: Rumble and Flash** - The user propels themselves forward at a quick speed, surrounding their blade with electricity before striking in a flashing light.
5. **Fifth Disposition: Distant Thunder** - The user moves extremely quickly, closing a large distance before striking with great force. Their footsteps are so quick and powerful, it sounds like rolling thunder.
6. **Sixth Disposition: Heat Lightning** - The user surrounds their blade with electricity, which is so radiant that on contact with flammable objects they immediately combust.
 Shadow Respiration
2. **Second Disposition: Shadowed Throne** - The user slashes in an upward motion, their blade shrouded in shadows.
3. **Third Disposition: True Darkness** - The user jabs their blade forward, coating their body in shadows before striking.
4. **Fourth Disposition: Evening Palace** - The user quickly draws their weapon, swinging it horizontally and creating blades of darkness that rush towards the enemy.
5. **Fifth Disposition: Chaos Catastrophe** - The user makes multiple quick slashes in an asterisk formation.
6. **Sixth Disposition: Moongazing Mirror** - The user mirrors the target's attacks to block them before they can hit.
 Stone Respiration
2. **Second Disposition: Upper Smash** - The user throws their weapon for a pincer move before smashing down on the weapon to cause it to then rebound and hit their target from afar.
3. **Third Disposition: Stone Skin** - The user unleashes a series of slashes with their weapon deflecting nearby attacks.
4. **Fourth Disposition: Volcanic Rock, Rapid Conquest** - The user manipulates their weapon by swinging it in order to strike their opponents using a wide ranged attack.
5. **Fifth Disposition: Arcs of Justice** - The user slashes multiple times horizontally. This can carve straight through stone if done carefully enough.
6. **Sixth Disposition: Earthquake Shatter** - The user hits their weapon into the ground, cracking and shaking the earth beneath them.
 Flame Respiration
2. **Second Disposition: Rising Scorching Sun** - The user releases an arching sword slash upwards.
3. **Third Disposition: Blazing Universe** - The user swings their blade downwards in an arc.
4. **Fourth Disposition: Blooming Flame Undulation** - The user swings their blade in a circular motion that can defend them from incoming attacks or attack multiple enemies at once.
5. **Fifth Disposition: Flame Tiger** - The user performs a series of powerful sword slashes that takes the form of a flaming tiger.
6. **Sixth Disposition: Volcanic Earthshatter** - The user falls from the sky at a great speed, striking down with great force.
 Sun Respiration
2. **Second Disposition: Raging Sun** - The user unleashes two horizontal slashes to hit or defend from incoming attacks.
3. **Third Disposition: Burning Bones, Summer Sun** - The user unleashes a large circular slash that defends from imminent frontal attacks.
4. **Fourth Disposition: Setting Sun Transformation** - The user backflips into the air to deliver a powerful upended sword slash.
5. **Fifth Disposition: Solar Heat Haze** - The user charges towards the target, unleashing a horizontal slash seemingly covered in haze that fails to land, but actually does hit the target.
6. **Sixth Disposition: Beneficent Radiance** - The user spirals into the air and delivers a powerful slash that surrounds the enemy.
 Star Respiration
2. **Second Disposition: Eight-Layered Constellation** - The user unleashes eight forward slashes with each one on top of the other in extremely quick succession.
3. **Third Disposition: Scattering Nebula Splash** - The user releases a powerful circular slash in front of them that can be used to blow away projectiles.
4. **Fourth Disposition: Supernova Slash** - The user quickly unsheathes their sword and dashes towards their enemy at blinding speeds and delivers a quick slash from beneath them.
5. **Fifth Disposition: Sea of Stardust and Ice** - The user dashes forward at high speed and unleashes a flurry of slashes that cover a wide area while obscuring their movements.
6. **Sixth Disposition: Lunar Dispersing Mist** - The user backflips into the air while upside down and delivers countless ranged slashes downwards, capable of decimating dozens of targets at once.
 Tidal Respiration
2. **Second Disposition: Water Surface Slash** - The user generates enough momentum to create a powerful single concentrated slash.
3. **Third Disposition: Water Wheel** - The user leaps and vertically spins forward in the air while releasing a flowing attack in a circular motion.
4. **Fourth Disposition: Flowing Dance** - The user swings and bends their blade in a winding motion along with their body and dances in a flowing pattern, slicing everything in its path.
5. **Fifth Disposition: Striking Tide** - The user makes multiple consecutive slashes while twisting their body and sword in a flowing fashion to deliver multiple blows simultaneously.
6. **Sixth Disposition: Whirlpool** - The user fiercely twists their upper and lower body, creating a whirlpool of air that cuts anything caught in it. Its effect and efficiently is enhanced underwater, where the user can draw water around their weapon to enhance their slashes..
 Metal Respiration
2. **Second Disposition: Honorable Shadow Plum** - The user releases several rotating sword slashes that deflects incoming physical attacks.
3. **Third Disposition: Crimson Hanagoromo** - The user unleashes single sword slash that curves and twists gracefully.
4. **Fourth Disposition: Constant Resounding Slashes** - The user holds their weapon and spins it rapidly in conjunction, creating massive explosions while defending themselves from attacks.
5. **Fifth Disposition: String Performance** - The user uses a hard object along with their weapon, held in a reverse grip, and slam the hard object on their weapon. This creates powerful blasts of sound to knock their opponent off balance.
6. **Sixth Disposition: Earthquake Shatter** - The user hits their weapon into the ground, cracking and shaking the earth beneath them..
 Feral Respiration
2. **Second Rage: Slice** - The user unleashes a double slash in an X-shaped cut.
3. **Third Rage: Devour** - The user releases simultaneous horizontal slashes towards the target.
4. **Fourth Rage: Slice 'n' Dice** - The user delivers multiple diagonal slashes.
5. **Fifth Rage: Crazy Cutting** - The user slices everything in all directions while in mid-air.
6. **Sixth Rage: Palisade Bite** - The user releases slashes in a saw-like movement.
7. **Seventh Rage: Spatial Awareness** - The user utilizes their sense of touch to identify the position of enemies and their weaknesses by feeling small disturbances in the air.

## Trivia

* Blood Hunters are heavily inspired by Witcher's of The Witcher and The Demon Slayer Corps of Kimetsu no Yaiba.
	+ The main idea, that being Monster Hunting, is inspired by the Witcher's' "Monster Hunter for Hire" occupation.
	+ The Respiration is inspired by the unique way of fighting The Demon Slayer Corps uses known as Breathing Styles.
		- A lot of the Dispositions are exact copies of the Forms found in Kimetsu no Yaiba, sometimes with slight differences.
* Blood Hunters had the most prototypes out of any Race.
	+ Their first rendition were as a Passerine Subrace that used their blood to enchant weapons.
	+ Their second rendition was as cannibalistic, vampire-like entities.
	+ Their third rendition combined the first and second renditions.
	+ Their fourth rendition was as a Passerine Subrace that used Breathing Styles from Kimetsu no Yaiba to fight
	+ Their fifth and final rendition are what are here today, fighters that imbue their magic into their melee attacks.