Vanhades Human

The Vanhades Humans are a group of human who were empowered by the Lady of Broken Glass to make them great hunters.

## Description

Vanhades look like regular humans but have faintly glowing sharp red marks on their left arms. The Vanhades can dim the glow if they want for a time. These marks might be mistaken for cuts due to their crimson glow and sharp straight lines.

## Personality

The Vanhades thought to be rugged and wild by the most civilized of Creation but the truth is that the Vanhades normally live a harder life of constant battle or training. Most Vanhades are skilled in battle, even those who tan leather and cook kills will often be able warriors if needed. Vanhades are taught to be focused and driven when hunting but this will often manifest outside of hunts. Exiles will more often then not keep these traits but it is not unknown for exiles totally rejects the ideals and traits of the hunter.

## Society

The Vanhades traverse Creation as formidable Hunting Parties, comprised of groups ranging from 25 to 100 individuals. Within each party, members specialize either as hunters or artisans who provide support during the hunt. A Hunt Leader and a Cleric of Suwa-Liyat lead the group. When they arrive on a sphere, they offer their assistance to various settlements, aiding in the extermination of monsters and other threats. However, the Vanhades are often viewed with a mix of awe and fear due to their exceptional skill with weapons and their unwavering dedication to the hunt. Rather than charging for their services, the Hunting Parties typically claim the meat and leather from their kills. However, they do accept "gifts" in the form of skilled labor, such as repairing their spelljammers, or even in the form of songs and entertainment. Every five years, the hunting parties convene for a grand event known as the Lodge. During this gathering, the Master of the Hunts, elected as the leader of the entire Vanhades, listens to the reports and experiences shared by the various hunting parties. The Lodge serves as an opportunity for young Vanhades to join new hunting parties, preventing inbreeding and fostering diversity. It is also common for skilled hunters of other races to be welcomed as honorary Vanhades when they join a Hunting Party. Some Vanhades choose to embark on solitary journeys, known as Lone Wolves, often undertaking personal quests or engaging in great hunts of their own. These self-reliant Vanhades are considered civilized by the Lodge as long as they adhere to the guiding principle of "Hunt the beast, not the man." Those who violate this rule are exiled and often find their calling as bounty hunters or mercenaries. The majority of Vanhades are loyal followers of the Lady of Broken Glass, and many among them embrace the path of Blood Hunters, drawing upon their primal connection to the hunt.

## History

The origin of the Vanhades can be traced back to the earliest periods of the Bronze Era, predating the widespread influence of the Oecumene across Creation. It all began on a sphere named Kynigotopos, where a humble clan of humans resided as simple farmers, unaware of the conflicts that awaited them. However, a pact of demonic beasts began preying on the defenseless farmers, hunting and slaughtering them relentlessly. It was during these desperate times that the Lady of Broken Glass manifested in the sky above them. She single-handedly vanquished the beasts and protected the farmers, who fervently prayed for her to stay. Instead, she bestowed upon them a shard of her divine glass and urged them to learn to defend themselves. The first to take up this challenge was the youngest among the farmers, Vanhade, who cut his arm with the shard, allowing the divine power to flow into him. Inspired by his bravery, the others followed suit and declared Vanhade their first leader. Cleansed of their predators by the Lady of Broken Glass, the Vanhades abandoned their home sphere and ventured forth, spreading across many spheres.

The Vanhades rose to prominence during the First Draconic War, as the young Oecumene sought their aid in combating the Chromatic and Gem Dragons and supporting the Metallic Dragons. The small Vanhade hunting parties proved highly effective in eliminating key targets within the jungles of Panaima. Legendary dragonslayers emerged among their ranks. Following the war, the Sovereign began utilizing the Vanhades as assassins to eliminate their enemies. However, this changed when the new Lord of the Hunt, Roroth the Reformer, grew weary of the Vanhades being relegated to the role of hunting dogs for the Sovereign. Implementing the Great Law, she effectively put an end to this era of the Vanhades serving as hitmen. This decision angered the Sovereign, prompting the Vanhades to retreat to the farthest edges of the Oecumene, where they have mostly remained to this day. Some Vanhades, however, remained loyal to the Sovereign, becoming the foundation of the Sovereign's Hounds, although over generations, the Hounds lost many of the typical traits of the Vanhades race.

Since their unofficial exile, the Vanhades have engaged in smaller conflicts known as the Hunters' Skirmishes with the Oecumene, often resulting from tensions between the Vanhades and Oecumene garrisons. These skirmishes have never escalated into larger conflicts, primarily due to the agreement between the Vanhades and the Lord of the Hunts to aid the Oecumene in dealing with threats posed by dangerous beasts targeting important settlements. However, the Vanhades maintain a deep sense of distrust toward the Oecumene to this day.

Periodically, the Vanhades organize Great Hunts, where specific beasts are named, and numerous hunting parties descend upon them, competing for the honor of the kill. These hunts are often called upon the election of a new Lord of the Hunt.

## Trivia

* This is an adaptation of the "Mark of Finding Human" sub-race