Leader of the Hunt
Available - Lead Application
Second in Command
Available - Seek Leadership For Position
(Must be approved by Faction Admin)
Leader of the Hunt
Available - Lead Application
Second in Command
Available - Seek Leadership For Position
(Must be approved by Faction Admin)
No App is required to join Hunters. Players can simply request the Tag on Discord and collect the inworld group from the icon in the landing zone.
How a character joins is up to the player. Whether it be by meeting a stranger in the shadows (npc), meeting the City Leader, or seeking another player out who's a Hunter to teach them the Code. Perhaps even a book was found or passed down from their family and they began studying of their own accord to take the oath. The options are limitless as long as the Code is learned and the Oath is Taken.
The Hunter's Code & Oath has many shapes and forms. To some its a path of good and righteousness. To others its a dark path filled with butchering & bloodshed. Not all Hunter's morals will align, but no matter ones morals or the interpretation of the code, the foundation of the code itself must always be respected lest the Hunter become the Hunted.
Every Hunter walks their path differently, yet all uphold to the Code in one way or another. And when a Hunter chooses to act, their judgment can manifest in many forms. Some uncover information and leave anonymous tips for City Authorities to deal with on an official capacity. Others deal with their prey in the shadows, taking part in the hunt in ways that are spoken of only in whispers. In some cases, individuals caught by hunters may find themselves a subject of example in the Darknet Forums.
Behind the scenes, the Hunters own the Howler Newspaper. While the front acts as an official registered Newspaper for the City, the backend holds secrets connecting to the Hunter HQ. It's up to the Hunter leader if Non-Hunters work at the Howler Newspaper.
~ Roles ~
Leader : Appointed Leader located in Howling Hills that has been appointed by Hunters before them. They act as the Authority for Hunters and handle disputes among them.
Second : Appointed by the Hunter Leader, the Hunter Second acts as a right hand to Leadership to assist them with whatever they need.
Representatives : Trusted Hunters that have proven themselves. They both live by the code and stand as an example for other Hunters. They are strictly mentors and not leaders in any capacity.
NPC Representatives: Hathaway NPC's played by Dungeon Masters. They can be requested to be spoken to in a lore ticket email or text message for Hunter Lore & Information.
Hunters : Individuals that have taken their Oath.
~ Code ~
1. None are beyond the call of the hunt. Hunters do not serve the RDA, the Church, or any Government. They believe the purest hunt is the hunt they choose themselves or that another asks of them. When a hunt calls, be it man, beast, objects, or thing in-between; Hunters will act. Whether a price is given or not.
2. A Hunter’s face is not freely shown. Names are not spoken lightly. To reveal another Hunter is to betray the Hunt itself. Because being a Hunter is considered illegal, hunters will often avoid attention of the RDA while others might make deals.
3. Silver, Salt, Banes, Iron, Brass, Fire, etc. These are not cruelties, they are necessities. Use only what the Hunt requires. No more, No less. There is no need for honor within the hunt.
4. Hunters kill with purpose. Not every hunt leads to a kill, but when it does. The Hunt must have a cause. Whether to punish those that abuse power or go after entities or creatures deemed as too dangerous to be left alone. Blood spilled without reasons stains the Hunters name who spills it. Those harmed without cause dishonors the hunt.
5. Hunters need not agree, but they must not turn on one another. Division feeds the very chaos the Hunt seeks to contain.
6. Hunters do not boast of their work under the reputation of a Hunter. Fear spreads faster than fire. The Hunt is known through whispers, not proclamations.
7. If one abuses their gifts, the Hunt will find them. If a Hunter breaks the Code, the Hunt will find them too.
~ Hunter's Oath ~
"I walk the shadows, unseen, as I hunt. I swear myself to the Code of the Hunter. While I remain true, let the Hunt guide and shelter me. Should I fail, let the Hunt consume me."
~ Breaking Ones Oath ~
When a Hunter takes the oath, they make a promise not only to themselves, but to others Hunters. Hunters as a whole, make each other accountable for their actions. Should one step out of line, it will be up to their own kind to set them straight. In this situation, a Hunter Leader may perform a right to Blood Mark another Hunter who's abandoned their oath. Only those most trusted in the Hunter Community learn how to perform this Ritual to its full extent. These trusted individuals are known as Leaders.
(OOC: Leadership will communicate with Hunters before blood marking roleplay. It is rare for a Hunter to be Blood Marked. They must have diverged greatly away from the Code.)
Should a Hunter be Blood Marked too much, they'll find other Hunters may treat them as an outcast and in most cases may find themselves as prey to other Hunters for betraying their Oaths.
A Blood Mark manifests itself physically on a Hunter, even after atonement. This can appear as a scar, a black mark on the skin, or even hair on their head losing pigment. Its subtle, but there as a reminder of what was done.
OOC: The Blood Mark is an IC Consequence for breaking the Hunter's code. We leave it up to the players to decide the full extent of how it affects them and defining what their atonement is. The Atonement should weigh just as heavy as the Consequences of their actions in breaking their oath. Once it takes place, the Mark will lift itself.
Hunters have existed since the 12th century. Their Code shifting with each new era, yet its core principle never changing: those who abuse power must face consequence. As the modern world advanced, so did the Hunters. They adapted to the technological age, using social media, encrypted channels, and dark-web archives to track the individuals and creatures that act under the radar in society.
The first Hunters to reach Howling Hills Vermont arrived in 1814, bearing the family name Hathaway. Though the Hathaway's were not among the original founders of the settlement, they quickly became a pillar of the community. Their presence opened the door for others of their order to follow.
In time, the head of the Hathaway household, Gideon Hathaway, joined the City Council, where he played a pivotal role in securing funding that helped transform the settlement into a thriving city. Known for his generous contributions to both the RDA and City Hall, Gideon promoted justice, structure, and accountability. Values that quietly mirrored the Hunter Code his family lived by.
By 1864, Gideon retired peacefully to his estate, satisfied that he had opened a stable path for other Hunters to cross from Europe into America. His efforts made Howling Hills a safe landing place for their kind, a town where a Hunter could begin again without fear and establish new roots.
To this day, Howling Hills is known within the Hunter community as a refuge. A place to rebuild, to plant roots, and to find purpose. The Hathaway family remains a steadfast part of the City, now led by Elias Hathaway, the current head of household. With Gideon Hathaway’s passing, however, the family has stepped back from formal leadership, allowing a new generation of Hunters to rise and guide the community forward. They have refrained from involving themselves in World Politics and Legal Authorities and have shown no desire to do so. Leaving Hunters on their own should they wish to poke the bees nest of modern society.
Still, the Hathaways hold deep respect among Hunters. Those seeking guidance, shelter, or connection are always welcome to approach a member of the family for mentorship or endorsement.
Though their presence is not publicly known, some have discovered their existence in Howling Hills and other parts of the world. Like many organizations, its knowledge is spread in whispers rather than brought to light to the public. Hunters have a reputation for taking the law into their own hands when supernatural threats surface, but even then avoid taking a public stance against the RDA and its Authority to remain out of the spotlight.
Knowledge of the Hunters’ presence has therefore remained confined to their own circles, even as whispers about the Hathaway family persist. Locals have long suspected that the Hathaways “keep old secrets,” and Gideon and his descendants have been tied to more than a few strange incidents over the years. Still, no official accusations have ever taken hold, and any inquiries have a way of quietly disappearing.
Information about Hunters can be found in the City Library for those who know what they are looking for or recognize the symbol...
~ OOC Note ~
✎ Spying on Hunters is allowed, however it needs to be discussed oocly in some way shape or form with the leaders of the Hunters as it can have detrimental IC Consequences. If you are uncomfortable with discussing spying with the Leader you must consult with the Howling Hills Faction Admin. We ask that Hunters planning to spy on other players also communicate with those players OOC. Communication is key for smooth spying roleplay! Not following this might involve destroying months of story, and can even break one of Howling Hills rules about consent.
✎ Being a Hunter comes with great risk and if caught, could mean great consequences. Hunters often act oppose the confines of the law and against established legal authorities. They run the risk of jail time and/or facing retaliation from those who have become their enemies. In some cases, their actions may even close doors such as becoming RDA Agents due to gaining a criminal record.
✎ Internal Hunter consequences (such as Blood Marking) do not negate, replace, or override other roleplay consequences outside of the Hunters should others be involved.
✎ It's important for hunters to communicate ooc with their hunts. Communication and Consent OOC are the foundations of a good hunt.
✎ Being a Hunter does not restrict players OOC from joining any other career or Organization.