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The raven skull, symbol of Jaeger. Protectors of the continent of Aynca, they hunt the physical manifestations of Evil.
Who Are the Jaegers?
Jaegers are the line between Good and Evil, keeping the scales of the universe in balance to prevent catastrophe.
Created centuries ago, people of all walks of life came together to learn how to protect civilisation from the creations of Evil and prevent Corruption. Today, this vital work continues in places of formal tutelage, the Jaegerhauses, where they study a ruthless curriculum of history, combat and so much more. A mere commoner's mind would boggle at the wide range of knowledge a single Jaeger learns.
Whilst strong alone, Jaegers are stronger together. Sects within the Jaegers have naturally emerged as a result of camaraderie and teamwork such as the legendary Wolf Pack led by Ulbrecht Arbeit I, the Bright Wolf, in the mid-1500s. Whilst fame is not something that Jaegers often get to enjoy, there are those who achieve such status within the organisation's own ranks.
Some groups of Jaegers choose to specialise. The Wolf Pack specialised in Lycanthropes, as their name suggests, but there are others who hone their expertise in other fields. This is not restricted just by monster type, there have been teams who focus purely on their skillset - such as The Crimson Forge, an active group of Jaegers from Ursal who are master artificers who strive to push the boundaries of known technology.
Rivalries are to be expected and are encouraged so long as they promote healthy competition. No one is ever expected to like everyone they work with, and even the deepest of hatred between one or two Jaegers is superseded by their duty. It has not been uncommon for foes to stand back to back against the hordes of Evil before, succeed, and resume their personal squabbles.
Whilst anyone can call themselves a monster hunter, to be a Jaeger is a state sponsored profession and the title is not taken lightly. Those who pose as Jaeger can and have been executed with the full force of justice. If one wishes to learn the arts of Jaegering, they must attend a Jaegerhaus for formal training.
Jaegers follow a code that enables them the greatest chances of success and survival. They are short so that they are easily remembered, but some would say that their briefness allows for flexibility in their interpretation.
I. Never go alone
II. We are not the law
III. Live to fight another day
IV. Remember your enemy
The Jaegerhauses
The first Jaegerhaus was founded in 1580 in Dolchzahnfurt, and is considered the main base of operations for all Jaegers. There are six other Jaegerhauses throughout the continent, with one in each of the nations except for Gaulois. Jaegers are the creation of Mattias Straussburg, the first Jaeger, and Baron Scholz von Wieseburg.
Before Jaegers, people simply took on the task of hunting monsters when they attacked their homes. There was never a truly organised front against the forces of Evil, until Mattias began a small company of travelling mercenaries who would offer their services in monster hunting. Mattias recognised that for this to be a success, they needed wealthy patronage which he found in the Baron. The success of the newly formed Jaegers led to Baron ascending to become a Duke, and his descendants have remained stalwart figureheads of the Jaegers.
It was shortly after the Duke ascended to his title that the Jaegers became adopted by the wider continent, becoming a widely accepted state sponsored institution - and the only one to have achieved this universal status in the continent.
Recruits must be at least 18 years of age and are subject to a minimum of 3 years of formal training at a Jaegerhaus which is made up of the first year as Basic Training, bringing up all Recruits to a minimum standard.
The following 2 years are dedicated to the three modules a Recruit selects, teaching them the basics of their chosen fields. These two years also include optional opportunities for exchange programmes with other Jaegerhauses.
After, following examination, students may require further tutelage in the classroom. However, most will be able to move on to the field mission stage which puts them onto the path to graduating as a fully fledged Jaeger.
For example:
A Soldier who has served their country for many years decides to retrain as a Jaeger. They excel at the physical aspects of Basic Training, but struggle with studying as it is an entirely new concept to them, they are also new to reading and writing. It takes them 5 years total before they are able to attend field missions due to that struggle.
A Merchant of 20 years decides to become a Jaeger. They manage their way through Basic just fine, and are competent at studying. They are able to attend field missions after 3 years.
An Academic who has finished their degree at a University becomes a Jaeger. They struggle terribly during the physical element of Basic, and took another 6 months just to complete it. However they aced their studies. It took them 3.5 years to move onto field missions.
A Witch of 70 years of age has had an epiphany, they have broken their pact and sought refuge in a Jaegerhaus. They seek to atone for their sins. They cannot pass Basic due to their age, but are welcome to join on as staff to the Jaegerhaus, where they can repent and support the Jaeger in their mission from the sidelines.
For further information on Aynca's Jaegerhauses, visit the Jaegerhaus page.
Jaeger Ranks
The Jaegers are nowhere near as structured as a standing military, but there are parallels between the way they operate.
Over time, as the Jaegers have grown, it was found that a singular leader for the entire organisation in one location was counterproductive. Instead, Grand Meisters share authority on international issues and work together, often travelling to summits to discuss pressing matters.
The ranks of Jaeger are as follows:
When one enrolls into a Jaegerhause, they begin at the bottom of the chain of command as a Recruit.
Once a Recruit graduates, they formally become a Jaeger. The vast majority of Jaegers are this rank.
If they choose to, an experienced Jaeger may apply to become a Senior Jaeger. These are Jaeger who have decided to go into teaching Recruits, but still go into the field to undertake missions where required.
From both Jaegers and Senior Jaegers, one may be granted the rank of Meister. Meisters lead other Jaeger and run tactical for missions on a national scale. They are highly experienced but are rarely seen in the field, instead focusing on teaching and research.
The most senior Jaeger in charge of a Jaegerhaus is the Grand Meister. This role determines the curriculum for Recruits and have oversight on all deployments for Jaeger in their nation. They do not participate in combat unless absolutely required.
There are those who are not able to pass Basic Training for a multitude of reasons - but that does not mean the end to the journey. There are hundreds of staff who attend Jaegerhauses to support the institution; from librarians and cooks, to stable hands, and smiths and many more roles that are vital to keeping a haus running smoothly. These people are referred to as Initiates, those who are committed to the cause, but are not Jaeger themselves.
Distinguishments
Distinguishments and titles are common among Jaeger and usually created by their peers rather than through a formal system of award. There are a handful of formally recognised medals among Jaeger, which are bestowed by Meisters and Grand Meisters:
The Golden Wreath: A fine circlet of golden leaves, this highly ornamental piece is reserved for individuals who in the face of certain doom, were able to still complete their mission and save as many as possible. Only those who demonstrate true, one of a kind acts of heroism and bravery are awarded the Wreath. In Jaeger history, 14 people have been awarded it. The Wreath itself is more a mantlepiece item, and a smaller golden medallion depicting the wreath is also awarded for personal wear.
The Silver Talon: A silver claw modelled from the famous werewolf Blacktalon, who was slain at the hands of The Bright Wolf. Blacktalon had created a pack of fierce werewolves, all turned by his hand, who reigned terror across The Verda Empire. The beast seemed untouchable, but thanks to tactics employed by The Bright Wolf and his regiment, they slayed Blacktalon and broke the curse over his victims. Thus, The Silver Talon represents ingenuity and creativity in the hunt - to spare as many as possible and focusing on the true enemy. The Talon represents the adapting nature of Jaeger, and several hundred Talons have been awarded over the decades.
The Iron Chain: This humble chain represents the burden of leadership, and the sacrifices one must make in order to make the most challenging calls. This is the rarest distinguishment bestowed on Jaeger, and can only be granted by a Grand Meister. The Chain, which is a literal chain of iron links worn around the neck, may appear simplistic and easy to replicate from a distance. However, up close it should be noted that names are inscribed on each of the iron links.
“The Reflection in the Looking Glass” by Emine Nazari (An excerpt)
An excerpt from Emine Nazari’s book, which is part memoir and part academic paper discussing her life spent studying the demonic plane. Emine is noted for having visited the demonic plane over a dozen times, and her grasp of Infernal is second to none. This excerpt recalls her youth as an apprentice before becoming a Jaeger, studying at Maköl University in Tarquinia, 1689.
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In a brief bloody and violent week, a rift from the demonic plane tore open in the courtyard of Maköl University, the largest college in the nation. Hundreds of students and teachers alike were killed in mere hours – some dragged to the other side never to be seen again. Thankfully, Tarquinia’s military were swift to act and contain the situation before it spread further than the college’s walls. Fighting demons was not uncommon, but one appearing in such a populated place was incredibly unusual.
Normally, rifts are made for demons to sneak in and out without being noticed. It is theorised there are hundreds of rifts in Tarquinia alone. And yet, here at the college was one place so boldly.
In the months that followed, scholars, priests and others of science and religion arrived to study the rift and the corpses of demons, who fell to the soldier’s waiting blades. Priests and holy men attempted to close the rift to no avail, the pleas of their gods went unanswered. Where rifts opened in solitary locations, there had never been such a need to close one before - they were accepted as dangerous places you simply did not need to go. The college however, the pinnacle of learning in this corner of the continent? It had to be stopped.
This crisis of faith sparked inspiration for the academics – what if you could only close a gateway to Evil from the side it was opened?
None had ever dared such a feat before, to step into the realm of Evil itself. Debate waged on for over two years, searching for answers but nothing they tried could close the rift.
However, over that time of discussion and exploration, it was curious that fewer and fewer demons came through the rift. There were those who were wondering whether the demons had grown aware of what waited for them on the other side, and left it abandoned? Admiral Yasar, who led the retinue of soldiers defending us, refuted such claims, fearing that this was merely the calm before another storm.
Growing frustrated with the constant debates, theorising, and refusal to place any thought into practice, I decided to take matters into my own hands. During these years I was apprenticing, and had dutifully scribed every meeting, every demonic autopsy, everything I had been privy to thanks to my mentor. I remember many late nights studying by candlelight, for months on end.
Between classes and working with my mentor, I scoured the university library and book shops in the city for more information. Books on demons were few, for whilst they were known, they were rarely on this plane long enough to truly study – until now. However, a book from only ten years prior proved to be the key to my research. Interview with an Incubus, by Calceran scholar and romance author Ania Farro. It was a book often dismissed by scholars as fictional snuff, but I found deeper meaning between certain, colourful chapters. Ania had learned how to communicate with the incubus in his own tongue, possibly the first instance in recorded history of a human speaking demonic - what we now call Infernal.
What others had cast off as fiction, I treated as fact. Ania’s writings clearly demonstrated how Infernal functioned as a language, from verbiage and grammatical structure to intonation. When I was confident that I had learned the basics, I wondered if the connection between magic and Evil could lead to a possible solution. It led down a wild path, moving away from the tales of a scholar and an incubus to the preserved grimoires of dangerous witches of old, long slain. It did not take long for me to conclude that I, and I alone, was the only one who could close the rift.
I had found a spell of sealing, which was more commonly used to magically seal doors and other mundane portals. My theory was completely untested and without any real credence to it, but there was something deep inside of myself that knew it would work. The other scholars were getting nowhere, and I had been the only one to consider the blasphemy that only Evil could undo Evil in this circumstance. If it failed, I would gladly suffer the consequences.
I was not going to give myself over to Evil as witches did, instead I was going to borrow their knowledge and combine it with what I had learned of Infernal. If my theory was correct, I would be able to cast a spell within the demonic plane without the need to possess magic. I had come to this conclusion as, as far as I was aware, demons never required anything extra to themselves in order to cast magic. Witches gain magical ability by giving themselves over to Evil, so therefore, casting a Witch’s spell in the demonic plane in Infernal should work?
Under the cover of night, during the changing of the soldier’s guard, I made my move. Using a simple children’s firecracker toy, I was able to create enough of a distraction that allowed me to run for the rift. Soldiers nearby saw me, I heard their calls for me to halt, but they were too slow to stop me. I am sure that the alarm was raised, but none followed after me.
I had truly anticipated being vapourised upon entering the rift but was surprised when my feet found solid ground after a brief sense of weightlessness. I expected to see a blazing red sky split by thunder, blood raining down from the heavens with the world set ablaze around me… However, I was wrong.
I stood in a well-trodden meadow. Flowers bloomed further afield where feet had not trampled them, the sky was blue and grass green as any I had seen before. As I took in the scenery, I realised that I recognised this place. I spied a lone cypress tree that I knew to stand in the grounds of the college, only here there was no great castle of stone. Other than the absence of the college, everything was nearly identical. Squinting upward, even the moon looked the same as our own and in the distance I could even hear crickets chirping. It was nothing like what I had imagined and if anything, was shockingly ordinary.
When I looked back, I saw the shimmering red seam of the rift, still present. It was then that I realised that the demonic plane was an exact mirror of our own.
The urge to venture out and explore was overwhelming, and I had to remember the task at hand. I faced the rift, produced the spell components from my satchel to arrange as the grimoire had depicted on the ground, and cast the spell of sealing in the language of demons.
The components disintegrated, soft blue light drifted into the air and surrounded the rift. Its edges began to glow, and for the first time I could see straight through the rift back into the human realm. I was so entranced by the process, and the fact that it appeared to be working, that I almost forgot that the rift was being sealed shut! I dashed back through and almost ran belly first into the waiting spear of a soldier. Thankfully my mentor’s voice cut above the confusion, and I was spared a careless death. I turned to see the results of my experiment, and just as I had seen into the human realm from the other side, I could see back into the realm of demons.
The gasps and whispered exclamations confirmed the others could see it too. However, none of us could gawk long, as the rift shrank with soft blue energy until there was nothing but clear air hanging in its place.
For that, I wrote Ania Farro a letter of thanks.
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