Prologue (Section II)
A Brief History of the Hunter's
The Hunters were founded by the seven heroes of the Larodain campaign, during the later part of the second age. A war over who was to rule over Larodai, and its neighboring islands, also known as the Dark- Crest coast area. Though there were several armies involved, there were only two that would have stood a chance of taking control. The land of Caldora, ruled by Lord Arcana, and whose armies were led by the Black Dragon knighthood was one of the large armies. This army alone stood some five thousand strong, which was more than double that of the smaller armies, and far more organized. Their Trump card was a large brood of young black dragons.
The other army belonged to the underground Kingdom of Kel-tholas, a hive of Drow, dark evil creatures, content only when others are suffering. Though their numbers were smaller, their warriors were far superior in all aspects of combat and sorcery. They also had a large army of Spider creatures on their side. They were feared by all the smaller armies, even the demi-gods that walked the world trembled in fear at the sight of the Drow.
As with most wars, many opposed the war from every army and every lifestyle, while some held rally's or ran away there were those who would fight the armies of their own country. It was not until "Ground-Stalker" Orlaendric, king of the gods showed his presence among such people that they banded together to form more powerful rebel groups. Spread to thin the smaller armies fell quickly; their lack of experience made them easy targets for the larger armies and rebel forces. After the seventh year the rebel forces numbers swelled until they were nearly as large as the Drow, and nearly as powerful. The war lasted the better part of twenty years and in the end left most of Larodai in ash the victors not clearly known. It is known that the Drow returned to the bowls of the planet were the continued to rule the goblins, orcs and trolls. Kel-tholas was but a great ruin, a crumbling rampart was all that remained of the great kingdom. The rebels returned to what they used to call home to rebuild what they could and make a fresh start, but there were those who remained together.
A total of four hundred people banded together, they chose five warriors to lead them into the future. They were Kalkordin; a human swordsman, the greatest that fought in the war was one of these hero's, his ability was so great that he was able to defeat four dragon mounted warriors single handedly. Voltaire; an Elven druid, able control weather and animals. He could call upon armies of beasts to fight alongside him making him a very dangerous foe. Gorflak; Dwarven cleric, great healer and devoutly religious follower of Orlaendric Ground-Stalker. He was also a renowned blacksmith, able to forge any item, and imbue them with incredible power. Garcarcien; a Drow assassin and sorcerer, he could control the spirits of the dead, bring them back to life and make them fight his battles. Also had created several spells that allowed him to be the greatest assassin of the war. One such ability was to make himself invisible, even when breaking his concentration to cast other spells. Finally; Flintroll, a Gnome inventor and wizard, he could cast spells more powerful than any Elf, Drow or even Draconic wizard could cast.
These are the fathers of the hunters they taught the people who followed them their trades, their skills. These skills became the building blocks of the hunters abilities, we have all inherited incredible gifts from our ancestors, and these skills would prove very useful.
Sometime during the third age nearly five hundred years after the war a new threat appeared, one that would make the hunters what they had become by my time. The first know report was from a small Kobold village, they went to the larger villages seeking help; something had taken their chieftain, and "changed" him. They were ignored in all the cities, not to surprising, there were few who would aid the dog-like people in any endeavor. They eventually sought help from the Blood Hawk clan, a branch of the hunter villages, and they found the help they so desperately needed.
An expedition from the village had been sent to track the creature that took the chieftain, what they found was the beginning of the waking nightmare that was to become my nightmare. They returned to the Kobold village to find it destroyed, ashes were all that remained of the homes, and corpses littered the grass. The Surviving Kobold's were sent to live with the hunters in their villages. After a few days the expedition found the Chieftain, however he no longer appeared to be a Kobold, his face had began to look more elven, he was a pale white and all his fur had turned silver. It was the first of many that they would see; soon the children of the night would come out in full force, leaving only destruction and death in their path. The vampires had come and it became my people's duty to hunt them down.
A Brief History of the Hunter's
The Hunters were founded by the seven heroes of the Larodain campaign, during the later part of the second age. A war over who was to rule over Larodai, and its neighboring islands, also known as the Dark- Crest coast area. Though there were several armies involved, there were only two that would have stood a chance of taking control. The land of Caldora, ruled by Lord Arcana, and whose armies were led by the Black Dragon knighthood was one of the large armies. This army alone stood some five thousand strong, which was more than double that of the smaller armies, and far more organized. Their Trump card was a large brood of young black dragons.
The other army belonged to the underground Kingdom of Kel-tholas, a hive of Drow, dark evil creatures, content only when others are suffering. Though their numbers were smaller, their warriors were far superior in all aspects of combat and sorcery. They also had a large army of Spider creatures on their side. They were feared by all the smaller armies, even the demi-gods that walked the world trembled in fear at the sight of the Drow.
As with most wars, many opposed the war from every army and every lifestyle, while some held rally's or ran away there were those who would fight the armies of their own country. It was not until "Ground-Stalker" Orlaendric, king of the gods showed his presence among such people that they banded together to form more powerful rebel groups. Spread to thin the smaller armies fell quickly; their lack of experience made them easy targets for the larger armies and rebel forces. After the seventh year the rebel forces numbers swelled until they were nearly as large as the Drow, and nearly as powerful. The war lasted the better part of twenty years and in the end left most of Larodai in ash the victors not clearly known. It is known that the Drow returned to the bowls of the planet were the continued to rule the goblins, orcs and trolls. Kel-tholas was but a great ruin, a crumbling rampart was all that remained of the great kingdom. The rebels returned to what they used to call home to rebuild what they could and make a fresh start, but there were those who remained together.
A total of four hundred people banded together, they chose five warriors to lead them into the future. They were Kalkordin; a human swordsman, the greatest that fought in the war was one of these hero's, his ability was so great that he was able to defeat four dragon mounted warriors single handedly. Voltaire; an Elven druid, able control weather and animals. He could call upon armies of beasts to fight alongside him making him a very dangerous foe. Gorflak; Dwarven cleric, great healer and devoutly religious follower of Orlaendric Ground-Stalker. He was also a renowned blacksmith, able to forge any item, and imbue them with incredible power. Garcarcien; a Drow assassin and sorcerer, he could control the spirits of the dead, bring them back to life and make them fight his battles. Also had created several spells that allowed him to be the greatest assassin of the war. One such ability was to make himself invisible, even when breaking his concentration to cast other spells. Finally; Flintroll, a Gnome inventor and wizard, he could cast spells more powerful than any Elf, Drow or even Draconic wizard could cast.
These are the fathers of the hunters they taught the people who followed them their trades, their skills. These skills became the building blocks of the hunters abilities, we have all inherited incredible gifts from our ancestors, and these skills would prove very useful.
Sometime during the third age nearly five hundred years after the war a new threat appeared, one that would make the hunters what they had become by my time. The first know report was from a small Kobold village, they went to the larger villages seeking help; something had taken their chieftain, and "changed" him. They were ignored in all the cities, not to surprising, there were few who would aid the dog-like people in any endeavor. They eventually sought help from the Blood Hawk clan, a branch of the hunter villages, and they found the help they so desperately needed.
An expedition from the village had been sent to track the creature that took the chieftain, what they found was the beginning of the waking nightmare that was to become my nightmare. They returned to the Kobold village to find it destroyed, ashes were all that remained of the homes, and corpses littered the grass. The Surviving Kobold's were sent to live with the hunters in their villages. After a few days the expedition found the Chieftain, however he no longer appeared to be a Kobold, his face had began to look more elven, he was a pale white and all his fur had turned silver. It was the first of many that they would see; soon the children of the night would come out in full force, leaving only destruction and death in their path. The vampires had come and it became my people's duty to hunt them down.