Hunters of the Stag

The Hunters of the Stag are a diversionary sect of Cedrism who worship Horjin. They reside on the Isle of Naudia'Diva, are animist in their beliefs, and are considered by some to be technologically backwards.

History

Sagittarius, before he Transcended but after his many trials and tribulations with the Elemental Mages, left from central Brookshire and headed south. When he came to the shore, he built a boat and sailed off.

He was expecting to die at sea. And he almost did.

His boat capsized in a rough storm, and Sagittarius, suffering from fatigue and deprivation, was unable to retain consciousness.

Some say he pulled deep within himself and swam to shore. Some say Lacrymosa gave his servant one last favor. Some say Horjin was calling to him.

Regardless of the way he made it to shore, he did.

He woke and found his zest for life renewed. Somehow he had managed to retain possession of his knife, but all else was lost.

He fashioned himself new clothes and a simple bow, surviving off the land for many months.

When Sagittarius had been living at the island for almost a year, a boat came to shore to rescue him. They had seen a fire and thought someone was stranded.

Sagittarius instead opted to stay.

The tale of this man who preferred to live the life of a savage despite his upbringing spread. In the meantime, Sagittarius began using his geomantic powers to shape the island as he saw fit. He split the island into four basic parts: the Auleauk Desert, the Hordius Ten Forest, the Nervena Plains, and the Sagittandi Mountains. He also used his other magical talents to populate these areas with a variety of creatures.

The island grew and changed, and Sagittarius met Horjin and became his follower. Meanwhile, ships curious about this "noble savage" came to the island. Some decided to stay, though most left. Most of who stayed did not survive.

Soon, they brought more than people. Some brought creatures to the island, as per the request of Sagittarius. Others brought stone, so that a Temple to Horjin could be built. The followers of Horjin had taken a keen interest in this previously Lacrymosan hunter, and had come to see him and build a shrine.

The first five followers of Horjin (Sagittarius, Segovia, Penryn, Rutaus, and Diva) also began developing their own simple language for the purposes of communication while there were outsiders on the island. These outsiders included the followers of Horjin at first, but eventually came to include them.

Soon after a fire in Shirekeep which destroyed the main Temple of Horjin, the Rangers (as they had begun calling themselves) and the followers of Horjin joined into one cohesive unit. The existing rituals of the sect were molded to their new wild environment, and the animist beliefs of Sagittarius meshed with central Cedrist thought.

At this point, Sagittarius (now in his late fifties) became the High Priest of Horjin and set up the system of self-government that still exists today: the Triat and the Pentat. Torat, the old Head Priest of Horjin, stepped down and resigned himself to the honorable position of Aurajinrale. Also upon this union, traditional magics became outlawed. No Ranger would use them: they were to work with the spirits around them instead of forcing the universe to their will.

The twenty-six Paths of Horjinic magic began their evolutions, and the Path of the Stygian Nightmare's first walker, Diva, became more and more upset with the "regime". She wanted there to be no government, no leadership, and no regulations for the Rangers, and she left, taking a sizable portion of the Rangers with her.

Sagittarius, hurt by this, soldiered on nonetheless and thought that their "movement" would die out within a year or two. He was wrong: Diva and her followers were joined by Nelig and became the Neligan.

On Sagittarius' sixty-third birthday, he proclaimed that they were no longer the Rangers. Instead, they were to be the Hunters of the Stag, charged with protecting the island. It was then that he carved his Nine Precepts into the Questing Stone and charged the Aurajinrale with finding a successor.

Three days later, he left the Temple with his bow and his knife and did not return.

Segovia, Rutaus, and Torat all left within a matter of months. Penryn, however, stayed to the very end of his days, living out his life as a Hunter of the Stag.

The loss of their leaders was a devastating blow to the Hunters of the Stag, but they were left in good hands: the replacement Pentat was capable and led the Hunters well.

The sect grew over the years to where it is today, with nearly five hundred active Hunters of the Stag on the Island of Naudia'Diva. There are nearly a hundred others who live abroad, studying the world to further complete their Sacred Hunt or pursue their Quarry.

Language

Runes

Rune	Pronunciation	Old Meaning	Modern Meaning	Character Origin
	-Ah	Female	Female
	Att	Peace	Water	Shaking Hands
	Aouw	Shield	Shield	Shield
	Acks	Life	Life
	Dee	Death	Death
	Ell	Victory	Sword	Sword
	Err	Resilience	Earth
	Ess	Wind
	Ehtt	Sword	Fire	Sword
	Fah	Crops		Scythe
	Gah	Not
	Ghee	Strength	Air
	Goh	Fire
	Hoar	Cat	Animal	Eye
	Igg	Stealth
	Jean	God	God	Eye
	-Chk	Plural	Plural
	Lay	Spear		Trident
	-N-	Spirit
	Pay	Plant		Tree
	Rah	Sky
	Ray	Light		Sun
	Riee	Water		River
	Rooh	Earth		Mountains
	Saw	Sun		Sun
	Say	Lightning	Spear	Lightning
	Siee	Dark
	Tah	Sound
	Tay	Body	Man
	Tooh	Moon		Moon
	Oose	Bow	Bow	Bow
	Vay	Less
	Viee	House	House	Town

Nine Traditions Of Sagittarius

The traditions of the sect are as follows:

1. Hospitality

Everyone, regardless of race, creed, or nationality, shall be provided hospice.

2. The Sacred Hunt

You have been granted a Sacred Hunt and a Quarry. It is your purpose to pursue them without relenting.

3. Peace

We are more than animals, and armed conflict is the way of beasts. Do not fight without honor or reason.

4. Artistry

Art is what separates man from beast. The pursuit of the arts, in any form, should take precedence in your life.

5. Commune

Show others the respect you wish to receive yourself.

6. Domain

The Island is sacred land. Treat it as such, and punish those who don't.

7. Destruction

Should the Island, the arts, or nature ever be threatened, it is your responsibility to protect them with your life.

8. Station

Show respect to those of higher station than you, but only respect they deserve.

9. Mission

It is your duty as a Hunter to cull the weak and promote evolution as best you can--even at the risk of making a species extinct.

Leadership

The Triat is the main body of leadership for the Hunters of the Stag. It is comprised of the First, the High Priest, and the Aurajinrale. The larger yet less powerful governing body for the Hunters of the Stag is the Pentat, which consists of the Triat, but adds the Guardian and the Armorer. The Pentat is representative of the first five Hunters (Sagittarius, Rutaus, Segovia, Penryn, and Torat), while the Triat is representative of the three aspirations of Hunters.

Rites of the Hunters of the Stag

The Initiation Ceremony
The Rite of the Earth-Mother
The Rite of War
The Rite of the Great Hunt
The Funeral Rite
The Birthrite
The Bloodhunt

Magic

Horjinic magic is different from most other magics in that it manipulates spirits into performing actions for the spell caster. Horjinic mages follow several paths of magic, each related to an animal or object prevalent in Hunter's lives. All Hunters learn the Path of the Questing Stone, and most learn the [[Path of the Stalking Tiger]], though this is not always the case.

Notable Hunters

Besides Sagittarius and the other original Hunters, there have been a few Notable Hunters across the ages.

Writings

The Siege of the Questing Stone