The Hunt

News of the sack of Trifall Village reached the Kingdom of Devas. Devas is a human kingdom although they allow foreign races into their territory, they watch them with care for Devas has a history of war with other races especially elves. A cycle of hate if one describes it for this kingdom has lost two of their kings both to war against the elves. Now, the current ruler, King Lucian is now cautious in interacting with other races. Fear can be a weapon, and news of a sacked village terrifies the local populace. In response to this, the king ordered the Wild Hunt to investigate the village. This order of knights are specialized in hunting, slaying, and culling any enemies of the kingdom. Their ranks are filled with monster hunters, war veterans, trained killers, crusaders and disowned royal knights. This order has been established as long as everyone can remember. They helped stop the undead invasion of Gilhada a hundred years ago, they have fought the Battle at the Black Crater fifty four years ago, they have defended Devas against the elves three times and fought countless skirmishes from orcish tribes. This order is filled with no ordinary warriors, they are seasoned veterans. Peacekeepers.

The Wild Hunt is currently leaded by Cadmus the Decapitator. This man earned his title when he decapitated the Elven Lord Seriel in the Battle of Black Crater. A feat that led him to be the Hunt's current leader.

The orders were clear. "Investigate Trifall Village. Exterminate whoever is responsible for its sack". Short. Brief. Just how the captain likes it. He is a man of few words and fewer patience.

"Fernis! Assemble your team! You will scout the roads. Report anything suspicious" Cadmus ordered.

"Yes sir!" Fernis replied as he left the gathering and hurriedly shouted a rallying call.

"The rest of you, will follow me and investigate the village!"

"YES SIR!" the rest of them shouted.

Thy are then teleported by the mages to the nearest teleportation portal in the village. As soon as Fernis arrived, he began to assemble his squad and went on his way to scout. It is one of the good trait of the Wild Hunt. They never waste time.

They arrived at the break of dawn. There they saw ashes and embers of a once beautiful village. Mangled corpses filled the streets and rancid smell fill the air.

"Burn the corpses" ordered the captain.

With ease, the men followed the order. The rest however started to search for clues.

"Captain we found this in the Mayor's House!" the soldier said as he handed Cadmus the golden chalice. The captain observed the relic as he said "This is not a human artifact. Soldier! Take five of others and ride to the Kingdom of Faerun the fairies may know something about this."

"Yes sir!"

"The rest of you continue searching! Whatever happened to this village is not made by just some wild animal" he ordered.

In the roads, Fernis with his 5 squad members are about to finish scouting the surroundings of the village. All they saw are corpses mostly killed by wolves or other wild creatures. Broken caravans litter the road and smell of death surround them.

"Only the eastern part left!" he shouted.

"Where might the survivors be?" one of them asked.

"I don't know. They should've gone to the teleportation stone. But there are no signs of life out there" Ferni replied

"I don't like it here sir, something fishy is happening. I can feel it"

"Calm yourself boys, there is nothing to fear" Fernis replied. He tries his best to assure his men but deep inside he also knows that something is not right. A whole village cant burn with no survivors in a whole span of one day. Something must be hunting them.

Just as they are halfway through the eastern road they saw a figure wearing red robes. It was Amon. Hurriedly, the scouts approach the figure with their weapons ready. "Halt! Citizen this is the Wild Hunt, present yourself and remove the hood!" Fernis shouted.

"Worry not dear hunter I am not here to cause violence" the Amon replied as he removed his hood. Beautiful white hair flowed downwards and round red eyes are revealed. His skin as pale as a dead man and his face as seducing as an elf. One thing however is certain. He is not human but rather a creature born out of darkness. The hunters became cautious as all of them drew their swords. Two of the hunters backed away to have a chance to warn the others if trouble arrived.

"You are a night creature! Did you cause the deaths in Trifall village?" Fernis asked as he pointed his sword to Amon's head.

"Yes I did. Well at least some of it. See fellow humans attacked the town. I just ate some of them. The Black Robins particularly" Amon replied.

"You killed the Black Robins?" Fernis asked.

"Yes they did destroy my home" Amon replied

"Hahahaha your home? Why would a night creature want to co exist with humans? Don't trick me monster!" Fernis is now ready to strike Amon.

"Why would I lie to you? If I wanted, I could've killed all of you" Amon replied dismissing Fernis' threats.

"You will not stand a chance against the Wild Hunt monster" Fernis continued the threat.

"Oh you've seen nothing yet human. Unfortunately, I'm not hungry at that time and I don't want to waste valuable food" Amon replied as he smiles maliciously. He then continued; "So I propose a truce. You hunters will let me walk east and I will maybe not kill you" Amon smiled again.

Fernis looked at Amon's eyes. He saw truth in his words and he will not risk fighting a night creature with just 5 hunters.

"Very well you may pass but remember this creature, WE WILL HUNT YOU DOWN" Fernis replied with a fierce look on his eyes.

Amon laugh maliciously then continued walking as the others let him walk the road. Once Amon is at a distance from them, Fernis signaled his men to ride towards their captain to warn them of the creature. "5 hunters against a night creature is risky but a full legion will be a sure win" Fernis thought to himself.