Emerald - Emerald HQ & Hunter’s Allegiance

by **Tribal** on September 5th, 2010, 7:08 am

The Hunter’s Allegiance

Territory:

The single largest pavilion that houses the seven Emerald Ankals (representatives that attend Stalk Meets and vote) is known to all as ‘Hunter’s Allegiance’. In this pavilion a flood of experts and masters with the skills of great achievers display the fruits of their hunts and tell grand stories around the training grounds. These Ankal master hunters have knowledge of where others like him/her are found throughout Endrykas and even all of Cyphrus - as far as the Drykas Web stretches.

Large open spaces outside the pavilion serve as areas for hunters to train their skills under patient and experienced teachers. As encouragement, the interior of Hunter's Allegiance is draped in the hides and heads of conquered beasts. These symbols of the hunt remind Emeralds to be vigilant and mindful.

Purpose:

Hunting Animals that are bred at The Pride are brought to Hunter's Allegiance to be trained in the art of 'hunt assist' as the Drykas call it. Drykas who wish to obtain a young animal for training will receive maximum experience from training the animal themselves and will also develop a strong bond with their animal hunting companion. This gives a boost of confidence to both the hunter and his hunt assist, enabling them to communicate more fluidly with body language and grassland sign.

Note to Players :

Hunt Assist Animals:

Unlike the livestock sold at The Pride, Hunt Assists are not animals that can simply be bought. One has to choose and be chosen by the animal - a process that can take a little or lot of time. Much like bonding with a strider, a bond is formed between hunter and animal companion. These animals are particularly sensitive to the vibrations of human emotion. This makes them able to read their master's wishes through body language, but also renders them depressed and unable to function if they are neglected, unguided, or treated unfairly. For this reason, no animal here is bought with coin, it is up to the hunter to pick their animal using their heart and soul.

The animals below are organized by type and field advantage

Felines & Canines:
Agile (small prey, stealth)
Strategic (herding, cornering)
Strong (large prey, dragging)
Small Swift (bird scouting, small prey)
Large Swift (bird scouting, medium prey)

Flyers:
Agile (ground scouting, stealth)
Strategic (ground scouting, bird scouting)
Strong (ground scouting, small & medium prey)
Small Swift (ground scouting, small prey)
Large Swift (ground scouting, medium prey)

Advisors:

Although there are hundreds of hunters that pass through Hunter's Allegiance, these five individuals are the most experienced and valiant of them all. They are regarded in their Drykas communities as True Born Hunters, ones that have proven their worth on many occasions and are role models to all aspiring hunters.

Andrel Do'jaw has a strong affinity for hunting companions. Birds, predatory cats, dogs, boar, and other animals seem to always flock to him when he is around. His knowledge and memory of Grassland Sign Language and Hunting Commands are a true marvel to witness in action. His movements are fluid and he has an air about him that speaks that of a true hunter. His hunting weapon includes a crossbow and a spear, both of which he carries with him on his grand hunting trips. Andrel is by far the most patient of all the teachers, and while all Emerald Clan members are kind with animals, he is especially in tuned with their behaviours and emotions. This allows him to track them with ease and train them whether they were bred in Endrykas or out in the wild. Stray or hurt animals somehow find their way to Andrel, and he takes them all in regardless of their condition. Many wild beasts have been tamed under his hand and voice, and he is highly compassionate to even the most vicious of creatures. This doesn't keep him from being cautious though, he knows his limits when dealing with animals from the wild; some are simply too dangerous to take on as companions.

Guided by the light of the stars and the smell of the rain, Castin Starsparks is a true born hunter of the Emerald Clan under the infamous family of Starsparks. Her connection to Caiyha makes her a role model to young hunters in training who look upon her feats and achievements as great examples of the huntress’s power. Her hair is a brilliant star blonde and she is of a height conducive to hiding in the tall grass with ease. She is a formidable marksman with all ranged weapons but specializes in short bow; using a short bow allows her to use her ranged skills at a closer range than most would be comfortable with. Her strider Casmis and her are so in tune with each other, they are said to communicate only with facial expressions and Grassland sign. Castin is also an accomplished webber and has saved herself and her kin with it many a time in the dangerous grasslands.

Cheradis Wind'Runner takes the title of 'Fastest Drykas in Cyphrus', and for good reason! Her speed both on foot and in the yvas is outstanding. Able to run from danger as well as catch up with prey, she is a humble servant of Caiyha, able to disengage a fleeing animal from her mount. She specializes in throwing daggers and chakrams, both ranged weapons that fly with a deadly speed. On the morning of her first hunt after six long seasons of training, she sent her chakram sailing through the air with the flick of her wrist and beheaded a male buck. No other Drykas has ever been known to pierce the thick hide of a creature and deliver such a clean cut. For this achievement she earned the Pavi name 'Yikhar' which translates into 'Sharp Flick'.

Uliskis is a proud member of the Ravencrest family - an Emerald Clan family known for its outstanding skills in placating even the most untamed beasts of the Sea of Grass. Their family has a long history of training hunting animals and these skills are used out in the field to communicate peace and serenity to animals that are being hunting by their party. Uliskis herself is legendary amongst Drykas for the conditions that she brought down a great beast to feed her clan. They say she wooed the animal into submission just with the look in her eyes and the very scent she gave off with her body. They say the beast, though initially aggressive, actually bowed down to her and exposed its vulnerable chest to the shining short blade in her hand. For that act of honour and grace she has earned the title ‘Eth’fon’ which is the Pavi word for ‘Caiyha’s Left Hand’. Uliskis is a very reserved individual, finding that she enjoys gathering herbs and examining the mysteries of the land and animals rather than dealing with other Drykas.

The Earthstone family has a keen sense of the land. They seem to listen to Semele not only with their ears but with their souls. It shows in the way they step upon her body, with light footedness and a grace that allows them to span the Sea of Grass without making a sound or footprint. Zethar Earthstone is particularly skillful in the art of tracking - both people and animals. His hearing is so extraordinary that he can hear ants walk and grass grow. Not much gets past this hunter, and his intensely curious and somewhat eavesdropping nature makes him a valuable, although somewhat relentless, asset to any hunting party. He is very outgoing and playful and is often seen making a jest even at the most inappropriate moments. Aside from his trusty strider, he shares his most intimate company with a spotting hawk named Chirca.

Artist Credit:
Archer Boys: ghrazad.deviantart.com
Archer Lineup: mikecunliffelightart.deviantart.com
Andrel: cuellar.deviantart.com
Cheradis: cardboard-stock.deviantart.com

by **Eldon Sunkiss** on January 28th, 2011, 3:49 am

Timestamp: Day 82nd of Winter, AV 510

It was rare that Eldon left the Sapphire Pavilions, the Watering Hole, or other related locations of importance to his clan, and simply to visit another clan's pavilions, except to make standard purchases that were necessary, was even rarer. Even on this rare occasion his motive was purchasing something. He didn't know what, but if anybody knew how to hunt, no matter what was to be hunted, the Emerald Clan would have it.

Eldon stepped into the massive pavilion without a clue of what he was looking for. Perhaps training, perhaps insight or knowledge of the Zith, but once he stepped inside, his eyes fell directly upon what it was he needed.

Before him, sleeping as sound and peacefully as a babe in a crib, was an old dog, obviously not for sale, it must have been a hunting dog for many years already. Eldon, however, realized he needed a dog. No, not just one, but several. He wanted to find the Zith, and dog had amazing tracking abilities. He wanted to destroy the Zith, and dogs had fangs and claws that was only compared to by some beasts of the wildlands. Most of all, they were trainable, tamable, and would be pleased to make Eldon pleased, even if that meant bloodshed was required.

Eldon grinned, he was feeling better already. Now, which one was best for hunting, tracking, and killing. Eldon had no intention of going cheap. He wanted the best and strongest breed available. Hell, maybe even a male and female amongst the group so that he could produce the next generation of Zith-slayers himself. Another grin, this one stronger still. Yes, the Zith, maybe many more, would pay for what had been done to him and that young girl, and most of all, his father.

- - - - - - - -

Eldon left the pavilion with a grin on his face and two leashes gripped in either hand, and one dog per leash. Four dogs in total, plus the leashes. He had to get to work on getting to know the dogs. Even though the past master had given them the command ot follow Eldon as their new master, he felt he needed to show them that he would love them, just as (hopefully) they would love him.

spoiler :

by **Kavala** on August 31st, 2011, 5:40 pm

Timestamp: 43rd of Summer, 511 AV
Purpose: Buying Dogs for Sanctuary's Kennel

After speaking in depth with her father and brother and witnessing Tasifal's tie-in ceremony to the web, Kavala set off later in the evening to talk to Andrel Do'jaw of the Emerald Clan. She had dogs on her mind, dogs for Raiha and Riki and indeed dogs for her own breeding plan. Once she'd tracked him down, Andrel was an interesting figure to talk to. She explained her situation about the stables she'd opened in Riverfall and how they were branching out to include dogs. Her order was simple and she had a specific list. So as soon as Andrel understood what she needed and showed her the dogs he had available, Kavala went about picking out some fine animals. Buying pregnant bitches was the easiest way to flush out the kennels quickly and having non related females and males to go with the proven breeders and soon to come liters meant that their dogs could be born and trained as soon as possible getting The Sanctuary up to snuff in terms of its canine program.

Kavala haggled hard but in the end she paid full price, the dogs were all worth it being top quality. Some would go to Raiha, some to Riki, and some indeed would be her own personal project. She arranged to have Andrel deliver them to her pavilion the last day of her stay where she could load them into her wagon and drive them back to Sanctuary safely contained. IT would be her first journey into canine husbandry but the Konti knew she'd enjoy it.

Receipt :