#oziel

The Huntsman Academies dedicate a portion of their curriculum to studying the aspects. Students are educated on the contributions they’ve made toward science, history, culture, and combat, and the ways in which they inspired the template for modern Huntsmen. Each of the saints is further honored by having an outpost and a holiday named after them.

Dossiers

Faron, the Warrior — The weaponsmith of the saints, whose sphere is martial ingenuity. Faron is arguably the most popular of the aspects, particularly within the Kingdom of Vale, where he was born roughly four centuries ago. Many of his combat philosophies were adapted into the curriculum used by the academies. In particular, the tradition of placing students on teams is said to come from Faron’s belief that small, specialized units were the best way to dispatch Grimm. Among his enduring legacies are the ordinence (unconventional improvised weapons) and the polymorph (multifunctional hybrid weapons). While Faron’s feats in combat were a sight to behold, his skills as a tactician were what elevated him above his peers, and forever cemented his place among the shékaar. He understood the value of patience, and knew how to observe a scenario in order to discern an advantage. Before he retired from his career as a gladiator, his fights would draw in massive crowds from across Vale. There are no recorded matches in which he was defeated. In the present day, prayers made in Faron’s name are usually by Huntsmen asking for aid in combat. Weaponsmiths will similarly invoke his name when constructing weapons, and ask him to bless them during the forging.

Derecho, the Hunter — The woodsman of the saints, whose sphere is animals. The second of the aspects to hail from Eastern Sanus, born in the region known today as Forever Fall. Derecho was the first recorded person to notice the Grimm’s exclusion-bias toward non-humanoid species, and exploit it against them. They developed the techniques for training animals to assist them against Grimm, and laid the groundwork for what would one day become the familiar. In a departure from cultural norms at the time, Derecho opted to unlock their animals’ Aura. This not only set the precedent for licensed familiars, but expanded upon familiars’ repertoire by giving them access to enhanced thermoregulation, active shielding, extrasensory perception, and amplification. At least two different domesticated species—the rapier wasp and the war boar—can be accredited to Derecho, although curiously, they never personally used either. Derecho’s resourcefulness is a trait that many Huntsmen seek to imitate, in particular, their skill as a tracker through uncharted territory. It’s not uncommon for Huntsmen lost in the wilderness to call upon Derecho to guide them to safety; or, if in pursuit of a target, to help them find the object of their search.

Solaire, the Arbiter — The orator of the saints, whose sphere is synergy. Unlike the other individuals on this list, Solaire was a controversial figure for her time. She began her career as first mate on a whaling vessel that operated between Solitas and Anima. Later, she led her crew in a mutiny against their captain, when she discovered that he was planning on transporting slaves between coastal cities. The idea of Huntsmen pledging their loyalty to people, not countries, comes from Solaire’s acts of piracy against Mistrali and Mantic slave ships, in which she openly antagonized and strained the relationship of both governments for decades. She was a charismatic leader, able to rally others to a cause with the right word; more importantly, she knew how to delegate and coordinate. Under Solaire’s leadership, her motley crew gained a formidable reputation for not only eliminating any vessels that trafficked people, but at successfully repelling marine Grimm (a success that many found hard to replicate). Multilingualism amongst Huntsmen is attributed to Solaire, as is the academies’ emphasis on learning to compliment and balance each other’s skillsets. Huntsmen that pray to Solaire do so when preparing for voyages across open water.

Iosefka, the Guide — The artist of the saints, whose sphere is self-expression. It should be noted that while the title of warrior belongs to Faron, Iosefka was undisputedly the deadliest of the five. Even before the aspects were formed, she was widely celebrated among Vacuites for creating safe passage through the Wastes to the interior oasis. In order to guide travelers through the intense sandstorms without them getting separated from her, Iosefka would wear clothes dyed bright blue, and tie bells to the ends of her horns. The highly contrasted color, and bright, silvery chimes not only heralded her presence, but instilled in her companions a sense of safety. The many descriptions of a young woman robed in cobalt—her laughter ringing as loudly as her bells, as she severed a Ziraph’s heads clean from their necks—left a lasting impression, especially on modern Huntsmen. The highly customized attire that Huntsmen are known for can be directly linked to Iosefka, as can the tradition of bearing personal emblems or insignias. It’s said that those who can laugh in the face of peril will bear her protection.