“Ever comes the Dawn.”
Sworn Hunters:
With the coming of the night, Dark Harbor becomes a most dangerous place indeed. Slavering packs of undead, foul monsters, and beasts in the shape of men all lurk within the shadows hoping to make a drunken sailor or weary farmer their next meal. In a settlement of thieves and knaves, it is the rare few who would stand up in the defense of their fellow man. It is the rarer few who stand when their fellow man are threatened by that which goes bump in the night.
This is the purpose of the Spears of the Rising Dawn, known to most simply as the Spears. A collection of monster slayers, undead hunters, and vigilantes tasked with the extermination of the monstrous and the malformed and the protection of those that cannot protect themselves. These warriors dwell in the wilds and swamplands around Dark Harbor, ever watchful for the setting sun and the terrors that come with it. Many sleep through the day and rise in the dark, matching their schedules to that of their prey. Each swears a vow to safeguard the innocent and protect the coming of the dawn.
Typically, the Spears steer clear of political machinations, the enforcement of the accords, and other distractions from their righteous mission- though they are not forbidden from living within Dark Harbor and other settlements on the island if it means they are better able to protect their wards. The Spears frequently find themselves in conflict with those that dabble in dangerous magics and experiment with the unnatural. Rogue necromancers, wytches, and other ill-guided mages may find themselves burned at the stake should they not hide their black craft wisely. There are some who whisper that the Spears take a greater interest in destroying their enemies than they do protecting the weak. Most Spears claim that there is no difference between the two.
Shrouded Past:
The origin of the Spears of the Rising Dawn as an order are largely lost to time. What remains are slivers of half-truths and rumor-clouded mysteries. Once, the order was said to have a number of scribes and historians. From there stories diverge on if they were corrupted by the secrets and relics they were tasked with keeping safe or if they were slain as to weaken the soul of the order.
Some say that the Spears began as an order of questing knights that had ranged south from Maud’Madir in order to guard against incursions from Brood hives and Orcish hordes that would threaten the realms of men. After many of their band had succumbed to disease and strange beasts, they merged with local tribes of Wild Elves, gaining their proclivity for nature-themed names and an interest in the ‘natural order’.
Others cite much darker origins. That the Spears of the Rising Dawn descend from a band of brutal treasure hunters. That their storied predecessors came to these lands seeking fame and fortune in the shape of an ancient relic from which they gleaned their name: The Spear of the Rising Dawn. Upon finding it, the weapon cursed them to remain trapped in this place, and that they must wage war unending against the children of darkness.
Truthfully, no one knows. The Spears themselves live lives too fleeting and violent to bother themselves with digging through dusty tomes and few others have attempted to research the history of a people with eyes only for the present.
Tactics of the Monster Slayer:
The Rising Dawn cares little for formal ranks and organization. Instead, they follow individual missions and listen to the wisdom of the elder members of the order. Monster hunting is not a profession for those looking to grow old, so when a veteran speaks- the youth are expected to listen. Typically, a leader is elected from among the Spears and serves for life (a smaller tenure than in other organizations) but holds no other formal title or honors. The Spears follow based on merit and respect, not stricture. Considering the order operates more akin to a ranger lodge than a military, this has rarely been cause for friction.
They hold no uniform, but are oft fond of bright colors, white cloaks, and blazing torches. The undead that they so often battle usually have little reason to hide, and these motifs help to draw them out into the open where they may be eradicated.
A distinct aspect of the Spears, one of their aspects that is often likened to an element of Wild Elf culture, is their names. When one proves themselves enough to become a full-fledged member of the order- usually by completing a challenging hunt- they are given an earned name, sometimes called by outsiders a ‘Spears Name’, that signifies an admirable, notable, or even humorous feature of the inductee. Alternatively, the name may be reminiscent of an animal or object that the inductee is likened to. These names are usually bestowed by an elder and given as part of their induction but can be given by others in the order if circumstances demand it. The warrior will carry this name for life, and when dealing with other members of the Spears will only ever be referred to by it. For one Spear warrior to address another by the name of their birth is a grave insult, for it insinuates they are no true protector of the Dawn.
The manner of the hunt varies from one hunter to another, with some preferring to destroy the monsters that prey upon folk in settlements and others more interested in range far afield to find the beasts that lurk in the woods and swamps of Sothos. One common trend among them is the wisdom that when hunting predators, bait is invaluable… and what better bait than oneself?
Recent Events:
The last three years have largely spelled misfortune for the Spears of the Rising Dawn. Their leader, Willy, disappeared amidst internal upheaval surrounding his détente with the Gothi of Bones. His absence, accompanied by a stark lack of surviving elders allowed for rifts to form among the order. Eventually, this conflict came to a head in the form of a violent breakaway group calling themselves the New Dawn. The two groups teetered on the brink of total war, and the positive outlook of necromancy in the town populace causing incidents breaching into violence. Town members gathered and raided the New Dawn encampment all but totally erasing the new group.
This rift has led to souring relations with the Gothi of Bones, whom the Spears had previously brokered an uneasy but understanding truce with. It is unknown what the effect the schism had on the Gothi , or what they plan to do even though the threat has been removed. The Spears still lack clear leadership for what comes next. There are whispers that Willy’s daughter Lily “Bullshark” is being considered by many to be the next in line, though the fearsome undead hunter refuses to accept that her father is dead- or worse- and has not yet made a formal play for power.