Faction: The Hunters of Junifir

Among the very first Gleshmerians that settled on Malteria was a young woman Junifir (Yun-Eh-Fur), her surname lost to time long before she ever arrived on Malterian soil. She was an herbalist, alchemist and hunter. One of many meant to help give the settlers a fighting chance by, hopefully, being able to asses, understand, and catalog the various flora and fauna of the new world. Though never given a official name the settlers came to know them as Hunters as much of what they did mirror what a hunter might do, as well the Hunters would also have to expand out and discover land first so as to be able to research samples of animal and plant alike to ensure it was safe for consumption or innately hostile etc. Junifir became the leader of sorts of the Hunters after a generation of being in the new world but decades of having to be overly cautious of the very land around her had left her eclectic, fearful and hording information in an almost esoteric way. So much so she began formulating ranks among the Hunters and only giving information to those she determined capable. Though many were hesitate about such cultism goings on most all the Hunters agreed to submit to the ranking. And by the time her life ended the Hunters of Junifir was a full fledged faction to itself  living outside the walls of the city neutral in its alignment politically, but still seeing itself as a ally to denizens of the realm. A bulwark against the dangers of the lands.

After Junifir passed the Order has always been lead by the Eldest woman of the order or if she is unable to lead her eldest living female relative. Only one man has ever lead the order and it was a short rule. The Hunters make their way largely on their own having a vast wealth of oral knowledge about the land they know exactly when and how to grow crops without the massive irrigation of a city, and of course are master hunters of beast. They aren't major players on the world stage as much anymore but it would be foolish not to take a Hunter into unexplored territory. As such most Hunters who aren't in training make livings by being hired out as sell swords to local guildsmen or by bounty hunting for the local trappers.

June, current Master Hunter of the order. 

One would think that being an esoteric group holding vast knowledge of the world at large would make the Hunters prime targets by most powerful groups, however due to their open nature of sharing the information most find a simple arranged meeting with an offering gets them what they want. Though most are aware the hunters knowledge is all passed sown orally meaning one can not simple kill them and take their knowledge as the death of any hunter marks the end of a line of knowledge never recorded.

Hunter on patrol in the Black Woods

However it is not just sheer knowledge that some desire of the Hunters but an elixir, known as "Junifirs Tears" this powerful elixir has the ability to grant enhanced, strength, reflexes, stamina, and other very useful boons to any warrior or nation looking to bolster its army. However it comes at a staggering price for one full day after the drinking of the elixir the drinker is no longer bound by the curse of the undead. Meaning should they die they never come back. To some that is a blessing a end to the never ending cycle but to others it is a horrifying curse. However since there is no record of the mixing of the elixir and one cannot simple take it from a Hunter as the elixir seems to to fail once taken from a Hunters hand no one can replicate it. This leaves the Hunters at odds with some merc's and bandits hired by powerful forces quite often. 

The mysterious elixir of the Hunters.