Venator Kinjo

Morwenna smiled, fangs brushing against her lips as they parted. The wait had been worth it, a small band of travelers rounded the corner in the narrow road and headed towards where she hid. Soon she would be able to drink her fill and the fools wouldn't even see her strike, with their hoods pulled low, keeping the wind from their faces.

A rustle of bushes dragged her attention away, and she peered into the gloom of the small copse of trees behind her. A low branch bounced gently, and she scanned the area, searching for whatever had disturbed the quiet serenity, but there was nothing there.

Turning back to the approaching group, her mouth began to water, a pang of hunger flittering in her belly. It wouldn't be long now until that warm taste of blood would flood her mouth, and her senses reeled at the thought of it.

“Not today,” a voice whispered through the trees.

She dropped and spun around, readying the small dagger she carried on her belt, but still, there was no one there. Suddenly, panic gripped her throat and she struggled to find her breath. “The Bloody Envoy,” she gasped.

Her cousin had mentioned them at their banquet together only two nights ago, that a mission of monks had been seen in the nearby villages. Quickly forgetting the meal that trudged toward her, she fled back through the woods. Fear pursued her and she pushed herself to the limits, desperate to get home before the dastardly monks caught her unawares. Every small sound, every whisper of wind could be one of them following her. There was no way to fight such a foe. She had heard the tales. They were immune to any affliction, and nothing could hit them, and that was if you managed to see them, they were so adept at hiding.

Running through the gates of her father's manor, the guards looked on with surprise, their ward seemingly fleeing from hidden ghosts. So taken were they with this peculiar behavior, they didn't see or hear the shadow that passed behind them while their attentions were turned. Neither did they have any idea that they'd just allowed entry to the Bloody Envoy's most deadly monk, Venator Kinjo himself.

Come dawn, the manor would be purged. Few have heard about the secret mission of the pious order, The Bloody Envoy. These devout monks spend their young lives living within the Hidden Cloister, a monastery that is said to be somewhere within Abbots Marsh on Praetoria, and beholden to no other. Taken at an early age, these children are the unfortunate offspring of women that have been used for entertainment by vampires at their lavish parties. After being brought into their new family, the children spend their time studying and praying, learning to live with the dhampir affliction that has taken their bodies. They are taught that to drink the blood of a human is the ultimate sin, and they sustain themselves upon the livestock they keep.

They are drilled daily in the art of unarmed combat, though violence is always a last resort. Instead, they are taught many different skills in ways to hide from or avoid attack, often using these skills to augment those around them who will do the damage in their stead. When they come of age, they will often stalk vampires and follow them to their homes, where the Bloody Envoy will then organize the foul creature's demise.

The plain and simple robes of these monks are regularly seen upon the road, and people will greet them with open arms, knowing them to be fair and considerate. The monks will often help local communities in their hour of need, whether that be with healing, coin, protection, or holy blessings. But all the time they are vigilant to the foul taint of vampires. Their single, most important mission and the highest order of their vows: to rid the world of this vile disease.