[kah-kur-see-ah]
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Basic Information
- Name: Kakurcia
- Domain: Hunting, Wilderness, Survival
- Title: The Hunter, Patron of the Wilds
- Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
- Symbol: A bow with a quiver of arrows, set against a backdrop of deep woods
- Primary Worship Area: Forests, wildlands, and hunters guilds
Physical Description
- Appearance: Kakurcia is often portrayed as a lithe and agile hunter, dressed in leathers and furs of the creatures he has respectfully hunted. His eyes are sharp and keen, mirroring those of a predatory bird.
- Height: 187cm
- Weight: 92kg
- Distinguishing Features: Often accompanied by a spectral wolf, his constant companion in the hunt. His piercing hawk like eyes
Personality
- Traits: Fierce, independent, deeply connected to nature
- Strengths: Unparalleled tracker, protector of the natural order, ensures the balance of predator and prey
- Weaknesses: His wild nature can make him seem aloof or distant from the concerns of civilization
- Goals and Motivations: To protect the sanctity of the wild and teach the respect and skills necessary for ethical hunting and coexistence with nature.
Relationships
Family:
- Dorna: Father, As both creator of elves as and the one who granted him divine ascension, Kakurcia views Dorna as a father. He harbors deep respect and loyalty toward Dorna, even as he sometimes grows weary of his chaotic whims and unpredictable games. Nonetheless, Kakurcia sees Dorna’s wild nature as part of the sacred fabric of the world and strives to honor it through his own mastery of the hunt.
- Gratia: Half-Sister, Among all the gods, Gratia holds a special place in Kakurcia’s heart. Her purity and embodiment of beauty captivate him, and he often positions himself as her quiet defender in the age-old rivalry between Gratia and Ratura. To Kakurcia, Gratia represents a rare, untainted ideal worth protecting.
Rivals/Enemies:
- Riero: A life-long rival and occasional comrade, Kakurcia holds a deep respect for Riero’s martial prowess and honorable approach to warfare. Yet the two are frequently drawn into competition, each striving to prove their superiority in the hunt or in battle. Though their clashes are fierce, there is no true hatred between them — only an unspoken acknowledgment that they are each other’s finest challenge.
- Ormos: Kakurcia despises Ormos, the Vice of Rage, viewing him as a mindless brute who embodies the worst extremes of violence. Where Kakurcia’s hunts are acts of skill, balance, and respect for the natural order, Ormos represents reckless destruction, a corruption of all that Kakurcia values.
Attitude towards Mortals: Kakurcia is largely distant and detached from mortal affairs, seeing most as fleeting and inconsequential to the grand cycles of nature. However, he harbors a soft favoritism toward the Elves, respecting them as kin for their enduring connection to the natural world and the disciplined elegance they bring to the hunt. Similarly, he holds a quiet affection for the Cia’an, the descendants of his trusted companion Fi’an, viewing them as honorary kin — fierce and noble children of the wild whom he watches over with a rare, silent pride.
Mythology and Worship
- Creation Myth:
In an age when the realms were still steeped in the mists of creation and the lines between mortal and divine were blurred, there lived an elf named Kakurcia within the enchanted confines of Dorna’s fae realm. Over countless centuries, Kakurcia honed his skills in the art of the hunt, his prowess becoming the stuff of legends whispered among the leaves and shadows of the forest. His reputation as an unparalleled hunter grew until it reached the ears of Dorna, the mischievous and cunning god who presided over the realm.
Intrigued by the tales of such a masterful hunter and ever fond of stirring the pot of fate, Dorna assumed the guise of a fellow elf and approached Kakurcia. He spun a tale of a legendary beast, said to be beyond the ability of any known hunter, the best lucky to find a hint of a track left by this elusive beast. Driven by the challenge and the prospect of proving his unmatched skill, Kakurcia set out on what would be the most arduous and defining hunt of his life. Little did Kakurcia know that the beast Dorna had set him on, was in fact Theri’an, the God of all beasts.
The pursuit of Theri’an tested every ounce of Kakurcia’s skill and cunning. He traversed treacherous terrains, deciphered the language of the wind, and moved like a shadow through the densest woods. Finally, after a chase that seemed to stretch through the fabric of time itself, Kakurcia confronted the beast. With a steady hand and a heart pounding with the thrill of the hunt, he loosed an arrow that struck true, piercing the beast’s form.
To Kakurcia’s astonishment, the beast transformed before his eyes, revealing its true, godly form. Theri’an, initially enraged by the audacity of a mortal wounding him, soon recognized the exceptional talent and spirit of the hunter. Impressed by Kakurcia’s skills and moved by the deception orchestrated by Dorna, Theri’an saw fit to bestow a gift upon the elf. He offered his son, Fi-an, as both a companion and a token of respect, acknowledging Kakurcia’s mastery over even the divine aspects of the hunt. Fi-an would serve both to assist in his future hunts and as proof of Kakurcia’s ability to track down Theri’an himself.
Upon Kakurcia’s return, Dorna, delighting in the unexpected outcome and recognizing the potential in such a formidable hunter, used his immense power to elevate Kakurcia to divinity. Dorna transformed Kakurcia into the God of Hunting, granting him dominion over the wilderness and the creatures within. Kakurcia’s ascent to godhood was marked by his eternal pledge to protect the wilds and guide the hunters who revered him.
- Major Cults and Religious Practices: Worship of Kakurcia is a deeply personal affair, favoring solitary reverence over organized ritual. His followers, often hunters, rangers, and those who live close to the wilds, offer simple prayers before setting out on a hunt, seeking Kakurcia’s favor for skill and success. Following a successful hunt, they perform small rites of gratitude, paying respect to the spirit of the creature taken, acknowledging the balance between hunter and prey.
- Festivals: In the city of Taenarius, the Great Hunt of the Herds is held at the peak of the wet season. As the herds swell and move through the region, hunters gather to stockpile for the lean months ahead. The festival is marked by ritual offerings to Kakurcia — horns, pelts, and first harvests — and competitions of skill to honor the Huntmaster’s guidance. Despite the communal spirit, personal prowess and respect for the prey remain central themes.
- Clergy and Temples: No grand temples are dedicated to Kakurcia. Instead, modest shrines — often little more than weathered stone markers adorned with carved images of beasts and bows — can be found at the edges of forests, deep in hunting grounds, or tucked within the halls of seasoned hunting guilds.
Significant Historical Impact
- Major Plot Points in World History:
- Siege of Solway: During the brutal Siege of Solway, where the first demonic vanguard clashed against Paleomyna Wall, Kakurcia and Riero fought side by side. While the defenders stood resolute in defense, it was Kakurcia and Riero who led a devastating flanking attack against the demonic forces. Together, they hunted down and defeated Aperkepsi, severing the head of the enemy’s vanguard and forcing the remaining demons into a temporary retreat.
- Artifacts:
- Whisperstep Boots: These supple leather boots, allow the wearer to move with eerie silence and supernatural speed.
- Veyrien, the Bow of the Wild Hunt: Is good bow
Quotes
”To hunt is to understand the delicate balance of life and death and our role within it”
Cultural Reverence
Among the Cia’an, Kakurcia stands as a paragon — second only to Theri’an, the Father of Beasts, in their spiritual hierarchy. While Theri’an embodies the primal essence of all creatures, Kakurcia is revered as the ultimate hunter: the rarest of figures who once, according to the stories, succeeded in getting the better of Theri’an himself. For the hunters and rangers of Sabhaile Forest, Kakurcia is the silent guide in the shadows, the steady hand that sharpens instinct, patience, and respect for the wilderness. To honor him is to walk the old paths of the Hunt, seeking not just survival, but mastery of self and understanding of prey.
To the Ascended Church, Kakurcia is acknowledged as a figure of undeniable prowess and legend, but ultimately, he is seen as falling outside the “true” Ascended lineage reserved for humanity’s chosen champions: Vilcren, Mercio, and Ratura. Though his ascension is respected, it is also viewed as a product of elven mythos and ambition rather than a divine appointment orchestrated by Statera herself. Thus, while his deeds are taught and even admired, Kakurcia is treated more as a cultural icon of the elves, not a god to be worshiped.
At Fort Logos, Kakurcia’s influence runs deep among the soldiery. Within the ranks, soldiers tend to split their loyalties between Riero and Kakurcia — a rivalry that mirrors the competition between the two gods themselves. Those devoted to Kakurcia take pride in applying the principles of the hunt to the art of war: tracking the enemy, reading the field like terrain, striking with precision, and retreating with purpose. For them, battle is not a blunt contest of strength, but a calculated pursuit, where patience, adaptability, and instinct bring victory. They often scorn the rigid, unyielding discipline favored by Riero’s followers, believing that true mastery of combat lies in reading the ebb and flow of conflict, exploiting weakness, and striking with precision.