Arlen

Intro This story takes place before the adventures of the heroine Ira, therefore people are capable of learning magic, but only by partaking in a long and painful commitment, and even then their strength is unpredictable. Therefore, few people (except cultists, some soldiers, scholars and priests) learn it. The Pre-Iran nation of Caria is superstitious but calm, with the gods (or Kadei) being worshipped and culture thriving, though there is a poverty problem. (The technological level is roughly medieval or around that of stereotypical Ancient Egypt). Despite magic being uncommon, monsters (or Arlyniuti) are very common, mostly dwelling in the Great Forest in the centre of Caria - a titanic forest which few venture into - and emerging to attack humans fairly often. The current king - King Deredan - desired to discover more about them. To achieve this, he sent for the hunter Arlen - a sort of local celebrity from a small village a few miles south-west of the Capital - to venture into the Great Forest and research the monsters. Arlen is a very enigmatic (and slightly eccentric) man who is mostly known for the way he joined the army when he was seventeen - and rapidly rose the ranks to chief tactician - before retiring soon after and becoming a humble medic in his home village. He is also known for being a skilled huntsman, and for going hunting once a week to provide food for the poor of his village free of charge. Few is known of him by those outside the village; people don't even know for certain whether he's a man or a woman. It doesn't help that his name is gender-neutral. That might not even be his actual name! Either way, Arlen met with the King, humbly (and excitedly) agreed to step up to the role, and went back home to say his farewells.