The Hunter’s Association
Today’s post is about one of the organizations that play a huge role in our series. The Hunter’s Association is mentioned in Demons Among Us, however, you’ll see more of it in the forthcoming books.
The start of the association begins to the farthest reaches of history when all mankind were hunters and gathers. The founders of the modern Hunter’s Association joined together in the 5th century BCE, from countries like Mesopotamia, Egypt, the Indus Valley, and China. Originally, calling themselves Hunters and finding a home for all of them in a magical realm attached to this one. Chosen (of multiple deities) worked together to create portals all over the world including areas unknown to the founders. By the 4th century BCE, people from the Americas, Australia, Korea, Japan, and other African civilizations added to the growing organization.
The work these people did was to ensure the safety of the regular human population from all types of supernatural beings ranging from demons to weres. Their policy for taking jobs was any person could ask for the help they needed without having to worry about wealth or status.
The total numbers of people have changed over time. The organization started with 200-500 people. The current population at the time of Demons Among Us is about 4,912,281 people.
Their culture was to welcome all people along with religions into the institution. They didn’t ban any type of lifestyle, and languages have a tendency to mingle as much as the people do. Social classes were based on field or support personnel. Governance came from the field agents. Changes came slowly.
James Wright new member in The Society when his son was murdered by Me’aturo and he became Death’s Chosen. He joined the Hunter’s Association in the early 1700s and received a new name—Death’s Scythe. He became involved with another Hunter named Black Knight. When she died he raised her child along with the rest of her line except for two—Kiazen and Devon. He also became the guardian and adoptive father of Katalin O’Shea the heiress of the Kingdom of Ireland. James’ life is seen in both Death’s Scythe and Dancing with Demons (forthcoming books).
Changes in the Hunter’s Association appeared in the 1920s. The changes trended towards following the path of decadence and power which The Society displayed. Jealousy and greed became more prevalent as the Great Depression and World War II continued. By the end of the 1950s, the old guard’s tradition of safeguarding the field agents was down to James and the few who followed him. Tick Tock was born into this transition of the Hunter’s Association from a protective association into one that who you are and who you know is more important than life.
For Tick Tock, this is the only life he’s known. He loves a lot of the people in his home. The unfortunate part is the changes in the Hunter’s Association mean more of the people who are friends and associates are dying. There is war coming and those who live will have a steep hill to climb. What happens next is in Flowers and Bones and Death in a Headlock both forthcoming.
