The Red Hunters of Drista were first created in order to hunt, track and slay Crimson Stalkers. They’re trained in the harshest peaks of the Dragon Teeth Mountains where most Crimson Stalkers prowl the snowy terrain. Hunters are either sent out in packs or have a router on the Drista city walls, keeping watch for predators that may wander too close with their borders.

During their training, Hunters are taught to learn from their bleak surroundings - the behaviour of the wildlife, fleeting tracks in the snow and other such tells that a Crimson Stalker has wandered nearby. Their skills are honed to using bows and arrows, aiming far and true through the thick blizzards and merciless winds - a priceless skill that protects the people of Drista from the creatures of relentless thirst. Red Hunters are not known for using their thirst or Bloodlust form for their training or hunting, they prefer to keep their minds clear and sharp, they are lords of the hunt and do not leave anything to chance, they shoot to kill.

The Red Hunters Leader is Naria, known among the hunters as ‘Queen of the Hunt’. Whilst having her hands full organising and training the hunters, she also maintains the Medical, Trading and Farming Districts.

Long-range weapons; bows, crossbows, lances etc.

Medium Armour, usually comprised of leathers, furs and cloth with medium metal plating.

To become a Red Hunter, you will have to visit Drista, they were created, trained and posted here to protect its walls from Crimson Stalkers that lurk in the Dragon Teeth Mountains. Visit the Red Hunters Barracks in the Military District, training will be tough, but Maria will help see you through.

The Wind Shapers are the druids of the Valkte, they live in caves in the Dragon Teeth Mountain peaks where they can connect with the winds of Aultora. Their role has always inherently been to control the winds, either to calm the currents in order to let travellers through the Dragon Teeth Mountain Pass, or increase their strength to protect the Coral Peaks from enemies, predators etc.

They train where the winds are strongest, the tip-top peaks of the Dragon Teeth Mountains, where the meditate to strengthen their connection to the winds. Only when they start to sense the small changes, read the winds and blizzards are they finally given a ‘Conduit’, an object they’re given to help them control the winds. Wind Shapers are never truly finished training, they dedicate their lives to aiding the creatures and Valkte of the Coral peaks by shaping the winds on paths they’re needed most.

The Wind Shapers have no specific leader, they are a community that looks out for each other. However, there are certain people that help maintain certain areas of their community, such as training, gathering/hunting, healing etc.

Usually non-lethal weapons such as fans, staffs, gauntlets etc.

Light Armour, usually comprised of leathers, furs and cloth with minimal metal plating. 

Becoming a Wind Shaper as a Valkte, first, you have to reach them, it’s your first test before even becoming a Wind shaper, and they won’t make it easy for you. Traverse through the perilous winds and blizzards to reach their community, if you succeed they will deem you worthy to train. Becoming one does mean dedicating your life to their cause, you are however given scheduled leave so the mountains are never without Wind Shapers. 

Shadowbane are mostly comprised of Valkte, because of their way of using the Bloodlust form to suit their needs, for assassination. They were created on the basis that the Valkte are renown hunters and their Bloodlust should be embraced as an ability and not a curse. They can be commissioned by the public if you know where to look and who to ask. Whilst not based in the City of Drista, there are large factions that reside there among many other places in Aultora. 

Training involves starving themselves of blood to use their Bloodlust form then consume a mass amount of blood and flesh to the edge of becoming a Crimson Stalker for their kill before reverting to their anthro forms by starving themselves once more. 

There is rumour of a Shadowbane leader, but their identity is unknown, they never reveal themselves and control their faction through fear and the voices of their people. 

Long-range weapons and short swords/daggers/axes etc.

Medium Armour, usually comprised of leathers, furs and cloth with medium metal plating.

Any race can be conscripted by the Shadowbane, however, those who aren’t Valkte are lower rank due to their lack of the bloodlust ability. Finding them is the first hurdle to becoming one. Second, is dealing with the fearsome members, approaching one could mean the end of your life… so be careful. Though there are those who are sought after or found by the Shadowbane themselves and conscripted, such as the homeless or abandoned, others who have made their name known through certain skills the Shadowbane may find intriguing. 

Frost Blades comprise of Valkte because of the Bloodlust talent required to train - their purpose is to defend their city, Drista, usually from hordes of Shadowlings (creatures of shadow that dwell in the Dragon Teeth Mountains), crimson Stalkers that come too close to Drista walls and any other enemy that threatens to invade their city. They also protect civilians by going on patrols guarding their people against even their own kin that may dwell in the shadows of their streets. Another key role is transporting Wyvins to the Wyvin caves in the Dragon teeth mountains and defending their entrances from them coming or going unless thralls or new Wyvins arrive.

Their Bloodlust form is only used when absolutely necessary, it requires intense training to control the form and their hunger to prevent themselves from going too far. The immense strength that the Bloodlust form gives a Valkte is more than enough to push back against an enemy should they be slowly losing the fight. Their bloodlust form is never used inside of city walls to prevent hurting civilians in the crossfire, however, there is an exception if an area is evacuated.

Valaris is in charge of Drista’s Frost Blade Forces, training their soldiers, protecting their city border, organising Wyvin transport, and maintaining beasts that appear from the Dragon Teeth Mountain Pass. 

Frostblade soldiers comprise of different fighters, however because of the strength required for a lot of the heavy work, they have plenty of heavy weapon fighters who use weapons such as; Two-handed weapons, Sword and Sheild, Hammers, Axes etc.

Because of close combat, Frost Blades tend to wear Heavy armour with plenty of metal plating - however, it does depend on the type of fighter. 

Becoming a Frost Blade requires enrolling in their ‘Fresh Snow Cadets’ here you’ll learn the basics under second in command officers appointed by the Valaris himself. Once you’ve found your fighting style, you can begin the more rigorous training.

Considering this isn’t really an organised faction - they don’t really have roles or purposes. Some Valkte, who can’t stand the Crysallis whispers become unstable in their physical form. These Valkte are sought out by other Whiteshroud and offered an alternative, to be put at peace by releasing their soul from their bodies and letting the Crysallis take over. Others seek out Whiteshrouded Valkte, believing it’s a peaceful alternative to living with their Bloodlust curse.

The First Whiteshroud was said to have been a Valkte that lost control of their hunger, transforming into their bloodlust form they devoured those closest to them. Unable to live with the guilt once their hunger was sated, their soul willingly left their body, leaving them a hollow husk for the Crysallis to control. At first, they wandered the Dragon Teeth Mountains lost, confused, barely able to remember what the world was once like or who they once were.

So they watched the civilians of Drista. It didn’t take long until they were discovered, they weren’t Valkte anymore, but something else. However, after keeping them under surveillance, the Council decided to let them remain, they were no threat and only wished to learn.

Over time the Valkte accepted them, some still dwell in the city, learning from their fellow-creatures, helping those who cannot stand the whispers of their ancestors or seek them out for peace.

Becoming a Whiteshroud isn’t the difficult part, the hardships come afterwards, trying to live their daily life in the world with no memory of who they were or how to live amongst the others. Other Whiteshroud tend to help guide them, there is even a ‘school’ for those who become Whiteshrouded within the city of Drista that help those who have chosen to live as the Crysallis. How to live their lives and find their talents now that they no longer have the abilities they once had as a Valkte.

The Whiteshorud have no leader, they are Valkte who choose to sever their souls from the bodies to finally be at peace from the Cryallis’ whispers - their bodies then become host to the Crysallis embedded in their form. They are peaceful and curious by nature.

Becoming one can be done so willingly should a Valkte’s will become unstable, unable to cope with the Crysallis embedded in them, their souls remove themselves from their bodies to be at peace. However, they can also seek out other Whiteshrouded to help them. Whiteshrouded Valkte cannot remove the soul for others but can help guide them to peace.

Their purpose is to find a cure for their curse and rid their kind of the Crysallis for good or at the very least control it and the abilities it grants without having to give up their soul. Not much is known of their activity outside of what intel Zakal, the third council member retrieves through hidden eyes and ears. However, there have been reports of missing Valkte, and a possible location for their base of operations - whether they are the cause behind the missing Valkte is unknown but the Council intend to find out.

It’s assumed that any with the thirst of knowledge, can join the Unshackled and join their cause. What they participate in afterwards, however, is unknown.

It’s suggested that there is a leader of the unshackled, but their identity along with most of their movements are hidden - unknown.

The Unshackled are not a military force and have no need of weapons - however, they may have a scalpel hidden up their sleeve as some form of protection…

They tend to wear casual or light clothing, they have no need of armour, they do not practise battle of any kind, they acquire materials through shadowed sources so as not to get their hands dirty.

As far as the public is aware, the Unshackled accept all and any with the knowledge required to experiment with science, they have been known to seek out those who make a scientific mark for themselves among Aultora as well. It also helps if you bring something to the table, a little extra knowledge that will help towards their cause.

Zakal believed that Drista needed a set of elite warriors that have abilities unlike any other in Aultora. His research with Crimson Stalkers led him to seek permission from the council to start the faction. Having survived the training himself, he was living proof that it was possible. 

They are not used for everyday city guards, but as a small elite regiment of Valkte to carry out largely difficult tasks that require brute force. 

Becoming a Berserker takes intense training that isn’t always successful - the trainees are fed an immense amount of flesh and blood in the Bloodlust form, enough to force the transformation to a Crimsons stalker; only to the point where their eyes and horns turn red and their hunger for more pushes to almost feral. Afterwards, they’re starved for 7 days - sometimes longer. During this time, they’re only fed water, fruits, vegetables and bread, enough to keep them alive as the thirst dies. During this time, they are kept confined and bound in specially made chains to keep them from escaping.

After which, if the trainee survives, they are taught to control the Blood Charge ability, their newfound strength and their intense hunger.

Zakal is the leader of the Berserker faction - having studied the Crimson Stalkers and having an unusual amount of knowledge about how to control the ability.

Because they mostly fight in their feral form, they usually use two-handed: swords, axes and hammers.

Because they transform from their anthro to Bloodlust form a lot - they tend to wear armour that's easy to accommodate the sudden change in physical appearance; such as simple leather belts, stretchable or baggy leggings, wrist and ankle bands. 

Zakal or other berserkers are usually the ones that recruit potential soldiers for the training - not just anyone can do it, and volunteers are rare because of the class's intensity. However, the potential trainees are free to refuse or stop the training at any time.