THE THRILL OF THE HUNT
Since time immemorial, the earth has been inhabited by all manners of life forms: Humans, perhaps the most versatile and advanced of all species on the planet, the various animals that coexist alongside them as pets, livestock, and sometimes even co-workers, and, of course, the mighty and diverse monsters.
What is a "Monster"?
What isn't a monster? Put simply, monsters are incredibly diverse creatures that come in all different shapes and sizes, ranging from the small, chicken-like Yian Kut-Ku to the massive Ceadeus, a horned, aquatic giant not unlike a whale. Just as their appearances vary, so, too, do their roles in the world: Monsters like the herbivorous Aptonoth and Gargwa serve as food sources and livestock, while other monsters, such as Rathalos and Lagiacrus, are deadly apex predators at or near the top of their respective food chains. Of course, these ferocious beasts and even lower links in the have a tendency to act with hostility towards those that wander into their territory or even just stumble upon them on a leisurely stroll. When the time comes, there is a certain group of humans that will always be ready to answer the call to action...
What is a "Monster Hunter"?
Depending on who you ask, monster hunters(or simply just "hunters") can be many things: Friends, allies, employees, miracle workers, and, to many of their clients, saviors. The textbook definition, however, is a lot more humble: A hunter is someone employed by an organization known as the "Guild" for the purpose of completing many jobs and requests from various people hailing from all walks of life, be they fellow hunters, average citizens, or the higher-ups of the Guild themselves. These jobs and requests, typically referred to under the simple name of "quests", can be as simple as delivering a certain amount of a specified item to a client, or slaying or capturing a specific monster as assigned by the client. To many, hunters are the lifeblood of the society they live in, saving lives and serving as valuable friends and allies to just about everyone they meet(with exceptions, of course).
Where Do You Come In?
You and several other would-be hunters have just arrived by airship at the capital city of New Dundorma, located in the middle of a previously uncharted continent far from locales such as the Coral Highlands or Ancestral Steppe. Monsters on this continent have evolved or migrated from all around the globe(though there are, of course, a good number of native species), making it a paradise for those fascinated by the exotic beasts that hunters from Mezeporta Village have long become familiar with, as well as more universally-known species. Your combined task is to simply explore the continent and familiarize yourself with its various locales, while also providing aid to anyone you may encounter on your travels that requires it. Despite the task seeming quite simple on paper, it is highly recommended that you and your fellow hunters form teams and band together on your journeys; hunters, especially inexperienced ones, seldom travel alone. For a hunter, their greatest strength comes from the tight bond between them and their comrades, a bond that only becomes stronger the more they hunt as a single, unshakable team.
