The Band of Seven (summary/overview/preview)

Seven people of varying ages are gathered around a fire, chatting amiably. A young woman stands up as a hunter stumbles upon his prey, the Band of Seven. The group all jumps up and assumes their personal attack poses. Obviously overwhelmed, the hunter is captured quickly.1

"Please," the hunter begs, pleading for mercy that he would not have given them, "don't kill me."2

The same young woman who had sensed the hunter before walked over to him, and kneeled in front of him. "You have been tracking us for some time. Why? Why do you hunt us so? Why are we hated in Illania, the country we have protected for so long? My name is Natasha Barenetti, I am The Alchemist. I come from Southern Illania, where the Barenetti name has turned from gold to dirt. Where I was condemned from birth for something God blessed me with." She stepped aside as a Young man stepped forward.3

"I am Phillip, The Mage. I am an orphan of sorts, kidnapped from my home as a young child. I grew up and was trained by Ropyl, master of magics, in the Illania Forest, near her center." He stared for a moment into the hunters eyes, before stepping aside, as well.4

A gorgeous woman walked forward. She smiled, letting her fangs bare themselves. "I am Isabelle Kelley, The Vampire. I was sold by my own mother, and then sold to the hated and feared vampire Antoine in Frecalia, the second largest city in all of Illania, the one that borders the sea. My innocence was ripped away and I was cursed to be a daywalker by a priest." She, too, stepped aside.5

"I am Michael, The Demon. I am from the very depths of hell. As I raised from the fiery pits, into this disgustingly beautiful place of torment, cursed, too, was I, only by a magician, to be good, and not do evil. I carry many shapes, and many powers." The thing glared with silver eyes from beneath his hooded cape at the Hunter from his perch on a grey and sombersome-looking boulder.6

"I am Tiffany, the Witch. I come from a place called America, on another plane of existence. I have learned the art of witchcraft from my teachers, and then brought through a doorway into this world, and although I am a foreigner in this land, I see many familiar people, though the names have changed. I have no choice in being here." This young girl, bored into the Hunter's soul with her words.7

A young, earthy looking woman, did a somersault out of the tree above the hunter, and crouched in front of him when she had landed. "They call me Miora, The Ranger. I with my twin sister were taken to the shrine in Illania Forest, and taught the old ways. We were chosen by the Goddess herself. I have been a priestess, a princess, a slave, and now a fugitive who fights for her country and for her beliefs."8

A small young boy with fiery red hair walked up to the Hunter, with a child's mercy in his eyes. "I am Ky-I, the Kid. I am one of the desert people, son of Li-Isan, a slave woman, and of Phillip, the Mage. I descend from those who dwell in the great desert of which we have no name." Ky-I turned from the Hunter, and walked to the fire, stirring the liquid in the pot, before ladeling some into a bowl. He brought it back to the Hunter. "Eat, sir, before it gets cold." the Hunter gladly takes the food. "Why do you hunt us?" The child asksed, a honest child-like question.9

The Hunter, ashamedly, admits his reasons. "there is a bounty on your heads. You are the Vigilante Band of Seven."10

"So money is your only gain. And renown, I suppose." Ky-I answers, intelligently. "I also suppose that this will be our life as long as we do what we do."11

The podge-modge mix of people stand together as they watch the hunter leave in peace, knowing that one changed heart can change a little, but the world will never change collectively. 12

Natasha, the obvious leader, signals Michael to take the watch.