The hunting based culture of my fantasy setting.

[Jeremiah Reed]

I thought I'd get some feedback on one of the bigger aspects of my fantasy world, the Great Hunt.

A little background: The kingdom in my story is based around 14th century France, set in a heavily forested area rife with monsters and beast-men. The majority of the populace live behind the safety of walled castle-cities ruled by feudal lords. These castle-cities, while united in name, largely act independently. Even competing with one another for resources.

The nobles, seeking glory, often go out on long hunting expeditions deep into the forests. The greater the beast slain, the greater the favor of their liege lord. Many of the noble families in the story can trace their lineage back to an ancestor who slew a manticore, griffin, or some other great beast.

I want the world to truly reflect a society centered around slaying great beasts. These hunting trips are massive, resembling military campaigns with hundreds of knights, men-at-arms, and levies. Their armors are covered in paints, fabrics, or even enamel to both protect the metal from the elements and as a flashy decoration. Knights are seen wielding pronged boar-spears more often than swords.

I'll post more, if anyone is interested. I'm still fleshing it out, a bit, so I'll welcome any feedback that will help.

 

[TheCrystallineEntity]

Welcome! Sounds like an interesting premise.
Some questions.
Where are they getting their supplies and food from, both for them and the horses [if you have horses, maybe you have something else as mounts, but either way, they still need food and water]. Further complications will result from travelling through the forests. Are the paths well maintained, and how? Do they have to cut through rough brush and tree branches? That gets tiring fast.
Secondly, how big are talking for the size of the beasts? That'll have a substantial impact on the structure of your world, too.

 

[pmmg]

I dare them to come after my cat Gus.

I am not sure what to think. How many beasts are there that cannot be slain? And what if i go into another lords territory to hunt a beast?

 

[Jeremiah Reed]

Welcome! Sounds like an interesting premise.
Some questions.
Where are they getting their supplies and food from, both for them and the horses [if you have horses, maybe you have something else as mounts, but either way, they still need food and water].

Much of the food comes from the castle-cities. These settlements are massive, containing whole farms, granaries, and livestock within their walls. What can't be produced is often traded for with other castle-cities. Dolorous, the main castle-city in my setting, for example, has whole sections of the city closed off for growing grain.

Further complications will result from travelling through the forests. Are the paths well maintained, and how? Do they have to cut through rough brush and tree branches? That gets tiring fast.

The castle-cities are connected via a series of roads that cut through the forests. These roads are maintained and protected by the local lords, who see them as vital for commerce. Due to the risks of attack from monsters or beast-men raiders, heavily armed guards often accompany merchant caravans traveling between cities. Some knights will even volunteer to join, seeing it as an opportunity to gain a new hunting trophy.

Secondly, how big are talking for the size of the beasts? That'll have a substantial impact on the structure of your world, too.

Most of the creatures within the forests are pretty manageable, no larger than predators in our world. Manticores, for example, are about the size of a cave lion.

 

[Jeremiah Reed]

And what if i go into another lords territory to hunt a beast?

Parties that run into each other while hunting will often end up fighting each other as much as the monsters. Hunting trophies equal status, after all, so many nobles will duel for the right to stay. The loser has to find somewhere else to hunt.

 

[CupofJoe]

I might flip the concept a bit.
Have your nobles invite others to come and hunt on their land. Along the lines of grand tourney. The host would get the kudos and status boost if they hold a truly epic event.
Also there is the unstated humble brag about being so powerful and blessed with resources they can host a huge event.
That gives them the incentive to make sure there are as many incredible beasts around as possible.