he Wardens are an ancient order of Justicars dedicated to helping weak nations and communities defend themselves, as well as defending and avenging the weak whenever possible. They are known to hunt down and kill those who have committed the crime of rape. They are the only group who have unlocked the ability of magical wards, defensive spells that can serve as, among other things, magical armor.
The Wardens are older than the Empires, having been formed during Fangirm's feudal state. As such, much of their history is either lost or self-recorded, making the quest for facts quite difficult. They do, however, keep their own detailed records, though the bias of these is unknown. Warden training is brutal and often lethal. They must study for a time, learning of the order and its goals, while preparing for their graduation. Their final trial is defined by their mentor's attempts to murder them. Many do not survive this assault, unable to summon the Wards to protect them, but those that live begin their journey to become some of the most feared warriors on the continent.
History[]
By their traditions, the Wardens were formed by a woman named Kayala, an orphan of the many wars that had engulfed the Fangirmish kingdoms prior to the unification of them into an Empire. With famine raging and poverty being the norm, Kayala was forced to fend for herself during her childhood, subsisting on berries and nuts that she could forage from the remote forests, only rarely finding a full meal to keep her belly full. Year after year, she scrounged and survived, making her own way as she was molded into a pillar of strength.
Eventually, when the wars settled down, she was able to build her own cabin on the outskirts of a small village, a location referred to in the Wardens' history as "the home of no name". There, she was able to make a living as a fur trader, building a modest place for herself in the world. As always, however, the ego of Kings win out, and war came to the land once more. The village became occupied by a neighboring kingdom.
The Wardens believe in a moment of unnatural strength in the face of adversity, a period of life defined by difficulty, wherein the content of a person's character is revealed and the power of the wards bind themselves to a being's soul. When a trio of soldiers arrived at her door, peering on with salacious eyes, Kayala's moment was upon her.
The men thought to take her, to force themselves upon her and violate the sanctity of her own body. She fought against them, but so outnumbered, there was little she could do save lash out and hope that the predators would find her too dangerous to continue. They were unrelenting, however, pawing and groping at her, ripping her clothes from her body with abandon. As her shirt tore, a fury arose in her, a fire that had never been felt before. In a moment, she gained understanding of the world as it was, and in that understanding the wards were revealed to her. A shimmering, translucent layer painted over her skin, severing several fingers of the men as it closed. They wailed in pain and struck out with their weapons, finding themselves baffled as their metal edges bounced harmlessly away, as if the woman was wearing a suit of plate. Bare-chested, bloody, and furious, Kayala secured a weapon and charged, bathing herself in the blood of her confused attackers as she mercilessly tore their throats from their necks.
She fled as quickly as she could, wearing her leather hunting garments while she traveled overland, away from the sure anger of the men's comrades and families. She eventually found herself on what would become the Isle of the Adamant, then little more than a remote backwater inhabited only by sheepherders and their families. She made her home in the mountains, away from prying eyes, practicing her craft. She found that she could summon the protective ward at will, as long as she could channel her anger to that end. Eventually, she took on several apprentices, only three of which survived the training process. Together, they formed a quadrumvirate known as The Founders, and officially established the order of the Wardens. Their creed is simple and to the point, binding them to a cause of justice. Their main points are recorded as follows:
- A Warden may serve any nation of their choosing, as long as that nation's interests are solely defensive. A Warden who joins into an offensive war for any purpose other than to bring justice to those deserving will be marked for death by the Order.
- A Warden must not officially interfere in conflict without approval from those involved, or, if no approval can be given, if there is a mortal danger to those who cannot protect themselves. A Warden may choose to fight in any war if they fight alone and separate from a mobilized army, and if their efforts do not assist a faction in an offensive war.
- A Warden must not teach his or her ways to any who will not travel to the Citadel for formal training. Any who do so will be marked for death
- If a Warden becomes aware of the existence of a rapist, and this allegation can be reasonably proven, the offender must be killed as soon as is practical.
In the modern day, the Wardens have been keeping careful watch over the wars of Elysia, Niralan and Fangirm, ensuring that there is recompense if either side decides to invade the lands of another. They rarely serve the Empires directly, but it is not uncommon for a Warden to seek the debt of blood with no allegiance to any side, only meaning to make the life of a conqueror more difficult. Their will is their own, and each individual serves it in the way they deem fit, as long as they adhere to the few iron-clad rules of their code. Other than those simple rules, the path that a Warden walks is determined by none but the Warden themselves. They can be a great ally or a most pestering enemy; the best choice, when it comes to these seasoned warriors, is to stay on their good side.