Custodians

Custodians are warrior clones, created to defend the Chimera Project. Their concept was conceived after waves of violence targeted chimeras around the world. Their development was secretive even amongst most Sanctuaries, and while genetic material and blueprints for creating a custodian were shared amongst the cooperative, there was little data on the origin. Some hints at this information may be retained in the custodians' minds, as they occasionally experience flashes of memories that don't seem to be their own.

Custodians, like chimeras, were difficult to guide down a specific evolutionary path, causing custodians to differ from one-another. Despite random outcomes, most succeed in displaying strong combat abilities and strategic planning, though this isn't a guarantee, and some may be significantly better at one than the other. Some Sanctuary personnel warned of the unpredictability of custodians and urged for neurological dampening software to be involved or for the project to be scrapped altogether. While these choices may have occurred in some Sanctuaries, most preferred the benefit of an unaltered warrior with their mental faculties intact.

## Notable Custodians

### ***Ironside***

Those who dealt with the Khashuri tribe knew to step lightly, as their courteous diplomats were backed by fierce military force. There was a saying that served as a warning: "Beware the iron side of the silk." When the Salvation Council invaded, they came face to face with this iron side. Sent to eradicate super-spreader colonies, the task force was equipped with ATA-1s, the first Fortalis Suit developed for combat. The initial incursion into the wasteland was a success but fortunes shifted when the Khashuri commander claimed a suit from a slain soldier. Equipped in the metal outfit he soon gained the alias Ironside.

Ironside rallied his warriors and what was to be a rout for the Salvation Council became a bloody war. Casualties were high on both sides, as frustration led to horrifying atrocities. Ironside was killed, but not before showing the wasteland that a great enemy still has a weakness. Despite the Salvation Council's attempts, the ATA-1 became commonly known as the Ironside.

### ***Kamaitachi***

To some, Kamaitachi was a custodian, to others, a demon. When the Akita Sanctuary fell to rioters, all within were left for dead. The perpetrators returned to their mountainous town, their goals set on survival. For a year they did better than most, until one night a scream rang out. A room was found spattered in blood, the body of the strongest tribesman cut cleanly in half.

Despite the tribe's vigilance Kamaitachi continued to strike, each night finding a way through the defenses and claiming another kill. She was rarely sighted, showing up with a quick flash of steel and vanishing. The slow-motion massacre went on for 37 days until everyone involved in the destruction of the Akita Sanctuary was dead. With that, Kamaitachi left and never returned. Fragmented data with the blueprint for Kamaitachi's suit was later found in the remnants of the Akita Sanctuary.

### ***Nautilus***

In New England, locals murmured a terrifying story...

As the final screams echoed and died from within the lighthouse, locals say a hulking figure emerged from the Sanctuary, dripping blood, and wearing what resembled an ancient diving suit. The figure became an urban legend: Nautilus, a man from the depths who came to drown the last of humanity.

Years later, investigation of the lighthouse Sanctuary uncovered the mystery of Nautilus. Blueprints of a Fortalis Suit resembling the legendary figure were discovered on the facility's computers. The suit appeared to have been developed by an unknown prisoner tasked with maintaining routine duties in the Sanctuary. Evidence pointed to the suit being created by the prisoner to improve their chance of survival, whether to escape the facility, or wreak bloody revenge on his captors.

Based on data logs, the suit seemed to have been developed by an unknown prisoner tasked with maintaining routine duties in the Sanctuary. The prevailing theory is that the prisoner was not a trained warrior and created a suit that could improve their survivability, whether to escape the facility or wreak bloody revenge. What became of Nautilus after their final sighting is unknown.