Guardians

Guardians were an ancient order of powerful Swordmages in Senomar. Known for their unique Soulblades and unmatched combat prowess. The origin and true age of the order is unknown. Lauded for their neutrality, the Guardians served as peacekeepers among the various nations and peoples of Senomar. Guardians would be assigned to factions or nations and represent interests of those groups in the overall political landscape. Settling disputes *"by brain or by sword"* and ensuring that any group of people may have an equal voice no matter how big or small their population or army.

**Guardian "birth":**

No one is born a Guardian, they are created. At it's peak the Guardian order routinely "purchased" orphans in bulk, often paying double the asking price. The orphans would be taken to the Guardian tower deep within the Dragonmoore for intense training both mental and physical. Upon reaching maturity a Guardian in training, known as a *Tyro,* would submit to the trial of the Guardian throne. The Tyro is fed a mixture of magical concoctions and strapped into the throne, an enchanted seat as old as the Dragonforge. Using ancient magics older than the order of nine; two Guardian elders activate the throne and thrust a sword directly into the chest of the Guardian trainee passing clean through their back into a slot in the throne. The Guardian's very soul is split. A third of their soul is forged into the now enchanted weapon. Upon removal, the wound heals instantly and the sword gains a rune unique to each Guardian. The Guardian is now tied to their *Soulblade* permanently.

**The Guardian Tower:**

An immensely tall structure built by ancient Dwarves located in the heart of the Dragon Moor. Guardians are trained, and created here. The top of the tower houses a magic structure known as the Long gate. At the peak of the order, the Long Gate could teleport entire battalions of Guardians to anywhere in Celestus in an instant and back again. Sometime during the second age the Guardian order lost its strength and this is widely believed to be because of the Long Gate losing its functionality. The Gate was now only capable of sending a single Guardian at a time, and only away from the tower.

At the start of the third age (During the March of Stars) the Tower and the Long Gate were repaired by the United Dwarven Nation and restored to full capability in accordance with an ancient treaty. In exchange for the repairs, the Guardian order dropped their Neutral stance and went to war on behalf of the Dwarven Nation. Following the destruction of the Dragonforge and the liberation and resulting resettlement of the dragons the Tower became isolated physically from the rest of Senomar relying primarily on the Long Gate for travel as the Dragon Moor, now teeming with dragons and sub-dragon races, was no longer safe.

For years the Guardians were content to remain relatively isolated behind the screen of continually shifting dragon kingdoms that populated the Dragon Moor. The balance of power was such that as long as the Guardians remained in their tower and the dragons stayed out on the moor neither side had the strength to take on the other without ensuring their own destruction. However, with start of The Dragon Civil War the guardians saw an opportunity to clear the Moor and claim it for themselves.

**The Crystal of Ages:**

The Crystal of Ages is a magical artifact at the core of the Guardian Tower. Guardians are able to meditate and connect their minds to the crystal using their Soulblades. (*See Short Story: Kamon Ardens and the Crystal of Ages*) Upon connection, a perfect copy of all the Guardian's memories are stored within, able to be accessed by other Guardians at anytime. The Guardian order's greatest advantage is a perfect history of their complete knowledge over time. At the end of the Second Age the oblong crystal stood nearly six feet tall. It is said the Crystal used to fit in the palm of a hand, but grew in physical size over time as more memories were stored within.