Wardens

Not long Rayclast Styxx first communed with The Lady of the Isle, Rayclast broke away from Eladramere's court to establish her own faction, The Hallowed Forest Wardens. The Wardens maintain peace and balance of the Forest, working in partnership with the Druids.

This is the only 'Old World' faction that survived The End of an Age.

***"Forests burn, rivers dry, mountains crumble but nature always finds its way."***

### **History**

Originated through necessity, The Lady of the Isle saw to giving the Elves of the Almarian Forest a purpose. A purpose filled with divine virtue and duty. One that exceeded the Wars of the Three Precursor Factions. This duty was to protect the Sacred Isles at all costs, through any means necessary.

When Almariah was sieged by the Cursed Legion, the Elves of the Forest came out of hiding and joined the battle against the undead army. While Almariah was laid to waste, through united effort of the Three Precursor Factions: Helzbelt, Eladramere and Almariah, alongside the Elves of the Woods, the Grove where The Lady of the Isle resided was successfully protected. From that day the Wardens have been made established as a permanent Faction that swore an oath to protect the Sacred Isles. However the fight had a great toll on the Wardens. The Wardens that were assigned to the Frontline during the Siege have laid their lives, leaving only the Elven Citizens and a handful of scouts left within the Wardens. However the faction became very popular amongst many of the old Almarian militia that sought new purpose now where their city was no more. A few Eladramerians joined in, seeing the War for the Relics as moot and understanding a deeper purpose that laid within them. Even a rare few Helzians joined the Faction, seeking new opportunities to gain power and knowledge. What was once an exclusively Elven faction now became the most diverse Faction that graced the Sacred Kingdoms, united under one banner, for one purpose.

Though even with the raised numbers, the Wardens remained overall small compared to the three other factions. At their peak did they bare no more than one hundred individuals capable of combat, with about seventy citizens. As the second war against the Cursed Legion came to be, these numbers dwindled to half for the militia with the citizens remaining about the same.

### **Present**

To this day The Wardens have not grown much in size. However they became vastly more organised. The combat prowess is grouped in various tiers as is the research department. Citizens are not grouped in either. The Grand Warden oversees all.

#### Combat Units:

- First Unit (The 1st): The strongest and smartest are assigned here. They've proven their military power, strategy and field experience over the various wars and missions that were assigned. When the Second Unit fails to complete a mission, the First Unit is mobilized to end what was failed. If the First Unit fails, all fails. The First Unit works hand in hand with the R1 (Research One) team with each individual being assigned to one of the R1 Researchers personally. This Unit is currently occupied by 3 individuals.

- Second Unit (The 2nd): Often considered Lieutenants, these individuals are third in the command chain and can send off units to smaller missions such as scouting, procuring resources or handling smaller evil entities that might threaten the Isle or the ecosystem thereof. They are also the first unit that is sent off to dangerous missions. The Second Unit has 7 members in it.

- Third Unit (The 3rd): Experienced fighters are part of the Third Unit, sent out to handle somewhat dangerous tasks that might present itself throughout the Isles. They also often act as scouts for more dangerous tasks. The Third Unit consists of 21 people.

- Fourth Unit (The 4th): Those with a bit of adventuring history often fall into this category first. They are often tested to coax out their competence. They also are the first to be sent out to menial scouting or guard duties. They are also often accompanied by someone from the Research Department during their scouting missions. 11 people are part of this Unit.

- Fifth Unit (The 5th / Kitz): Often referred to as "Kitz", these individuals are trained to become new, integrated Wardens. They are given training by the Second Unit, twice on a weekly basis, with their day to day job being guard duty of the Headquarters, namely the Hallowed Forest. Currently there are 4 people in this Unit

#### Research Department Tiers:

- Research One (R1): Innovators of their time, archemages, lore saints, master alchemists, botanical researchers and all which exceeds the intelligence of most of Faerun is graced with the task of working in the R1 team. An R1 member is only assigned when it does not exceed the amount of people in the First Unit as each R1 member is personally assigned to the First Unit and vice versa, working hand and hand with their partner. These brains also bare a decent amount of combat power to be able to survive the daring tasks the First Unit might be sent off to. As such there are only 3 members part of the R1.

- Research Two (R2): The second in line to the R1, R2 often bare the same amount of competence, if not a little worse, then the R1 but haven't been assigned to The 1st, and as such do not elevate to the R1. Currently there are 2 people in the R2.

- Research Three (R3): Artisans of their trade, the R3 handles most of the Research Tasks and seeing to completing the insane ideas the R2 and the R1 come up with. They also assign most of the field investigations to the R4 division. They also spend two days in a week to dedicate seminars and lessons to the R4 as well as R5 divisions. At this moment there are 4 people in the R3.

- Research Four (R4): R4 bares new rising stars that want to expand their competence in their trade. They work tightly with the R3 division, following their guidance and acting much like apprentices in that regard. The R4 currently has 2 members.

- Research Five (R5): Students and Academics that want to join the Research Team are assigned here. They are given crash courses to bring them up to speed so they can decide which direction of their Artisan's journey they wish to go. R5 members that do not bring their own motivation to study by themselves on the side do not leave the R5 or bow out of the Research Department. There are no members in the R5 currently.

#### Citizens:

Citizens are there to provide for a habitable place for The Wardens to live in within the Hallowed Forest. They are treated with utmost respect for their service to provide shelter, a comfortable living space and to keep everyone essentially alive by providing food. As such, each solstice a Great Feast is held, which is provided fully by the Research Department and Combat Units. Aiding in the Great Feast is seen as the biggest honour and the greatest thanks that could be given to the citizens. Both Research Department and Combat Units keep a keen eye on the member's performance during this time, and depending on how great this performance was to provide 'The Greatest Gift Possible', members can even ascend entire tiers. There are currently 76 citizens. 24 of them are children.

### Home, Sweet Home:

While The Wardens are a tight-knit community and will do anything possible to protect each other and the Isles, there has been one major dispute going across the entire Faction. This being something considered a "Home". The Grand Warden, Rayclast Styxx, once said that the Hallowed Forest is only a part of an entire home, and that one day it might too vanish and be replaced by another aspect of nature. Be it a highland, a mountain or maybe even a volcano. Nothing is eternal, but nature is, though in different aspects. As such she claims the Hallowed Forest to be a 'temporary headquarters' rather than a 'permanent home'. This has caused quite a bit of tensions between members that agree with the sentiment and those that do not.

Those that disagree make claims that this would not have been The Lady of the Isles wish, for her Grove would vanish too while those that agree state that the battle of the Relics is long over and the Grove is just another part of nature, and as such part of the natural cycle of life and death.

Though even if there is debate on these two viewpoints, all of them agree to one simple fact: They will try to protect the Hallowed Forest, though should it end, The Wardens must live on and will not give their lives over it needlessly.

#### Current Duty Defined:

The Wardens are the protectors of the Sacred Isle. Any whom threatens to destroy them, or who imposes a risk of such, is seen as an enemy to the Wardens. They do not partake in wars or scuffles between the various creatures or factions that settled in the Isle. Any whom seek to raise a colony upon the Isle are instantly seen as allies, as long as they do not impose a threat to the Sacred Isles. However The Wardens do act in part as Foresters or Hunters, seeking to bring balance to the Ecosystem should a dire enemy go rampage through the lands. Alignment, Race and Prejudice are terms not known to The Wardens, or simply ignored. Any and all are welcome. Evil shakes the hand of Good. Lawful pats the back of Chaos. In the eyes of The Wardens, preservation is everything. With this common goal, angel and demon can walk side by side, ignoring the divine laws once set upon the Prime Material by Gods so ancient, now forgotten.

#### Holidays and Special Meetings:

The Great Feast: Every solstice the Great Feast is held. It is done in reverence to the work the citizens provide for the Faction. Members of the Research Department and the Combat Unit compete against each other to provide "The Greatest Gift Possible" to this Feast. Such a present could be an amazing cooked, exotic being; an invention that makes the harvest so much easier; technology that assists the quality of life for the citizens; or even fully laid out plans to provide citizens with an easier time to make it through the year. However, simple presents also weigh heavily if they hold deep meaning. A Warden in the past, who has retired from his injuries, had been revered for trying his very best to hunt small game to provide the citizens with something for that day alone. All in all the Great Feast holds much sentimental value which keeps the tight-knit of Wardens together. It is also during this time many loved ones find their way to each other.

Seasons End: At every end of a Season, the Wardens celebrate the coming of the new season. They do this by offering many valuables, harvests and findings that occur only in that season to the Gods that represents the next season. For instance Auril with the coming of winter or Chauntea with the coming of Spring.

Funerals: Funerals are a mandatory attendance for everyone in the Wardens, unless given permission otherwise due to health reasons or other important ordeals. They are graced with a celebration to the cycle of life and death. While mourning the dead is common during this time, it is also met an odd sense of joy and in rare instances, re-incarnation.

Grand Meeting: A Grand Meeting is held at the end of every month between the Grand Warden, the R1 and the 1st to assert the current disposition of the Isles, the Wardens and any other important ordeals happening at the time. It acts more like a senate, where each member debates their viewpoint and how to proceed henceforth. When there is indecision amongst the members a vote is held. One for the Combat Unit, One for the Research Department and One for the Grand Warden. A vote must be cast for yay or nay. Indecision is not an option.