The Watch

The Watch are a group of Rangers dedicated to protecting Terazan and the realms of men from the Void. Usually a person is taken in from a young age and taught the ways of a Ranger until their adolescent years. This training is performed at **Lastwatch** and includes standard combat training with both melee and ranged weaponry, tracking and survival, and so on.

When a ranger of The Watch reaches adulthood, their progress is reviewed by the leader of The Watch; the **Lord Commander**. If the ranger is judged to be one of the best and most significant rangers that The Watch has to offer, they are stationed at **Voidwatch** to become apart of the **Voidwatch Rangers**. If, however, they are a standard well-trained ranger then they will instead be stationed at **Trollheim** as a member of the **Greywatch Rangers**. If on the rare case that a ranger does not get allocated to either, they are either sent home or are stationed at **Lastwatch** to help instruct future rangers.

Though not bound by law to serve at these citadels, many Rangers take an oath to do whatever they can to protect the realm of men and to serve The Watch. Many are so fearful for the threats on the other sides of the walls that they choose not to raise a family and stay attachment-free, so that they have nothing to lose should the worst happen. Others, of course, do not follow this tradition. Unfortunately The Keep is a harsh place to grow up in, and many children do not survive the volcanic winters.

## History

The Watch, founded in 1 FD by the defenders of the first men after The Great Dragon War, was formed to protect the newly forged “realm of men” from all entities of strange or dangerous nature. In the first phase of the watch, this included pushing back the Giant-kind forces from the Western Heartlands and in to the area now known as the Badlands. However, the scope of the Watch widened when it was discovered that a lot of the lych, demons, and other abyssal monsters that plagued the Western Heartlands and Forests of Azdaran were all being spawned from a set location: an area now dubbed the Unknown West.

For years the battles of good and evil clashed, with Ranger after Ranger - each braver than the last - sacrificing themselves in combat for the greater good of the realm. Eventually, after many losses, the battles were won and the Giantkind were pushed to order a full retreat from the Heartlands; escaping behind the mountain paths in to the South West of Terazan. At this moment, construction of one of the ancient keeps - now dubbed as **Trollheim** - began.

Similarly, those of the more experienced and skillful Rangers focused on the West, battling entities that had only been seen in nightmares or been rumoured in folklore. The final battle was known to be bloody at the hands of a Tiefling Daetherial Warlord: Dionysis the Scorched. Though she fought aggressively, her forces were pushed back in to the Western reaches: held at bay for over one hundred years by heroes of men whilst the remaining rangers constructed the larger and more sturdy keep - dubbed as **Castle Voidwatch** - fittingly named after the Voidspawn which threatened the realm.

For the following years up to the present, brave souls across the realm have volunteered to become members of The Watch to ensure that the wars of the past never need be fought again; and that the people of the realm can sleep easy and safe knowing that they are protected. These members, known as **Watchmen** across Terazan, are the first point of defense between the men, women, and children of the realm and their brutal deaths.

## Watcher's Oath

Many rangers of The Watch uphold a set code known as “Watcher’s Oath”, which some of them use as a mantra to help them live their lives. It is as follows:

> I am a ranger of the West, and the first defense between man and death. Though I may die, my brothers at the Watch shall thrive, and I will greet the dark, ready to defend and die again.
>
> - The Watcher's Oath

The code symbolises the selflessness of the rangers of The Watch and the sentiment that they are willing to sacrifice themselves in both the living world and the after life to protect their fellow man.

A service at The Watch is usually for life, but there are rare cases where rangers have left to investigate abyssal plots and other Void-related plans. The Watch also accepts voluntary services, but are unlikely to provide equipment or sufficient training for beyond the walls.

## Uniforms of the Watchmen

There are four sets of uniforms for members of The Watch, which aligns with their main post and purpose.

### Voidwatch Ranger

Known for serving at **Castle Voidwatch**, Voidwatch Rangers wear black iron or leather armour, featuring a large black fur or red cloth cloak atop it. Voidwatch are not prohibited to a particular weapon, and instead are encouraged to use whatever weapons they need in order to kill quickly and efficiently.

### Greywatch Ranger

Known for serving at **Trollheim**, Greywatch Rangers wear grey iron or leather armour, featuring a shoulder-mounted grey cloak with the symbol of the Trollheim Rangers upon it. They are namely prohibited to more long-range weaponry as getting up close and personal to a Giantkind is not recommended. Some, however, do prefer close-quarter combat.

### Lastwatch Ranger

Known for serving at **Lastwatch**, wear leather armour marked with the generic symbol of The Watch. They usually don some kind of blue scarf.

### Ranger Recruit

Recruits are asked to wear regular leather armour, as uniforms are provided as a right of passage. They are often prohibited to use simple martial weaponry, including swords, longswords, bastard swords, bows, crossbows, and spears.

It is common for a member of the Watch to wear their uniforms even when they have left their post in order to commemorate their great service to the realm of men.