The Dreadwardens

The Dreadwardens are a faction of knights who are condemned to the defend the Bulwark from the creatures of the Dreadlands. The Bulwark is the fortified wall that surrounds The Dreadlands which the Dreadwardens patrol. Those who are condemned to 'walk the Bulwark' are usually the most abhorrent criminals that don't deserve the mercy of death. To become a Dreadwarden is a punishment synonymous with death as their service is indefinite and their post never ends. Those who grow too weak to continue become swallowed by the Dreadlands living darkness to be forgotten forever. After a person is sentenced to become a Dreadwarden they become legally deceased and their possessions, lands and titles are passed onto their next of kin. After being sent to the Bulwark families usually hold a funeral after their family member becomes a Dreadwarden as they will never see them again.

## Dreadwarden Characteristics

Due to the extended exposure to the darkness of the Dreadlands the Dreadwarden's bodies become tainted and transformed. The most visually striking feature of a Dreadwarden is their eyes which are black as ink and smoke with noxious fumes. More extended exposure for those serving for more than 5 years usually turns the warden's skin a dull grey colour with black striations crisscrossing the skin.

The constant conflict with the shadow creatures of the Dreadlands and its maddening darkness pushes the wardens to the brink of madness. The physical challenges of the unforgiven desolate lands of The Dreadlands are equally as deadly as the mental battle they fight to stay sane in a land of insanity. It has been observed in the darkness of the Dreadlands knights who lead hordes of horrifying aberrations. Those who fell to insanity and become one with the Dreadlands are known as Dreadwarden Apostates. It is the duty of the Dreadwardens to slay any of their comrades if they suspect they have failed their duty, this sometimes requires Dreadwardens to dispose of their fellow wardens who might be showing the signs of a faltering mind.

## Desertion

The nations that border the Bulwark and are thus at the most risk from the dangers of The Dreadlands such as the Kingdom of Hazyr, Sultanate of Maraf and the Empire of Amyria currently have an agreement in place to take precautions again Dreadwardens who abandon the Bulwark.

The areas surrounding the Bulwark such as the Marafi city of Blackspear have watchtowers designed to spot deserting Dreadwardens and bring them to justice. In the exceedingly rare case that a Dreadwarden avoids detection from the watchtowers around the Bulwark their integration into society is near impossible due to their distinctive characteristics that brand them as abominations.

It has been studied by the scholars of the Academy that Dreadwardens, due to their extended exposure to the living darkness, can only produce sterile offspring with monstrous congenital abnormalities. All their offspring are mule and do not live past infancy.

## Known Dreadwarden

### **Dreadwarden Domninus Aperigos Ducas**

Former Amyrian necromancer who served the Aeturnus Legion. He was condemned to walk the Bulwark after he lead a coup with an undead army in Amyr which destroyed much of the city and threatened the life of Emperor Darilmar. When he was captured Darilmar personally tortured him until he was unrecognizable and finally condemned him to walk to the bulwark after he was done with him.

### **Dreadwarden Iltem Timehk (Nomen Shadowed Mountain)**

Iktesh was an infamous serial killer and criminal mastermind who targeted, blackmailed, impersonated and stole from influential Haziri Viziers and Amyrian Arbiters. He was eventually captured in the capital of the Maraf, Jarafiin where he was found impersonating the Sharmat of Hazyr, Asharan, ultimately resulting in the redirecting of a treasure caravan worth over 100,000 Haziri Darics. He was promptly captured and deported to Hazyr where he was condemned to walk the Bulwark by decree of Asharan, Sharmat of Hazyr.

### **Dreadwarden Sabbatius Zarides Bardas**

Bardas was a former Arbiter of Amyr before he grew too ambitious and sought to usurp the Imperial throne of Amyria in a bloody civil war. Bardas was an immensely powerful leader who almost succeeded in deposing the Erimos dynasty from power. However, his end would come when Darilmar called upon The Reverend Mother of War and her legions of Yrrnic warriors to confront the corrupt Arbiter. The Reverend Mother and her warriors of Yrrn utterly overran Bardas' forces. Despite orders to capture Bardas alive, the Reverend Mother and her warriors are chaotic, unpredictable and horrifyingly bloodthirsty and tore Bardas into one hundred different pieces like ravenous wolves. Darilmar, determined to see his traitorous Arbiter suffer ordered him to be stitched back together and brought back to life. His necromancers did his bidding and stitched the decimated Bardas back, using bodily pieces from his fallen soldiers to help in the restitching process. Bardas was reborn and immediately sent to walk to Bulwark for the rest of his unnatural life.

### **Mandrake the Mad**

Although he never saw duty Mandrake the Mad was condemned to walk the Bulwark by Mavros the Black in the year 1367 after Mandrake's plot to destroy the Colossus of Amyr with a cluster of gnomish bombs was discovered. His plan ultimately failed, with only 3 of the planned 40 bombs triggering. This however did result in some minor damage to the colossus, with 2 of the statue's toes being blown off. These damages still remain to the current day.