The Sentinels

**The Sentinels** are an armed military force who seek to protect the planet of Io from otherworldly threats. Their duties often involve the capture or eradication of dangerous extraplanar beings and the preservation of interdimensional barriers between the Prime Plane and other Veils such as the Shadow Veil.

## Objectives

The primary objective of the Sentinels is to protect Io and its people from otherworldly threats. It has long been common knowledge that Io is bordered by other planes of existence known as Veils, the Astral Veil being the longest known and best documented. However, the borders between these planes can often be passed through, and several visitors to Io are hostile in nature. The denizens of the Shadow, which the organization was founded to fight against, are one such example.

Sentinels are thus always on guard to locate dangerous invaders and either send them back to whence they came, or eliminate them if the need calls for it. The Sentinels also seek out portals and tears between Veils to repair and reinforce the borders between other planes and the Prime Plane. In addition, as former Hunters, Sentinels can also be relied upon to protect Etropa from the various monsters that inhabit the forests should they threaten nearby towns and cities.

## Description

In the early years of the Sentinels, there was no set dress code. Most were former Hunters, who were often bore weapons and armours from the prey they hunted, leading to an eclectic range of appearances. The Sentinels are a multi-racial organization and accept any natives of Io to join their ranks, further adding to their diversity.

## Organizational Structure

The hierarchy of the Sentinels is not currently known, though it is possible it borrowed some of its organizational structure from its predecessor, the Hunter's Guild. The Hunters of Etropa typically operated in squads of 5 to 6 individuals but it is unknown if the Sentinels follow this convention. What is known is that the Sentinels are not entirely composed of fighters. Several other subdivisions, such as the Biological and Alchemical division once headed by Erik Southpaw, employ other essential skills such as research, medical treatments and the arcane arts. The Sentinels also have a team dedicated to general management of the group, of which one of the founders, Nexavearie "Nexi" Aksinja Lessendex, devoted herself to.

## History

### Founding

In the year 735, events in the Kingdom of Etropa brought to light the revelation that the founder of the Hunter's Guild, the Gourmand King, was secretly a foreign being from a shadowy plane who sought to manipulate the Hunters for his own selfish purposes. Upon the Gourmand King's death, a group of renegade Hunters held a meeting for their fellow guild members in the City of Trials, where they explained what had occurred. Disheartened and demoralized, many of the Hunters present were at a loss for what to do now that their organization had no real purpose.

It was then one of the former renegades, a High Elf named Valeth, stepped forwards and told them that they could still do their part to protect Etropa. He claimed that the Gourmand King was but one of many devilish beings and more were currently conspiring to break through to Io and take it for themselves. Valeth appealed to the hunters to join him and his allies as they made ready for the coming war. With his rousing words, several of the amassed hunters agreed. Over the next few weeks, the Hunter's Guild was officially disbanded and many of its former members transferred to the newly formed Sentinels. Under the guidance of Valeth, Erik Southpaw and Nexavearie "Nexi" Aksinja Lessendex, the Sentinels began to train for the encroaching invasion.

### The Shadow Invasion

Valeth's warning of the threat from the Shadow proved to be just as he had predicted. During a training session, Valeth was pulled aside by his companion Sicily, who was accompanied by a distressed Halfling called Nissa. Nissa informed him that she had sighted a twisted creature of shadow, one that resembled her lost sister Aria. She implored Valeth to offer her support in dealing with this threat, in the hopes of saving her sister or ending her suffering. Valeth agreed to assist and Erik also agreed to join them. Valeth left his Sentinels to protect Etropa under Nexi's leadership, while he and Erik took to the field as the organization's representatives.

Using an altered reality, the quartet arrived in Northern Qethos and proceeded to the Kingdom of Nue-Alabhastar, where the Shadow Lord had last been spotted. Several days later, they arrived to find their quarry in one of the ruined districts, having just decimated a contingent of Nue-Alabhaster's soldiers. The foursome then engaged the ooze-like fiend in combat. It soon became clear whatever was left of Nissa's sister was long since gone, so the party resolved to slay her. Not long into the fight, they were joined by another group of warriors called The Faithful. This group of holy warriors had been tracking the Shadow Lord Juiblex, intent on purging it from the land. The two groups quickly combined forces and fought against the fiend. After a grueling struggle, the Voiceless Lord was slain, their body desiccating and turning to ash. Valeth and his fellows exchanged some words with the leader of the Faithful, Bronn Luxprin, before electing to return for Etropa immediately, rather than address the people of Nue-Alabhaster of their deeds.

### Interim

The Sentinels continued to develop as an organization in the passing years, becoming more adept at understanding and handling extraplanar threats. Their services proved to be necessary, as Io found itself beset by a new form of danger in the form of demons. Coming through a portal from a hellish landscape, demons would seek to pillage and plunder for a time before turning back to their infernal homeland. In addition to the demons, the threat of the Shadow was never forgotten, and the people of Etropa began to develop new skills to fight it, such as the ability to see in the dark.

## Phase 3 Story

The Sentinels continue to operate under their guiding principles hundreds of years after their founding. Though primary based in Etropa and Asmodia, Sentinels can be found all across Io.

# Founder and Head of Military Operations**Erik Southpaw†**

### Leaders

* **Yohan Hammerbelt** - Marshal of Colkirk, Southern Gate Breach, Asmodia.

### Shadowhunters

* **Mikhail Lebront** - Veteran Shadowhunter
* **Syltrix Tenbloom** - Veteran Shadowhunter
* **Barmong Erron** - Veteran Shadowhunter
* **Lady Lorelei Mallory** - Veteran Shadowhunter
* **Morden** - Veteran Shadowhunter
* **Cheets** - Apprentice Shadowhunter
* **Gareth Steelfist** - Apprentice Shadowhunter
* **Marius** - Apprentice Shadowhunter
* **Vanya De Basho** - Apprentice Shadowhunter
* **Vezika Larskin** - Apprentice Shadowhunter
* **Ehlark Kinhallow** - Former Farmer turned Apprentice Shadowhunter

### Support Staff

* **Cheetle** - Maneuver Arms Smith for Southern Gate Breach, Asmodia
* **Colkirk Architect** - Architect in service to the Sentinels

# Underground Cartographer**Haio Odigwen**

 Keeper of the Spire of Euclid
* **The Faithful** - Holy order dedicated to the worship of the deceased God of Radiance, DIV.
* **Ionian Senate** - Planetary government and financial backers for the Sentinels.
* **Lord Kinhallow†** - Farmer and provisioner for Colkirk

## Etymology

A sentinel is a person who stands guard and keeps watch over somewhere or something. The word is derived from the Middle French word *sentinelle*, meaning "guard" or "sentry", and is in turn derived from the Old Italian *sentinella,* which possibly means "to perceive" or "to watch".

## Trivia

* The Sentinels were the last faction to be introduced in Phase 2 of the World of Io, debuting in the finale of the campaign Spire of Euclid.
* The name and function of the Sentinels was conceived by Snake, whose character Valeth had become acquainted with the Shadow and its denizens.
* Though a founder of the Sentinels, Nexi spent much of her time acting as a receptionist in order to meet new people.