The Guard

A common depiction of the Guard

## Overview

The Guard is one of the primary deities of the Turin faith of Toria. He is the deity of the battle, of protection, honour and strength. He watches over soldiers, parents and any with something to safeguard. He is also seen as the youngest child of the Ore and the Marred.

## Appearance and Symbols

The Guard is often depicted as a large man, clad in armour and wearing a winged helmet. Like all Turin deities, the Guard has polished metallic skin, no mouth, and fine lines of glowing energy spread all across his body.

In the case of the Guard, his skin is polished but hidden, covered head to toe with thick battle armour, scuffed and marked from constant combat.

His primary symbol is that of a dark sword, linking to the weapon he used to battle the Marred. However, he is sometimes depicted with a shield or spear instead.

## Worshippers

Those that worship the Guard above the other four tend to have occupations closely linked to safety, strategy or combat, but also justice and upholding sworn oaths. Soldiers, judges and some Mediators often praise the Guard.

The Guard is also worshiped by those seeking to protect their beliefs or things they care about. Those willing to fight the foes and thorns that come to strike them down.

He is also commonly worshipped by parents, wishing to ensure their children remain safe and secure.

## History

### Mythology

The Guard was the fourth child born to the Ore and the Marred, and given rule over the art of safety. Like his siblings, he saw the beauty in the creation of the world, and thought to show the creatures the thrill of protecting things they held dear.

He gave the gift of strength and safety to some of the beasts of the land, partially creating the sentient races. But this joy was short lived. The jealously of his mother over him and his siblings will to share the creation had reached it's limit.

Behind her family's back, she had created the Cursed Ones, and sent them to destroy all that her family had built. They rushed across the world faster then the Ore and his children could stop, killing and corrupting those they passed. The Marred and her Cursed Ones created the first of the destructive emotions, and spread them amongst the survivors.

The inverse of the Guard's gift was wrath and treachery.

Unable to stand by, the Guard devised the strategy his siblings used to fight their Mother, and also did the lion's share of the fighting. Together with the Ore, they were able to cage her in the sky, trapping her vast power within the void that surrounded the planet. The Marred lashed out, her strength manifesting as the first night, but going no further.

The Guard and his family then gifted the people of Verramar the strength and power to survive, inversing the destructive emotions with their positive counterparts. They also imbued an individual with a great amount of magic; the Brightwalker. With them at the head of the army, The Cursed Ones were pushed back and banished forever.

In the aftermath, the Five tried to cleanse the land of the Marred's treachery, but as she was the Ore's equal they were unable to banish it. All things destructive could be redirected, but not stopped. However, the people of Verramar could choose to do better, thereby defeating the corruption of the Marred.

So, the Guard and his family spread their word, to do good and create; to leave the world better with the life they had. If so, they would be rewarded, but if they clung to the ways of the Marred, they would join her in her prison.

### Archaeologically

The Guard, historically speaking, is an offshoot of the ancient take on the Smith. He likely began as an archaic deity of purely strength, before being given the domains of battle and loyalty as Torian came to respect those tenants.