Guardians

> To be a guardian is to wear death on your chest.
>
> Book I: Sweet Sorrows, There are three paths. This is one of them (2)

The **Guardians** are the second of three paths. They protect the books & stories coming from the Starless Sea.

## Initiation

There are twelve initial tests in the process of becoming a guardian. Candidates are not told that they are being considered until after the twelfth. The general concept of the first test is always the same; it is the guarding of a book. In Dorian's case, he was asked to look after a book left in a library by a woman in a green scarf. Another woman, nearly identical to the first, comes by to pick up the book, but he stops her. He returns the book to the original woman, and passes the first test. In his case, he was not approached directly for another seven years. The initial tests are subtle, watching how candidates respond to various situations, the stresses of everyday emergencies. Failing even a single one of these tests removes the candidate from consideration, and most do not make it past the sixth.

If candidates make it past the twelfth test, they are alerted and (if not already living there) brought to the Harbor to study and continue testing, this time asessing psychological strength, willpower, improvisation, and imagination. This process takes three years. If again they make it to this point, they are given an egg and released from training and studying. Candidates must return with this egg in six months time, unbroken. More candidates still are eliminated after this stage in the process. If they return, the elder guardian crushes the egg in their palm, revealing that all that was inside was gold dust, as a reminder of their responsibility, and the fragility of what they protect.

Now, finally, the candidate becomes an initiate. They are shown through the Harbor, starting with familiar rooms and moving deeper and deeper, to places not even seen by acolytes. They see rooms that no one else has seen before, and they must only observe, without asking questions. Eventually, they walk the shores of the Starless Sea itself. Then, they are shown to a room with a single chair and a burning fire. A single question is asked:

> Would you give your life for this?
>
> Book I: Sweet Sorrows, There are three paths. This is one of them (2)

If the initiate answers yes, they are blindfolded and a sword is tattooed on their chest. Then, they are given an assignment, which rotates often. Most remain within the Harbor, but some are released to the surface, silently looking after affairs up there. They are discreet, only obvious to those who know what to look for, willing to do anything for their cause. Willing to die for what they serve.

Those initiates who answer no are blindfolded and killed quickly. There is no turning back after what they've seen.

## Trivia

* Each sword tattoo is unique. No two guardians have the same one.
* Each sword is 2-3 inches in length, and they vary in intricacy and colour (some black, some sepia, some gold).
* They do not wear robes or uniforms.
* The golden dust from the crushed egg remains on their palms forever, an immediate identifier for those in the know.

## References

All information from this page comes from Book I: Sweet Sorrows, There are three paths. This is one of them (2).