Gravekeepers

The **Gravekeepers** are one of the Three Great Guardian Clans, along with the Untitled Sages and Nightwatchers. They are reputed to be the strongest Guardian clan after the invention of lightbulbs severely weakened the power of the Nightwatchers.

## Background

Gravekeepers are special lifeforms that are considered intermediates between humans and demons, as they give off auras similar to both species.

Throughout history, they frequently alternated their roles between the two worlds; sometimes they would serve as guardians for the humans and act as the human ambassador for the Underworld, other times they would serve as demon generals and employ themselves as the demon envoys for the human world. After the invention of artificial lighting, demons that once could only came out at night adapted to daylight while humans became accustomed and no longer feared the darkness of the night. These evolutions caused both species to become extremely arrogant, and only show patience towards their compatriots. This made negotiations between the human world and the Underworld increasingly difficult. Consequently, Gravekeepers became the most essential people when regulating relations between the two realms due to being accepted as equals by both humans and demons, and are treated with utmost respect by both sides as a result.

## Overview

### Structure

Not much is known about the Gravekeeper clan. It is mentioned that main families and branch families do exist within the clan. Like the two other Guardian clans, the main Gravekeeper family is responsible for selecting and sending a Gravekeeper to the Department of Night as a representative of the Gravekeeper clan, while the branch families are responsible for sending their Gravekeepers to governmental agencies, if needed, to handle of sudden supernatural incidents that the Department of Night isn't available for.

### Traditions

In the Gravekeeper clan, the firstborn of the new generation is deemed the clan's heir, and receives priority in everything. They are the first choice for representing the clan in the Department of Night, and succeeding the position of family head. As such, the firstborn is educated and trained separately from other children of their generation, although they are allowed to interact with them once per week.

While the firstborn may enjoy these privileges for themselves, they are allowed to transfer them to others. Ximen Guanren, for example, transferred his authority and power in the family business and family senate to Ximen Ruxin.

The firstborn of the Gravekeeper family is afflicted with the **Curse of Celibacy** (单身狗的诅咒 *Dān Shēn Gǒu De Zǔ Zhòu*), which causes anyone they are romantically engaged with to die suddenly if they do not marry them within three months. The only way to prevent their partner's death is to terminate their romantic relationship before the three-month limit is reached. There are no possible methods of saving their partner from death.

One of the responsibilities of the firstborn is to succeed the previous **Family Gravekeeper** (家族守墓者 *Jiā Zú Shǒu Mù Zhě*) in attending to the Gravekeeper family's ancestral catacombs when they retire. To attend to their own family's grave is considered the greatest honor for a Gravekeeper, as Gravekeepers only watch over the graves of others. For at least sixty years, the Family Gravekeeper is not allowed to leave the catacombs, and other people are not allowed to enter them. The Gravekeeper family is progressive, as they allow the Family Gravekeeper to take any electronics with them to the catacombs, and regularly supplies them with food and necessities. Despite being underground, there are places within the catacombs that have access to direct sunlight.

Due to the low population of Gravekeepers, the succeeding Family Gravekeeper usually marries beforehand and brings their spouse with them to the family catacombs. Fornication in the graves is not considered sacrilegious and is instead regarded as a good deed for increasing the clan's numbers. However, if they are unable to have a child, the heir will not be acknowledged by the clan as a worthy heir, losing their honor and status as a result.

According to the traditions, Gravekeepers that are the family heir's peers or younger are not allowed to be disrespectful towards the heir's spouse, including physical assault.

### Morals

The most derogatory term to call a Gravekeeper is a **Hermaphrodite** (阴阳人Yīn Yáng Rén).

## Trivia

Historically, gravekeepers in ancient China are responsible for keeping watch over the graveyard of their employed family by cleaning the tombstones and preventing grave robbers or wild animals from disrupting the graveyard.

## References

*Guardians of Night* Manhua — Chapter 51 (p. 2).
*Guardians of Night* Manhua — Chapter 51 (p. 3).
*Guardians of Night* Manhua — Chapter 558 (p. 13-14).
*Guardians of Night* Manhua — Chapter 559 (p. 1).
*Guardians of Night* Manhua — Chapter 558 (p. 16).
*Guardians of Night* Manhua — Chapter 559 (p. 13).
*Guardians of Night* Manhua — Chapter 562 (p. 2-4).
*Guardians of Night* Manhua — Chapter 561 (p. 6-7).
*Guardians of Night* Manhua — Chapter 561 (p. 11).
*Guardians of Night* Manhua — Chapter 561 (p. 13).
*Guardians of Night* Manhua — Chapter 561 (p. 12).
*Guardians of Night* Manhua — Chapter 565 (p. 15-17).
*Guardians of Night* Manhua — Chapter 560 (p. 15).
*Guardians of Night* Manhua — Chapter 50 (p. 7).
*Guardians of Night* Manhua — Chapter 21 (p. 2-3).
*Guardians of Night* Manhua — Chapter 21 (p. 8).
*Guardians of Night* Manhua — Chapter 22 (p. 9).
*Guardians of Night* Manhua — Chapter 283 (p. 10).
*Guardians of Night* Manhua — Chapter 285 (p. 6).
*Guardians of Night* Manhua — Chapter 559 (p. 3).
*Guardians of Night* Manhua — Chapter 374 (p. 13).
*Guardians of Night* Manhua — Chapter 375 (p. 1-2).
*Guardians of Night* Manhua — Chapter 559 (p. 3-4).
*Guardians of Night* Manhua — Chapter 559 (p. 10).
*Guardians of Night* Manhua — Chapter 373 (p. 9-12).
*Guardians of Night* Manhua — Chapter 440 (p. 16-17).
*Guardians of Night* Manhua — Chapter 440 (p. 13-14).
*Guardians of Night* Manhua — Chapter 440 (p. 9-15).
*Guardians of Night* Manhua — Chapter 455 (p. 6-7).