The order: Wardens of the nights vigil #

Across the ages, the ranks of the Wardens have included warriors, priests, mighty wizards, fools, and even kings. The Wardens are individuals chosen—willingly or otherwise—throughout generations since ancient times to guard the great Shard, forged from the blood of The Other. Through countless rituals and spells, the Shard is contained within the Room of Dark Rebirth in their great fortress Dam Lobar.

In time, the Wardens discovered a way to merge with the Shard, though at great cost. The process is perilous, and many die undergoing it. Some volunteer; many do not. To sustain their numbers, the Wardens have struck bargains with several kingdoms, gaining access to their dungeons in exchange for ancient favors and promises best left unspoken.

The merging ritual takes place in the Room of Dark Rebirth, where a fragment of the Shard is broken off and ritually embedded within the body of the chosen subject. Afterward, the Master of Power can slay any Warden at any moment using the Rod of Banishment, with the approval of the Order’s leader. This ensures obedience—most Wardens, even the unwilling ones, dare not stray. Though some still attempt escape… and a rare few succeed.

A decade after the merging, every Warden begins to slowly transform into a beast. Unless they undergo a costly procedure sold exclusively by the Order, they are hunted by their own brethren. The procedure halts the degradation—unless the Warden overuses the monstrous power within them.

Each autumn, the Order sends its members into the world to cleanse it of unnatural evils—for a price. Any coin a Warden earns is theirs to keep, save for the fee required for their periodic Ceremony of Stilling.

Wardens do not age. Yet even immortality offers little comfort: eventually, most succumb to the transformation and are hunted down—or, knowing their end is near, choose death instead.

The Wardens maintain their base in the vast and ancient fortress of Dam Lobar. The fortress has been nearly destroyed five times, demolished twice, and rebuilt anew each time.

The organization is led by an Ancient Silver Dragon, supported by four captains.

These captains each command one of the four divisions of the organization, known as Chapters, with each Chapter overseeing a different aspect of the Wardens’ duties and are only comprised by [[The Corrupted|corrupted]].

Chapter of the Shield #

The first division is the Chapter of the Shield, led by the Master of Arms. Its members are divided into two groups:

• The Army, commanded by the Captain of War

• The Inner Circle of Honor, consisting of the knights of the Wardens and their most powerful warriors

Traditionally, the Captain of War is also a member of the Circle of Honor, valued equally among its ranks.

The Army is composed of foot soldiers, numerous companies, and the rangers. The rangers are led by the Master of Shadows.

This army draws heavily from nobles, noble houses, and peasants who have sworn oaths of fealty to the Order. Many common folk and noble families live under the Wardens’ protection, in a region known as Gar Auethelin, from the Elvish “Land under the Shadow.”

Chapter of Arcanum #

The Second Division of the Wardens is comprised of its mystics, mages, wizards, and occultists. This cabal is led by the Master of Power, an individual of immense knowledge and arcane strength. He serves as the keeper of the Order’s deepest secrets, overseeing alchemy, magical wards, and the maintenance of the brotherhood's esoteric infrastructure.

Most notably, the Master of Power acts as the executioner of the Chamber of chains and wields the Rod of Banishment.

Beyond these grim duties, he orchestrates the Order’s rituals, teleportation networks, and long-range communication. In times of war, he stands equal to the Master of Arms; together, they devise strategies to infiltrate or decimate enemy lines, allocating arcane assets where they will strike with the deadliest effect.

Chapter of Unity #

The Second Division of the Wardens is formed around its priests and divine agents, all united under the guidance of their master of high mysteries.

This leader is a Hierophant of the Unity, a faith that venerates a neutral pantheon whose composition shifts across the ages—gods of virtue and malice joining or fading, while the core remains steady. As the spiritual heart of the Wardens, he binds together followers of countless religions, earning deep respect from traditions that otherwise share little common ground.

The Hierophant safeguards the Wardens’ rites, mysteries, and sacred customs, presiding over great ceremonies and offering blessings at every pivotal event. He is also the keeper of their prophecies and serves closely alongside the Sister of Woe, ensuring that the ancient visions and dire omens remain understood, guarded, and honored.

Chapter of the fallen #

The fourth and final chapter of the Order is a grim one.
It houses all brothers standing on the brink of succumbing to the [[The Curse of the Beast Within]]. Its leader is known only as the Master of Sacrifice, a figure who wears an ornate helm shaped like a skull and carved with symbols of death. He never removes it in public, and so his true identity remains unknown.

In truth, the Master of Sacrifice is always the most sane and composed among those nearing the fall, and the position changes often as different brothers approach the edge. His duties are twofold: to restrain the wardens who are about to succumb, or to unleash them in a glorious final charge against the most formidable enemies of the Order. He is also tasked with hunting down any renegade warden who has already mutated beyond reason.