The Dragon Wardens

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||LIFE||

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Life as a Warden starts soon after birth. Select council members set out each season in search for the red-headed newborns throughout the lands. Most families give the child willingly despite never being able to see them again.
Being taken and raised within the Haven allows the Warden to grow without bias in locations or people. Before they find their dragon companion, they undergo years of study in world history, anthropology, mythology, traditions, magic, and academics. Those who have not begun their bonding hold the title of Warden.

After a Warden has found their dragon and begun their bonding, they earn the title of Dragon Warden. This is when they begin to learn combat tactics, weapon specializations, diplomacy, and eventually riding. Once their dragon companion is of age, they are assigned small diplomacy missions that are carried out with a group of their peers and a member of the Council.

Graduating the academy is on a case-by-case basis. Dragon Wardens who display excellence within every field can graduate as early as their 16th year. Typically, graduation occurs between the 17th and 18th year after birth.
Graduated Dragon Wardens are then assigned to a Emasari, or a Dragon Warden leader. In times of war, the Emasari act as commanders, and in times of peace they act as the voices for the Dragon Wardens. While assigned under an Emasari, Dragon Wardens are encouraged to find secondary work within the Haven to have something to do during their down time. All Dragon Wardens continue their training of combat, flying, and magic for the rest of their lives.

When a dragon companion dies, the affected Dragon Warden ritually strips themselves of their title, and returns to the title of Warden. They are relieved of all diplomatic duties, and are free to either stay within the Haven or travel the world.

It is not always a dragon that dies first, and more often it is their human counterpart. When a Dragon Warden dies before their dragon, the dragon is set free and protected by current Dragon Wardens. Anyone who attacks a dragon declares war on the Dragon Wardens. With this decree, dragons have thrived in numbers and do not antagonize the races of the lands.

 

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||APPEARANCE||

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Wardens are most notably defined by their uniquely red colored hair. They are the only beings in existence that displays such a physical feature, and is very apparent at birth. These red tones come from as deep as auburn to as bright as titian. The only Dragon Wardens to not carry the striking red hair color are those who have aged enough to carry grey or white hair. This is typically the mark of a Dragon Warden who has retired from field work and are not often seen outside of the Haven unless they are members of the Council.

Wardens derive from the human species. Due to this, some half-elves have been born Wardens. No other race has been a Warden.

 

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||THE COUNCIL||

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The Council is made up of nine veteran Dragon Wardens. They are not always the eldest in existence, but are considered the wisest and most successful in diplomacy. Every decision involving them, both foreign and domestic, goes through them, and must be unanimous. These men and women are responsible for finding and procuring newly born Dragon Wardens, to which they cycle through that responsibility so that the Haven is always under their watch.

The original Dragon Wardens made up the first Council, and founded the ideas and principles of peace bringers practiced to date.

 

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||PURPOSE||

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Dragon Wardens are the keepers of peace throughout the lands, often called to mediate disputes or prevent wars. Those who refuse their council give up the right to their protection, and thus the accepting side would have their aid in whatever war would follow. Few would ever give up that right. Through the Dragon Wardens' help, the lands have created a prosperous trade rout in the Allied Kingdoms and parts of Edros.

 

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||THE DRAGON BOND||

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Bonding begins when the Warden "senses" their dragon. This can happen at any age, and is recognizable by a sudden surge in their magical affinity, malaise, and a strong urge to go to a specific location. Older Dragon Wardens are familiar with the signs and often the first to notice will volunteer as an escort. That volunteer ends up being the young Warden's mentor and guides them through the process of bonding.

The time in which a Warden "senses" their dragon varies. For some it happens when they are still very much a child, and tends to happen between the ages of five and thirteen. There are rare cases where the dragon isn't sensed or born until after the child undergoes puberty. Those cases are carefully watched, for the young Warden can often fall into depression. These cases also tend to have a stronger bond with their dragon more quickly.

Bonding takes years to form. The dragon is never forced to follow commands. Instead, the dragon and the Warden work as a team. Their connection with each other allows them to "communicate" on a higher level than verbal. While it's not internal dialog, it is just a matter of thinking, and the other knowing and understanding. This provides a medium for the two to plan with each other in the spur of the moment.

Newly formed Dragon Wardens are carefully watched by their mentors and counselled through any issues concerning their bonding or their interactions with others. Bonding has had a 100% success rate since its inception, and thus the process has never changed. The relationships between the two can still get rocky, but its still a friendship that lasts unconditionally.

The dragon a Warden bonds with will always be in the same magical class as the Warden.

 

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|| THE SACKING OF THE HAVEN ||

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The Battle at the Haven came as a surprise to the Dragon Wardens, for they would have never expected those they help serve would turn so violently against them. Led by Queen Vivian Malan of Thallas, she amassed an army of her finest warriors, recruiting those of Faledrin to her cause. They gathered at Rosenfall, using the guise of the World Market to hide their true intentions, and thus the Dragon Wardens did not suspect.

Per usual, a couple of Dragon Warden squads attended the World Market to aid in keeping the peace and insuring proper and honest trade among the people. No one knows if those Dragon Wardens are still alive.

The armies marched out of Rosenfall in secret, and reached the Haven on the eve of the new year (the first day of Harvest). As soon as they reached the city, they did not wait for the Dragon Wardens to prepare. Some survivors swear there were orcish siege weapons present.

Queen Vivian Malan was wise in her battle tactics, splitting the armies to attack from all fronts while also sending a legion into the underground system where the dragons usually slept. They killed the dragons and insured most Dragon Wardens could not reach their companions in time. The ones that did helped protect the city and its inhabitants as best they could before either dying or being driven out.

It wasn't until well after the attack that rumors as to why the Thalls even wanted to go against the Dragon Wardens. Thalls and Fallenites alike have been spouting stories of attacks by Dragon Wardens without reason. These Dragon Wardens were coming into villages claiming they were there on some mission and ended up killing almost every living being they could find. Some stories even went more fantastical, describing how madness was apparent in their eyes, and that all had been deceived of the true nature of these red heads. Even after the Haven fell, these stories grew in number, reaching into all the lands. Surviving Dragon Wardens were declared enemies by all, and it was considered treason to offer them aid. They are referred to as soulless and now only greeted with hesitance or malice before they are killed.

 

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|| The Guides ||

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[tab=The Guides]

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There are underground supporters of the Dragon Wardens, secretly knowing that they are innocent and something is not quite right. These supporters mark their homes with the symbol of a star representing a guiding light for lost Dragon Wardens. They have been called the Guides. No one has caught on to what these symbols mean, but the Dragon Wardens know of it well, and know they can find shelter, food, and supplies with these allies. The Guides gather rumors, hearsay, and viable information to give to any Dragon Warden that crosses their paths. They give the survivors hats and cloaks to hid their hair, or even offer to cut it completely to provide safety.[/tab]

 

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|| WALLACE SAVERE ||

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Two weeks before the attack on the Haven, a request was made by the leader of Eversyth to track down the Shadow Caster Wallace Savere, a Half-Naveri. Wallace grew up on a farm in Thallas, his magical affinity ritualistically taken from him at age ten. Twenty years later, his mother fell ill, and he desired to seek out his father in Eversyth to inform him of her demise.

Naveri society shuns all half-elves, and thus he was completely ignored and thrown out of the borders of Eversyth forcibly. Years later, he reimerged causing a wake of death in his path leading to Eversyth as a warning of his coming vengeance. Witnesses and survivors recall Wallace saying he was trying to prove a point to the world that half-elves should be treated justly.

Before he could reach Eversyth, an army of magi greeted him at the bank of the River Themn, and a short battle was fought before he disappeared. Immediately after, they sent a search party and requested the aid of the Dragon Wardens.

It was common for Dragon Wardens to be called out to hunt Shadow Casters. They can cover more ground and sense the corrupted aetherial presence more quickly. These hunts are the only instances where Dragon Wardens kill on sight, for they have found that once a soul is corrupted, it is lost forever. Depending on how powerful the Shadow Caster depends on how many Dragon Wardens it takes to defeat them.

A squad was sent out from the Haven, tracking Wallace back over the borders to Thallas as the Haven fell. Wallace Savere is still at large, but has been in hiding.[/tab]

 

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|| THE VERIDAN FAE ||

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The Veridan Fae, the Fairies dwelling along the foothills of the Veridan Mountains, have gone missing. No one knows how or why every single one is gone. They are typically hunted by large birds and gryphons, though never to this scale. The Sur have stated there are no signs of attack.

Two days before the attack on the Haven, a squad of Dragon Wardens were sent out to investigate. They did not reach the Woodlands of Valnahar before hearing the news of their home, and were unable to go to the Haven to investigate due to being within Thallas. They were attacked and scattered upon being tracked by the Queen's Guard.

 

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|| THE NORTHERN PURCHASE ||

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King Delvan Nalthson wishes to own the entirety of the Northern Mountains, but wishes to do so peacefully with the natives that have lived there for centuries. He had called for the Dragon Warden's aid in these negotiations two weeks prior to the fall of the Haven. The negotiations were going smoothly, but the news of their home being overrun reached the Dragon Wardens days late. The squad requested a week off to travel back to the Haven in search for survivors, and then they would return to the Baladuri to continue keeping the peace. Upon their return to Baladur, they were promptly turned away without explanation and told that should they be found in Baladur again, they would be killed on sight.

Negotiations for the Northern Mountains have since been put on hold. The natives refuse to speak with anyone.

 

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|| THE SILVER LANCE ||

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The Silver Lance was well known among the Thalls and Baladuri. It was the only tavern between their lands that had no surrounding village or town, and was the go-to establishment for any traveling merchant. Many Thall used the location as a sight to post bounties, for it was well known the bounty hunters of Baladur were the best in all the kindgoms. Due to this, all manner of patronage would frequent the warmly lit halls and well-furnished bedrooms the Silver Lance had to offer.

Jern Farthen was the proud owner of the Silver Lance who built the establishment over two decades prior. The Baladuri laid out the plans and allegedly performed most of the work upon the construction of the structure. The land was once owned by an older woman who had offered Jern shelter from a terrible blizzard. Anytime he would cross through the border after then, he would come by to visit. One day, he had found the small hut burned to the ground, and traveled to the nearest village of Rustan just five miles southeastward. When the Baladuri found her safe and unharmed, he bought the land from her and built the tavern. To this day she works as the tavern's cook and has never been happier.

No matter who comes to the Silver Lance, they pay their respects to both the keeper and Granny Phillis by keeping the peace among each other. If there was a dispute, it was always taken far from the grounds, and disputes handled without bloodshed were often rewarded with a slice of pie on the house. This gave the Silver Lance a respectable air both within and without.

Recently, rumors have spread of an attack on the tavern. Dragon Wardens came through and burned the building to ashes. Jern Farthen is reported dead along with two other victims that participated in the altercation. Granny Phillis is rumored to be living with the local shae by the name of Kelfie as the locals help to gather resources for a new home. She apparently does not wish to carry on with the tavern business.

 

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|| THE MEETING IN THE NORTH ||

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Many Guides have provided insight into a meeting that took place not too long ago within the Northern Mountains led by Former Councilman Wuld. The meeting was attacked by what has been dubbed as Shadow Wardens; Dragon Wardens who practice Shadow Magic. A half-elf Dragon Warden by the name of Hale lost his life in the battle, and all perpetrators have been dealt with. His Dragon, Kraeg, has gone missing.

 

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| | FOREIGN DRAGON WARDENS ||

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Not every red head is born strictly into the societies that comprise the Allied Kingdoms. Edros, Sus, and even Maldvir and Estwynd have their own dragon riders. They do not have a formal purpose, and the Council was often unwelcome in parts of Edros as the people felt their presence as more of a disruption. And so for the most part those who were known as Dragon Wardens were either in or close to the borders of the Allied Kingdoms.

The Dragon Wardens of Estwynd were few in number as most of the dragons in that area had dwindled in population considerably. By the Year 1403 of the First Era there were no dragons alive on the continent of Myast. This was also the same year where red heads ceased to be born in Estwynd.

Edros, being closer to the Allied Kingdoms and having more respect for dragons gave way to many Dragon Wardens. Those who were not taken to the Haven lived their childhoods in their homes until the calling of the Dragon Bond. Some families even accompanied their child or sibling on this endeavor once their society discovered why their red headed children would fall ill and die. Most eventually end up in the Haven for proper training, though the Counsil had always been cautious and reluctant. Those who do not join the other Dragon Wardens tend to keep to themselves.

Sus had always had a struggle with understanding what was going on with their red headed children. It took quite some time before the Council could reach Sus to even see if Dragon Wardens were being born among them. Due to the hostilities with the orcs, they were quite few in number, but highly valued if they made it to their bonded dragon. Not many Sus born grew up in the Haven.