The Wardens

The Wardens of the Planes (more commonly -- and officially -- referred to simply as The Wardens) are an organization dedicated to Melora whose goals are twofold: to spread the word of the Wildmother and to act as the guardians of the elemental planes. This calling draws in worshipers from all races and creeds, from the standard druids and clerics to monks and sorcerers.

Structure

The Wardens are split into five groups, and the organization views itself as a giant, flowering tree. The trunk of the tree represents The Grovetenders, and each of the tree's four branches represents the Zephyrward, the Cragwatch, the Cinderguard, and the Tidekeepers, respectively. While The Grovetenders are responsible for managing the various temples to Melora across Astoria, each of the other branches is responsible for guarding one of the portals to the four Elemental Planes.

The Grovekeepers

While the other four branches don't answer to (and in fact, don't really ever interact with) The Grovekeepers, this part of the Wardens is still viewed as the leadership branch of the organization, or at the very least it's core (hence the tree trunk symbolism). This is mostly because The Grovekeepers are essentially the face of the organization, interacting with the public, caring for the temples to Melora, and providing worship services in her name. Along this same vein, the High Tender of The Grovekeepers isn't technically the overall leader of The Wardens, but is often deferred to in that way, because of The Grovekeepers' role in the organization.

Zephyrward

The Zephyrward are charged with guarding the portal to the The Elemental Plane of Air from threats both within and without. In the Zephyrward village of Mistral, built around the portal itself, the Zephyrwatch study the bleeding effect of the portal on its surrounding environment, handle any stray air elemental beings or energies that bleed through, and study the element of air in order to master its use in defense of the portal. Their leader, known as the Galeseeker, is an unrivaled master of the air element.

Cragwatch

The duty of the Cragwatch is to remain stalwart defenders of the portal to the The Elemental Plane of Earth, and to master the use of the elemental energies of earth in its defense. Not many from the The Prime Material Plane seek to venture into the Plane of Earth, but often the bleeding effect from the portal can create crazed earth elementals in the environment surrounding Promontory, the Cragwatch village. These elementals pose a threat not only to the village, but to the rest of The Prime Material Plane as well, and as such, the Cragwatch's duty is to dispatch them, one way or another. Their leader, known as the Earthbreaker, is an unrivaled wielder of the elemental energies of earth.

Cinderguard

The Cinderguard have possibly the most difficult duty out of all of The Wardens. They are tasked with watching over the portal to the The Elemental Plane of Fire and protecting The Prime Material Plane from the chaotic elemental energies within. Fire is the most aggressive and unpredictable element of the four, and the Cinderguard's vigil must be ever present, else the wrath of the fire elementals be unleashed upon not only their village of Infernus, but the surrounding area as well. In pursuit of this goal, the Cinderguard master the control of the elemental energies of fire, and their leader, known as the Flamecaller, is an unparalleled wielder of those energies.

Tidekeepers

The Tidekeepers are tasked with guarding the portal to the The Elemental Plane of Water, and watching over the elemental energies that bleed out of it. Water may be the most fluid and calm of the four elemental energies, but it can be just as destructive when riled, and none know this better than the Tidekeepers, who spend their lives studying the elemental energies of water and mastering their use. Their leader, known as the Tidespeaker watches over their village of Alluvion and leads it in both the defense of the portal and the mastery of water.

Type

Religious, Organised Religion

Alternative Names

Church of Melora (colloquialism), Wardens of the Planes (antiquated)

Leader

Dirinor Mithanimyr

Leader Title

High Tender

Divines

• Melora

Leadership
Galeseeker
Earthbreaker
Flamecaller
Tidespeaker