Road Wardens
The roads of Ellecrid can often times be a lawless and dangerous place for any traveler hoping to arrive safely at their determined destination. Brigands and highwaymen stalk the most remote locales looking for easy prey to fill their pockets. They will, however look the other way more times than nbot when they spy a warden of the roads among the traveling party. This most ancient order of nomadic journeymen and women offer their protection and services to any and all travelers, intent on ensuring they reach their destination safely.
It can be seen as something of a thankless job by those more stationary. Some fractures of the order are looked at as little more than the brigands they swear to defend their patrons against, but the order is stalwart and regimented, well supplied, and well looked after by their contemporaries and superiors. There is rarely a time when hiring a Road Warden didn't wasn't the right call to make on any legnth of trek.
Structure
The Road Wardens are organized into a central branch, which oversees the Order as a whole. This central branch is then followed by three separate branches that oversee two distinct variations of their primary directive.
At the center of the Order is the Chamber of Wardens, a group of veteran members, chosen by vote to serve as the ruling body of the organization. The Chamber is made up of fourteen members at all times, chosen by vote of all members of the Chamber. Duties of he Chamber include; reviewing omens and directing the movement of parties, as well as serving as commanders in times when the order comes together in force. When elected to the seat of the Chamber, the Warden relocates to the headquarters where they will serve out their term at the Marble Ward Tower in Val Harem.
The three distinct branches of the Wardens are the Deep Wardens, Vale Wardens and the High Wardens. The distinction is based on where each branch of the Order operates. Vale Wardens are the most numerous and common of the branches to be found in the world as they patrol the roads on solid ground. The High Wardens are the least common as they patrol the skies and require the ability of flight or a winged monut. The Deep Wardens patrol the Cavern World and the places below.
Vale Wardens, as stated earler, are the most numerous and common of the order to be found and interacted with by the common man. They travel the roads on solid ground and hold the various roadsifde outposts. The most common cells of the Vale Wardens are in groups of three or four.
The High Wardens are an airborne branch of the organization as their monicre would suggest. They are most commonly mounted on griffons or hippogrifs, if not large winged birds, but there have been High Wardens who could hoist themselves aloft by wings of their own or other means. They can often be found in mountainous regions, such as Val Harem or the Omyth Spine. It is theorized that these Wardens also frequent the flying cities of the giants in the skies over Ellecrid. Because of the specialized equipment these Wardens have, their cells are often no more than two.
The Deep Wardens have for many years, even after the sealing of the Middle and Deep Caverns, been traversing those deep roads with patrons from the Upper Cavern, as wel as ambitious adventurers from the surface. Because of the higher level of danger within the Caverns, they often cost the most of the orders, look the roughest, and hold the highest rate of failed expeditions. The Deep Wardens are often a dower lot that has only mildly improved since the Cavern Gates have reopened. They have been on the frontline of the reclaimation of the world below. Their cells are often no more than three when escorting travelers, in the wake of the reclaimation, their cells boast closer to twelve Wardens each.
Culture
The Road Wardens often travel in groups ranging from two to sometimes even six or eight. Their travel companions are seen as their closest comrades, perhaps even something of a familial unit. Often times, they are mistaken for adventurers and are therefore paid little mind by the common folk, who assume they are simply passing through, which usually they are.
Wardens will erect makeshift outposts along the roads as temporary camps to keep seldom traveled routes clear of brigandry and lawlessness. More permenent structures, such as keeps or stone towers are rare, often gifts from local lords or at least purchased land and resources through local regimes to erect such structures at key junctions on well trodden routes. Here, all wardens and their parties, should they be accompanying one, can be warmly welcomed into the often jovial atmosphere of these holdfasts.
Public Agenda
Road Wardens seek the security of the roads of the world. Though they are not nearly as common on Kadras and Preydor, Omyth and Mulruch boasts a great host of these dutiful stewards. These hosts travel from place to placxe with anything from a caravan to a single party, dedicated to their safe arrival at their destination. It is the hope of the Wardens to reach all roads of the world, even in the places they are not in great force.
We are the watchers on the roads.
Founding Date
Late Second Era
Type
Military, Knightly Order
Alternative Names
Wardens of the Roads, High Wardens, Deep Wardens, Roadsmen
Training Level
Professional
Veterancy Level
Experienced
Demonym
Wardens
Leader Title
