The Cheeseguard

A proud tradition

This article was written for Summer Camp 2024. Therefore it is unpolished and lacking formatting and information. Feel free to comment with any questions or requests for clarification.

The Cheeseguard have existed for as long as the people of the town of Keld have been making the keldsir cheese they are famous for. Their purpose is to guard the cheese caves. When the caves first began to be used for storing cheese around seven hundred years ago, guards were not part of the equation, but they were implemented after a rash of cheese thefts. To this day, the people of Keld suspect one of the neighbouring towns, but they have no proof.
For much of its history, the Cheeseguard was a group of men that kept guard of the entrance to the cave, one at the top of the cliff near the hidden cliffside path, and one at the bottom near the entrance to the cave itself. They worked in six hour shifts, keeping watch for any nefarious cheese thieves. They also became lookouts for pirates, able to warn the town if pirate ships were spotted prowling off the coast. In more modern times, the role has been largely ceremonial, propped up by centuries of tradition. One of the oldest traditions is that, after their shift, the Cheeseguard get a free drink in the town's tavern, The Lucky Duck.
However, during the recent civil war, the Cheeseguard were integral to the safety of the townsfolk who took shelter in the caves from the violence that was sweeping the country. Instead of guarding cheese, they were guarding people's lives.