The Grave Wardens

The Grave Wardens are comprised of both professional soldiers and convicted criminals who have been sentenced to serve until death. Criminals may be given the choice between the executioner's axe and fighting for the Wardens. The soldiers wear plate armor and wield masterwork steel. The convicted criminals, on the other hand, are given hide and rusty iron weapons, so they have taken to wearing the bones of their undead enemies both as a better armor than moldy leathers and as a symbol of their victories. Most Boneguards have a rough past and are more ruthless and less disciplined than soldiers, but they press on, accepting their fate with grim resignation. They are often sent on the most dangerous missions, with the hope that they will either succeed and earn another day of life or perish in battle. Despite this, they are fiercely loyal to their fellow soldiers and will fight to the death to defend Witherhelm Keep from the undead.

Structure

The career soldiers who willingly join the Grave Wardens for an honorable death act as officers. The convicts however are sentenced to join the Boneguard or be executed, they act as rank and file soldiers.

Public Agenda

The Grave Warden's goal as an organization is to be the Kingdom's breakwater against unending tide, they are the first line of defense, uncounted legions of dead come constantly shambling out of the Balemist into the Kingdom and are immediately met by the Wardens and the Boneguard. The greatest concentration and density of undead come through the same place the Necromancer had 40 years ago, more than everywhere else in the realm combined. The Warden's base of operations is Witherhelm Keep, an imposing citadel built upon a rocky promontory.

History

In times past there was much more honor and prestige associated with serving in the Grave Wardens and the Boneguard, but their embarrassing defeat against the Necromancer's forces at the battle of the Cloven Helm has irrevocably tarnished their reputation. The Wardens once defended the Realm against the undead from their impregnable keep that has stood unconquered for over 1000 years. In those days there was even the Order of Ivory; a gallant order of Pharasman knights that served beside the Wardens. The Grave Wardens have never truly recovered after the crushing defeat 40 years ago at the hands of the Necromancer, far from being seen as an honorable duty now it is seen as a death sentence.