The Wychkeepers
The Wychkeepers, so named for the woods they safeguard and carry responsibility for, is partially the administration surrounding the Wychkeeper Holds, and partially the rangers, druids, and scouts responsible for keeping "evil" fey inside the depths of the Wychwoods as well as trying to keep track of and map the ever-changing landscape of the forest.
Structure
The regular member of the Wychkeepers is somewhere between an administrative worker and a militarised park ranger, tasked partially with working with the individual town councils of the Holds and partially with ranging the Wychwode surrounding that particular town or village. Above them is the Strider of that particular town or village, who organises the Keepers of the area and explorations of the Wychwode.
Those Striders, of which there are 18, then report to the Wychmaster themselves, who is in charge of the organisation itself and functions as the link between Ghearas proper and the semi-independent Wychkeeper Holds. They're also in charge of the testings of new recruits.
Striders also typically, though not necessarily, divide up their keepers into smaller groups and pick one from among their number to be their leader and responsible for what they do.
All of these positions elected from among the Keepers. For the Striders it's on a basis of the rangers of their Hold electing them (though it has to be with the approval of the Wychmaster), and the organisation as a whole does an anonymous vote for the Wychmaster.
Culture
The Wychkeepers are fiercely independent, as can be seen by their reaction to Ghearas repeatedly attempting to cow them, and take their ability to remain independent as a mark of pride. On top of that, they of course have tremendous respect for the nature they carekeep, and one of the few true requirements for joining their number is having a spiritual understanding of nature, though the academical understanding of it isn't a bad thing to have either.
Public Agenda
They maintain the independence of the Wychkeeper Holds, safeguard the Wychwode and safeguard the rest of Ghearas from what might be in those woods.
Assets
The Wychkeepers have about 4,000 members which at least have the capacity to work both in administration and as rangers. While about a fourth of these primarily only work within that administrative area rather than as full-fledged rangers. That still leaves about 3,000 forest rangers trained in some sort of combat, ending up as the second largest, and one of the only, militarily competent forces in Ghearas.
Within the woods they have lodges unaffected by the shifting of the forest to function as landmarks and as respite for travelling keepers. They also have their meeting houses, something between barracks and places of political assembly.
History
See Wychkeeper Holds.
Founding Date
Circa 700 Before Rapture
Type
Geopolitical, Clan
Alternative Names
The woodsmen
Demonym
Keepers/Wychkeepers
Leader Title
Parent Organization
Location
Related Ranks & Titles
Controlled Territories
Notable Members
Comments