Anchor Wardens

The Anchor Wardens: Moord's Groundside Guardians

In the shadow of Moord's floating majesty, a group of elite warriors stands as the last line of defense between the city's salvation and its doom. The Anchor Wardens, guardians of Moord's groundside generators, are the unsung heroes whose sacrifice ensures the city's continued existence above the horrors of Fallen Asha.

Mission and Purpose

The primary mission of the Anchor Wardens is to protect the massive groundside generators that power Moord's gravity anchors. These generators, vulnerable to attacks from the Grey Horde and other threats that roam the wastes, are essential to keeping the floating city aloft. The Wardens operate in a constant state of high alert, knowing that a single moment of failure could spell disaster for the thousands of lives above.

We are the roots that hold the sky-born tree aloft. Without us, Moord would plummet from the heavens, its people cast into the waiting maw of the Grey Horde.

— Warden-Captain Lyra Steelheart

Training and Selection

Becoming an Anchor Warden is considered both a great honor and a death sentence. Candidates are selected from the most elite soldiers in Moord's military, subjected to rigorous physical and psychological testing. The training process is brutal, designed to push recruits to their absolute limits:

1. Survivalist Training: Wardens must be able to operate for extended periods in the hostile environment of Fallen Asha.
2. Advanced Combat Techniques: Specializing in both offensive and defensive tactics against a wide variety of threats, including the Grey Horde and mutated wildlife.
3. Technical Expertise: Each Warden is trained in basic maintenance and repair of the generator systems.
4. Psychic Resistance: Given the threat of Qhuss influence, Wardens undergo intensive mental conditioning to resist psychic attacks.

Only a small percentage of candidates successfully complete the training. Those who do are immediately inducted into the ranks of the Anchor Wardens, knowing they may never see Moord again.

Equipment and Technology

The Anchor Wardens are equipped with the most advanced military technology available to Moord, much of it reverse-engineered from Hazradian artifacts:

• Ironclad Armor: Sturdy and resistant to physical attacks and fluctuations in reality, providing unmatched defense.
• Reality Stabilizer Rifles: Guns that fire bolts of condensed reality, effective against both tangible and ethereal adversaries.
• Temporal Stasis Bombs: Explosives that create temporary time disruptions, slowing or immobilizing foes.
• Psionic Shielded Helmets: Helmets that protect the wearer from mental intrusions and psychic assaults.
• Gravitic Tread Boots: Boots that allow the wearer to manipulate gravity for enhanced movement and agility.

Despite this advanced equipment, the harsh conditions and relentless attacks take a heavy toll. The average life expectancy of an Anchor Warden on active duty is less than two years.

Daily Life and Challenges

Life as an Anchor Warden is one of constant vigilance and hardship. Wardens operate on a rotating shift system, with teams cycling between active defense, generator maintenance, and brief rest periods. The threats they face are numerous and unrelenting:

• Grey Horde Incursions: Regular attacks by undead forces, often in massive numbers.
• Reality Decay: Fluctuations in the fabric of spacetime that can cause equipment malfunctions or physical harm.
• Mutant Predators: Horrifically evolved creatures adapted to the harsh environment of Fallen Asha.
• Psychic Assaults: Attempts by the Qhuss or other entities to manipulate or control the Wardens.
• Environmental Hazards: From toxic miasmas to reality storms, the very environment is often as dangerous as any enemy.

Societal Impact and Recognition

The sacrifice of the Anchor Wardens is deeply ingrained in Moord's culture. Families of Wardens are granted elite status within the city, receiving the best housing, education, and resources available. This honor, however, comes with the near-certainty of losing their loved ones to the mission.
Several traditions have developed around the Anchor Wardens:

1. The Warden's Vigil: A daily ceremony where citizens of Moord light candles and offer prayers for the Wardens' safety.
2. The Ascension Festival: An annual event celebrating the Wardens' sacrifices, featuring parades, feasts, and the induction of new Wardens.
3. The Memorial of the Fallen: A massive monument in Moord's central plaza, inscribed with the names of every Warden who has given their life in service.

We do not weep for our fallen Wardens. We celebrate their courage, honor their sacrifice, and strive to be worthy of the future they have purchased with their lives.

— Mage-Baron Pasht of Moord

Controversies and Ethical Concerns

Despite their revered status, the Anchor Warden program is not without its critics. Some argue that the mission is unnecessarily suicidal, and that more effort should be made to develop automated defenses or find alternative power sources for the gravity anchors. Others question the ethics of glorifying what amounts to a death sentence, suggesting that it manipulates young soldiers into sacrificing themselves.
These debates, however, are often conducted in hushed tones. The majority of Moord's citizens view any criticism of the Anchor Wardens as tantamount to treason, given their crucial role in the city's survival.

The Future of the Anchor Wardens

As Moord's gravity anchors continue to degrade and the threats of Fallen Asha grow ever more dire, the importance of the Anchor Wardens only increases. Efforts are underway to improve their equipment, enhance their training, and potentially find ways to extend their life expectancy in the field.
Yet for the Wardens themselves, the mission remains unchanged. They stand as the silent guardians, the unsung heroes whose sacrifice allows Moord to remain a beacon of hope in a dying world. In the words of the Warden's Oath:

We are the shield that guards the sky, the sword that cleaves the darkness. Our lives for Moord, our deaths for hope. Until the last anchor falls, we stand eternal.