The Warden's Hold

[Allanon Creel]

''The Hold and its people's primary concerns are devoted to the preservation of the life, the search for knowledge and above all, the respect of the sacred forests of the Deep Woods- The Forests of Light in particular, as with each new duke and duchess, the citizens renew their vows to keep the order of the forests to the best of their capability.''

"The Wardens're hardly given recognition for it, yet act it nonetheless, as the enclosure of ignorance around Darasum; Keeping the wars petty and the eyes closed to what knocks on our door each day"

"Heed not those that you see and speak of as people of different race; see him not as strange of complexion or her as one of differing nationality; see him as a brother, treat her as a sister, for only united can we hunt and hold back the growing number of alien monstrosities that bypass the forest's guardians."

- Sayings of the Dukes



Warden's Hold, a small town surrounding an easily defensible castle a ways off the main route along the northern section of the Deep Wood, the Hold began as a collective effort on behalf of the nomadic people in the central area of Darasum to set up roots and to settle down in. The people, acknowledging that none among them was of royal or divine blood decided to not elect a king, thus hey never acquired their own kingdom, despite their unique distinction from all other peoples. The founders made an offer to the at the time powerful Axon nation to help get off the ground, that an Axon Duke would have influence on specific matters in their council and to other nations appear as a figurehead. The figurehead section was an added temporary piece for at the time Axony had needed a bluff of power to intimidate a surrender to fuel its growth and 'possession of the Hold' was just the necessity. They also added that Axons could have free housing and food within Warden walls, yet under no circumstance could they house their own troops within the walls, unless it be to the defense of the Hold, should men be available. The founders also asked that in exchange for the consistent accommodations they offered, should their people experience financial aid Axony would supply small bail-outs. Yet as Axony's power dwindled and it was unable to freely distribute large sums of currency while at the same time the duties of the Dukes and Duchesses gained reputation and respect, different kingdoms and organizations signed the "Keeper's Pact", ensuring relief sums divided among the parties to sustain the required amount by the Keepers to maintain their usefulness.


The Dukes and Duchesses of the Administrative Duchy have never been as their titles state they are, as the first duke was the first and last. Rather, after the first duke's success at aiding the quick development of the foundations and the agreement that there would seem control over the Hold by Axony they kept their elected leader named the Duke, though even after Axony had diminished in power and size the Wardens had developed a fondness for the title as it had been dukes who'd shaped the habits and development of the city itself. The governing style is considered by many odd in its mix of republican and sovereignty in that an elected member of the council become 'Duke/Duchess' and their line then become dukes and duchesses until either the line be halted or enough dissatisfaction among public and council cause a re-vote, yet it is a system that for the citizens has not failed them. The Duke or Duchess upon election must swear a service to the forests after death as Keepers; their responsibility to risk the obliteration of their souls after death in the defense against the consistent invasive demons using the thin borders of realms in the regions of the Fae as a doorway to Darasum via its Deep Woods. This is the normal case, yet twice there has been instances where the forests spawned or summoned elected guardians to join the cause, having the ability to travel outside the limitations of the forests to do what be required of them. Only once in history though, was there such a time of crisis, being the time of the Dread Father's return was it necessary for multiple Keepers to be awakened, as the norm is a single Keeper for the entire Woods. For their sacrifice and service, the city had been blessed with two Lambent saplings by the forest, the only pair dropped and the only two ever seen, around the time of the 4th Duke that were planted flanking the entrance to the Hold's walls. They grew within a turn of the moon, both rising to the towering height of 80ft, sembling into the form of two Keepers, one a man and one a woman, both cowled and in mail looking down upon the entry; as gigantic and silent sentinels to those who enter the Keeper's domain.

The citizens of the Hold interact as a family or as a whole, farmers charge fees yet should another be unable to afford to necessity would not turn the unfortunate to their fate, tailors commonly patch torn clothes for their neighbours for no fee, yet what the citizens themselves are most known for is their healers and medicine. A law of the Warden's Hold implied in its early years made it a duty of its people to offer medical aid to any to enter within its walls that require it, to some minimal extent at the least, that includes all of its citizens. The Warden's Hold educational system ensures all its educated are knowledgable in herbology and biology as well as other courses of choice, with a forced 7 years minimum of schooling, as well as offering schooling for all and any free of charge. The funding for all the free things offered to and from its people is covered by the Keeper's Pact, which, to the ignorant seems ridiculous, for an entire city to be covered by one pact, yet for any kingdom's financial advisors the fee of covering 400 peasants and minor nobles the odd occasion every few years is seen as hardly anything.


-
- Keeper Jourund Heithshire II