Posthumous Prologue
Written in 1852 by the late Chester B. Warden; 'The Keeping and Care of Magical Creatures' is a landmark text for many curious young adventurers, seeking to bridge the divide between man and nature. Within its pages is a lifetime of knowledge, gained through arduous and oftentimes painful trial and error; but useful nonetheless as no other author has ever documented so thoroughly the lifestyles of so many extraordinary organisms. To this day, those who devote themselves to his philosophy bear the title of ‘wardens’, likening themselves to surveyors of the world rather than its conquerors. The realm of magic and the animals who inhabit it, present a unique challenge to any mortal who’d dare to brave their territory. One must brace themselves for a life forever teetering on the edge of danger and discovery; to surrender themselves to the unknown, if they’re to have any hope of taming its wonders. For some, experiences beyond their wildest dreams awaits. For others? A most agonizing death. What makes the difference between a successful warden and a mangled corpse are quick wits and obsessive preparedness. Every problem has its solution, every monster has its weakness. Commit enough of this text to memory and you’ll never come up short — and most importantly, never be without your phoenix feather.
A warden’s toolkit is their lifeblood. Not every magical beast will be present danger; those that do, however, can typically be repelled by other mundane or spiritual means. Recall it is never a warden’s place to do harm. We make peace with our fellow creatures before resorting to violence, and in the interest of this peace repulsion supersedes retribution. Your quarterstaff should have affixed to one end beads-of-prayer; warding off demons, undead, and even some familiar spirits. In your satchel is a collection of herbs, minerals and various cuts of dry meat; in case you need to present a meal more savory than yourself in a pinch. Steel-toed boots, for trekking through any terrain. None the least, a bright red neck scarf to be tied about your collar at all times. If action and items fail you, don’t forget that oftentimes your subjects are as intelligent and sociable as you are. Diplomacy may save you yet, if you’ll only learn to deploy it properly. Ultimately, the most valuable tool at your disposal will always be your head; use it or lose it.
The rite of passage for all initiate wardens, is to procure the telltale phoenix feather characteristic of their company. However, it is important to understand the nature of a phoenix before embarking on your quest. First and foremost, stealing the feather is not an option. If merely ‘owning’ a phoenix’s feather provided that invaluable failsafe, then surely they would have been plucked to extinction centuries ago. The feather is a blessing, a gift, something that must be earned through bravery and mutual trust. Once you seek out your mark, spend time observing them from afar; familiarize yourself with their behaviors and routines. Be wary though, as phoenixes only nest in the most hostile regions. If you’re too focused on the goal at hand, you will become vulnerable to the many hazards and ambushes that lie in wait. Should you survive however, you will be one of the lucky few to ascend to the rank of initiate. Happy hunting.
What is a warden?
In times apart, mankind lived in more relative harmony with nature and the world of magic; not as a unified whole but in respectful proximity. The Old Gods ordained through the tongues of shamans and prophets; the realms of faeries and phantoms, of monsters and legends were to be respected, revered and guarded. Only by surrendering oneself to the unknown could one ever hope to demystify its secrets. However as the many ages of enlightenment wore on, so too did tradition wear until naught but stories remained. The elves were driven into the furthest reach of wilderness, the dwarves and gnomes into the highest mountains. Monsters dwelled only in obscure depths or the shadowy corners of civilization, carving out a society all to their own. However no amount of distance can separate the disparate aspects that constitute reality — it was only a matter of time before humanity rediscovered truths most inconvenient.
Cataclysmic magic sundered civilization to the brink of armageddon, a long sequence of terrible wars and supernatural disasters transformed the landscape of life as they knew it. Technology, although still widely applicable, was forced to adapt in both form and function to the new world. From the ashes of modernity, a new frontier would rise; a world populated by hazards and peril the likes of no man had seen. Those who bravely blaze a trail for others to safely follow, risking life and limb to assure mankind never repeats their worst missteps; they are called wardens.
Chester B. Warden was one of many who’d found themselves stumbling in the darkness of the post-apocalypse. The sparse system of telephone lines and vastly separated steel cities, left the young rancher more-or-less stranded in lands gradually reclaimed by wilderness. Forced through circumstance and natural curiosity, he’d make efforts to commune with and understand the supernatural forces gnawing at reality. Aided by a vast library of old word practices and myths, he’d pen a series of manuals to help his recollection. Little did he know, his guide would go on to inspire a burgeoning order of naturalists and specialists. The Warden’s Code was derived from a collection of letters and journal entries he’d written, detailing morality and ideals conducive to their mission. To reclaim forgotten threads of the past, using them to connect with those beings most elusive. To understand ‘monsters’ as we understand ourselves, as humble creatures who must learn to share the Earth before we destroy it.
Vincent G. Mahewu
(Personal character bio: WIP)
Milk_Alts