Deinar Russet on the Warden

Excerpts from the writings of Deinar Russet, c. 1310

DEINAR RUSSET ON THE WARDEN (an extract)

"The Warden is not a widely known deity. Indeed, scholars of the widely practised religions will no doubt be accusing me of making him up in their minds as they read this work. Let me assure you he exists - enough people recognise his existence and believe in the causes he advocates for his continued existence. This work is not intended to see the light of day...though I imagine when I die it will find it’s way into the dark recesses of some library or other, or perhaps into a collection.

"But I digress. The topic on hand is the Warden, a deity whom I follow - not as a worshipper, you understand. The relationship between the Lost God and his wardens is more of an employer-employee relationship.

"This unassuming deity wants nor needs any worshippers - the fewer that know his existence, the better. His few followers, known as wardens, don’t worship him - he treats them more or less as equals, never ordering them to do anything - he has never had to, as the wardens, know that any task asked of them is important and just, and thus a worthy cause.

"The Warden’s original portfolio became redundant many hundreds of years ago, and since then he has been quietly observing Gaera. Only now is he making his presence truly felt - the majority of his wardens have been recruited within the last few generations.

"Wardens are recruited from all walks of life, but nevertheless posses three things in common - a kind heart, a sense of justice, and the strength of will to do what is right and just. They currently number just over a hundred members worldwide. Usually, another of their number with the Warden’s permission swears in each warden (though the Warden himself tattoos them), and they must learn and swear to adhere to, as best they can, the warden’s code, which is as follows:

• Never hesitate to do the right thing.
• Always be willing to sacrifice for a cause that you believe in.
• Never abandon a worthy cause.
• Recognise the difference between righting a wrong and committing yet more injustice, and be able to act on this knowledge.
• Put the lives of innocents above your own.
• Never compromise your adherence to the code for personal gain.
• Be prepared to take on the causes of others, even when you have your own to see through.
• Treat others with the same respect you expect from them, even if that respect isn’t returned.
• Always judge in a wise and just manner.
• Never lose faith in the code, the world and the people around you, and most importantly, yourself.

"There are two types of warden: I term them active wardens, who tend to have martial and/or diplomatic skills, and actively work to fulfil their duties, and inactive wardens, who fulfil their duties as and when situations come up, rather than going to look for causes to pursue. May inactive wardens have jobs that require them to stay in one place.

"Wardens work alone, for the most part. Occasionally a group will get together, but it doesn’t happen frequently - because few wardens fulfil their duty in the same areas, more than anything else. When wardens do meet they recognise each other by way of the wardens’ tattoo and the warden’s salute.

"The tattoo takes the form of a tiny black image on the fleshy part between index finger and thumb. There are three, two for active wardens, and one for wardens that are inactive.

Active wardens’ tattoos:

• a hawk superimposed over a rose.
• a mongoose shaking a snake’s tail with one paw (this tattoo was recently introduced after the angel Enlil’s recruitment into the ranks. From that point on, all wardens who rely on diplomatic abilities wore this tattoo).

Inactive warden’s tattoo:

• a dragon curled around an egg.

"Should a warden’s role ever change, his or her tattoo should change to reflect their new role.

"The tattoos have another purpose - to alert the warden to the fact that either another warden or the Warden himself requires their aid.

"The warden will be alerted to the fact that he should check his tattoo by a warmth spreading through him with the tattoo as its point of origin. This same warmth is felt when the tattoo is originally placed on the warden, and it is a feeling not soon forgotten.

"If the tattoo is glowing white, the Warden has need of them, and they should do their best to reach his location.

"It the tattoo has been replaced by an arrow, there is a warden, somewhere in the direction that the arrow is pointing, that requires assistance, either generally, or specifically from a certain warden. The clearer the arrow, the closer the warden.

"If the arrow is red, the warden seeking aid is in a life or death situation. In all truth, this is rarely helpful - few wardens possess the ability to reach their comrade in time to make any real difference. By the time they reach the area, the warden who called them will either be dead or not. On the other hand, wardens have been returned to safety after being near critically injured because they had the sense of mind to call for aid. At the very least, it allows other wardens to recover their body for an honourable burial (or cremation, etc., depending on the warden’s preference).

"A warden activates this call by pressing a thumb to the tattoo. Doing the same again revokes it. If the warden who activates the call does before revoking it, the summons remains active until their body is recovered or the Warden himself revokes it.

"The warden’s salute is a method by which a warden can make himself to known to an individual he or she suspects is also a warden, when for some reason their tattoo is concealed.

"The warden places his or her tattooed hand to their opposite breast, palm down, fingers splayed, to allow a clear view of their tattoo, then presses a thumb to the tattoo while thinking of the suspected warden - thusly invoking the call. If they are indeed a warden, by now they will know they are in good company and will reveal their own tattoo.

-- Blaze Yamato Spirit