Forget not the cinders, lest thou be burned.
To the common folk, The Ashkeepers are nothing more than a group of overly superstitious undertakers and gardeners. In truth, humanity has prospered thanks to their efforts to uphold the balance of unseen supernatural forces. They are an amalgamation of ancient druid circles, monster hunters, and those who parley with the spirits of the world. The dangers of old did not respect the borders of human empires, so to adapt to the changing world, they adopted the Dominion guild banner, allowing freedom and authority to act where needed. Due to their dealings with otherworldly beings, many eye this enigmatic guild with suspicion. Members of The Ashkeepers often find themselves at odds with the more traditional members of the Luminist faith and other guilds that push at the boundaries and balance of the world.
For generations, people looked to The Ashkeepers for protection and guidance in anything from navigating fey bargains and demonic deals to seasonal rites and the more mundane trials of grief and loss. Before the Age of Gunpowder, the world was one of tyrannical otherworldly beings, restless undead, and devious trickster spirits intent on causing chaos for human settlements. The Ashkeepers were some of the few with the knowledge and skill to hold back the tide. Though that world is still within living memory for some, many now believe the need for The Ashkeepers has passed. Who needs an outdated rite of safe travel when a compass and modern firepower will surely suffice?
It is the duty of The Ashkeepers to protect and serve from the shadows, and in today's world, this task is more thankless than ever. Initiation to The Ashkeepers is often passed on through mentors and family lines, or to those who have been touched by the misfortune of supernatural torment. They know that it is their oath to keep the old ways alive, their right to walk the sacred paths, and their place to ensure the old powers still sleep. Their duties often involve burial rites and maintenance of sacred sites, spiritual diplomacy, and ensuring that monsters do not endanger human settlements. The guild provides a deeper understanding of the natural forces in the world and satisfaction in knowing that their actions ensure humanity has a place in it.
Guild Structure
The most commonly encountered Ashkeepers are their travelling initiates and hunters known as Seekers. They tend to operate fairly autonomously, either in pairs or small groups. The life of a Seeker is transient, going wherever they are needed, and living on donations as payment for their protection and work. Watchers are more experienced and some take up more permanent positions in towns or cities to act as advisers for both the people there and passing Seekers. They are the ones who keep tabs on the nearby spiritual balance, catching supernatural threats before they eventuate. Watchers have the authority to call a Circle together to deal with a problem, where any nearby members will answer to assist. The title of Speaker is reserved for those most versed in supernatural dealings and are called on in the most dire of circumstances to guide the circle assembled to meet the threat. Speakers convene in secret circles, when the stars and lines align, to discuss matters of the guild, such as what threats the guild should be concerned about, potential new initiates and their trials, and elevations in rank.
People of Note
Azar Khorshid-Zadeh
Though her roots lie deep within the sun-drenched sands of The Dominion, Azar Khorshid-Zadeh has walked the soil of Anderlynd for nearly three decades as a dedicated representative of The Ashkeepers. Long established in her rank as a Speaker, she handles all of her duties with a strict focus on etiquette and traditional ritual. While she often comes across as aloof, enigmatic, and deeply detached, those who take the time to know her speak of her compassion and kindness towards all living things, and her fierce protectiveness to those in her care.
Maeve Orlane
Eldest of the current Speakers, she traveled from Anderlynd to Dussar to set up the first Ashkeeper circle at the desert edge, and has put out several calls for Circles to join her there calming turmoil in the heart of the desert. They were the driving force behind encouraging the group to join the Guild Charter, modernising the keepers structure in order to safeguard their traditions and navigate in a world of swiftly changing religious laws and borders.
Connor Norwen
Keeper of the Eskernes Lighthouse in Anderlynd. Pivotal in the protection of the towns docks during the great storms of 1066, where as a simple Seeker he organised contingents of townsfolk to work in tandem with Kalain Mages to hold the tide at bay until The Ashkeepers circles could calm the forces behind the storm. He was elevated to Watcher not due to his prowess as a hunter, but for his respect within the community and duty to his post. He only ever leaves the Lighthouse once a year to make a pilgrimage to Seahaven, during which time a Circle of Ashkeepers will gather to hold his post.
Gideon de Fontaine
A long serving Seeker of The Ashkeepers. Preferring to work alone he travels from village to village hunting horrors that prey upon the innocent. Though his renown within the guild is significant he has chosen never to move up the ranks, instead keeping to his nomadic lifestyle. He has a reputation for having an unnatural thirst for violence, even going as far as devouring parts of the monsters he slays.