The Final Strife

The land we stand on was once barren—stripped bare by the Ending Fire. Until the founding wardens arrived and blessed the soil, birthing the home we call the Wardens’ Empire. As you eat your meals, give thanks to the founding wardens who have taken their place next to Anyme in the sky.

Appreciate the home you have in life. And the home you will earn in death.

—Abosom blessing the guests on the great veranda on the Day of Descent

To mark the trials that are to come, let me tell its tale. Back to the start. Back to the beginning, when the founding wardens set sail.

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Before they were wardens, they were leaders, and before they were leaders, they were captains of ships.

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As captains, they led the survivors of the Ending Fire to the land that we call home.

Eight ships left the mainland, as down, down, down rained the Ending Fire.

Down, down, down, down.

Drowned!

Less than a thousand survived the journey to the ground beneath our feet.

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As leaders they built an empire on the backs of Ghostings and Dusters, using their whips and runeguns to keep them working.

Crack, crack, crack, crack.

Cowed!

Though you can’t see the blood, it’s there, blue and clear, in every whitestone brick. In every building near.

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As wardens they claimed their power and assembled the guilds to maintain order, prosperity, and peace.

Truth, duty, strength, knowledge.

Empire!

The only land left in the world, not destroyed by the Ending Fire.

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But power among Embers is a volatile thing, blessed as they are with bloodwerk. So one day other Embers rose up from their villas and asked, “Who are you to hold dominion over me?”

The four wardens emerged from their Keep.

“Because I am the strongest,” one said.

“Because I am the most honorable,” said another.

“Because I am the most trustworthy,” the third acclaimed.

“Because I am the cleverest,” added the fourth.

They lay claim to the four attributes most revered by the God Anyme.