Warder

... the unyielding warrior that never surrenders!

"We bear the weight of need- from those who need us or to satisfy our own needs. As we unite, we protect those who need our strength and valor. That is the first rule of might, written in the ink of ancestral blood. Hone your skills and prepare. You must hold your ground or lose it. Where do you draw the line, Warder?"
— Villager, Source

Frozen lands left little ground for settlers of the early Tribal Nations. Those spaces that preserved Life were also those that saw the most conflict in the ancient Erasof the Ice Age. Finding habitable environments also required answering threats to their survival. Warders were warriors, honed in ambition and discipline, to stand guard and meet those threats with tenacity.
The Warder served an honorable position within a Tribe by protecting their values. This role was not limited to the Tribes as solitary Warders learned to defend themselves in the frigid wastes. Various Warders learned field control through martial technique and a keen Focus Trance. By defining their techniques in martial combat, Warders were among the first organized fighters of the World.

Career & Adventure

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As career fighters, Warders that held community positions were esteemed amongst their Tribe. Warder Bands formed to make small groups of organized individuals devoted to protecting one cause or practice. Other Warders held unique roles in their society.

The combat technique of the Warder emphasizes the techniques gained while attending to service as a Warder. For example, an Aegis Warder may specialize as a body guard while a Grave Warder is one who attended burial sites.

Becoming a Warder

Within their tenure, Warders develop many techniques, but they begin by sharpening their focus. This is done through witness by a mentor, through personal experience, or sheer survival of circumstance. Once this is unlocked, the will to live is strong in the Warder, and that will becomes a need to protect what is valuable to them.
A young Warder learns a few practical skills, such as hunting and trapping. These hunts often build on their experience as fighters, allowing them to blend their instincts for combat and survival to lethality. Warders are most dangerous when they fight not just for a cause but for the safety of their Lives.

Skills & Expertise

Focus Trance

A keen state of focus allows a Warder to perform extraordinary feats in the martial arena. The variable quality of the Warder's profession allows this trance to surface in various ways. A Warder can use these surges of Focus to enhance their Proficiencies or to increase their potency in combat.

Harnessing Focus Trance, the Warder is able to perform a variety of roles outside of a warrior's normal scope. This takes the form of grit and courage, shielding the Warder from harm.
  • Power Trance
    A surge of Power.
  • Vital Trance
    A surge of Vitality.
  • Agile Trance
    A surge of Agility.
  • Poise Trance
    A surge of Grace.
  • Psyche Trance
    A surge of Psyche.
  • Spirit Trance
    A surge of Spirit.

Tools & Materials

Warder's Defense

Warders were as adeptly equipped as they could manage. Furs and hides, reinforced padded armor, and dense shields made the bulwark of a Warder's arsenal. By adopting the practice of wearing armor, the Warder was difficult to defeat in martial combat.
While many enjoy the benefits of using armor in a savage environment, few understood it's advantages as masterfully as the Warders. Whether lightly or heavily armored, a Warder's defense was their best tool in protecting their Tribe.

Purpose & Progression

A Warder initiates their career by training in hunting fields and battlefields, alike. Warders masters defensive fighting by using those skills to their advantage. As others recognize the Warder's martial instinct, they may barter for their services. Warder's made excellent guards, where their keen focus and vigilant watch helped their Tribes. By earning a Tribe's trust, the Warder becomes a valued member of any community. They're the first to answer danger to their Tribe with lethal prowess.
Hardened by numberless battles, the Warder becomes a stalwart ally, meeting many people in their profession. As a Warder grows in reputation, they are called to perform specific functions. A Custodian is one who uses their intense focus to watch over sacred locales, gaining magical power from the practice. A Sentry is an armored, mobile escort or scout. The Warden exemplified the Warder's practice, respected as an elevated position amongst the Warders.

Walk of Life

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Path of Mastery

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Perspective & Social Role

The Warder's presence in early Tribal Cultures contributed to many aspects of early social life. Travelers and settlers enjoyed the protection Warders provide. Their skills were employed by others, forming some of the first commerce transactions around service and employment. Warder Bands also form the first organized groups related not by blood or Tribe but by purpose. They also taught these techniques to their children or those of the Tribe. While the Warder was a common role found in any Tribe, this didn't diminish the importance of their practice.

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Cultural Role & Identity

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Historical Significance

Warder Bands formed fighting orders dedicated to upholding their Tribe's values. These members learned and traded in the secrets of their techniques learned while traveling or guarding hunting parties. Patrols of Warders kept the borders of the Tribe's settlements secure. Against enemy invaders, Warders were the Tribe's most well equipped first and last line of defense.
Conflicts between various Cultures included their Warders, who clashed together on icy fields of peril. Warders practiced formations and organized combat, which made them effective against beasts and raiders. History didn't always recognize the importance of these warriors, but those famous Warders were those who put their lives on the line protecting something they treasured.

Notable Figures & Legends

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Game Integration

WIP- TBD
Class

Archetype:
Combat Class

TTRPG Quick Specs
Base Class:
Can be chosen at 1st Level.
Maxes at 10th Level.
  • Hit Die:
    1d10
  • Best Statistics:
    Power/ Vitality/ Spirit

  • Class Proficiencies:
    List of Proficiencies-WIP

  • Weapon & Armor Proficiencies:
    At 1st Level, Warders receive:
    +2 Armor Proficiencies
    +1 Melee Weapon or
    +1 Ranged Weapon

Advancement: At 10th Level, Class advances:

  • Custodian- Combat/Caster
  • Sentry- Combat/ Covert
  • Warden- Combat


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"As long as we stand, we'll stand together."
— Warder

Profile

Qualifications

To qualify as Warder, one must:
  • Have Fighting Spirit
  • A wish to guard something

Requirements

To become a Warder, one must perform one of the following:
  • Learned to wear Armor.
  • Fight alongside others.
  • Stand watch or guard.

Reputation

Social Role:
Martial Relevance
Guilds & Orders
Social Status:
Common
Demographic:
Favored by:
  • Sijinn
  • Myth Folk

Rank & Titles:
  • Link or Descriptor 1
  • Link or Descriptor 2

Symbolism

Sign & Symbol:
Antlered Helm

Rituals & Customs:
  • Ritual Combat
  • Warder's Trance

Tools & Materials:
  • Long Pole
  • Rations, 2 Days

Arms & Armaments:
  • Hide Armor
  • Wooden Shield, Heavy
"I sleep well knowing a Warder is at the watch."
— Villager, "Source"

References

Mentioned Articles

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Author Bio
Hello! Myth Cross (X)- enthusiast of Art, Games, Music, and Stories; an aspiring Game Dev, Writer, and World-Builder! My mission is to craft immersive, inspiring stories, whether at the table, in a book, or across interactive experiences!

Arc Sagas is my vision of "Deluxe Fantasy"- a living History that moves across Space and Time, evolving with each new expansion! Join the fun of World-Building from the ground up!

I’m also the Founder of Story-Teller’s Circle, a Discord community of World Anvil Writers and World-Builders! We support individual journeys, celebrate milestones, and provide a safe, secure space for developing your ideas and talents. Whether you're seeking improvement or a place to share your work, STC encourages creative growth with the presence of others doing what you're doing- telling stories and defining Life as a Writer!

Contrary to popular belief, STC is not a WA Chapter and therefore, members of Chapters may join! Story-Teller’s Circle and Arc Sagas has helped me grow immensely; it informs my opinion on the power of community to elevate storytelling! Come now- let’s push the boundaries of storytelling, together!

MYTH X
2025
 

Comments

Author's Notes

[color:azure]This is the 8th Article in the March of 31 Tales challenge by Demongrey! I'll be honest, this one was a bit difficult due to ongoing computer issues (it needs a new battery; ironically, it shut off while I was in the midst of writing this v.v). So that is why I didn't get as much done here as I wanted for this challenge. Thankfully, despite this, I was still able to make my word count each day! I still have some more to write for my own personal goals, but this will be the last official Article in the 31 Tales series! I'll be back for updates!

MYTH X


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