Keepers

Keepers are known for their ability to cast complex rituals, usually used for monitoring, maintaining and rebuilding the barrier around the Misty Vale against the Grimmfell. The general qualification is usually just graduation from the rank of Acolyte, which ensures that the Keepers in question have full understanding of the rituals magic needed. Other than that, Keepers are capable of more difficult healing spells, using a complex series of herbal remedies combined with magic. While some Keepers are capable of combat magic like Wardens, they are generally known for their healing and ritual magic.

The Keepers are ranked from highest to lowest in the following order.

• Exarch of the Divine Leaf

• Prelate of Flowers

• Deacons of the Seedlings

• Lorekeepers

• Acolyte

Acolytes are the novices in training rank of the Keepers, the Lorekeepers are the first formal rank of Keepers. The progression through the ranks though is not strictly linear. While experience, devotion and service to the Order and Kingdom, as well as magical skill (especially in rituals and healing) are important, the biggest factor is the life-scoll that all Keepers receive when they gradute. The life-scroll is the text, describing the lifepath that each individual Keeper should maintain. Some may become Prelates, others Deacons, and a few may be given tasks that requires them to be Lorekeepers for life. It is considered ill-advised to betray the path set out in the life-scoll, and when a Keeper deviates from the path laid out, they will receive dreams that nudge them back to the correct way.

Keepers do not own any personal property, and receive no monetary stipend from the treasury. Rather, all basic necessities they need in life are already given by the Order. Even for traveling Lorekeepers, who usually do not have a Sanctuary to call home, the reputation of the Keepers itself is usually enough to ensure they are welcomed warmly in any settlement and given a comfortable place to stay.

The forerunners of Keepers were cats who while alive, resided in shrines, monestaries, or temples, often learning alongside the priests of the various shrines. They usually helped guard the shrines or temples they were a part of, and after entering the spirit world, many continued to watch over the living world. During the First War of the Realms, they focused on healing and researching many rituals, some borrowed from humans, to placate the more vengeful spirits and gained a degree of success. The ones who initially followed Asir became the initial group of Keepers of the Order, tasked with documentation and continuation of the rituals.   The initial rituals used to help guard the barrier were trial and error experimentations, drawn from multiple sources both in the spiritual and the living world. It took several decades, and a significant number of Keepers' lives, to solidify the practical rituals that continue to this day. The Rite of Flames was only consolidated around 410 of the Eighth Era. And only through the years leading up to the Second War of the Realms, did all the rituals and ceremonial magic necessary to boost the barrier.   The training of Acolytes also took about 100 or so years to formalize, as the initial formation of the Keepers involved more tasks in keeping with the barrier magic. Initial Keepers were not only good ritual casters, but also good combat magic users, often fighting alongside Wardens at the borders. The current structure of Acolyte training was only standardized around 500 Eighth Era, and improved over the later years to the current structure.