News Guardians

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" height=90 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" background="04bfd5a3.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>A N W E T H I A</B></FONT><B>    </B><B> |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A N W E T H I A"><B>home</B></A></div> <bR> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I>News Guardians</I></div> <bR> <div> <B>                             </B> Lledrith Guardians                               </div> <div> The Lledrith Guardians are the speakers of the earth, a conduit between those  </div> <div> that cannot speak with those who can. They are advisors to kings and queens,   </div> <div> educators, guardians of magic, a guide in lands where magic is wrought from the</div> <div> earth itself.                                                                  </div> <div>                                                                                </div> <div> History -In ancient times magic was used without thought for consequence or    </div> <div> care for the world. This was to change in 1501 - In Liosliath, Laogarius of the</div> <div> Docartaig clan, who held the southern most lands of Liosliath rallied the clans</div> <div> about his leadership. The first recognized King, a title which over time became</div> <div> Thane, of Liosliath, Laogarius Docartaig lead the combined clans and forced the</div> <div> Cruithne nobles and warriors out of their country.                             </div> <div>                                                                                </div> <div> During the final battles where Garragg, Mordant and Liosliath share borders,   </div> <div> mages on all sides used fire, water, wind. The land and shoreline was brought  </div> <div> to ruin by the massive upheaval of energy. Life teetered on the edge of        </div> <div> oblivion without knowledge from those who had control of it. It was whispered  </div> <div> by the Guardians that the world nearly died. A conclave of magic sensitives,   </div> <div> mages with more knowledge than most, went to King Laogarius and spoke to him of</div> <div> what they knew. He was a wise man, and listened to the sensitives.                             </div> <bR> <div> King Laogarius Docartaig of Liosliath called a council of kings to meet on the </div> <div> neutral grounds of a high plateau with the fledgling Guardians. What is known  </div> <div> is of that councils agreement:                                                </div> <div>                                                                                </div> <div> The conclave of mages would be called the Lledrith Guardians.                  </div> <div>                                                                                </div> <div> The plateau in mid-continent was given for all time to the Lledrith Guardians. </div> <div> The main enclave was called Eavld for its towering oak trees remained free of  </div> <div> any wars from that day forward                                                 </div> <div>                                                                                </div> <div> Laogarius Docartaig agreed that there needed to be a number of men and women   </div> <div> dedicated to the protection of the world, separate from the squabbles of       </div> <div> others, unaffected and unhindered by borders. He negotiated with the other     </div> <div> rulers of Nosizwe and thus was the Lledrith Guardians formed and great was     </div> <div> their responsibility. Theirs is a name that can travel uncontested across the  </div> <div> landscape, for it is part of their oath that they take no part in political    </div> <div> action. Their concern is the protection of the earth and those that must live  </div> <div> on it. To refuse the advice or entry to the Guardians is almost unthinkable,   </div> <div> not because of any threat, though the Guardians are powerful in their own right</div> <div> as mages, but because a wise ruler ignores the health of his or her land at    </div> <div> great cost.                                                                   </div> <bR> <div>                             Rules of the Guardians</div> <div>                              </div> <div> Once the oath of the Guardians is spoken, they forsake any alliance with any   </div> <div> Kingdom. Their allegiance is now with the earth itself, not with any man or    </div> <div> woman declared ruler of it. This is understood by the rulers of the earth, who </div> <div> cannot break such laws set forth by the Council of Kings long ago.             </div> <div>                                                                                </div> <div> The Guardians must never interfere in the political situation of any country.  </div> <div> It is beyond their role as a Guardian, and they are bound by the laws of the   </div> <div> Guardians in this. If a Guardian is found to have interfered, they are cast out</div> <div> of the order by the Council of Masters.                                        </div> <div>                                                                                </div> <div> The Guardians cannot use edged weapons. They can only use staves or other blunt</div> <div> weapons. This is primarily for political reasons. Guardians armed for war would</div> <div> create great unease. And it is often the case that their position within a     </div> <div> country is uneasy, and thus they must take great care that their actions do not</div> <div> jeopardize that. Many Guardians do train with edged weapons but never bear them</div> <div> beyond the walls of their enclaves.                                            </div> <div>                                                                                </div> <div> Relationships are frowned upon in the Guardians. It is considered a distraction</div> <div> from the duties of a Guardian. If a Guardian decides to marry, they will be    </div> <div> removed from active duty and given more prosaic tasks, like teaching. Another  </div> <div> reason for this rule is the production of children. A Guardian is part of no   </div> <div> clan nor kingdom, thus muddying the waters of inheritance. If the Guardian     </div> <div> marries outside the ranks of the Guardians, any child would inherit from the   </div> <div> non-Guardian parent.                                                           </div> <bR> <div>                             Role of the Guardians                              </div> <div>                                                                                </div> <div> The Guardians are responsible for maintaining the balance of energy in the     </div> <div> land. They are able to detect when energy is being drained from the land while </div> <div> magic is being done and if it will throw the balance out, are able to correct  </div> <div> it by carefully manipulating the energy in the area.                           </div> <div>                                                                                </div> <div> Many Guardians can detect which of the elements that a mage is attuned to. This</div> <div> is called sensitivity. It is possible to be a sensitive without having magic </div> <div> ability, and have magic ability without being a sensitive. In this way, they   </div> <div> can swiftly determine who can use magic and who cannot, which is imperative in </div> <div> their investigations and in finding new Guardians to bring into the fold. The  </div> <div> notion of sensitivity is covered in news magic.                                </div> <div>                                                                                </div> <div> They advise rulers on the balance in their land, providing help when needed for</div> <div> when the balance is upset. A ruler will ignore the advice of the Guardians to  </div> <div> their own detriment. The Guardians cannot demand that a ruler follows their    </div> <div> advice.                                                                        </div> <div>                             Entering the Guardians                             </div> <div>                                                                                </div> <div> If a child is found to be able to channel energy so they can use magic, the    </div> <div> Guardians may offer the parents the opportunity for the child to come to them  </div> <div> and be taught. The Guardians are not the only teachers of magic, but they are a</div> <div> resource rich and powerful group. It is considered an honour to be asked by    </div> <div> many kingdoms.                                                                 </div> <div>                                                                                </div> <div> It is a long, grueling time. The child learns much on how to control their     </div> <div> gift. To develop it, to balance everything they do. The earlier they begin, the</div> <div> better. Most children are generally brought to the enclaves around ages 8-10   </div> <div> when their magics begin to develop. They are students of the Guardians, not    </div> <div> Guardians themselves.                                                          </div> <div>                                                                                </div> <div> If the child is found to have the aptitude and attitude necessary for a        </div> <div> Guardian, they are able to take the oath at age eighteen, forsaking that which </div> <div> they have left behind. No longer will their allegiances lie with family and the</div> <div> kingdom.                                                                       </div> <div>                                    Clothing                                    </div> <div> The Lledrith Guardians are recognized by the long robes they wear. Gold silk   </div> <div> lined, plain white linen fabric cut into a formfitting robe, split down the    </div> <div> sides from hem to hip to allow freedom of movement, buttoned up to the neck.   </div> <div> The sleeves are close-fitting, without spare fabric to hinder motion. Gold     </div> <div> embroidery decorates every hem edge. Simple white pants complete the outfit,   </div> <div> either tucked into black boots laced up to the knee or flowing free over soft  </div> <div> white slippers. They carry no edged weapons beyond the walls of the enclave,   </div> <div> though a simple eating dagger might be clinched at the hip. Most men shave     </div> <div> their heads, though some prefer to tie their hair back. Women are similar. Upon</div> <div> the breast of the robe is the sigil of the Lledrith, a stylized design of a    </div> <div> golden tree entwined with the letter L.                                                        </div> <bR> <div>                           Hierarchy of the Guardians                           </div> <div>                                                                                </div> <div> There are three main levels within the Guardians.                              </div> <div>       Top-level, is the Council of Masters. They are a group of six Guardians. </div> <div> They are rarely seen outside of Eavld and have proven with experience and age  </div> <div> that they can lead the Lledrith. Sitting currently on the Council is two women </div> <div> and four men.                                                                  </div> <div>       Mid-level are the advisors for the kingdoms and the leaders of the       </div> <div> special divisions within the Lledrith. For example, the Commander of the Ley   </div> <div> Riders. Each has their own title ascribed by their position.                   </div> <div>       At the lowest level are the Oathsayers. They are sent forth to the       </div> <div> kingdoms to bring back new students, to have feet on the ground and eyes in the</div> <div> courts where there might be none.                                              </div> <bR> <div>                                  Ley Riders                                    </div> <div>                                                                                </div> <div> Sometimes a ruler of a kingdom will request assistance from the Lledrith to    </div> <div> help solve a situation that could potentially destabilize the energy of a land.</div> <div> And example is the Ley Riders.                                                 </div> <div>                                                                                </div> <div> History - The ruler of Garragg, occupier of Liosliath, requested the presence  </div> <div> of the Lledrith to contain the problem of the opening of the ley gateways which</div> <div> only exist in Liosliath. Each of the six gateways open into a parallel world,  </div> <div> through which flows energy and anything else that can fit through if it is in  </div> <div> the right place at the right time. Technology, people, animals...any manner of </div> <div> things.                                                                        </div> <div>                                                                                </div> <div> Thus was born the Ley Riders. When the gateways open four times a year, the    </div> <div> Riders are responsible for containing anything that emerges. Generally they    </div> <div> need do nothing more than balance the energies of the portals. But sometimes   </div> <div> things get interesting.                                                        </div> <div>                                                                                </div> <div> Generally, the Ley Riders enter the gateway to establish that the area is safe,</div> <div> and set up posts and watches so that they are pre warned if anything           </div> <div> approaches. This is the most dangerous part. Several Ley Riders have been      </div> <div> killed while doing this.                                                       </div> <div>                                                                                </div> <div> The Riders have come into contact with many different and wildly varied        </div> <div> civilizations at the Ley Gateways. They have obtained technology that has      </div> <div> helped them do their job and also contained many serious problems that might   </div> <div> have caused a lot of destruction.                                              </div> <div> Since Liosliath is where the Gateways are open, if something comes through the </div> <div> gates that cannot return, the Guardians will make the decision whether the item</div> <div> should be presented to Liosliath, or whether it is too dangerous.              </div> <div> Generally, the people of Liosliath have little awareness as to what goes on at </div> <div> these portals. Certainly, the Lledrith discourage them from coming too near at </div> <div> the time of the portal openings, due to that danger.                           </div> <div>                                                                                </div> <div>           Related topics          <A HREF="news_gateways.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="News Gateways">News Gateways</A>          <A HREF="news_magic.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="News Magic">News Magic</A>            </div> <div>                                                                                         <B>                     </B></div> </td> </tr></table></body>