[Shelved][✓] [Xan Addition] Xan's Keepers

[Leric 1097]

Xan's Keepers

Keepers, Vindicators, Itharel; These Champions of Xan possess many different names amongst their kin, yet their divine purpose is universally known to all within the sects of their Aengul. The Champions of Xan are beings derived from the raw divinity and growing strength of the once fallen Aengul of Guardianship and Order. Their knowledge, connection, and raw strength unparalleled by the common Paladin who has had their soul blessed by his deific boon. Disbelieved by many, the Champions of Xan are not creations entirely forged of his will and might, they are typical Paladins, whom from the ever vigilant gaze of Xan have been deemed worthy of the position of his Champion and summoned to his realm in order to undergo the process of their creation.

Herun Athna, Xath was the first amongst the Keepers created during their original era of existence, born unto the world during the period of Athera as the descendants recovered from the brutalizing effects of Setherien. This era was wrought with strife, Harbingers, free of their creators will yet still raking their wretched hand through the realm, the epidemic of wraiths, ghouls, wights, shades  and more malignant creations delivering their reckoning unto man once more. The first Keeper was created out of Xan’s attachment to the Athna line, watching as the effects of mortality and battle wore away at his faithful servant, rendering him weak and unable to serve. Xan sought to rectify such, and through the knowledge of Tahariae and the assistance of his Itharel Daniel Baelish,  the Keepers of Xan were created.

To become a Keeper of Xan one must be aware of the sacrifices of their mortality they must make, very similar in the way a descendant makes the decision to sacrifice their lives for lichdom or wraithdom.  Their souls and body no longer become their own; souls ripped from their very being and instead bound to a Pillar of Binding within his realm that is used as a conduit of sorts to bind their soul to their newly forged bodies.  Their bodies, no longer possessing a soul, which was  taken away and placed into a safe place within his realm where they lie within a trance-like state in order to remain unhindered and devoid of the effects of aging. Xan then begins the process of forging their bodies through a process that was once draining to the recently revived Aengul whom grew in strength with every passing day. Their bodies a creation of the Aenguls very ichor, the coagulated golden substance of his lifeblood that ran through the halls of his realm and ending at a divine forge where the illustrious Golden Lance, slayer of Setherien had been forged.

With their divine bodies forged, they lie dormant with nothing to bring them life, mere husks of his immense power that lack the fuel of one's soul in order to be revived and created anew. With this in need the husk is brought to the Pillar of Binding in which the aspiring Keeper has had their soul bound to; the grand pillar of ivory covered in archaic writing only understandable to the Aengul Xan and those tightly bound to his own will. Amongst the oscillating archaic writings were eligible words, more so names in the common tongue. Many names forgotten to the sands of time, yet some still faintly reminiscent, making it clear that the Aengul did indeed have favorites amongst those who served him greatly. With their bodies brought to the fabled Pillar, the Aengul began the act of binding in which the beings soul inscribed within the ivory construction was bound to the body in a means similar to how one is one is connected with his boon. The awakening of the newly forged Champion of Xan was not imminent, for it took time in order for the soul and mind of the once descendant to form a perfect link with the catalyst of a body to a maximum of a month at most (IG time).  Once the newly born Champion of Xan had awoken, a single name would ring within their names, one that Xan had always prefered to give unto his creations as their Keeper name which he referred to them as.

 

 -=Protectors of the Realm=-

Spoiler

 

                                       
 

 

Unlike their previous iteration, these Keepers are not mainly dedicated to one aspect of Xan (e.g. Guardianship). Instead, they are his entire will incarnate. With the new goal of aiding all of the existing paladins along with steering the future generations, they’re incapable of being tied down to one existing paladin group and meant to aid any paladin that needs it (this should help prevent people getting antsy about how both of the keepers were in one order while the other lacked them).

Keepers of Xan were once dedicated to the Brotherhood of the Golden Lion, and the two Champions given a mantle in which their titled was based upon. One possessing Guardianship, and the other Order.  This is no longer, for Xan’s Keepers are his Champions and direct influence upon the realm, they must visibly possess and uphold the mantles of Order and Guardianship in order to uphold the new roles that Xan has given unto them. Being direct links to both Xan and his realm and given the on and off absence of the Athna line the Aengul has sought fit to bestow new  guides in order to spread his ideals upon the realm.

Being bestowed the role of  Keeper, Keepers are conduits of not only their patrons strength, but also what knowledge he allows them to access. This allowing Keepers to not only directly preach his direct will and ideals, but further spread the tales of their blessed Lord of Sunlight. Further, with the growth of other Orders from the main sect of Paladins, along with the occasional wandering Vindicator, Keepers are no longer bound to the original order in which the Athnas created and were succeeded by later leaders when absent. Now under the Order of Xan himself, Keepers are meant to be neutral amongst the Paladins and their orders, watching closely over those gifted his boon in order to ensure they are both actively and effectively doing their duties.

As Keepers of Xan’s will, their duty is not only to ensure they vanquish evil but also act as guides, teachers, and protectors of Xan’s boon. A Keeper’s duty is to now watch over all Paladins of Xan regardless of their sect in order to ensure they are fulfilling the very duty that their patron demands from them. With this duty, a Keeper when finding a Paladin unworthy of their boon through either abuse, corruption, or failure to uphold their oaths, must either reeducate said offender, or tear his blessing from their soul through disconnection. Further, as a result of this duty and their inaccessible souls, Keepers are incapable of disconnection, an act only possibly committed by their patron in case of the sudden corruption, failure to uphold duties, or other means deemed required by Xan (pk if disconnected for this all).

However, if surrounded by enough users of Fi, or even teachers of Xan for that matter, a Keeper might find the deific connection of their soul to their body effectively silenced and cut. This causing the Keeper to collapse, the body now a lifeless husk of ichor that could be used as its captors saw fit. (Under lore approval the Keeper's body and its magical properties as a result of the ichor could be used for various means)

 

 

 

-=Connection with Xan=-
 

Spoiler

 

All of the Keepers bear a direct connection with the Aengudaemon and are commanded by no one but him. Through this, he is able to communicate and give his creations direct orders, which are then passed along to the rest of the paladins. These orders are absolute and Keepers are unable to ignore them, having to give their entire effort in carrying them out. Only during dire times does Xan directly communicate with his Keepers though. As well, there are rare cases when the Aengul may use the body of his own creation to take over for a limited time and speak directly through the Keeper.

It should be noted among the four Keepers, only one can be the ordained and recognized Prophet of Xan. This decision being made by either the four Keepers themselves who shall hold the mantle, or if left undecided it is the eldest who shall be his rightful prophet. It should be noted that this does not prevent any (excluding Keepers as a result of their binding loyalty) Paladin from contesting the claim or proclaiming themselves as Xan's Prophet.  

 

As a result of this bodily take over, the Keepers body rapidly deteriorates beneath the presence of Xan inhibiting it, despite its godly nature their bodies were not created in order to withstand such immense loads of power coursing through it. Their body from the outside in will begin to gradually deteriorate with every passing moment, gradually growing worse and worse as time progresses until their body is either obliterated or Xan abandons it. The Keeper is then found in a comatose state, incapable of moving, speaking, or drawing upon magic.  It then being relied upon those surrounding to take the Champion to his place of rest, Xan’s Chancery in order to recuperate oneself over a long process of time.

 

 Requires LT permission.

 

 

-=Body and Mind=-

 

Spoiler

 

As the Keeper finally awakes from his slumber he finds himself within his mortal exterior, hands still bearing the very same callouses it had prior to his transition. Making it evident that the Aengul, whilst tearing away most of their humanity, still sought to give them the outward appearance of their true self, yet finding their body honed. The Keeper would almost possess an outward appearance that would be exactly the same as their true self prior to becoming a Keeper if not for how the makeup of their body had been changed, refined, honed, and lacking in any ailment or injuries that had possibly hindered them prior.  

Their bodies, had they not been prior were now at their physical peak, the Aengul demanding the maximum of their potential in order to serve him. Yet lying within them would be nothing similar to their mortal self, or any mortal being for that matter. Their skeleton was set in his ichor, a bone structure of golden crystalline that was hardy and difficult to break. Their blood flowed with the very golden ichor they were created with and their organs were none but existent, innards replaced and filled with their coagulated blood that served as an immense catalyst of deific power. As a result of their magically created bodies, Keepers find themselves immune to the mortal vulnerabilities of poisons and curses. Despite lacking any proper digestive system or organs, a Keeper still required to eat and drink, the foods and liquids being broken down by the ichor within them in order to fuel their bodies. Not only were their souls both sharpened and empowered with their Aenguls will, but their bodies acted as catalysts in order to perform feats of magic that the average Vindicator would find themselves incapable of.

With the creation of this ‘perfect’ champion that Xan sought out, their power did not come without a loss in their sense of humanity. Even those whom were once Keepers would have their sense of morality still dulled as a result of how their soul had been abused, yet not as worse as it had once been. The active Keeper of Xan finds themselves lacking in emotion, the simplest and primitive nature of beings soul finding itself dulled as a result of the strength that coursed through it. Though the Keepers are unable to feel common levels of emotion as a result of their dulled sense of morality, they are burdened however with what is known as ‘burst’ emotions. Occurrence very rare to see and often triggered by a dramatic event. An emotion most commonly seen is rage though other emotions such as sadness, despair, and happiness are capable of being enacted as well.

(Note this is debatable and if people don't like it I'll gladly remove it. I just think this is a nice addition that makes sense as a result of their ichor) Due to the ichor residing within a Keeper and their lack of organs, empyreal, vein like strands of crystalline run through their bodies akin to synthetic muscle. At a sacrifice of increased stamina loss and the draining effects once ended, a Keeper of augmenting their physical trait of strength through fueling these very veins of crystalline with Xan's magic. Should a Keeper choose to empower their strength they would be the equivalent to the average Orc. Further, when a Keeper commits to augmenting whatever portion of their body (if not all) through this technique, it is made evident through the intensely golden glowing veins running throughout their body. Should the Keeper be in armor, a faint golden glow would emanate throughout it; leaking through the crevices of their armor.    As a result of consistently fueling their own magic into themselves in order to empower their strength, their stamina would deteriorate rapidly, making any act performed three times as draining upon their physical body. Further, this ability cannot be done midstrike for it requires the Keeper a few moments of unhindered focus in order to channel Xan's magic through themselves. Afterwards, not only does the Keeper suffer the physical fatigue of this but they're also incapable of manifesting spells for any means including fueling enchantments for the remaining encounter. 

 

As how many die, if a Keeper were to perish in battle their bodies would not be returned to the monks simply as a result of being a creation of their Patron. Instead, Xan repeats the process of binding, creating a new body for the Keeper to have their soul linked to. However with each death (rp death), there are consequences. For a soul to be used over and over, bound to body after body, the drawbacks are initially faint, but with each death grow increasingly worse. Their emotions and sense of morality dulling more and more until they become similar to emotionless constructs such as golems, or archons. Further, merely because a Keeper is blessed with the ability to be revived does not mean that they can willingly kill themselves or find death. If one were to do that, Xan would take it as both insult for his gift and a display that the person is inadequate of fulfilling their duty, causing him to rather brutishly remove their soul from the pillar so that it may seek true death within the soul stream.
 

Due to the state of their body and their soul belonging to Xan, Keepers are in a state of contractual immortality. Should they somehow go against the Will of Xan, their souls will be torn asunder and the Keeper will perish (PK).

 

 

 

-=Abilities=-
 

Spoiler

 

As a result of the Keeper being created from Xans very lifeblood they are catalysts of  his deific power which allows them access to a far larger pool of mana to draw upon in comparison to the normal Paladin. Keepers are beings of Light that are capable of immense feats of their patrons magic, allowing them to utilize both of the combat subtypes, Vindicator and Wyrmstalker at their will.  Among these immense feats their abilities known prior to people whom have witnessed Xan’s Champions in action are now defunct, incapable of being used in suit of a new arsenal that their patron believes will suit their new role.

Despite their immense finesse with Xan’s magic, Keepers, just like their lesser counterparts are still capable of healing yet not designated for the act. As a result, Keepers no longer possess the Cleric-tier healing they once had and their only benefit is the increased proficiency in order to heal themselves. The thick, slow moving ichor dripping from an open wound able to be coerced back into their bodies once more provided it not be tainted by any impurities considered uncleanly such as dirt, or more advanced magicks such as Fi’ or any forms of magical taint. The ichor being used to easily replace skin and bone as it is the very makeup of their body. This allowing Xan’s Champions to heal themselves to a moderate degree at the literal cost of their power, sacrificing an appropriate amount of the ichor within their bodies for new skin and bone. Whilst it is fatiguing depending upon the various injuries, for a Keeper to do this in combat it would require a moderate span of time in order to replace their skin and bone. (Two emotes for gashes and mild open wounds, three to five for small breaks or fractures) When it comes to extreme wounds such as large gaping wounds, or an entire set of bones being broken the Keeper must return to a Chancery in order for their bodies to heal. Due to the nature of their body, no amount of healing from any sect of magic besides Xan and a Keeper is capable of healing themselves.

Lion’s Roar - Keepers have always possessed an aura of calming and warmth similar to the effects of Xan magic that surround them by only a mere few feet. With a courageous battle cry or prayer to Xan being required one may expand this aura to a maximum distance of ten meters (ten blocks) and immediately affect all those nearby whose minds are not barred by voidal magics. Those who find themselves enveloped within this aura will be struck with a wave of calm and warmth, banishing any panic or worry they might have held. After the aura expands fully it quickly dwindles and dissipates,  yet the effects of the divinity that had touched them linger for five minutes (five emote rotations).

The Guardian’s Aegis - The Keeper is capable of summoning a thinly veiled expanse of Xan’s mists, spreading out ten meters (ten blocks) in all directions from the point it was casted. Within the expanse of golden mists those within it find themselves protected from any sort of attack from the dark arts or any bestial form of dragon fire.  However as a result of the magics nature, any tainted beings whom find themselves within this field of defense will find themselves covered in irritating itches, as if one had ran through a field of poison ivy. The effect would not be enough to hinder nor harm them, but capable of nullifying any tainted casting to a small extent. Whilst the spell has been casted, the Keeper finds themselves vulnerable, incapable of any form of combat and only capable of moving at a sluggish pace in order to move the spell if needed. The stronger the taint and the longer the spell is held  per minute (per emote)  the more difficult and taxing the spell is to hold.

 

Xan’s Judgement - Xan has given Keepers an ability to further fulfill their secondary purpose of overseeing all Paladins and ensuring there is no corruption or failure of duties rife amongst them. The Keeper is granted the ability to grasp upon a Paladin with their hands, and similar to one might disconnect a person capable of grasping their connection to him and bending it to Xan’s Will, capable of forcing them to confess their sins solely in regards to Xan’s Doctrine. These duties revolve around his basic tenets of Order and Guardianship; Any Paladin who has knowingly brought harm to a descendant not of malicious intent, failure to slay users of the malignant that have brought harm to descendants, working with those of the Dark Arts or ill intent towards the descendants, aiding dragonkin in a manner that is harmful to descendants and more (to the discretion of the LT to prevent any abuse/corruption amongst Keepers).

 

Divine Travel - Utilizing a majority of their energy, the Keepers are able to create a portal leading to Xan’s realm. Those that stand within the ritual area are able to be ported as well, but at a cost. For mortals aren't meant to travel to such places, the patron would cast those intruders out if he so choose. The ones casted away awaken where they were last placed. Those mortals allowed to stay are immediately hit with extreme fatigue and in most cases collapse from the trip. Keepers suffer less as their minds are invigorated with the warmth and power that radiated from their true home. Their bodies however suffer great fatigue, capable of walking yet incapable of strenuous activities beyond such, making combat immediately after traveling impossible. It should be noted that the portal is only possible to be created within a Chancery where ones connection to Xan is strongest. It should be noted, in order to prevent 'pocket realms' of the sort, Keepers are incapable of travel to Xan's realm without proper reason (LT discretion/events). 

Last Stand - The Keeper creates a semi-solid sphere of golden mists that only encompasses his/her body similar to a Vindicator's shield that vibrates intensely.  Each and every particle amongst the millions surrounding its caster remaining poised and ready in order to absorb any ranged blows varying from dark arts, voidal magic, or projectile weaponry and sending them back at the user.

This spell requires three emotes to create, though is capable of being casted and used in the midst of combat depending on the amount of duress the Keeper is under. The longer it is used, to a maximum of five emotes the more exhausting the spell becomes. Further, any abilities or spells being actively used by the keeper (including enchanted weaponry) cannot be used during the shields duration for both its sheer amount of focus and the possibility of any other sources of magic from within disrupting its delicate formation. This spell is incapable of reflecting any melee delivered blows due to the spells nature meant to be forcing ranged attackers to engage in melee combat with the caster.

(Optional) A roll chance is decided on how the spell deflects the attack. The attacker rolls out of three, 1 = deflecting and hitting an object nearby with half the force of impact, 2 = wildly bouncing off the shield and hitting somebody nearby if applicable at full force (if inapplicable nobody is hit and it hurtles itself into a nearby object, if several people are applicable the closest to the shield is hit) , 3= the projectile is redirected directly back at it’s attacker with half of its original force.

Mist Manipulation - In addition to the Keepers new arsenal, they are granted the ability to weave the mists of Xan in order to create images, pictures, and even three dimensional objects that are notably malleable, incapable of being used for combat. This ability being used solely to complement the teaching aspect of a Keeper, allowing them to tell Xan’s tales or their own in a far more immersive manner in order. The aesthetic capabilities are as infinite as the Keepers imagination, yet in no possible way is this to be used in any sort of combat scenario as a result of the focus it requires to weave each individual particle out of the thousands to create shapes, images, and objects.

 

-=Seekers of Xan=-
 

Spoiler

The Seekers are students of Keepers and are the process in which future Champions of Xan are created to a maximum of only four being possible. These students study closely beneath a Keeper, much like how a squire tends to a Knight in order to learn their duties. Seekers can be chosen amongst those blessed with Xans boon, or even those who have not but show extreme potential in the eyes of the Keeper.  These pupils are taught to the discretion of the Keeper though closely monitored by the eyes of their Patron himself, ensuring his future Champions are being taught properly.  Once chosen, the pupils must vow their lives to both the Keeper and Xan, unable to do no ill will, harm no descendant, and refrain from any form of corruption. Failure to uphold these values will not lead to death, but immediate removal of both their disconnection (if applicable) and exile from the Paladins. Only under extreme cases, such as being corrupted to a point incurable  will these pupils be given the punishment of death for their failure. It should be that these Seekers hold no additional power nor title amongst the Paladins, being merely seen as students similar to any other.

A Seeker of Xan does not finish their training for several years, decades if possible, their entire lives dedicated toward the purpose of becoming a Keeper of Xan, future guides for Paladins and Champions of their patron. When a pupil, to the decision of the Keeper finishes their training and a position is open, a grand trial is given unto them by Xan himself(This trial being created and designed by those who play Keepers and their LT/MT leads if applicable). If no positions amongst the four Keepers are possible, the pupil when finished with their training must decide whether or not they shall continue beneath the study of the Keeper. If the pupil chooses not to, they abandon their vows and are incapable of becoming Keepers yet are allowed to continue on as Paladins of Xan.

 

-=Chanceries=-
 

Spoiler

 

A blessing placed upon the realm by the Aengul and his charge, Chanceries are sacred places on which connections are able to be made to receive the gift of patron himself. Within these pools are blessed waters from Xan’s realm. The creation of such places requires a vial of the blessed waters and either several Keepers/Paladins. A ritual is performed by placing the waters from the vial into the pool and infusing it with a large amount of Xan’s Mists. When a Keeper has been extremely injured or in need to recover from exhaustion, they must rest within the chancery to recover. Being attacked while in chancery is quite plausible given the vulnerable state of the Keeper, however strange occurrences are possible to happen in defense of the champion. (Requires LT permission and oversees the event) It should be noted that Keepers, or any Paladin bound to Xan will find their connection stronger within his Chancery, as it is the one place where one might find themselves as close to Xan as possible without traversing to his realm. This allowing Xan’s vindicators to defend their most sacred of places in times of siege or when found threatened.

 

 

Red Lines/Restrictions

 

 

Spoiler

 

• Lion’s Roar cannot be used as means of detecting or seeking out those of tainted or corrupted nature.

• Xan’s Judgement will only cause paladins to speak their sins in regards to Xan’s doctrine in which the crimes are listed in the spell.

• Judgement requires physical contact, it can not be done from a distance or orbital canon’d.

• 4 Keepers can exist at any given time, starting out with the initial two prior to their shelving.

• Fi magic is very effective, capable of removing a Keepers tethered soul by canceling the magic present from their possessed body

• If four positions within the Keepers are full (or the only ones present) any inactive for two weeks or longer without reason (irl issues etc) the Keeper is removed from their position and a new one takes their place.

• Divine travel can only be used as a means to travel to Xan’s realm, and when returning find themselves within the Chancery nearest from where they had initially departed.

• Mist Manipulation cannot be used for any combat means, a spell created purely for added flavor to roleplay.

• Seekers are granted no extra abilities beyond the base connection to Xan, they are merely students of Keepers that possess the same strengths and restriction to one path as any other Paladin is.

• Guardians Aegis is mostly effective against threats outside or encroaching upon it, users within would only find themselves slightly hindered by the itch lingering upon them but still easily capable of casting.

• A Keeper's bone structure and skin is just as strong as that of a descendants, nothing hardier nor more resilient.

• Judgement cannot break past mental wards.

• Any interaction with Xan, be it visions or direct control of the Keepers requires LT permission and the ones allowed to play Xan present.

• Chanceries are the only means for a paladin to be connected.
• Chanceries cannot be used to 'recharge' a Paladins pool of mana, if they are exhausted they must regain it through normal means.  

 

 

 

(lerics note rep me pls)

Credits

Writing: Leric
Aid in writing and ideas: Delmodan and Flamboyantnoodle
Original Lore: Tsuyose/Heerozero
Ability suggestions/balancing: Leric, Delmodan, and Flamboyantnoodle.

 

[Ford 1990]

overpowered and gay 

 

very nice work 

 

+1

[ScreamingDingo 16990]

lol don't give tristin his keepers back so he's in a permanent state of agony thanks

[excited 10833]

Quote

n and those tightly bound  to his own will.

 

forgot something kiddo

[Eandyil 92]

You make me want to be a pally, sir.

[Leric 1097]

3 minutes ago, Aerial "The Wroth" Kebabu said:

 

forgot something kiddo

fixed, ty

[- Pastry 931]

muh lightwells

[excited 10833]

put 'wraithdom' instead of wraithhood, sounds neater 

[Ixli 1471]

6 minutes ago, Magicpastry said:

muh lightwells

We're all doomed.

[Leric 1097]

An addition was made to the 'Body and Mind' section which feedback could be used for! Thank you!

[The Templar 195]

The salt must flow! .. In all seriousness, it's been as fairly balanced as it can be, without sacrificing accuracy regarding their nature. +1

[JEEGK 1267]

Honestly ******* love it, great work, Pal.

 

+1

[LordCommander 163]

Honestly, if I wasn't a Ascended, I would totally be a Paladin...but damn this is Badass. Great work!

 

+1

[Drop Koala 332]

I don't really know the lore before it was changed but seem's pretty good from my point of view
+1c

[Killmatronix 103]

+1