Homebrew Warden Species Details

The Wardens are a peculiar anomaly. They claim to be normal humans in service of the gods, but they seem to be more than that. What is referred to as a “normal” human is a relatively average humanoid that, if our ancient history is correct, was created as a weapon against the hordes of Chos but were punished and weakened by the gods after the war was done. Despite this punishment, believed to have occured to all humans, the Wardens match the description of the ancient humans and old heros of legend.

Averaging a height of about 6’4” and a weight of 200 pounds (mostly dense muscle) the Wardens often tower above any other race. The tallest seen among them, their Warden Commander, is a monsterous 8”2”. Other Wardens have been seen to reach 7 feet tall but not usually over that. Their physical abilities match their monstrous stature. With any normal, even citizens, Warden being able to lift about 200 pounds with relative ease, some with one arm. But their other abilities don’t fall behind of their strength. Matching their natural insane strength with even their average wizards often being stronger, in magic, than the masters in the Mage’s guild. Their overall prowess seems to be directed from the gods as they are, according to them, to be sworn to defend their creations in the underground tunnels and keep evil at bay. There are some Dwarven legends, that with this new information when their lost city was discovered, match the descriptions of the Wardens. Giant humanoids with monstrous speed and strength seemingly with skin of shining diamonds (the diamonds referred is most likely their crystal blue virtol armor).

The Wardens, after Chos was close to being defeated, left to pursue the Spawn of the Void underground. The Spawn couldn’t be sealed in the enherintly magically created demon realms as they lack the required souls and natural magics. So the Wardens pursued them in an effort to destroy them once and for all or at least keep them in check and away from the peaceful folk above. They established five cities: Ward, their capital and vital mine of the god’s blood, Virtol.; Engi, the creator of wonders and science.; Sasra, home of the theories of magic and its deepest secrets.; Milit, training grounds of their warriors and their great armory.; Agria, producer of their food, lumber, war-animals, and birthplace of their children. As well as two fortresses these cities each held about 50k-80k souls at a time (with the fortresses having just over 10k population living in them). But due to the couple thousand years of seclusion their numbers have been dwindling and they cannot keep up the fight as they once did.

The Wardens have been fighting the Spawn at their source, the strongest concentration of them, for about 2,000 years without any assistance or reinforcements from the divine or other races. They used to trade and corporate with the Dwarves but since their roads were ruined and nearest cities destroyed the Wardens of Am’threil have been alone. Due to the concentration of Spawn all the gods, besides maybe Am’threil, have been without the power to pierce the void generated and still have power left to help the Wardens. Watching in silent horror as their brave children die the gods have silently encouraged their followers to adventure and find their dying blessed children but have failed until now. As of now the Wardens only have Ward, their capitol, left with Engi falling to the Spawn at about the year 185, 3d age, the Wardens no longer have the strength or numbers to keep the Spawn at bay. The Spawn have managed to slip past the Wardens and are planning to invade the surface in force once again. Hopefully the surfacers will be able to repel the Spawn invasion like they did some 3,000 years ago, but the outlook is dim without divine help.

Warden Traits

The wardens, like the Ancient Humans of legend, are powerful and legendary warriors and mages. Their bodies as strong as their minds having a large boost to most natural abilities as every part of them was created to fight.

Ancient Humans of Legend

The Wardens were created as specialized weapons against the Spawn of the Void and sent underground to pursue them. Their bodies and minds were built to succeed in combat, unlike the other races. As such they gain many bonuses and specializations as they are taught the art of war and combat from a very young age. Gaining a bonus +4 to all attributes as well as being resistant to non-magical attacks, Warden's bodies are built to be resilient and strong and be able to resist and persevere in even the toughest of situations.

Wardens are also very resilient. They have strong bodies and very high endurance. They can hold 20x the amount of strength they have in carry weight (unlike the normal 10x). They also don't need daily rest only needing to sleep every 3 days before getting exhausted, but they have been known to sleep once a day just to stay at peek physical condition. Wardens are tanks on the battlefield and can get places they need to go in much less time than others since they don't require as much rest or sustenance.

Warden Teachings

Wardens are taught at a very early age of their purpose, to destroy and fight the Spawn of the Void. As such they are also taught how to fight and survive in harsh environments. They are able to learn many skills to assist them in life up until they are armored and ready for combat and all of them help the Warden in some way. Gaining proficiencies with many things as well as spells that are ingrained in all Wardens, as blessings from the gods for their service.

Enemy of the Spawn

The Wardens have the blood of legends running though them. These legends were ancient weapons in the form of Humans created against demons and Spawn. As such their favored enemy are demonic creatures and the Spawn, giving them advantage against any roll involving them. They are also resistant to the Spawn taint and only god-like powers and rituals could ever reverse that, they're also resistant to most demonic-based damages.

Experienced Warden

Wardens are strange creatures. Even after they are born they are much more fit than any other child and later adult. That isn't even the end. All Wardens and races go though some training or learning for their chosen skill but Wardens are born for combat. In their later years, or simply after fighting for so long, they learn things about themselves that they can focus on and unlock within themselves making themselves even stronger as people.

Age

The Wardens were created for battle and as such they age to maturity relatively quickly, at age 10 they are full grown adults. They also age very slowly after they reach adulthood, looking 18 at 10 then looking in their 20's until about 300. Their average age is about 500-600 where after 300 years they start to age relatively quickly looking 10 years older (by normal human standards) for every 50 years of life.

Alignment

Wardens are very dutiful people. Almost always being in the good alignment as well as lawful or neutral. They dedicate themselves to their chosen god and it is seemingly genetically passed on from their parents. Warden children start to pick and follow their chosen primal god around 4-6 years old and it is nearly always the same as their parents even though they don't usually meet their parents until the age of 8, where they are directly taught by them in their family's specialized skills.

Size

Wardens are in the medium size category. Ranging from an average of 6'10" they are never shorter than 6'4" and usually don't exceed 7'6", but there are records of those over 8' tall.

Speed

Wardens are born strong and as such so are their legs. They can run a speed of 60ft per turn and dash a 120ft per turn. As well as their high climbing and swimming speed Wardens are often faster than some mounts or flying creatures when they try their hardest. Their endurance is something else as well, being able to work, fight, sprint, and be awake for 3x the normal amount of time and not get exhausted until 3 days without rest.