Overview

Keepers are warriors skilled in various martial arts, a wide array of weapons, and crucially, in methods to properly identify, eliminate, or banish entities that seem torn from the collective mythologies of our world. Moreover, each Keeper clan possesses a distinct combat style reflective of their lineage. The McFallon clan, for instance, favors the sword—especially the legendary Claymore, a brutal weapon among ancient Scottish fighters—and Aila is exceptionally skilled with it. Swords, though seemingly outdated, serve as practical tools for Keepers, as many of the adversaries they face require decapitation for defeat. Certain Keeper clans boast unique abilities, such as harnessing and wielding the earth's energy like mages, a gift passed down through generations and shared across clans. Others excel as masterful craftsmen and armorers, equipping the Keeper clans with the latest in modern armaments, protective gear, and enchanted weaponry..

Origins

The origin of the Keepers and the boundary they are sworn to protect were passed down verbally until a later time and therefore it is difficult to differentiate historical fact from allegory. The Keepers' Codex, the earliest records by the Keepers, states that the order was established thousands of years ago, shortly after a “star” descended from the heavens, bringing significant alterations to the world. The Codex narrates that this cataclysm was the doing of an ancient civilization whose hubris provoked the cosmos to wrath. As their homeland fell to ruin, the survivors dispersed globally, imparting their advanced knowledge to what were comparatively primitive men. According to the Codex, not all these survivors were benevolent; many assumed the mantle of deities, demanding worship and indulging in sorcery. Apparently, these ancients harnessed the earth's energy, likely through ley lines, to perform miraculous feats with their crafted artifacts and machinery, even passing on secrets of building monumental structures. At some point a group of these ancients, for reasons lost to antiquity, perhaps unknowingly, forged a gateway to another world, allowing the first demonic entities to invade our world at will. Four demons of unparalleled malevolence annihilated the creators of the portal, claimed dominion over portions of prehistoric civilizations, and subjugated humanity.

As described in the Codex (translated to modern English)

“Beneath the watchful eyes of their demon masters, the evilest of humans were given the power to harness earths energy to evil ends, to the amusement of their masters. These humans, seduced by the promise of power, harnessed dark magics and bent lesser demons to their will for selfish ends and ruled their fellow humans cruelly, venturing further out into the world to find and subjugate new areas of the land. Yet, hope endured as the remaining ancients who were teachers of men, perceived the growing evil and banded together to oppose these vile entities, finally understanding what their evil brethren had unleashed on the world. They summoned the bravest warriors from realms where they had imparted deep knowledge to mankind and bestowed upon the deserving the gift of "white magic"—the ability to wield the earth's energy for benevolence. The war, the likes of which had never been seen on this world or any other, began. Fierce battles ensued, leading to innumerable losses and the devastation of cities. Ancient citadels were sunk beneath the waves or annihilated in horrible fire, Demon lords and their captains’ dragged men into their realm for eternal torture, men developed signs and wardings guided by their teachers that destroyed demons in mass. The ancient one’s superior knowledge of weapons and in the end, confronted with growing numbers of men capable of wielding such weapons, the Demon Lords retreated to their realm, sealing the gate behind them, leaving numerous of their minions behind who scattered across the world.”