The Keepers Of The Vale
The Keepers are the youngest of the mortal races. Crafted by Shaktihr the Everstar solely for the purpose of waging His war, they have few memories of the time before the Silence. They were to be his perfect choir, his flawless tools for bringing unity to the world. Where there was self, there could not be unity. Without unity there would be discord, and with discord the beauty of the world would always be imperfect.
To serve His ends He crafted His children without self, the ideal vessel for His will. They took three forms: the Choir, the Phalanx, and the Audience. The Choir were crafted from songbirds and the light of dawn, serving as the voice of the Everstar. The Phalanx were crafted from raptors and the light of midday, serving as the fist of the Everstar. The Audience were crafted from corvids and the light of dusk, serving as the sight of the Everstar. They mindlessly waged Shaktihr’s war against His brother and sister gods, without any thought for pain, pleasure or death. Then the Silence came, and it was like a veil was lifted.
After the Silence
The Keepers referred to the Silence as the Awakening. For the first time, they heard and saw and felt and thought for themselves. The world around them was new and it was Wonderful. The Keepers encountered others, but at first those that did not run in fear attacked them on sight. Eventually they found some willing to parlay. Their genesis was explained to them, and gave them much to think on. They treasured their awareness, and found their origins to be repugnant. They retreated from the world and the other races to contemplate their existence. They found hidden in the frozen tundra of the north a surprisingly temperate Vale, heated by thermal vents and a vast calderic lake, where they believe their maker had last fallen. There they came to a consensus. They would watch over this lake and the world. They would look for signs and listen for words of Shaktihr or any other gods returning to the world. And should the need arise, should the cursed day come where the gods stir from their slumber and return to this world, it would be their duty to stand in their path. The gods may barely notice the efforts of the Keepers, but the Keepers refused to go back to the mindless husks that had been their former place.