Caretaker (earthen)

This article is about the earthen designation. For the occupation, see Caretaker. For the RPG organization, see Caretakers (organization).

Korgran, the former Caretaker of Mourning Rise prior to his shutdown.

Caretakers are earthen designated as the custodians and stewards of the earthen life cycle. Before the breaking of the Awakening Machine, their duties included tending to earthen emerging from stasis, overseeing and monitoring those stored within the Stonevault, and ensuring they were safely guided there as their cycle neared its end. After the Machine broke, their responsibilities shifted to tending to Tribute Sites and the forms of earthen who chose to shutdown at these sites or in various other places. With the restoration of the Machine, Caretakers have returned to the Halls of Awakening to guide the newly awakened as they transition back into activity. Caretakers can be found among all branches of earthen society.

Background

The Awakening Machine in the Ringing Deeps.

Upon the completion of the Stonevault's construction, the Caretakers were designated as the custodians and stewards of the earthen life cycle. Within the Hall of Awakening, Caretakers tended to the earthen emerging from stasis, while others oversaw and monitored those stored within the expansive halls of the Stonevault. As active earthen drew closer to stasis-lock, Caretakers were assigned to the field to guide and, in some cases, transport them to the Stonevault to recharge their cycle anew. All designations were expected to adhere to the Stasis and Awakening Protocol. Caretakers were assigned to all branches of earthen society, including the Stormriders, the Stonebound, and the Machine Speakers.

Caretakers designated to tend to the Stormriders were charged with healing the wounded riders and ensuring they were safely guided to the Stonevault as their cycle neared its end. To assist the Stormriders, they received adequate training to care for those in the field. Although they rarely saw combat, they were equipped with the necessary skills to ride a stormrook of their own.

Ten thousand years ago, the Great Sundering damaged the Awakening Machine, eventually leading to its shutdown. This meant the earthen could no longer be restored, and their stasis-lock would become final unless the Machine was repaired. This caused a crisis of faith among some of the earthen, particularly the Stonebound, many of whom renounced the Edicts and left Dornogal. They became known as the Unbound, severing ties with both the city and the opportunity to store their dormant forms in the Stonevault. Meanwhile, those who remained loyal to the Edicts began calling themselves the Oathsworn.

Mourning Rise on the Isle of Dorn.

Kriegval, one of the first of the Unbound, was also the first earthen to choose permanent shutdown, wishing to be free from the cycle of the Machine. Caretakers Nattar and Dorgad named Kriegval's Rest and Mourning Rise in his honor. Mourning Rise would, from that point on, serve as a place for Unbound who were ready for their final shutdown. Unbound Caretakers would take on apprentices so that when it was their time to follow Kriegval's path, their apprentice could carry on the duties of tending to the site and helping Unbound earthen prepare for their final shutdown. When it came time for the master to pass on their mantle to their apprentice, they would blow a horn, facing the apprentice. The sound would signify the passing of the mantle.

The Dornogal Tribute Site.

Both the Oathsworn and the Unbound also began erecting Tribute Sites, where tribute stones were engraved with the names of lost earthen—either those trapped within the Machine or those whose physical forms were lost. Watching over these sites became one of the primary duties of Caretakers. On the Oathsworn side, while most continued their duty with the hope that the Machine would eventually restore their kin to the cycle, some used these sites to honor and remember those who had been lost. As the Stonevault eventually reached maximum capacity, some Oathsworn chose these locations as their shutdown site, surrounded by the names of friends and loved ones carved upon the tribute stones.

On the Unbound side, although most held no expectation for the Machine to ever reawaken, for some it was difficult to let go of their friends and loved ones. Thus, they carved tribute stones to remember the names of those lost. When the Stonebound began to turn away from Dornogal, they lost access to the Machine. This meant that, even in its offline state, their forms could not be safely housed within. Having surrendered their right to renew their cycle, the prospect of permanent shutdown and being forever lost was terrifying to many. Some Unbound clung to a flicker of hope, with a small part of their programming refusing to accept the finality of stasis-lock. They chose to shut down at Tribute Sites. And as Caretakers, even among the Unbound, it remains their duty to tend to them and those who shut down in the wilds.

As earthen chose to enter stasis-lock in various locations, Caretaker duties expanded to include tending to their shutdown forms wherever they were.

Following the restoration of the Hall of Awakening, Caretakers have returned to its halls to assist the countless slumbering earthen soon to be awakened.

Known

Named

• Batzvara
• Bagdur  ^†
• Dagkar
• Dorgad  ^†
• Gartwin
• Kagon
• Korgran  ^†
• Okdan  ^†
• Odarrok
• Orida
• Radok  ^†
• Nattar  ^†
• Urtago

Unnamed

• Awakening Caretakers

Gallery

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  Awakening Machine concept art.

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