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The Moonlit Vigil
Generations ago - when the Ward was young and its peers knew Dorvant's tale not as legend, but as lived experience - there was peace, and community, and companionship. The nights were long, but under the silvery gaze of the moon, men and women watched over their flock with dutiful diligence. When the sun set, these folk stood guard so that the laborers and farmers awoke unmolested in the morn. When the moon slept, those workers toiled to sustain themselves and their neighbors. When the workers' bodies ached, they listened to the wise counsel of their leaders in the eve, that they might forge a path for the next generation. And when the stars twinkled anew, those leaders trusted their leal warriors to protect them through the night. So the cycle continued.

But these are stories; fairy tales of a prosperous time, long since past. Now terrors rule the night; now peers crack the whip of labor in the morn; now tyrants lord over the people throughout the day.

This is not a heartwarming parable about stalwart men defeating dastardly villains; nor is it of mercenaries pretending at virtue while turning their back on others in need. It is the story of people coming to the stark realization that nobody will help them if they cannot help themselves. It is about the terrifying task of tackling the horrors that beset them from every side - not just of the creatures of the night, but the sin that lurks in the heart of every man.

But perhaps, against all odds, unlikely allegiances will be forged by uncertain allies...

Perhaps the Ward and the Steadings can find a semblance of the peace they once knew...

Perhaps good people with strong hearts and stronger convictions can lead them to a better life...

Perhaps a ragtag group of thirsty rebels, despairing farmers, scorned nobles, and desperate people can build something that Peers could not...

Perhaps guardians will take up the moonlit vigil anew...

Perhaps, despite all odds, a Brotherhood might be formed as these people face their tribulations together...

Perhaps, just this once, a tale of good vanquishing evil will be more than a comforting fairy tale...

Perhaps...

Perhaps...

[hide=OOC]
As the snippet above might suggest, this is as much about garnering support for a concept as it is an open invitation to explore something outside the paradigm of Peerage houses.

This is a strictly non-evil group, but almost anything else can fit into a ragtag collective of Steadings folk trying to create something in opposition - and better than - the current structure of Peerage Ward. A druid could even make their way into this concept, but an openly wild shaping character might have difficulties convincing superstitious farmers that she is not a menace.

This will be conflict heavy, though not necessarily PvP focused. The goal is largely to antagonize the current order, and doing so will inevitably lead to scraped knees (and maybe much worse).

There is a lot of room for flexibility here, but if you're looking for a list of more concretely stated goals, I'd welcome you to find me IC or contact me on Discord at Lasci#1879[/hide]
[hide=Concepts]Here are some ideas for characters that could easily be members of this group - or just loosely affiliated or aligned:

• A retainer of a lesser house, disgruntled with the state of the Council of Peers and seeking to better the Ward through unorthodox means
• A farmer's son in the Steadings who avoided the inquisitive gaze of House Nephezar for a decade, but can no longer stymie his sorcerous powers.
• A bard dissatisfied or dubious with the legitimacy of the Great House's stories, seeking to use these rebellious farmers as a way to uncover the truth.
• A tired mercenary who certainly does not have a bleeding heart and could surely never be convinced to take up his sword to join their cause in earnest.
• A priestess of the Vestry who was once a diligent devout but now questions the legitimacy of the faith the Peerage built; with time, she will show these peers what true faith looks like.
• An oathbreaker of one of the houses, fled to the Ponds to avoid the consequences of his betrayal, who now wonders if he can keep the tenants of his vow - this time serving not a lord, but a people.
• A druid seeking to renew the work started by Lord Desmond Sunpurse and see the auld ways followed.

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