Watchers

The Watchers are an ancient order of warriors dedicated to fighting and containing the Flayed. They hail from the Grand Principality of Kronstadt and predate near all similar orders. They have perfected their art, making for a well feared presence dedicated to nothing but the destruction of the Flayed. They are one of the few such orders in all of Estoria that is still actively supported, new recruits and large amounts of coin sent to their services daily. Their power and authority within Kronstadt is greater than most, for their mission is considered so vital that none should stand in their way.

Joining the Watchers is a grueling, agonizing process. Though any citizen of Kronstadt may attempt to join their ranks, only a few manage to endure the harsh months of training to become one of the order. Their authority is near absolute, surpassing that of nobility and even Princes should the threat of the damned exist. The Watchers even hold the power to overrule the Grand Prince himself, for if the Inner Council agree that he is acting in a way that will aid the damned they may prevent his mandate. This is a rare thing, however, for the Grand Prince is usually wise enough to work with rather than against the Watchers.

The Watchers don boiled leather and thick furs into battle, refusing heavy armor in order to protect against the sharp sense of hearing and lack of sight among the undead. They wield weapons that favor their craft, maces suited to shattering bones and and piercing dirks that can puncture a skull with ease. They also wield flintlock pistols, a rarity in Kronstadt and a sign of status. A Watcher might carry five or six strapped to his person at any given time, providing a swift advantage where reloading is far too slow. Their main identifying mark is the tattoo they all bear below their right eye, a human skull with the paw print of a bear upon it's forehead. This tattoo is considered sacred among the Watchers, and any found with it who is not among their ranks is executed and disgraced.

The Watchers are composed of 10,000 men total, positioned predominantly along the border between Kronstadt and the frozen wastes to the northeast. They can be found throughout the rest of the nation as well, most often travelling in pairs to villages or cities to determine if they are aptly prepared for the Flayed to attack. Those that are found wanting must quickly resolve their failure, or else risk disappearing and never being seen again.