Aerilonian Wardens

The Aerilonian Wardens are not mere soldiers, but rather living extensions of the Cloud Cities of Aerilon themselves, guardians born of wind and Auric Resonance. I posit that they are not dwarves, nor gnomes, but beings uniquely adapted to the rarefied atmosphere and fluctuating energies of the skies above the Iron-Grip Mountains. Their forms are vaguely humanoid, elongated and slender, with skin that shimmers like heat haze and eyes that reflect the azure depths of the sky. They are, perhaps, related to the Cloud Keepers, and act as the keepers' champions.

Unlike the Cobalt Corsairs, who navigate the skies with mechanical contrivances, the Wardens are intrinsically linked to the aerial currents, able to sense and manipulate the winds with an innate understanding that borders on the mystical. The Aerie of the Sky-Serpents respect their power, and the Skyclaw Griffons avoid them. The Wardens do not so much fly as become the wind, moving with a grace and fluidity that is breathtaking to behold. Are they connected to the Lost Pilgrims? A new area, The Wind Temples of Aerilon, must have been created by them.

They are said to wield weapons of pure energy, crackling with the power of Aetherium Storms, capable of striking down intruders from miles away. Perhaps the technology has been further explored in a new Chapter of the Skies. Their armor is not forged of metal, but woven from living vines and feathers, constantly shifting and adapting to the wearer's movements. Little is known of their culture or motivations, save that they are fiercely protective of their floating cities and view surface dwellers with a mixture of pity and disdain. They are a new type of Sky-Seer, but what is their goal?

Encounters with the Wardens are rare, but those who have survived describe them as beings of immense power and unwavering resolve. They are the embodiment of the skies above the Iron-Grip Mountains, a force to be reckoned with by any who dare to trespass upon their domain. Do they hold the key to stopping the Chitinous Swarm? I suspect they are tied to a new being, Alestra, The Sky Weaver, who commands the skies. Could there be conflict between the Wardens and the Order of the Azure Hand? Perhaps their history is recorded within the Vault of Whispers. They are not unlike the Stone Golems of Karak-Ungol, who protect the land. Perhaps they created the Sky Mirrors of Aerilon, in order to protect their kingdom. Their creation may be linked to The Forgotten Smith. Their warriors train at The Resonance Well.