Keepers of Abaddon¶
The Keepers of Abaddon are "a non-denominational group of witch and demon slayers" (S319). Founded in the Sancturi Imperium in the seventh century SM to hunt and destroy Hollows, they won an imperial charter, broke themselves on the Acadian Hollow, and were condemned for treason and heresy. The survivors carried the order north into the Riven Kingdoms, where by 704 SM, in the Fifth Age, they "have a very professional, but pricey reputation" (S319).
Also called: the Keepers of Abbadon (S181, S183, S184).
History¶
The Sanctuary Age timeline records the order's rise and fall in the Imperium (S326):
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 607 SM | Keepers of Abaddon founded in the Sancturi Imperium "to hunt and destroy Hollows". |
| 618 SM | The Keepers destroy the Hollow at the ruins of Sanctorum "and receive an imperial charter". |
| 657 SM | The Keepers destroy the Hollow at Blackhall in Turas. |
| 675 SM | They launch a crusade against the Acadian Hollow. "By 679 SM they abandon it with only 20% of their number." |
| 681 SM | "The leadership of the Keepers of Abaddon are put on trial for treason and heresy. They are executed and all property of the Keepers is confiscated. Keepers refusing to renounce their sins and become Sancturi are executed." |
| 684 SM | "A small group of the Keepers relocates in the Northern kingdoms." |
| 685 SM | Many Keepers who swore loyalty to the Sancturi found the Dae'Venari, "the Sancturi's religious order devoted to devil and witch slaying". |
The order is therefore "formed in the Imperium but ... banned and outcast there", and "many members of the Keepers have fled to the kingdoms to set up operations in the Northern Kingdoms" (S319).
Organization¶
The Keepers are led by a Grand Keeper, with Master Keepers running halls in the kingdoms (S319). In 704 SM:
| Office | Holder |
|---|---|
| Grand Keeper | Talan Cardew, "excellent with strategy and finances, but crippled in a campaign many years ago" |
| Master Keeper in Brusau | Ryd Uglow, "a veteran of numerous campaigns, one of the most experience Hollow-hunters still alive" |
| Master Keeper in Uthein | Tamsyn Curnow, "the youngest Master Keeper with significant victories already under her belt" |
| Master Keeper in Trikavan | Hedrick Mitchell, who "runs a small Keeper's Hall in the city and is ambitious to grow his hall and is always recruiting" |
In the field the Keepers answer to a Highwarden, under whom a Commander leads "the soldiers of Abaddon"; the ranks below include sergeants and rangers (S181, S184, S193).
The defence of Pemeril¶
The Keepers' "mission in Alghert is to preserve the kingdom and destroy the Hollow and demonic forces that threaten them" (S181). Alghert had become a mega-hollow and "the site of a Demon vs Devil war", and at the capital, Pemeril, the Keepers held the city behind wards. Their leadership was compromised from within:
- Highwarden Beatrice Karmaggen was "the highest authority, but is charmed by Apuuk. She is clueless to the fact that the royal family is involved" in the hollowing.
- Apuuk, "a demon in disguise" serving Asmodeus, had been "helping set up wards that are currently keeping the city safe".
- Malo, an Eldritch knight in the guise of a black-haired Oesterkull, "has been helping the Keepers of Abbadon in Pemeril" for his own ends (S181, S183).
- Commander Ailen Vester "commands the soldiers of Abaddon and is equal to Apuuk and Malo", disliked them both, and was "often forced into a position of referee".
- Hadelia, the Grey Prophetess, "an agent of the Eldritch", worked miracles and was "integrated with the Keepers" through the Priesthood of the Iron Lady (S181).
When Malo and Apuuk were killed, the wards they powered began to fail. "Commander Ailen Vester is all that's left. Highwarden is dead fighting some devils at the north ward." The North Ward fell, devils came through, and "Sergeant Donnalay is deserting and taking a force of the keepers and leaving the city" (S184).
After Pemeril¶
Ailen Vester went on as a commander and quartermaster with the Doomguard, the company raised by the player characters of the Sancturi campaign (S187), and two Keeper rangers, Norrick and Kessa, travelled with the company into the north (S193, S194, S196). Their deeds are told in the Sancturi Campaign chronicle and on the minor figures of the Rivenlands page.
Relations¶
The Keepers are outlaws in the Imperium, whose own devil-hunters, the Dae'Venari, were founded by Keepers who recanted (S326). In the kingdoms they compete with the cheaper Knights of Ex-Malefica and with unlicensed Witch Slayers (S319, S325).
Gap
The sources do not say where the Keepers' chief hall stands, how a Keeper is recruited and trained, or what the name Abaddon refers to.