The guardians

What is to be a Guardian? To serve the people, to help those in need.
What is the oath of a Guardian? To Never draw a weapon except to protect the innocent, himself, or fellow guardians. To never kill in anger, for even those serving the light deserve mourning for their souls. To dedicate his life for all people; even murderers, even those too arrogant to see the need, even those who serve the light.

The guardians is an international organization of monks who are fiercely dedicated to darkness. They are widely respected, if not always liked. They come from all walks of life and serve in different roles from warriors to preachers to healers.

The organization is divided to several factions which are: Guardians of Blade, Guardians of Spirit, Guardians of Life, Guardians of Knowledge and Soulguardians.

Soulguardians is the faction with most members and least standing. Soulguardians are people who have taken the pledge of Guardian, but haven't dedicated their lives to the Guardians completely: They're mostly ordinary people who have earned the honor of becoming Guardian, but haven't taken the training(although some of them choose to take the training later) required to become member of one of the other factions. Some of them also act in some minor role in the organization as clerks, for example, and all will help the organization when needed. While most of them will pass some information to Guardians, if something important comes to their attention, a few will become informants(or spies, if you will). Most of the them wear their role publicly however, and are honorbound to keep some information from the organization.

Guardians of Blade are the second most numerous in their members. While their main purpose is to serve as bodyguards to members of other factions, few of whom are trained in their use and even fewer who actually carry any except when expecting confrontation(like when traveling through wilderness), they also represent a military power, should need arise, and act as thiefcatchers in some communities. Their garrisons and patrols also serve as a visible reminder of the dangers of wandering to light. Their combat prowess is legendary: it is said that while a Guardian of Blade will rarely start a fight, it's even rarer for one not to finish one. While that's somewhat exaggerated, their prowess in single combat is equal or better to that of most elite troops and their training for larger confrontations almost on par with that.

Guardians of Spirit are the third most numerous, while far behind Guardians of Blade in numbers. They are the preachers and ministers as well as masters of ceremonies. While not all villages have a Guardian as priests, they're fairly common and there's usually one in every big village, even if he isn't acting as a priest, and almost always one or two in towns. Their main aim isn't necessarily to act as priests, but to help people who have spiritual problems, persuade those who have chosen light to return to darkness and to keep people from going to the side of light. Many of them also know minor spells, but primary spellcasters are rare.

Guardians of Life act are healers. They usually live in cities and bigger towns, but if need arises, they're also willing to travel where ever needed. In villages where the healer is communal they are not needed, but in towns and cities where the poorest people can't afford to pay for healing, they are needed; unlike other healers, they help all the people, even those who cannot afford to pay. From those who can afford to pay nothing, they charge nothing. From everyone else they only ask what is freely given; lots of people pay in favors, few in money. Even so the Guardians of Life rarely live in poverty. Most of them use magic to aid in healing, but again spellcasters of notable power are few and far between.

Guardians of Knowledge are the least numerous faction. They are teachers and scholars. Some of them act as traveling teachers, teaching some of everything to children in villages, but rarely staying in one place for very long. Others have permanent schools in towns or cities, sometimes multiple Guardians teaching different subjects under same roof. Yet others act as private teachers for children of nobles and wealthy merchants. And some are just scholars, focused on gathering knowledge, new and old. Every Guardian(except Soulguardians) has been taught by multitude of Guardians of Knowledge. All Guardians of Knowledge know at least a little magic, and all different degrees of magical learning can be found amongst them.