Origin and Role
The Vanguard are the mortal allies of the Guardians, brave souls who have found themselves within the realm of Shadow Fen through mysterious means. Drawn across the veil by prophecy, fate, or sheer accident, these are not ancient beings nor legendary warriors by birth. Many were once ordinary people of the modern world, wanderers, misfits, or dreamers who glimpsed a different truth and stepped willingly into the mists.
When the Dark King’s prison began to weaken, the Shadow Fen stirred—and so too did those with the heart to stand against the darkness. Over time, some of these individuals gathered into small communities within the Fen’s haunted landscape, banding together to survive, resist, and defend what little light remained. From these folk emerged the Vanguard: trained, determined fighters who support the Guardians in their sacred duty. They are scouts, warriors, lorekeepers, and builders. They do not wield sigils, but many have learned to tune themselves to the resonant frequencies of magic, allowing them to participate in minor rituals and even enhance Guardian performances.
Though without the vast power of the sigil-bearers, the Vanguard are essential. They maintain settlements, defend the hidden paths, uncover lost relics, and raise the alarm when cultists or nightmares stir. Some act as emissaries between the realm and the modern world, subtly recruiting others destined to fight.
Joining the Vanguard
In the modern world, the Vanguard still grows. New members join not through force, but through connection and conviction. To become part of the Vanguard is to make a stand—to believe in the music, the myth, and the cause.
Fans of Shadow Fen are invited to symbolically enlist by aligning with the lore. They may adopt a role, choose a sigil to honour, or join one of the settlements through online interaction. At live shows, rituals embedded in the music help awaken that connection. From chants to call-and-response lyrics, the audience doesn’t just witness the magic—they shape it. Each show becomes a summoning, each voice a ward, each raised fist a shield.
Members of the Vanguard may:
-
Sign up on the website to receive messages from the Fen
-
Earn titles based on their contributions or creativity
-
Share fan-created lore, artwork, or heroic tales of their ‘avatar’
-
Unlock secrets, hidden tracks, or future roles in band lore or performances
The Vanguard is open to all, bound by courage and imagination.
Settlements and Life in the Fen
While the Guardians are ever on the move, the Vanguard have established scattered settlements across the mirror-realm:
-
Mistbrook: A central trading village built near the convergence of three safe paths. It houses the oldest archive of recovered knowledge, guarded by librarians trained in sigil theory.
-
Wyrd Hollow: Hidden deep in the drowned woodlands, this hamlet is known for its herbalists and quiet warriors. Its people live in harmony with the Fen, listening to its whispers.
-
Northmere Watch: A fortified encampment near the outer border where nightmares frequently stir. Vanguard rangers from here are elite scouts and monster-hunters.
-
Candlefen: A newer settlement founded by modern-world exiles. Here, crude technology merges with ritual, forming a bastion of ingenuity and rebellion.
-
Sorrow’s Rise: A sacred ruin now tended by pilgrim Vanguard. Many go there to train, meditate, or commune with echoes of the Sundering.
Each settlement honours one of the five sigils in ritual, art, or song. Some even hold seasonal gatherings where Guardians may appear in dream-form or through music to test, bless, or guide them.
