Maison Aetherthorne Ascensions – Familiar Training Codex
Section: Advanced Chivalric Disciplines – Approved for Courting Gallants, Devoted Gallants, and Guiding Ladies of Ascension
The Blade Warden subclass forges a gallant into the steadfast guardian of close-quarters harmony—the chivalric sentinel who stands unwavering at his Guiding Lady’s side. Perfect for salon defense, intimate courtship duels, or protecting delicate ateliers, Blade Wardens excel in disciplined melee: parrying threats with elegant precision and countering with measured, overwhelming force.
Where Mecha Knights thunder from afar and Gunslingers flash at range, Blade Wardens embody personal devotion: shield raised, blade flashing, body between danger and bloom. Every block and riposte is a vow—“None shall touch her grace.” Non-lethal mastery ensures foes are disarmed or humbled into yield, turning personal defense into romantic poetry in motion. Victories earn whispers of “my unbreakable warden” and tender human-form evenings.
The Blade Warden path opens at Level 3, once a Courting Gallant has demonstrated resilience and composure in base Fighter training. The Maison values this subclass for its role in maintaining salon harmony and personal escorts.
Process: Petition at Céleste Prime’s Sentinel Halls or Albion Verdant’s Guard Pavilions. Approval includes a solemn oath before the Guiding Lady, who engraves her monogram upon the shield’s inner face.
Mandatory Registration: Shield and blade must be registered with municipal harmony arbiters. Records include whistle resonance, ring-sync frequency, and material specifications (brass alloy, steam-tempered edges) to preserve balanced close-quarters distribution.
Rare tales among Devoted Gallants speak of Mark 2 armaments—lighter yet stronger alloys, self-repairing gears, or subtle aether reinforcement—granted only for legendary acts of personal sacrifice or council protection.
The Blade Warden’s panoply arrives with intimate, knightly ceremony via the Harmonious Call Whistle:
The Call: A deep, resonant chime-hiss (tuned to pedigree—e.g., steadfast rabbit thump or regal cat growl) releases controlled steam in a protective spiral.
Deployment: The Harmonious Guardian Set – Mark 1 (tower shield of layered brass plates + single-edged Valiant Warden Blade) materializes from nearby armory or personal cache—shield unfolding like blooming petals, blade spinning into grip with gear-locked certainty. Human Form: Full stance for dramatic guard poses. Mammal Form: Mini-shield buckler or claw-extended blade for agile harassment.
Combat Flow: Pure close-range mastery—block incoming threats, riposte instantly, and escalate multi-strike counters. Steam vents on shield release disorienting bursts; blade edges deliver stunning vibrations.
Dismissal: Reverse whistle folds the set with a knightly salute, gears clicking into rest.
Level 3: Warden’s Vigil – Summon set and enter Guardian Stance: +2 resilience, auto-parry one attack. Immediate riposte strike.
Level 7: Mirror Harmony – Reflect ranged/projectile threats back softened; loyalty overlap strengthens counters after blocks.
Level 11: Sentinel Cascade – Three-strike combo (block-thrust-shield bash); senses detect flanking attempts.
Level 15: Unyielding Bastion – Temporary invulnerability window + four-counter chain; health overlap absorbs full barrage.
Level 18: Eternal Aegis – Permanent Aether Ward: shield projects protective dome for nearby allies (especially the Guiding Lady); ring-infused blade gains unbreakable edge and final five-strike vow.
Unauthorized alterations to shield or blade are strictly prohibited—such changes could disrupt the delicate balance of personal defense across society. Embedded aether resonators enable remote diagnostics, graceful shutdowns, or municipal review if anomalies appear.
Yet, in quiet corners of Céleste Prime’s older guard quarters or discreet Albion Verdant forges, certain master smiths quietly offer subtle “refinements”—sharper balance weights, hidden spring reinforcements, or engraved harmony runes for minor edge. These small courtesies, often overlooked in the vast machinery of oversight, allow a truly devoted Blade Warden to stand just a fraction stronger at his Lady’s side… provided the bloom of harmony remains undisturbed.
Stand Unbroken. Guard Forever.
(Embossed with the Tower Shield Emblem)