Character Name: THE WARDEN

Age: Mid to late 30s

Archetype: Protector, vigilante

Skills: Highly trained in hand-to-hand combat, weapons expert (specifically his mace), stealthy, strategic thinker

____________________________________

Backstory

The Warden was born into a working-class family in the heart of a decaying city. His mother, a once-hopeful businesswoman, owned a small shop that she fought tooth and nail to keep running. Unfortunately, the Higher Authority—an oppressive and corrupt regime masquerading as a governing body—bled her dry with "protection fees." The Warden, then just a boy, watched helplessly as the HA’s enforcers often used fear and intimidation to underline their authority.

His father had disappeared when he was young, a quiet man whose mysterious departure left a wound that never fully healed. Some say he tried to fight back against the Higher Authority and paid the price; others say he simply couldn't take the pressure of the Higher Authority anymore.

With his mother gone, The Warden—now in his early twenties—became consumed by rage. It was then that he devoted his life to combat. Boxing, Judo, Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai—the list goes on. He was deadly with a weapon but just as lethal without one. For years, he sought revenge, tracking down the men who had terrorized his family. One by one, he hunted them, but each kill left him feeling hollow, offering no real solace. His anger grew directionless until he realized the system itself, not just its agents, was the true enemy. But dismantling an entire corrupt structure? That required more than vengeance. It required strategy.

Personality

The Warden is stoic and disciplined, but his outward silence hides an intense inner world. His calm demeanour is born of necessity, a means of survival in a world that shows no mercy to the vulnerable. He is deeply empathetic, but he guards his emotions carefully, knowing that compassion can be exploited. When it comes to the application of violence though, The Warden is brutal and unforgiving.

He often dreams of his mother and feels her presence with him in quiet moments. This sometimes gives him peace, but it also fuels his guilt—guilt that he couldn't save her from the life she was forced to live. He’s not just fighting for others but for the redemption of his past - he must be the man his mother needed all those years ago.

Beneath the cold exterior, The Warden struggles with a fear of failure of becoming like the very people he despises. His growing sense of isolation doesn't help, and as he continues to fight solo, he worries that without others by his side, he might lose sight of his direction, his character, and his humanity.

His Mother

She is the driving force behind everything he does, a constant presence in his life even after her death. She represents the purest form of love and sacrifice, but also a source of pain and regret. He often wonders if she would approve of the man he’s become, or if she would have wanted a different life for him—one not defined by violence and revenge.

The Resistance

While the Warden is currently operating alone, he has begun to quietly gather allies, planting the seeds of a future resistance. He is sceptical of others, slow to trust, and meticulously vetting those who express a desire to fight against the Higher Authority. He worries that some might be motivated by personal revenge, or worse, by their own desire for power. However, he knows he can't do this alone forever. That’s for certain.