Wardens
“It’s better that we all burn in our own ambitions than live to see the final desecration of our species.” - Alessio, Shepherd of the Wardens, during the meeting with Vivian of Nachtigallen and Grach'Eythn of an elusived Vortigaunt Tribe before the Antlion Invasion of City 24.
The Wardens, once the greatest underground power of City 24, now completely destroyed with only a few surviving members and small-time cells still affiliated to the Warden ideology left to carry on it's memory, now deep in hiding or hunted down by the Combine. The Wardens were a large resistance network of loosely-aligned rebel cells and groups across City 24 committed to the Warden cause with each their own ‘Generals’ leading them, bent through destabilizing and eradicating any Combine influence in the region. It's group ideology was shaped by Alessio, a charismatic yet ruthless anti-citizen commander whom many claim to be the de-facto ‘leader’ of the Wardens, who believed that to attain the freedom of humanity from the clutches of the Combine was through violent militant methods against their adversary. Overt actions such as Guerilla and Open Warfare with Combine Forces, Bombing of key Combine Installations, Public Assassinations of Combine VIP's, and many more were the calling card of the Wardens.
Origins
The Wardens were once a typical rebel upstart lying within the North-Eastern reaches of City 24, taking advantage of, what was at the time, a rather significant antlion presence in the area. They would utilize abandoned burrows and tunnels created by the creatures as highly secure and efficient smuggling tunnels and hideouts. Due to this, they swelled in numbers quickly due to their ability to easily maneuver supplies and manpower. Eventually they occupied multiple districts spread across the breadth of City 24, gaining the ability to coordinate massive operations which occurred beneath the realm of the combine.
Always quick to a fight, the group was highly combative, willing to attack Civil Protection openly and often even managing to succeed with few casualties. A fact of the group which attracted many citizens who held more militant idealisms. Inner workings of the group were highly secured and open only to the most trusted members. So much so that much of how they accomplished such cohesion across the breadth of the city with such a small core is not entirely known.
The group often sought out to establish outposts and holdings in the outlands, and ally with those who already possessed them. Such is how they came into contact with the Nachtigallen and many other, at the time, smaller groups. This wide array of supply routes and trade nodes, which stretched and wrapped across the city, ensured the group was a highly mobile force with a tenacity to match. Even when cells and operations were uncovered by occupying forces, their interwoven routes and mechanisms of versatility prevented losses from stacking. Most of its truly valuable materials rested in the trusted hands of those beyond the immediate reach of the Combine.
Militant successes mounted rapidly for the group. Across the surface their name became known to both rebels and loyalists alike. Whereas the former revered them, the latter feared them. Such is the origin of much controversy the group steadily began piling beside it's success. While they personally did not suffer heavy casualties, nearby citizens often would not be able to claim the same. Sudden firefights, bombings and infiltrates claimed the lives of many unsuspecting citizens. Even more were sterilized for coercion further down the line.
The more the common people of City 24 found themselves unwittingly afflicted by their maneuvers, the more support fell. This only worsened for the group when rumors spread that many infiltrated members within Civil Protection and the CCA actively carried out heinous duties in order to maintain their cover. While the support of the already militant individuals rose, any support of the far more commonly found complacent members plummeted.
Eventually the controversy reached home, with one of it's own allied bodies, the Nachtigallen, breaking away from the alliance - taking away most of it's heavy weaponry in the process. This would lead to a conflict that uprooted the Wardens within a matter of days, as the Combine finally tracked a multitude of cells during an ongoing exodus from the city. With nowhere to hide, the group was quickly cut down beneath the sirens of the screaming citadel. An event which would become known as the October Wavier of 2026.
The survivors, which included some high ranking members, did what they could to reform and renew, yet the damage was far too extensive. Scattered members fled with banners sinking in the mud below, never to return. Splinter groups formed from the ashes of what remained. While some stayed, it was undeniable that the age of the Wardens had ended before them. The inevitability of freeing City 24, now felt a distant dream.
Since such time, the group has persisted forth as scavengers, or bandits, depending on who is asked. Their numbers remain mostly stagnant, and are typically composed of bitter and vengeful souls. Those who are more than willing to hurt many to salvage a few, and have a burning passion for the Combines' downfall. A flame which often spreads to those around them - destroying all.
Conflict brews from within as well, however. The Nachtigallen are viewed as traitors, the surviving Wardens maintaining it was them who secured the tragedy that killed so many. Due to this, Wardens attack the group's members on sight, robbing and killing any they may find who fail to defend themselves. Even those who merely associate with them are considered complacent, and potential threats to be eliminated - or at least relieved of material goods.
The Bloody Remnants
After the disastrous event known as October Waiver during the Year 2026, what was supposed to be a glorious revolution of City 24 and annihilating the city of the Combine and those sympathetic to it - Turned into a three-day slaughter of Wardens forces stationed within. Wardens massacred, Cells uprooted and destroyed by Synth Forces that were called upon by the Judgement Waiver to eradicate the group that's been plaguing City 24 once and for all. It was a dark day for the Wardens, some calling it to be the end for the Wardens of old.
Those who survived the slaughter were few and broken; Their spirits and burning passion for rebellion were diminished after experiencing that tragic event. Some went into hiding, some splintered off for their own agendas, some gave up as if seeing the futility of it all.
Yet despite this, some remained to keeping the Warden beliefs alive and continue the struggle against the Combine. Scattered remnants of Warden forces regrouped along with some of it's ‘Generals’ to reform it's command structure; One of these ‘Generals’ was Alessio Keller, the infamous ‘leader’ of the Wardens. Seeing what's left of the Wardens, Alessio Keller's grief over his fallen comrades was overturned by his burning hatred over the Combine and most especially, the Nachtigallens. Despite their differences and Nachtigallen's reluctance to directly aid in the war against their oppressors, The Wardens still trusted them and that trust was rewarded with ‘betrayal’ in the end. The information campaign against them over their ‘brutal and inhuman methods’ strained their alliance and their refusal to hand over the weapons that they themselves acquired for the final uprising is what broke down any semblance of keeping the allies together.
The remnants of the Warden forces gained a seething hatred for their former ally and many called out for revenge, wishing to go and burn down their home; Liechtenstein Pass for their inaction and refusal of handing over their weapons. But Alessio Keller placated his fellow Wardens, cooling their heads to see reason. Though Alessio understood his comrades desires for revenge, even desiring the same as them, he knew that an assault on Liechtenstein Pass was suicide with their current numbers. Liechtenstein Pass was a highly defensive location, deep within the mountains that gave it natural barriers for protection. Succumbing to his feelings of revenge and attacking the Nachtigallens would truly spell the end of the Wardens.
And so, Alessio Keller disciplined himself and focused on the more crucial matters at hand to ensure the survival of the Wardens. As Alessio and the other leaders of the Warden movement regrouped their scattered forces and focused on rebuilding, their once great presence within the rebel scene clearly diminished and Nachtigallen unwillingly filled that vacuum of power.
Time has passed and despite their weakened state, Alessio stood fast in the Wardens beliefs and continued the war against the Combine in a more guerilla-style warfare. Small scale attacks and bombings restarted once the Wardens regained their footing but it was clear that they could no longer defeat the Combine in the state they are in. In response to this, Alessio ramped up recruitment of any like-minded individuals willing to fight their oppressors for the Warden cause but a problem presented itself.
The recruitment rate was slow, painfully so. This was due to the effects of the October Waiver and their overwhelming defeat against the Combine - It has led to a loss of faith for the Warden cause, prompting many of those with the militant-mindset to prefer operating independently than aligning themselves with the movement. Others were not keen to align themselves with ‘Marauders' and ‘Extremists’ as indicated of their past brutal actions in this conflict with the Combine, their reputation besmirched by Nachtigallen's information campaign. The Warden mindset of seeing those whom were not willing to do what is necessary for victory also made it difficult for their numbers to swell to regain their former strength. So they stagnated, locked in deadly conflict with a superior foe with each Warden death being a significant blow to the cause.
It was a desperate struggle - One that would end in a Warden defeat and pre-mature death of the Revolution.
Desperate times breed for desperate solutions, so Alessio Keller devised a plan to both destroy the Combine within City 24 and create the opportunity to restore the Wardens back to their former glory.
A plan that could make or break them forever.
Awakening the Horde
News of a massive horde of antlions coming in from the North East of City Twenty-Four was heard by many rebels and vortigaunts living out in the wasteland. In a desperate bid for victory, Alessio Keller sent out numerous Warden cells and non-aligned rebel groups into the Outlands of City Twenty-Four in a plan to destroy or takeover the thumpers hardpoints in the area that were crucial in the city's defense. With timing, the hardpoints fell under Warden control just as the Antlion Horde was near the city's borders - And a bundle supply of Bug Bait acquired through some means, the horde was directed towards the City itself by the Wardens.
The site of a massive bug invasion prompted the city's Overwatch Transhuman Arm and Synth forces to spur into action, meeting the bulk of the aliens in the city's outskirts. This however was in vain as many of the antlions still sneaked and dug through the city's metro and underground tunnels to attack it's districts - With established Warden tunnels used to transport the antlions using bug bait to sow destruction in targeted districts.
This caused chaos within the backlines of the City - With the majority of it's Overwatch and Synth forces occupied in the outskirts, the inner defense against loose pockets of antlion presence was left to the Civil Protection forces present in each district. With the stability of each district waning, local rebel cells and it's slummer populace rose up to defy the meager defense erected by Civil Protection; Often led or supported by the Wardens to further descent the city into instability. This led to streets and zones abandoned by it's former protectors only to be taken up by local cells such as La Fazione Libera (LFL) which led various attacks against the Nexus and other Combine-controlled areas.
The desperate bid that Alessio Keller betted on worked and his plan for a revolution appears to be coming to fruition - Till Alessio Keller once again faced his greatest obstacle that broke the Wardens the first time; A Judgment Waiver.
The Shattered Dagger
As if the October Waiver was re-enacted, the City went into a Judgement Waiver once again. With Synth and Overwatch Forces now having free reign to eradicate any life form as they see fit. Any sort of alignment was ignored by these killing machines; Civil Protection, Loyalist, Citizen, Slummer, Rebel - None were spared in their path, so long as any sort of life forms were present in the area.
Territories and areas held by Rebel and Civil Protection Forces were swiftly abandoned as Synth forces began their path of destruction to eradicate the antlion threat, even if it meant killing allied forces in the process. Another issue also rose for the Warden side - Their supply of bug bait has finally ran dry after frequent usage, making their trump card - The Antlions - now useless and uncontrollable within the districts that they led them into. Various Warden hardpoints and cells were quickly being eradicated by the Synth and Overwatch forces, breaking their winning streak and the great loss of warden lives. Alessio and various Warden Commanders has already pooled everything they have into this chance of destroying the city once and for all, yet it was all for naught. Reports say that most of the Warden holdouts fought to the bitter-end in the surface as most non-aligned rebel cells as well as the Nachtigallen fled into the underground metro for safety and to wait out the Judgement Waiver before resurfacing once more.
No one knows what happened to Alessio at the aftermath of the Judgment Waiver - Some say that he died fighting to the bitter end alongside his fellow Wardens, others say that he fled from the city to preserve his life. However, there is one factual truth to the matter; The Wardens are now officially dead, with those meager few preferring to escape and hide away from this devastating defeat. Their dream of a toppled City Twenty-Four and the spark of Revolution all across Europe was finally snuffed out.
What was once a powerful pillar of Rebellion against the Combine has now shattered, leaving a power vacuum for future rebel cells and movements to take their place in this drawn-out war.