Tomb of the Last Guard
Beneath the crushing weight of stone and silence, hidden deep within Boltbottom Keep, lies the Tomb of the Last Guard—a sacred and solemn crypt carved to honor the fallen Emerald Knights who gave their lives defending the Wall. Accessible only by those of rank or special dispensation, the Tomb is hallowed ground, its halls echoing not with sound, but with the memory of sacrifice. Dim lanterns, alchemically sustained for centuries, cast flickering green light on weathered stone, illuminating rows of sarcophagi marked not with names, but with the deeds that defined a final breath: "Held the pass when all others fell." "Warned the Watch before the gates gave way." "Bought time with steel and blood."
At the heart of the tomb lies a singular monument—an unmarked sarcophagus of black obsidian, veined with silver and inset into a raised dais of polished stone. Known only by the inscription “Duty”, it is the final resting place of an unknown Knight, buried with full honors but no name, no heraldry, no records. No one knows who they were, nor do they try. The act of remembrance lies not in identity, but in sacrifice. To touch, lean upon, or speak ill of the Tomb is a crime punishable by expulsion from the Knights—a sacred line none dare cross. Even Krusk, Lord General of the Emerald Knights, is said to remove his helm before entering that chamber.
Though protected by powerful anti-necromantic wards and hallowed magic, visitors often report a sense of being watched. Some speak of faint green glows in the corners of their vision, or the distant echo of armored boots walking in perfect step. Whether these are tricks of the light or the watchful spirits of the honored dead is of no matter. Here, beneath the Wall, the fallen do not sleep—they stand eternal vigil.
At the heart of the tomb lies a singular monument—an unmarked sarcophagus of black obsidian, veined with silver and inset into a raised dais of polished stone. Known only by the inscription “Duty”, it is the final resting place of an unknown Knight, buried with full honors but no name, no heraldry, no records. No one knows who they were, nor do they try. The act of remembrance lies not in identity, but in sacrifice. To touch, lean upon, or speak ill of the Tomb is a crime punishable by expulsion from the Knights—a sacred line none dare cross. Even Krusk, Lord General of the Emerald Knights, is said to remove his helm before entering that chamber.
Though protected by powerful anti-necromantic wards and hallowed magic, visitors often report a sense of being watched. Some speak of faint green glows in the corners of their vision, or the distant echo of armored boots walking in perfect step. Whether these are tricks of the light or the watchful spirits of the honored dead is of no matter. Here, beneath the Wall, the fallen do not sleep—they stand eternal vigil.
Purpose / Function
The Tomb of the Last Guard is far more than a crypt—it is a place of solemn purpose, forged from reverence and remembrance. Carved beneath Boltbottom Keep and guarded with the same vigilance reserved for Graev’s Gate itself, the Tomb stands as the spiritual heart of the Emerald Knights and the ideological soul of Corik’s Wall. Here, death is not an end, but a legacy; each interment is a pledge renewed, each name—or lack thereof—a reminder of the price of vigilance.
The Tomb exists to honor the fallen, to record not names or ranks, but deeds: the final act of sacrifice made in service to the Wall, and to the countless innocents it protects. These etched epitaphs—each a short phrase wrought in stone—are not for the dead, but for the living. Every squire and newly sworn Knight must walk the central aisle and read the histories in silence, absorbing the weight of duty carried by those who came before. In this way, the Tomb becomes a crucible of reflection and humility, forging not steel, but resolve.
Beyond remembrance, the Tomb also serves as a bulwark against desecration. Interred within hallowed stone, each Knight is protected by ancient wards that repel necromantic interference and preserve their rest in perpetuity. In life, they stood the line. In death, they still guard it. So long as the Tomb remains intact and honored, the ideals of the Emerald Knights endure—not in politics, not in pageantry, but in the unbroken silence of stone and sacrifice.
The Tomb exists to honor the fallen, to record not names or ranks, but deeds: the final act of sacrifice made in service to the Wall, and to the countless innocents it protects. These etched epitaphs—each a short phrase wrought in stone—are not for the dead, but for the living. Every squire and newly sworn Knight must walk the central aisle and read the histories in silence, absorbing the weight of duty carried by those who came before. In this way, the Tomb becomes a crucible of reflection and humility, forging not steel, but resolve.
Beyond remembrance, the Tomb also serves as a bulwark against desecration. Interred within hallowed stone, each Knight is protected by ancient wards that repel necromantic interference and preserve their rest in perpetuity. In life, they stood the line. In death, they still guard it. So long as the Tomb remains intact and honored, the ideals of the Emerald Knights endure—not in politics, not in pageantry, but in the unbroken silence of stone and sacrifice.
"The Wall holds because they did not run. This tomb isn’t for glory—it’s a ledger of debts we haven’t finished paying."
— Krusk, Lord General of the Emerald Knights
Founding Date
26AV
Type
Tomb
Parent Location
Owner
Ruling/Owning Rank
Owning Organization
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