Stoneward

Stoneward (aka. Stoney) is a stone lizard guardian in Trace's Mansion. He was gifted by Lady Nora for Trace's unborn child with Saria as a companion that could serve a similar role to what Nora was for Trace.

Appearance
Stoneward is a living statue made of grey stone that is meant to resemble a lizard. He is tall and slender and has rows of spines running down his back. His eyes also glow orange with magic and he also seems to have an extendable stone tongue.

History
Stoneward was created by Nora as a gift for his unborn child with Saria. Trace requested she create stone dragons that could serve as guardians, but she found the idea of stone dragons being used as guard dogs insulting so she created one stone lizard for him instead. However, Saria and her unborn child were killed by a Wolf Keidran, so Stoneward was left to guard the Forbidden Corridor on the 3rd floor of the estate where the baby's nursery was.

Chapter 20
Stoneward first appeared in the comic when Madelyn and Karen accidentally intruded on the Forbidden Corridor. He disguised himself as a regular statue, but once Maddie tried to open the door on the opposite end of the hallway, Stoneward attacked them. Maddie attempted to hold off Stoneward while Karen ran for the exit, only to find that the exit disappeared. Maddie dodged several of Stoneward's attacks before he delivered a powerful kick to her stomach bruising her ribs. Right before he was about to finish them off, Rose teleported Maddie and Karen to the dungeon to get away from him.

Chapter 21
Trace and Flora are teleported to the Forbidden Corridor when the Oasis Room is attacked. When they arrive, Stoneward pounces at Trace seemingly about to attack him, but instead licks his face, happy to be reunited with his owner. Flora continues trying to hold him off from Trace and Stoneward is about to attack Flora, but Trace realizes Stoneward is a friend and asks them both to stand down. After Trace tells Stoneward that Flora is a friend, he then licks her face as well. Trace then remembers who Stoneward is as he begins following them. He waits for them just outside the nursery as they go inside to investigate it. Soon after discovering a picture of Rose and then hearing her behind them, Trace goes to investigate and orders Stoneward to protect Flora.

Personality
Stoneward acts like a guard dog and is very loyal to Trace. He is very affectionate towards him, pouncing on him and licking his face. He is also very obedient as he immediately stops before he is about to attack Flora when Trace tells him she's a friend, and when he nervously looks away when Trace remembers he told him not to pounce on him. When guarding the Forbidden Corridor he is very vicious against intruders, as he immediately attacks Maddie and Karen when they attempt to open the door on the other side of the hallway.

Physical strength
Stoneward is very strong being made of stone. He attacks using kicks, punches, and tail swings, and his attacks are strong enough to bruise Maddie's ribs. This is notable as Basitins have enhanced physical durability. He is also very durable himself, as Karen hurt herself trying to chop him.

Trace Legacy
Trace and Stoneward act as owner and pet to each other.

Lady Nora
Lady Nora created Stoneward at Trace's request. She appears to disdain the idea of creating a stone dragon as a guardian and so she made Stoneward a lizard instead.

Flora
Flora and Stoneward were initially antagonistic towards each other when they first met. However, once Trace realized that Stoneward was a friend, he immediately asked them to stop fighting. Stoneward then licked Flora as well to show that he accepted her as a friend. Flora is somewhat wary and unsure of Stoneward even after they stop fighting, but she seems to see him as a friend as well and wants him to be the companion for her child that Trace intended for Saria's.

Trivia

 * The Stoneward bears an appearance to the so-called "Lizardfolk" as mentioned by Karen. While no creatures have been seen as of yet in the comic, Flora mentions in page 768 that she "heard stories from people about a species of reptiles in the mountains".