Preserver

Preservers are a very small group of Khalai protoss who hold the memories of other dead Khalai.

The preservers, based out of the Sanctum, dress in gossamer-fine lavender and white garb to make their status obvious. At least one preserver was always on hand at the Conclave during its existence. They could offer only information, and could not give orders.

Function
The memories accessible to preservers may be millennia old. It is claimed preservers have access to the memories of every dead Khalai. When a Khalai dies their memories are instantly transferred to the preservers.

The psionic link of the Khala is required to become a preserver and access the collective memory. Non-adherents of the Khala, such as the Dark Templar, are unable to become preservers. The memories of protoss from the Aeon of Strife, who had lost their connection to the psionic link could still be accessed. In addition, the memories of the Dark Templar-like Tal'darim of Aiur became available to the preservers upon their deaths.

At least three preservers, based on Zhakul, were described as "immortal".

History
Following the Aeon of Strife, the protoss discovered the xel'naga archive world of Zhakul. When the Conclave took power, all texts and artifacts from the Aeon of Strife were sealed away on Zhakul and entrusted to a trio of preservers.

Following the, a preserver gave the location of colossi to the Daelaam, and a mission was launched to recover one.

Ulrezaj's Campaign
Long before the Great War, the Dark Templar Ulrezaj, an alysaar scholar based on the sacred Dark Templar world of Ehlna tended to the memory crystals. He accessed forbidden knowledge which eventually drove him mad. When he was caught by other scholars, he refused to have the knowledge erased from him and fled.

In recent times Ulrezaj, now a dark archon, used his Dark Templar assassins to kill preservers. Ulrezaj considered the preservers a threat to his plans. By 2503 there were no preservers among the refugees on Shakuras.

Zamara, a preserver, was mortally wounded by one of Ulrezaj's assassins. To survive she forcibly transferred her mind from her dying body into Jake Ramsey, a terran archaeologist, using the technology of the xel'naga temple on Nemaka. This rewired Ramsey's brain and gave him both preserver abilities and a brain tumor. Ramsey's memories became available to future generations of preservers. Ramsey/Zamara found themselves being pursued by Ulrezaj, the Queen of Blades and the Terran Dominion, all of whom desired her knowledge.

Zamara was able to give her secret information to both Ramsey and Zeratul. While undergoing a ceremony at Ehlna to remove her from Ramsey's mind and place her in a pure khaydarin crystal, Ulrezaj attacked. Zamara trapped both Ulrezaj and herself in the crystal.

The Xel'Naga Prophecy
Zamara was not the last preserver. A trio of "immortal" preservers lived on Zhakul. However, they were captured and drained of their essence by Maar, a hybrid, who had also taken control of the Zhakul Guardians.

Zeratul delivered fragments of a xel'naga found on Ulaan to the trio of preservers on Zhakul. Maar stated "some SECRETS must remain HIDDEN" as he attempted to keep Zeratul from reaching the preservers. However, Zeratul's forces defeated the Zhakul Guardians, killing Maar and saving the preservers. The preservers interpreted the fragments and allowed the dark templar to continue his quest.

Known Preservers

 * Zamara
 * Three preservers on Zhakul