The Vigilant Guard of the Green is a military order originating in the pre-Dimrosian Kingdom of Myronment, and surviving on in the city-state of the same name. Membership of the order is limited to the Lord of Myronment and fifty men of able body and pure heritage. Former members who can no longer perform their duties adequately, either through age or injury, are retired to the Wardens of the Green, and spouses and direct children of the Guard are inducted into the Adjuncts to the Guard. The order has a sister organisation, the Coven of the Bow, whose head is a member of both organisations.
The Guards emblem is a serrated arrowhead, downward pointing in black, which they ware upon their cloaks over their heart. The orders motto is 'we will endure'.
History
Founded in 275BDE by Llewellyn the Great after the Battle of One Hundred Moons, the Guard of the Green is the pre-eminent military order in Myronment. Created to 'protect the Myronmenti from all hazard', it's duties have evolved from one of elite military regiment to personal bodyguard to the Lord of Myronment over the years.
The Battle of One Hundred Moons, fought against Silverstari invaders of the Kingdom of Rei, was a crushing defeat for the Myronmenti. Their military was crushed, and King Llewellyn nearly slain. Significant territory was lost, forcing the Myronmenti over the River Raim and deep into Myronment swamp. Part of the restructuring of the army that occurred in the wake of this disaster was a greater emphasis on guerrilla tactics, and part of that was the foundation of the Guard from the veteran archers and woodsmen of the army. Originally founded at nearly three hundred, the Guard quickly dispersed into small groups of no more than ten and filtered into occupied territory. While the regular army fought to hold the enemy at the natural barriers of the river and swamp, the Guard struck quickly and silently again and again at generals, supply points and camps. Despite the Rei's impressive mastery of manoeuvre on a formal battlefield, they exhibited problems with coordination at this small level, and a combination of stealth, magic, martial prowess and the seeming randomness of their attacks paid dividends for the Guard. Within six months, Llewellyn was able to launch the Reclamation War. The Guard was at it's heyday and, apart from size, identical to the modern Guard.
Over time, the Second Flowering waned, and the rise of Dimrost sealed the fate of the Kingdom of Myronment nearly four hundred years later. During the long and bitter War of Survival, the Guard performed with all their expected prowess, to the extent that the Guard became the image of the Myronmenti military. Dimrost was too powerful, however, and Myronment was reduced to a city state deep in Myronment swamp. All the while the Guard held to their oath, but in their now reduced capacity they formed the personal bodyguard of the Lord. During the Black Reign of Lord Gwledig, membership of the order depended more on social standing than martial ability. The order slowly evolved into a secret police, to the extent it was secretly daubed the Guard of the Black by the Oaken Leaf Rebels. This trend eventually lead not only to internal unrest, but the nearly disastrous Blackwater Incident. But this trend was short lived.
Since their foundation, the Guard have participated in every major military engagement for Myronment, and have always fought for the current sovereign, even at times of civil strife. This has lead to interesting incidents where, because of the loose nature of the guards organisation, as many as seven Guards have existed at once, such as during the Succession Wars.
Organisation
Structure
The smallest level of organisation is the Band, a body of between three and ten men, lead by a Band Captain. Above that is a company, lead by a Company Captain and traditionally consisting around thirty to fifty men, although the Guard currently consists of two companies of around twenty-five. With its membership not above sixty for the last nearly seven hundred years, the company level of organisation has ceased being anything more than traditional. Above that is the Masters Staff, consisting of the Master of the Green, always the current Lord, the Prelate and a small number of priests, and the Captain-General, the military head of the order and personal guard of the Master. Aside all of this are the servants, armourers and other subsidiary organs required to keep the Guard operating.
Members
The members of the Guard must be of sound physical health, show proven competence in wilderness survival, stealth and infiltration, and competence with the Myronmenti longblade and the Myronmenti Blackbow. In addition to these physical requirements, a prospective guard member must be of pure Myronmenti blood on both sides for the last two generations (parents and grandparents), be free of physical and mental corruption, and show the required loyalty to Myronment and the Master. The Captain-General is responsible for recruitment, but all appointments are finalised by the Master. During the Black Reign of Lord Gwledig the membership was restricted to those of noble birth, while the martial requirements were relaxed. Within the decade, the guard was returned to its true incarnation.
Officers
Promotion within the order is based on merit for the most part, but connections with and without the order also help. As with appointments of non-ranking members, appointment of Band Captains and Company Captains are suggested by the Captain-General and approved by the Master. Criteria for advancement focus on personal leadership and strategic planing focused on guerrilla tactics, but personal prowess, martial and magical, is also favoured. The Prelate is appointed by the Master, usually a priest of a martial persuasion, and the Prelate appoints a nebulous body of lesser priests into the subsidiary Coven of the Bow, as approved by the Master. The Captain-General is appointed directly by the Master, and the Master is always the hereditary ruler of the Myronmenti, first their King, then their Lord.
Vestments and Accoutrements
Members
The full battledress of the Guard of the Green consists of
- Boiled leather armour consisting of a helmet which closely resembles a Spangenhelm, a cuirass of boiled leather without faulds and braces on both forearms. This armour is moderately enchanted for strength.
- A long sleeved tunic and trousers of a drab greenish grey, warn over the armour and secured with a leather belt.
- Tall leather boots of the Myronmenti style, with thick soles of leather and reaching just below the knee, laced at the front with leather thews, enchanted to reduce the sound of footfalls.
- A long cloak of greenish grey, secured at the throat with a gold pin and with a deep hood. The cloak is enchanted to shift colours slightly to assist with stealth.
In addition to clothing and armour, each Guard has personal armaments consisting of
- A Myronmenti Blackbow, expertly crafted and enchanted for accuracy.
- A longblade, well forged but not enchanted, with a pommel shaped into the orders symbol and plain scabbard.
- Two quivers, warn hanging from the belt over the thighs, each containing twenty arrows.
On the death of a member, these items are returned to the master by the closest living relative. The bow is ritually destroyed at the funeral, and the sword retained in the Green Temple.
Officers
Ranks with the guard are distinguished as follows
- Band Captains have a silver tree, stylised the resemble the Tree of Myronment on the back of their braces.
- Company Captains have this symbol in gold.
- The Captain-General has a gold tree with small flecks of ruby arranged to resemble fruit amongst its branches.
In addition, standard enchantments are regularly strengthened, and additional items of power may be warn at the individuals discretion.
The Prelate wares the uniform of the Coven of the Bow, with the addition of the downward pointing serrated arrowhead over his left breast.
The Master of the Green, as the King or Lord of Myronment, has a far greater range of customisation, especially in weaponry and personal armour, but will often adopt battle garb similar to that of the Guard, but for all intents and purposes is not bound by their uniform.
Duties and Privileges
The Guards prime and founding purpose is to make war on the enemies of the Myronmenti. Their secondary, and increasingly more prominent role, is to form a personal guard for the Lord of Myronment. Ranks in the Guard were originally equivalent to one higher than the Forward Army and two higher than the Rear Army, but as the Forward Army no longer exists, and the Rear Army has become the Myronment Watch, the ranks are now one higher in equivalence.
Membership in the guard ensures a small number of privileges. Firstly, an annual salary, which has fluctuated over the years is paid to the guard member, as well as to widows, but no to direct descendent. There is also considerable social prestige. Myronmenti are a martial people who value skill at arms and the resourcefulness and tenacity to survive, which the Guard exemplifies. In addition, proximity to the King or Lord of Myronment has seen numerous guard members promoted out of the guard and into other positions, such as local lords or high positions in the Watch.
