Imperial Guard

From the Lyorn Records of the Dragaeran Empire

The Imperial Guard is the generic name for the group of quasi-military troops that takes its name from the current reign. Therefore, during the Athyra reign it was called the Athyra Guard. After Tortaalik received the Orb, it of course became known as the Phoenix Guard, and remained so through Zerika's reign. And under the Dragon reign of Norathar e'Lanya, it will be known as the Dragon Guard, and so forth through each House's reign. (The one exception to this rule is the Iorich Guard which continues to exist during the reign of other houses).

While the Imperial Guard acts as an elite palace guard (particularly protecting the person of the Emperor) and as a small fighting corps, it also largely acts as guards of the Emperor's peace, which is to say for all practical purposes, as policemen. However, pride would probably force almost all Guardsmen to reject the actual term "policeman" itself.

At the beginning of the Phoenix Reign, the Phoenix Guard consisted of two battalions: Captain G'aereth's battalion was a small one which usually patrolled the streets, and Captain Lanmarea's larger battalion, which usually guarded the Emperor. Once G'aereth was made Brigadier, he reversed these roles, and carefully restructured the Guard into these two separated battalions. His Red Boot Company became the elite palace guard and the White Sash Battalion was made into the "police" force.

Of those characters that Paarfi has written about, we know of at least two whose careers spanned more than one reign, and who are therefore best described as Imperial Guards, rather than just Guardsmen of one particular reign. G'aereth began his career in the Athyra Guard, and died as Brigadier of the Phoenix Guard, and Khaavren began in the Phoenix Guard, and when we last see reference to him, still holds the rank of Brigadier in the Dragon Guard.

As with all military and quasi-military forces of the Dragaeran Empire, the Imperial Guard has its headquarters in the Dragon Wing. The highest-ranking officers in the Imperial Guard theoretically report to the Warlord, although this subordination may be diminished if the officer has special influence with the Emperor directly.

The Imperial Guard (under whatever name and reign) is primarily made up of Dragons, as their House requires them to have military service. However, anyone from any House is free to apply, and many non-Dragons (such as Khaavren) have been quite successful in the Guard.

[edit] Ranks in the Imperial Guard

Note that not all of the ranks need be filled. A Captain with a relatively small number of troops may do without a Lieutenant, for example. When there are only a few Captains, the rank of Brigadier might not be filled, and a single captain might be promoted to Brigadier without having any captains as subordinates.