Difference between revisions of "Danian Guard"

Latest revision as of 17:06, 15 October 2014

The Pontifical Danian Guard

Commandant: Knight Grand Commander Colonel-Barone Iseld Prominque (14th level LG paladin)

Vice-Commandant: Knight of the Grand Halos Commander Lieutenant Colonel-Visconte Normani Toramontane (8th level cleric of Mandador, dual-classed 20th level paladin)

Chaplain: Knight Grand Commander Monseigneur Lieutenant Colonel-Barone Ontorio Valdame (9th level fighter, dual-classed 14th level cleric of Mandador)

Introduction

The Danian Guard is an elite religious military unit, composed solely of native Danians, whose chief purpose is to guard and protect the Holy Father. The Danian Guard is not a religious monastic or knightly order in and of itself, although members of them may belong to various orders of chivalry, especially the Knights of St. Ramian. The Knights of St. Ramian are those members of the Danian Guard who have proven themselves worthy of the distinction, which is granted solely by the Holy Father. Only officers may receive Holy Orders into the Church. All chaplains are either crusaders, or former warriors turned clerics. All clerics of the Danian Guard are of the secular clergy. As per the demands of the Neutralians, the Danian Guard is limited as to its numbers, and may only be commanded by a Colonel, whose official position is that of commandant.

The Danian Guard should not be confused with the Palatine Gendarmerie, a part of the Danian Army, who guard the wider grounds of the curial domains, serving essentially as gate guards and the city police. Even though these two organizations are distinct, the Danian Guard nonetheless falls under the jurisdiction of the Palatine Gendarmerie, which in turn fell under the Danian Army when it existed before the Neutralian Settlement, before it was dissolved at the demand of the Neutralian crusaders, with only the Gendarmerie being allowed to remain.

Ranks

Enlisted

All enlisted members of the Guard are selected for their purity and strength. Upon completion of training they are all considered at least 1st level fighters. Crusaders, paladins and clerics are also accepted, although clerics must be able to dual-class into warriors. They are all natives of Dania. Only sergeants/corporals of the horse and above receive the right to marry. Knights and nobles do not become sergeants or sergeants major, but rather become corporals of the horse and corporals major

Halberdier

Vice corporal (4th)

Corporal (5th)

Sergeant/Corporal of the Horse (6th) (purple crest)

Sergeant Major/Corporal Major (centurion crest)

Officer

Officers are rather rare, since they must all be of the nobility of Dania, and be also knights of St. Ramian and paladins. They are all at least 9th level, making them very rare indeed. Knighthood can be awarded, and often is awarded, simultaneously with promotion to officer rank. The most junior rank in the Danian Guard officer corps is that of major, with the highest being colonel, as decreed by the Neutralian Settlement of 836. Previously, captain was the lowest rank, and the highest was that of major general, a largely ceremonial position, which was awarded to a high noble of Dania. During times of war, especially during the Neutralian Wars, other major generals, led by a Captain General, were created.

Major

Lt. Colonel (Chaplain- must be dual-classed paladin/priest)

Colonel

(Major General)

(Captain General)

Life Guards

Since the rise of modern Pompiers to serve as an example, the Holy Father's immediate person has been protected by a special unit within the Danian Guard referred to as the Life Guards. The Life Guards are selected with great care from the youth of the gentry and nobility of Dania, as they are required to be educated and extremely well-mannered. Before the Neutralian Wars, the Life Guards were often 0th level, with little meaningful training. Since that period, such laxity has changed. Notably, the Life Guard maintains its own corps of young wizards, and actively pursues the recruitment of young gentlemen-adventurers of lawful good dispositions.

Although is draws its members from the same general source, the Life Guards are distinct from the Noble Guard, which exists outside the Danian Guard. The Noble Guards, who also protect the Holy Father and curia, simulate many of the duties of the Life Guards. The Noble Guards however are a cavalry unit, serve short terms (usually 1 1/2 years), are commanded by a captain, and are generally less professional than the Danian Guards. They serve as a type of insurance policy for the Holy Curia, for assassins would be loath to murder the sons of Danian nobility in order to slay the Holy Father for fear of noble retribution.

Knights of St. Ramian

In the rolls of the Church, a membership in the Knighthood of St. Ramian is the most prestigious of all. It is the very highest knighthood in precedence, and is given only very rarely. One does not have to be a member of the Danian Guard to become a Knight of St. Ramian, but the preponderance of such knights are in the Guard. Knighthood is possible upon attaining the rank of sergeant. Knighthood entitles the wearing of golden tops upon their helmet crests. Paladins, knight or commoner, receive golden tops to their crests. Knighthood, of varying degrees, is sometimes awarded by the Holy Father to men outside the Danian Guard, including foreigners. Usually, however, such knighthoods are reserved for high nobility and royalty, and is of a more strictly ceremonial nature.

War with the Neutralians

The Neutralian Scourge, as it is remembered in Dania, met with the complete destruction of the Palatine Guard as well as many of the Danian Guard and Knights of St. Ramian. Humiliated, the Danian Guard will never forget this defeat.