Guard ( Tantras ) The Guard was the police and defense force of the city of Tantras in the Vast . Base of operations . The Guard were based in the Sea Tower in the city of Tantras , standing on the coast at the southern side of the bay opening . The Sea Tower was the city ' s main fortress , and held armories and training areas for soldiers . The Guard also maintained ballista batteries on the coast and on either side of the entrance of the harbor mouth , together with a chain - boom barrier strung across it , and catapult s mounted on coast towers . The Guard also manned the gates and towers encircling the city . When preparing for war , the Guard would commandeer inns and privately owned buildings around the city for use as army barracks and recruiting posts . Organization . In 1358 DR , shortly after the Time of Troubles , the Guard was commanded by Lassalar Ormitar , who was also head of the Ormitar noble house and a member of the High Council that governed Tantras . Although the Guard was directly responsible to the Council , its loyalties lay with Lassalar , who was more serious about restricting merchant freedoms in favor of law and order . The Guard consisted of about 900 male and female fighter s , mostly well - trained warriors . . They typically formed units of fourteen , with one sergeant leading . Officers commanded multiple units and sections of the city , such as the harbor . There were standing garrisons of thirty crossbow men to protect the harbor and man the ballista batteries there . Wizard s and cleric s could also be called upon for help . Tantras also had a reserve militia of about 6 , 000 that could be called up when needed . However , these were mostly not professionals but folk with other jobs and thus they were considered poor - quality troops . Members of the Guard had the following ranks : Activities . The Guard ' s duties were to both defend the city of Tantras and to police it . Tactics . The Guard regularly patrolled the city with fourteen - strong mobile units . If more than one unit was required , an officer joined them to take command . Crossbowmen and wizards were called in emergencies . Upon encountering trouble , a Guard patrol ' s standard approach was to resolve the matter peacefully , by calling for all parties to put away their weapons and answer their questions . However , in a situation in which native Tantrans were in danger , they would attack first and ask questions later — using a " speak with dead " spell if need be . The many priests common in Tantras made this a practical response . Possessions . Soldiers of the Guard were outfitted in blue oiled plate mail armor emblazoned with the coat of arms of Tantras : three silver stars over a silver breaking wave on a field of royal blue , called the " blue and silver " . Regular soldiers carried spear s , short sword s , and dagger s , while sergeants carried longsword s and mace s , and officers wielded maces , morningstar s , or short swords . Ranged units possessed crossbow s or operated ballistae . History . During the Time of Troubles of the Year of Shadows , 1358 DR , Tantras mustered its troops in preparation for an attack from Zhentil Keep . To that end , the Guard commandeered several inns — such as the Roaring Lion and Gulder ' s Good Grubb — and other privately owned buildings for use as barracks and recruiting posts . Halemar ' s Fine Blades , an armorer and weaponsmithy , was also task with crafting for the army . King Azoun IV of Cormyr called for a crusade against the Tuigan Horde in the Year of the Turret , 1360 DR . Tantras sent envoys to Azoun ' s council on Tarsakh 10 , represented by a gruff and unshaven Tantran commander . Tantras contributed 1 , 600 soldiers , mostly well - trained and all volunteers , as well as a number of wizards , to the crusade .