The Crownsguard

"I swear to ward the king with all my strength, and give my blood for his. I shall take no wife, hold no lands, father no children. I shall guard his secrets, obey his commands, ride at his side, and defend his name and honor."
―Oath of the Crownsguard.
The Crownsguard is an elite group of six knights, supposedly the greatest and most skilled warriors in all of Sternlands, and sometimes the most skilled warriors from the Five Kingdoms of the Balkan States, who serve as the royal bodyguards of the King of Hampshire. Their duty is to protect the king and the royal family from harm at all times. The Crownsguard swear the most holy of vows to fulfill their sacred duty, and - in theory - are meant to be the living exemplars of the pinnacle of knightly virtues. Members of the Crownsguard are sworn for life and are forbidden from owning land, taking wives, or fathering children.
The Crownsguard founded by Lord Reginald Westernling, the Crown Regent to the Boy King, the Crownsguard wore signature all-silvery ivory cloaks, and gold armor with yellow enameling. For this reason, they were sometimes called the "Gold Cloaks", or the "Ivory Swords". The signature wear was changed to all-light gold dressing, and silver ivory armor during the Reign of King Orlando Royne.
The Crownsguard wearing changed to signature to all-silver dressing with light ivory armor with white enameling during the Reign of King Vardis Talmar on the suggestions of his father-by-law, Lord Thaddeus Fossoway suggesting the Shift of Power. During the Reign of King Anton Royne, the king changed the signature cloaks from all-silver white cloaks to all-black silver cloaks and black armor with red enameling. For this very reason, they are sometimes referred as the "Black Cloaks".
The deeds of every knight that has served in the Crownsguard is kept in a large book called the "The Book of Brothers". The book is stored in the White Tower, the Seat and Barracks of the Crownsguard at Orysfort, and it is the responsibility of the current Lord Commander to keep all entries updated.
The Crownsguard is led by the Lord Commander, currently Ser Daemon Cole. The Lord Commander appears to have no marks on his armor to distinguish him from other members, however during the Reign of King Robett, he ordered the making of a brand new armor for the Lord Commander of the Crownsguard, with a Crown Sigil in center of his front armor plate, distinguishing the armor from other members. However, following the Coup in 188 CE and the Removal of the King from Power, the order was no longer functional, but in 192 CE with King Vardis capture of Orysfort and the Kingdom of Hampshire, and the reappointment of the Crownsguard, new armors were ordered for the making in black armor, and a new armor with Gold Enameling of a Crown in the center of the front armor plate was made to distinguish the armor of the Lord Commander of the Crownsguard to distinguish from other members. The Lord Commander sits on the Royal Council as the King's advisor in military matters.
== History ==
=== Foundation ===
After the Battle of Axell Cross, King Lester Royne died to his battle wounds, and was succeeded by his grandson as king, following the death of his two elder sons in battle while the other elder son succumbed to illness. Following two assassination attempts on King Tommen I Royne, the Crown Regent and Grand Vizier, Lord Reginald Westernling with assistance of the Lord of Laws appointed an elite group of six knights, as the most skilled fighters in all of Sternlands to serve as the king's bodyguards. The Crownsguard Knights were also sometimes called the "Gold Cloaks" because of their uniform.
=== Armament of the Knights ===
The Crownsguard was founded by Lord Reginald Westernling, the Crown Regent to the Boy King in 182 CE. The First Crownsguard wore signature all-silvery ivory cloaks, and gold armor with yellow enameling. For this reason, they were sometimes called the "Gold Cloaks", or the "Ivory Swords". The signature wear was changed to all-light gold dressing, and silver ivory armor during the Reign of King Orlando Royne.
The Crownsguard wearing changed once more to signature to all-silver dressing with light ivory armor with white enameling during the Reign of King Vardis Talmar on the suggestions of his father-by-law, Lord Thaddeus Fossoway suggesting the Shift of Power. During the Reign of King Anton Royne, the king changed the signature cloaks from all-silver white cloaks to all-black silver cloaks and black armor with red enameling. For this very reason, they are sometimes referred as the "Black Cloaks".
=== Armament of the Lord Commander ===
The Lord Commander appears to have no marks on his armor to distinguish him from other members, however during the Reign of King Robett, he ordered the making of a brand new armor for the Lord Commander of the Crownsguard, with a Crown Sigil in center of his front armor plate, distinguishing the armor from other members.
However, following the Coup in 188 CE and the Removal of the King from Power, the order was no longer functional, but in 192 CE with King Vardis capture of Orysfort and the Kingdom of Hampshire, and the reappointment of the Crownsguard, new armors were ordered for the making in black armor, and a new armor with Gold Enameling of a Crown in the center of the front armor plate was made to distinguish the armor of the Lord Commander of the Crownsguard to distinguish from other members. The Lord Commander sits on the Royal Council as the King's advisor in military matters.
=== Known Past Members ===
==== Under King Tommen I Royne ====
* Lord Commander
** Ser Justus Linus. Killed in the Third Assassination Attempt on King Tommen.
** Ser Anthony Clark. Died in a rebel campaign.
** Ser Orston Grass.
* Knights
** Ser Isaac Valmore. Killed in the Third Assassination Attempt on King Tommen.
** Ser Elyan of Pyne.
** Ser Pattwick Rivermont.
** Ser Christian Rivers.
**Ser Albus Marshall.
==== Under King Darius Royne ====
* Lord Commander
** Ser Orston Grass. Demoted as Regular Knight and placed as Bodyguard of Princes Elara Royne.
**Ser Albus Marshall. Died in his sleep after long illness.
** Ser Joffery Largent. Demoted as Regular Knight and placed as Bodyguard of Crown Heir, Prince Cerwyn Talmar.
** Ser Raymond Whent. Replacement for Ser Joffery Largent.
* Knights
** Ser Elyan of Pyne. Died in a military campaign.
** Ser Augustus Linus. Died in a military campaign.
** Ser Joffery Largent. Appointed Bodyguard of Crown Heir. Whereabouts unknown, supposedly killed while defending Prince Cerwyn and the Royal Family during the Siege of the Capital.
** Ser Irwin Toyne.
** Ser Anthony of Grymore. Executed after King Orlando's Succession for betrayal.
** Ser Erryk Fowler. 
**Ser Donothor Longsword. Supposedly killed while defending Prince Cerwyn and the Royal Family during the Siege of the Capital. 
==== Under King Orlando Royne ====
* Lord Commander
** Ser Raymond Whent. Died in a military campaign.
**Ser Erryk Fowler. Killed during the Siege of Georgetown, defending the Crown Prince, Prince Charles Royne.
** Ser Elton Hill. Discharged as Lord Commander after the Events of the Forty-Day Siege. 
**Ser Doran Seaborn. Killed by Lord Vardis Talmar in a skirmish during the Thirteen-Day Coup.
* Knights
* Ser Jefferson Stockwell. Executed for defending the Royal Family during the Thirteen-Day Coup.
* Ser Irwin Toyne. Died in a military campaign.
* Ser Oliver Ivanstar. Died in a military campaign.
* Ser Orwell Easternling. Executed for defending the Royal Family during the Thirteen-Day Coup.
* Ser Brandon Rivermont. Died in a military campaign.
*Dame Albertine Crown. Killed by General Renly Warwick in a skirmish during the Thirteen-Day Coup.
*Ser Erryk Grass. Killed by General Renly Warwick in a skirmish during the Thirteen-Day Coup. 
*Ser Isaac Clayford. Died defending Princess Meera in an ambush during a royal hunt.
==== Under King Vardis Talmar ====
* Lord Commander
** Lord Osmund Spyre. Died in the North-Vale Campaign.
** Ser Percival Blount. Killed by King Anton.
**Ser Daemon Cole.
* Captain
**Ser Jefferson Landerman. Died in the North-Vale Campaign.
**Ser Garlan Barrister. 
*Knights
** Ser Clayton Fields. Died in the North-Vale Campaign.
** Ser Torrhen Woods. Executed after the Death of King Vardis.
**Ser Jonos Redfort. Executed after the Death of King Vardis.
**Ser Tristan Fields. Beheaded by King Vardis for sleeping with one of his daughters.
** Ser Teddmund Norridge. Beheaded by King Vardis for sleeping with one of his mistresses.
==== Under King Anton Royne ====
* Lord Commander
** Ser Aaron of Pyne. Died in a Rebel Campaign defending King Anton in an Ambush.
** Ser Daemon Cole.
* Captain
**Ser Cristan Ivanstar. Died in during the Siege of the Capital defending Queen Alysane.
** Ser Dalton Cornfield.
*Knights
** Ser Donovan of Greentown.
** Ser Darry Goldfish.
** Ser Preston Tungsten.
** Ser Daeron Fowler.
** Ser Barnett Trant. Beheaded by King Anton for sleeping with one of his daughters.
== Composition ==
Historically composed of six knights sworn to a lifetime of service, members are to serve unto death despite age or any physical or mental ailments, with an invalid member's duties being taken up by his sworn brothers. During his time as a member of the Crownsguard, a member is not allowed to hold lands, sire children, marry, or have any worldly allegiance except to his monarch (This law was strongly implemented by King Vardis Talmar after his accession as King of Hampshire). All members of the Crownsguard are traditionally sworn knights, except for a few exceptions during Kings Darius and Vardis.
The Crownsguard is led by the Lord Commander, currently Ser Daemon Cole. The Lord Commander appears to have no marks on his armor to distinguish him from other members, which is why it was reimplemented by King Vardis after his accession. Armors of Black Steel were crafted, with a Gold Enameling of a Crown in the center of the front armor plate was made to distinguish the armor of the Lord Commander of the Crownsguard to distinguish from other members. Under normal circumstances, the Lord Commander sits on the Royal Council as the King's advisor in military matters, however, Daemon Cole did not sit on King Anton's Royal Council due to Ser Daemon's previous allegiance to the Talmar Dynasty.
The Crownsguard Knights are figured after the Six Guardians found in the Elder Scrolls and the Old Testament. They are divided into three positions:
# Lord Commander.
# Guard Captain (the position was founded by King Vardis that serves as the Bodyguard of the King's Castellan or Crown Prince, second only to the Lord Commander).
# Crownsguard Knights.