81st Rooks National Guard Reserve

**Leader**
 **Officers**
 **Headquarters**

The **81st** **Rooks National Guard Reserve**, also known in short as the '**Rooks Guard**' was a unit of Army Reservists committed to the defense of the Kingdom of Stormwind. Maintaining training standards and precisely responding to threats as they appear. They enlisted a diverse array of individuals, from various backgrounds, with minimal discrimination. As long as applicants presented themselves as individuals that are strongly interested in the defense of the Kingdom of Stormwind, and pass a interview, they were enlisted.

Due to their status as a 'reserve', the Rooks Guard was able to afford it's applicants the flexibility of maintaining their civilians pursuits and careers, as well as receive the benefits of having a military career, for their dedication to maintaining a status of ready to deploy. Because of this, soldiers within the Rooks Guard had a diverse array of experiences and lifestyles. They contributed and helped empower the unit as they worked to receive these benefits, like citizenship and pensions.

The Rooks Guard was disbanded due to casualties sustained during the Fourth Scourge Invasion of Stormwind, and had the members that wished to continue to serve in an active capacity merged with the First Regiment, with members looking for continued reservist status asked to look elsewhere.

The rest of this article is defunct and will no longer be updated, and is assumed to be in the past tense.

## Purpose

The Rooks Guard's primary purpose is that of national defense. Members are regularly trained and maintain their physical fitness in order to respond to threats against the stability of the Kingdom of Stormwind, both foreign and domestic. They aid in maintaining the kingdom's sovereign borders by responding to reports of foreign hostile activity near it, agents foreign and domestic acting within them, or domestic threats looking to undermine it actively.

To achieve these ends, the soldiers of the Rooks Guard actively patrol the Kingdom during their deployment windows. As well as maintain consistent contact with the intelligence offices of the Stormwind Ministry of War. They actively recruit within Stormwind City, the largest population center, in order to bolster their forces. The Rooks Guard garrisons at Westbrook Garrison, right outside of Stormwind City.

During times of distress, or when called, the Rooks Guard also serve to defend VIP's and specific government functions in order to maintain national security.

When it comes to it's purpose for it's members, it serves to benefit those who choose to enlist within it, which provides rewards for their service to the Kingdom. Most of these benefits come with simple military enlistment, however are made more attractive due to the 'part-time' nature of the unit. A good number of these benefits are listed in various acts passed by the
Stormwind House of Nobles. Including guaranteed citizenship after five years of service, (a process that the Rooks refer to as 'Castling', named after the chess move where the Rook protects the king from harm, and gains more access to the board) land grants, and pension pay. As well as the unwritten benefits of a military career, like the spoils of war collected from enemy units during missions, or the training they learn and supplies they get to utilize outside of official missions that members get from requisitions.

The Rooks Guard also actively seeks to partner with employers who do not discriminate against military reservists to find full time work for it's members.

## History

### Founding

The **Rooks Guard** was founded by (then) Youhun Shufen, following her repeated attempts to join other military units following her return from MIA status, but was faced with rejection because of her status as a (apparent) Death Knight and as a Pandaren. She submitted a proposal for the creation of her unit with the Ministry of War, and was approved to command one of her design. This led to the creation of the Rook's Guard 'statement of purpose' document.  Which was then recognized and approved by the Ministry of War. The Rooks Guard was granted use of the Westbrook Garrison by Grand Marshal Maxen Montclair. Since then they have been actively bolstering their forces.

### Operation "rapture"

Early on in the history of the Rooks Guard, during the building tension due to the return of the plague during the fall of 632 KY, Rooks Guard aided the mercenary group Riverbrook Company in the escort of refuges in the Plaguelands. This rare departure from the borders of the Kingdom is known as 'Operation: Rapture' and is a rare exception to the Rook's stated purpose of only being a defensive unit. With the justification being that some of the refugees were Stormwind citizens.

The full declassified report on Operation: Rapture is documented here.

### The Defense of the Royal Tombs

On Saturday, November 21st 632 KY during the plague epidemic in Stormwind, concentrated Scourge forces besieged the City of Stormwind. Rooks Guard quickly responded to the call to action, and aided heroes of the city in defending the cathedral graveyard, including the tomb of the late queen Tiffin Wrynn. During this engagement Rooks Guard forces combatted rogue Death Knights, Scourge regulars, and a Frostwyrm.

No report is currently available on this defensive action.

### Present Day

The **Rooks Guard**continues to recruit and aid in the defense of the Kingdom of Stormwind.

## Notable Members

### Meng Shufen

Meng Shufen is the current leader of the Rooks Guard, serving as their Commander at the rank of Captain.

## Gallery

Commander ShufenThe Rooks Guard, during their first Roll Call. All of whom fought during Operation: Rapture.The Rooks, modeling their banner.