Royal Guard of House Keto-Daragon

A Royal Guard in full armor and weaponry [Kixx]

*"It has been my express desire since my installation as Captain of the Royal Guard by Duke Sylves of old that my company demonstrates and upholds both the high prestige and legacy of House Keto-Daragon and the security of the family."*

- Tivo Hyzz, Captain of the Guard on the purpose of the Royal Guard.

## General Overview

### Appearance

Empress Teta, having enjoyed nearly four millennia of peace following the dissolvement of the Krath, has nonetheless maintained a clearly regal culture despite the strong control of the Mining Guild, reflected in the grand designs of the Royal Guard, the Keto-Daragon House's exceptionally so. Opulent material, august coloration, and a stringent vetting process preserve the professional and prestigious reputation of the Keto-Daragon Royal Guard.

#### Selection

Pulling from distinguished members from the already commendable Tetan Defense Force, the Royal Guard of the Keto-Daragon House is employed by men and women of great physical and mental fortitude as well as ceremonial aestheticism, displayed by their universal high fitness, clean-shaven faces under Tivo’s command, delicate cleanliness, and even beauty due to their obligation to serve in the Royal Palace.

* The Royal Guard contains the sons and daughters of royal families, some relatives to the Keto-Daragon line, but majorly consists of Tetan Defense veterans of common or lower birth.
* Guards are often retired or promoted into instructional positions outside of the direct guard pool after approaching their middle age, preserving the rather youthful appearance of the Guard.

#### Equipment

Of an ornate and aesthetic design, the golden and frilled armor of the Royal Guard exemplifies grandiose elements as well as lavish richness, the armor extremely pleasing to the eye as well as their weaponry, similarly flashy in nature with ornate cross-guards and unique blasters all Royal Guards of the Palace carry.

* The blasters used in the vibrospears are similar in design to the TL-50 Repeater, albeit stripped. However, the modified blasters retain their ability to charge and fire a heavy concussive blast.
* A personal energy shield on the offhand enables the more complex board-and-sword group tactics of the Royal Guard. Their vibroswords commonly bear personalized hilts, most of them containing the life story of its owner.

#### Presence

Manning hallways, doorways to the chambers of royal members of the House, patrolling the expansive gardens of the Duke, and otherwise defending the estate of the Keto-Daragon lineage keeps the Royal Guards active, present in most environments throughout the property. Most are silent save when questioned by their superiors, maintaining an indifferent and robotic demeanor while active.

## Training

Grueling even for veterans of the already-selective Tetan Defense Force, there is no doubt that Royal Guards are as professional as they are ceremonial, disciplined and capable soldiers as well as physical representations of the House.

#### Induction

Selected by the Captain of the Guard, Royal Guards, possessing their combat and military expertise from service in the Tetan Defense Force, are subjected to intensive physical drills involving the lifting of severe weight, endurance sprinting drills throughout the ecumenopolis of Cinnagar, complex acrobatics courses, and a myriad of other drills and training segments meant to test the limits of their bodies and their will to serve.

#### Education

Following the completion of their most basic training, Royal Guard trainees are then taught several degrees of Vibroblade functionality, focusing extensively on the vibrosword at a variety of lengths and sizes, the vibrospear and attached blaster, and then a further mastery of the blasters they had used during their tenure in the TDF, notably the heavy blaster rifle models. Out of the art of war, trainees are given a broad education on basic court functionalities, notably how and who to show respect towards as well as a variety of oaths to swear during their acceptance ceremony.

#### Final Training and Ceremony

If deemed successful in their several months of training, education, and sparring amongst one another with vibroblades under the inspecting eye of the Captain of the Guard or his delegates, trainees are brought before the serving head of the Keto-Daragon House and are bound to pledge their allegiance to the liege, the House itself, and Empress Teta as a whole. The ceremony involves the granting of a permanent vibrosword to the trainee, essentially their mark of office, granted by the Captain of the Guard in a personal ritual within the Royal Hall. Afterward, they are assigned a bunk in the Royal Barracks of the Keto-Daragon Estate and await orders from above.