Aszuran Iron Guard

## Aszuran Guard

The Aszuran Guard, Defenders of the Northern Fringes of the Kingdom of Valantia.

The Aszuran Guard, are a formidable army of elite defenders entrusted with the protection of the City of Aszura and the northern fringes of the Kingdom of Valantia. Clad in obsidian-black armor and equipped with cutting-edge weaponry, including gunpowder-based cannons, these knights have earned a reputation as an unyielding and indomitable force.

**Founding and Early History**

The Aszuran Guard was founded during a tumultuous period in the history of the Hispadian Peninsula. Aszura, a prominent city situated in the northern reaches, was a strategic gateway to Valantia and often faced threats from neighboring regions and marauding tribes. In response to these dangers, King **Alaric the Bold** issued a decree to establish an elite order of knights, which would serve as the first line of defense for the city and its environments.

The order's founding members, numbering just a few hundred, donned black armor, which quickly earned them the moniker "Black Knights." Their first leader, Sir Corwin of Aszura, was a renowned tactician and warrior who set about training his men in the art of combat and siege warfare.

The Black Knights in Battle

The Aszuran Guard quickly gained a reputation for their unwavering discipline and formidable presence on the battlefield. Their signature black armor not only inspired fear in their enemies.

One of the defining features of the Aszuran Guard was their embrace of cutting-edge technology. During their early years, they adopted gunpowder weapons like cannons, a rare and revolutionary innovation in a time when traditional siege engines were more common. This technology gave them a significant advantage in defending Aszura, and their skilled cannoneers could breach the walls of besieging armies with startling accuracy.

Heroic Stand at the Battle of Northwatch

Shortly after the formation of the Triumvirate and the Kingdom of Valantia, the Aszuran Guard's most legendary moment came during the Battle of Northwatch, a pivotal conflict that threatened to breach the northern borders of Aszura. An invading army, led by the Skeletal Warlord Vaelorak the lasting, vastly outnumbered the Valantian forces. The Black Knights stood resolute in the face of overwhelming odds.

As the battle raged on, it was the Aszuran Guard's cannons that proved decisive. They unleashed a barrage of cannonballs upon the enemy, wreaking havoc and chaos in their ranks. Their disciplined ranks held firm, even as Vaelorak forces attempted to encircle and overrun them.

In a climactic duel, Sir Corwin of Aszura, now an elder statesman of the order, confronted Warlord Vaelorak himself. In a hard-fought and legendary battle, Sir Corwin managed to slay Arkan, sowing banishing the enemy's ranks instantly into the abyss of Valantia's sunlight.

The heroic defense at Northwatch marked a turning point in the battle, and the Aszuran Guard, with their black armor glinting in the setting sun, held the line and secured a great victory for Valantia.

Legacy

The Aszuran Guard, known as the Black Knights, continue to protect the City of Aszura and the northern borders of Valantia to this day. They remain a symbol of valor, discipline, and adaptability, and their legacy endures as a testament to the power of innovation and the unyielding spirit of those who stand on the front lines of defense.

In the annals of history, the Aszuran Guard's story serves as an enduring reminder that even in the darkest of times, the black knights of Aszura stood as unbreakable defenders, safeguarding the realm with unwavering resolve and the might of modern warfare.