The Khishigs

**The Khishigs** (*The Language*: ***Sentinels***) is the armed forces of the Saint's Tribulations Mountains. Akanai started the organization to better protect the safety and well being of the villages dotted throughout the mountain range. Records indicate that it has existed for over two hundred and fifty years.

## Overview

The Khishigs were formed by Akanai after her tour with the Imperial Army. She travelled to every village located in the Saint's Tribulations Mountains and asked every Martial Warrior to join and create a force that would protect everyone who lived in the mountains. She was only able to get about a dozen to join when she started out, and only protected three villages as first. After discovering a Defiled incursion that had already destroyed two isolated villages, Akanai was able to convince other Martial Warriors to join and uproot the Enemy from their lands. The resulting one-sided slaughter of the Defiled led to Akanai getting enough support to unite the Martial Warriors of the Saint's Tribulations Mountains under one banner within a decade.

Each village in the mountains looks after their own, but they all work under Akanai, the only person in the mountains that held a rank until recently. By joining the Khishigs, their villages are allowed to more or less govern themselves, as well as protection under the laws of the Empire. As a mercenary force of the Imperial Defense Forces, they are required to serve the Emperor when mobilized. With no service, there would be no protection, meaning anyone strong enough could simply enslave their entire village.

Akanai commands twenty five thousand Martial Warriors, out of the Saint's Tribulations Mountains' population of a little over a million. The Khishigs are in charge of the defense of the villages and its inhabitants. In general, they scout the surroundings, hunt for meat, do patrols, that sort of thing. Everything from escorting villagers to the city, or craftsmen in search of supplies, keeping the peace in the villages, all tasks are handled by the Khishigs. Most of them take great lengths to avoid command and the responsibilities that it entails, preferring the independence and unrestricted lifestyle that they already enjoy, hunters and guardians who only turn to soldiering when necessary.

Despite their humble appearances, they are all well-equipped and paid a wage. Standard gear includes a hard leather armor set, large wood and leather shield, spear and bow. Their bows are the result of countless generations of research and experimentation, made of five materials, each from a different source, and would fetch ten gold coins at market if ever sold. Most Khishigs either own a Roosequin or are provided one which they can eventually purchase themselves. Quin rearing is left to older, retired Khishigs, ones who are no longer able to fight, but still hale and healthy. The annual wage for a *Sentinel* like Huushal is twenty gold while Rain's recruited cripples received six gold at the beginning. As part of the Imperial Defense Forces, they are also paid for time served.

The Khishigs have a secret true role that is only made known to those involved. They assign guardians to all newcomers to the Saint's Tribulations Mountains, be they foundlings extracted from trying predicaments, orphans of unknown origins, abandoned demi-human children, and even exiles seeking to make a life in the Saint’s Tribulations Mountains. These guardians then observe their charges and, should they be suspected of turning Defiled, the guardian is tasked with imprisoning and/or killing them.

## Notable Members

* **Akanai**: Founder, Chief Provost
* **Tokta**: Healer, Provost, Senior Captain
* **Dagen**: Auxiliary
* **Alsantset**: Major
* **Huushal**: Warrant Officer Second Grade
* **Sumila**: Senior Captain
* **Tursinai**: Senior Captain

Akanai's elites consists of 300 veteran warriors, human and demi-humans alike, personally chosen by her. They are the core fighting strength behind the *Sentinels,* ranging from former Bannermen, reformed bandits, and disillusioned soldiers.

The Khishigs have a high percentage of demi-humans by Imperial standards, with a ratio of demi-humans to humans of roughly 1 to 1.

## Trivia

* The Bekhai's orphanage is partly subsidized by the *Sentinels*.
* The core tenets of *Sentinel* tactics are "strike where the enemy is weak and retreat when they are strong".
* Although the Khishigs defend all of the villages of the Saint's Tribulations Mountains, they don't interfere with their day to day operation.
* Akanai insisted on having the existence of guardians be kept a secret to prevent it from being abused.
	+ Akanai was Baatar's guardian, Baatar was Huushal's guardian, and Naaran was Rain's guardian.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Chapter 734
2. ↑ Chapter 61
3. ↑ Chapter 291
4. ↑ Chapter 36
5. ↑ Chapter 92
6. ↑ Chapter 24
7. ↑ Chapter 25
8. ↑ Chapter 79
9. ↑ Chapter 47
10. ↑ Chapter 100
11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Chapter 84
12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Chapter 738
13. ↑ Chapter 74
14. ↑ Chapter 541
15. ↑ Chapter 591