The Lion King
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
- Intent: Detail the professional peacekeepers of Heavenheim, Capital of Midvinter.
- Image Credit: John Monahan
- Role: City Garrison
- Permissions: N/A
- Links:
- Unit Name: Heavenheim Staðgardr [trans. "City Guard"]
- Affiliation: House Heavenshield, City of Heavenheim, Midvinter
- Classification: Infantry
- Description: The City Guard of Heavenheim is the standing military of Midvinter's capital, tasked with manning the walls and towers, patrolling the streets, and generally maintaining order. When the army marches to war, these are the men who stay behind to defend the city and keep non-combatants safe. Their uniform consists of a beautifully crafted yet practical suit of steel plate armor decorated with brass, as well as winged helmets paying homage to Heavenheim's status as the home of the mighty gryphons. They also wear blue tabards and cloaks with white details, honoring the capital coat of arms depicting a white gryphon upon a blue field.
- Unit Size: Large
- Unit Availability: Common
- Unit Experience: Trained
- Equipment:
- Steel plate armor and helmet: Durasteel, brass, leather, cloth.
- Guardsman spear: Durasteel, wood.
- Steel-plated wooden shield: Durasteel, wood.
- Officer's sword: Durasteel.
- Combat Function: The sole duty of the Staðgardr is to defend the city of Heavenheim against exterior threats as well as safeguard its citizens. When the army is assembled and marches off to war, they are tasked with making sure said army has a home to return to. Their tactics are thus chiefly focused on defense, and training as a unit to maintain readiness at all times. The regular soldier is commonly armed with a spear or halberd alongside a large shield, while officers carry swords as part of their elevated status. All city guards are adept archers, trained in the art of longbows and marksmanship.
- Force Abilities (Force User Units Only): N/A
- Strength in numbers.
- Professional discipline.
- Respected by the citizens.
- Well-trained in melee and ranged combat.
- No outstanding features.
- No special equipment.
The City of Heavenheim started out bearing the name Fridheim, a small hamlet sitting on the west coast of Midvinter, and was founded by Thurion Heavenshield and his wife Coci when the couple settled down following their departure from Silver Jedi leadership. They had intended to live out the remainder of their lives peacefully by the sea, hence why they chose the name of Fridheim, meaning "peaceful home". But as word of this legendary warrior duo spread, more and more flocked to their side to start their lives anew, if only to bask in the presence of true heroes. Over the years, that small hamlet grew into a town, then finally a city complete with districts, cobblestone streets, and high walls.
Fast forward a couple of decades, and the re-christened Heavenheim has become the largest, richest, and most populous city on the planet, dwarfing even the lost capital of Tháinbroek. There are now three sets of walls protecting the city, each as high and thick as the next, as each expansion required a new defensive perimeter. Thus, in the event of a siege, defenders can fall back to a secondary and tertiary line of defense.
As the city was dubbed the new Valkyri Capital following Thurion's ascension to the throne, an official city guard was formed to patrol the streets and maintain order and deal with petty crime and make arrests where necessary. They are the first professional guard force in Valkyri history, whereas normally it is up to the village chieftain or lord of the city to have their men keep the peace. The unprecedented growth and success of Heavenheim required a standing military force to take up guard duty.
The Staðgardr dress in blue tabards worn over a suit of chainmail, a matching blue cloak, and a finely-crafted steel plate armor. Their helms are perhaps their most standout feature, sporting a pair of wings. The feathery iconography emblazoned upon their armor is an homage to the city's status as the home of the Gryphon Eyrie, as well as the city coat of arms depicting a pair of white gryphons upon a blue field.
They are organized into four shifts: morning, afternoon, evening, and night shift. Each shift has a Guard Commander either stationed at his headquarters to supervise operations, inspect his troops, or out patrolling the streets with his men. Officers usually spearhead these patrols consisting of a dozen men or more depending on the situation, and it should be said that these patrols also take place outside the city itself, safeguarding the roads leading to the capital.
Guard Commanders operate largely on their own accord, and are answerable only to their liege lord and his appointed Jarl of War on the city council; effectively the minister of defense.
The City Guard also mans the walls and towers at all times, keeping a lookout for any signs of trouble. Each tower is outfitted with a large bell that can be rung to warn the city of encroaching dangers, however, these may also be used during ceremonies and celebrations, such as Thurion's coronation, or during Midsummer, their most sacred festival of the year.
Whether this practice of housing a professional guard will spread to other cities and settlements remains to be seen, but so far it has turned out a highly effective experiment for the City of Heavenheim that may yet be expanded upon if the capital maintains its growth.
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