The Borderguard
in 868 AF King Frederick established the Borderguard, to both protect and unify the divided people. Forcing Bhals and Grenn to serve together in blended units, he believed, would help them see past their differences and see each other as Balgrendians. For the most part, this has worked within the units themselves insofar as the bonds soldiers form when fighting side-by-side. However, the strongarm techniques the Borderguard uses to maintain its ranks have made it extremely unpopular with all Balgrendians, although few would argue against the fact that the nature of life in Balgrendia makes the force’s existence an absolute necessity.
The King tasked the Borderguard with two main responsibilities: securing the kingdom’s borders against external enemies and defending its people from the things that prey upon them from the dark and nightmarish forest covering much of the land. Service is mandatory, and the Borderguard draws conscripts from Balgrendia’s youth. One of every three young adults must enlist, men and women alike, for terms of five years. For every Bhal recruited, there is a Grenn. If a catar (veteran), or platoon captain, arrives in a village to muster recruits, the community must cooperate and give them up, an echo of the ancient demands of The Queen of Dreams and Shadows. Mothers can wail and beg for mercy, but there is no dissuading the catar once they have drafted their conscripts. Young adults are expected to provide their own weapons and armor, and those who cannot must somehow fashion or acquire their own during their journeys. The kingdom has little gold with which to fund the Borderguard, so the soldiers must live off the land and take what they need from an already-strapped peasantry
Conscription remains a controversial practice since no one is happy about handing over their children, especially when they are needed as labor. Furthermore, the Borderguard has a dreadful casualty rate due to poor equipment and slapdash training for what is an extremely dangerous mission. Patrols are routinely decimated, falling victim to boggles, twisted monsters, wicked faeries, Beastmen, and the odd demon. Furthermore, the nation has had continuous trouble with raiders from the Patchwork Lands or periodic jotun forays, and it falls to the Borderguard to fend off these invaders.
The King tasked the Borderguard with two main responsibilities: securing the kingdom’s borders against external enemies and defending its people from the things that prey upon them from the dark and nightmarish forest covering much of the land. Service is mandatory, and the Borderguard draws conscripts from Balgrendia’s youth. One of every three young adults must enlist, men and women alike, for terms of five years. For every Bhal recruited, there is a Grenn. If a catar (veteran), or platoon captain, arrives in a village to muster recruits, the community must cooperate and give them up, an echo of the ancient demands of The Queen of Dreams and Shadows. Mothers can wail and beg for mercy, but there is no dissuading the catar once they have drafted their conscripts. Young adults are expected to provide their own weapons and armor, and those who cannot must somehow fashion or acquire their own during their journeys. The kingdom has little gold with which to fund the Borderguard, so the soldiers must live off the land and take what they need from an already-strapped peasantry
Conscription remains a controversial practice since no one is happy about handing over their children, especially when they are needed as labor. Furthermore, the Borderguard has a dreadful casualty rate due to poor equipment and slapdash training for what is an extremely dangerous mission. Patrols are routinely decimated, falling victim to boggles, twisted monsters, wicked faeries, Beastmen, and the odd demon. Furthermore, the nation has had continuous trouble with raiders from the Patchwork Lands or periodic jotun forays, and it falls to the Borderguard to fend off these invaders.
Founding Date
868
Type
Military, Paramilitary/Militia
Training Level
Semi-trained
Veterancy Level
Recruit
Ruling Organization
