Aodhán's Personal Guard

"You're right, you're more useful there. What I need on my side are people capable of questioning my orders, helping ensure I fix my mistakes. The last thing I need right now are obedient lapdogs that would eagerly let their master run off to his death."

— Chapter 16.1 in Iceburn

As competent and undefeatable in combat as Marquis Aodhán Flameheart has proven himself during the war between Flameheart and Verglas, he would not have been able to remain at the forefront if it wasn't for his personal guard. While these twelve knights were initially treated with contempt and prejudice at the royal court, they have easily proven their worth during the war, making them almost as beloved and behated as their master.

Dukedom

Flameheart

Member Count

Twelve

Ranks

Knights

Allegiance

Aodhán Flameheart

At The Royal Court

It is rather normal for young nobles to have knights and soldiers personally assigned to them, which escort them wherever. The higher their rank, the larger their entourage, even when they attend the royal court. Nevertheless, all were surprised when Marquis Aodhán Flameheart showed up at the royal court with a dozen knights. Especially since all knew that his father, Duke Cináed Flameheart, had not once knighted someone to serve himself, only for subordinate nobles.

The reveal that the Marquis had knighted them himself, came as a great shock to many. The idea that an underage Marquis handpicked and knighted his own personal guard, was looked down upon. These prejudiced views grew in strength when not only was it revealed that Aodhán had knighted them when he was only fourteen years of age, but also that they refused to hold back their master. No matter whether it was a hunt, dealing with bandits, or a duel for honour, Aodhán's personal guard practically encouraged their young master with their silence.

Of note, Aodhán went to duel for honour thrice during his years at the royal court. All three times, his guard refused to convince him to back down, as personal knights are meant to do. Instead, they kept silent as he taunted his opponents. Worse, they chose not to fight as his champion, letting the Marquis represent himself. The first two fights, his opponent dared not elect a champion, because that would be a personal humiliation when their opponent was willing to represent himself.

After the second time, where Aodhán permanently damaged his opponent's hands for daring to insult Aodhán's fiancée, Marquise Eirwen Verglas, none dared to fight him personally any more. The third time, a champion was sent to face him, an experienced knight over a decade older. Neither age nor experience helped the man, as the Marquis literally toyed with his opponent, dismantling every technique the man sent his way. The humiliation caused the man to retire in disgrace, and none ever dared provoke the Marquis after.

The War Against Verglas

When now-Duchess Eirwen Verglas declared war on Flameheart, she soon found her former betrothed as the leader of the opposing armies. In combat, he never went anywhere without his personal guard by his side. While there had been those who considered them symbolic knights, a child's fancy without actual skills, they proved that prejudice wrong in combat. When entire waves of Verglas knights and soldiers threw themselves at Aodhán, to cut down the Western Blade or at least take him captive, his personal guard covered his flanks and allowed him to fight his enemies in lower numbers.

Aodhán and his personal guard went undefeated during the war, not even having to withdraw unless the entire army had to. And even in those cases, they oft took the rear and bought the rest enough time to safely retreat. By himself, this would have been impossible. But with a dozen excelling knights by his side, perfectly tuned as an instrument of war, he wasn't someone that could be beaten.

The leader of the personal guard, Sir Darragh Seabhac, would also go and represent his master at times. Going to places where the Marquis himself could not have gone without being attacked, Sir Seabhac would act as a messenger which none dared touch. He even would temporarily attend negotiations, until his master would appear to take his place.

In combat, the twelve knights have displayed great skill. While not as talented as their master, they still were trained by him personally. And during his time in the mountains, while they hadn't been allowed to accompany him, he had still made them train there as well. During the war, their techniques already surprised many, showing ability far beyond knights ten years their senior. This grew over time, as the Marquis kept training them. Over time, they began showing techniques as varied as their master's. As a group, this made them nearly invincible. None would dare claim they could win against them in equal numbers. And as a result, none could ever dream of defeating their master.