Ashkelonian Guard
The Ashkelonian Guard, commonly called the Ashen Guard, is the constabulary force for the Holy City of Jeharoa. Unlike many other town or city guards, the Ashkelonians pride themselves on being expressly loyal to the citizenry of Jeharoa, regardless of the current ruler of the city. With so many armed pilgrims entering the Holy City, the people of Jeharoa have at various points in their history felt like second-class citizens within their own settlement. The Ashkelonians endeavor to protect the people of Jeharoa, and to a lesser extent those visitors to Jeharoa, by acting as a police force, town guards, and even fire fighters and rescue workers. The Ashkelonians are headquartered at the Ashkelon Keep and are currently led by Nizar the Turnclaw.
Structure
The Ashkelonians are led by Captain Nizar who in turn reports to the ruler of Jeharoa. However, the Ashkelonian Guards's guiding principle is working to protect and serve the citizenry of the city of Jeharoa above the ruler.
Public Agenda
The Ashkelonian's goal is to protect and serve the citizenry of the city of Jeharoa and advocate for their respect and honor among the transient traveling population. They emphasize both to the people of Jeharoa and to the elites, that they do not serve the throne of Jeharoa but rather the people For example, during the First Pilgrim War, the Ashkelonians defended the city against the Grand Pilgrim Army but upon the capture of the city of Jeharoa, the Ashkelonians were incorporated into the civil societies of the newly established Pilgrim State of the Kingdom of Jeharoa. Because of this, many loyalists to the sitting rulers of Jeharoa, whether they be the ousted Qartagonian or the new Pilgrims have tried to keep the largely Mashiqi organization under their control with varying degrees of success.
Assets
Beyond their custom made armor and weapons, the Ashkelonian's largest asset is their knowledge and control of the city of Jeharoa's defenses. Most of the tunnels and fortifications of Jeharoa were built in part by members of the Ashen Guard. Their headquarters, the Ashkelon Keep, though not built by their order is in fact where they get their name.
History
The Ashkelonian Guard appears to have formed sometime during the waning years of the Palladian Empire. The Qartagonian Emirates attempted to institute their own watchmen but struggled to find recruits. They had pardoned many of the previous Palladian guards and soldiers and most of them had remained in the city, sometimes causing trouble by starting riots or instigating open revolt against the new rulers of the Holy City. In order to hopefully appease both the Qartagonian leadership and the people of Jeharoa, an agreement was made to form a paramilitary militia order that would defend the people of Jeharoa against zealous pilgrims and also see to the city's infrastructure and civilian safety. They were given the headquarters of the Ashkelon Keep and even supplied with funds to rebuild the city's walls and roads.
Between the capture of the city by the Qartagonians and the arrival of the Pilgrim States, the Ashen Guard took part in two city unrests over the course of its history leading to two near purges of their ranks. However, each time, the elites of the Emirates grudgingly conceded the cultural and civil need for a responsible constabulary and so reinstated the order, often while placing important members of their own loyal factions within the guard to ensure compulsion with the city's leadership.
The Ashkelonian Guard saw to the defense of the city and resolutely defended the people of Jeharoa even during the bloodbaths of the The Sunstair Massacre. Eventually, when the city finally surrendered after the sack, the Ashkelonian's surviving members were pardoned and many Pilgrims joined their ranks. Some of the Qartagonian civilians of Jeharoa saw this as a betrayal and gave each of the new guard captains of the order the moniker 'Turnclaw' to show their displeasure.
Founding Date
~800s P.E. (~200s B.S.A)
Type
Military, Paramilitary/Militia
Alternative Names
The Ashen Guard
Training Level
Semi-professional
Veterancy Level
Trained
Demonym
Ashkelonian
Leader
Location
Controlled Territories
Related Ethnicities
Comments