Silent Shields of Shevezz

Chronicler's Note: (AFD557)
This document, while seemingly comprehensive, is light on precise detail. Maybe if Qal'ath had been quieter about its capabilities it would have fared better in recent years. But when threatened, it is not unusual to attempt to boast in one's strengths as though that were sufficient to dissuade the would-be aggressor. This version of the document is the final one, vetted not by anyone claiming to be in the network, but by those in authority who need to control information about the workings within these polished stone walls.
That said, I have been able to discuss people who had served the Silent Shields in Shevezz's rich history. This is because each person was chosen on merit and rarely did they choose someone from the same family or descendants to serve in the SSS. By that, they clarified, you could not determine future members by studying past ones.
My apologies for beginning this entry of the Bezélian Archives with a distraction.

While the existence of the Silent Shields of Shevezz has never been a secret, who formed part of it generally has been. The organisation was founded under the guiding principle of Protecting the Queendom with a special emphasis on the City of Shevezz itself. It was a non-military "force", which could be more accurately be described as a network, that kept tabs on as many aspects of life in the Queendom as possible, monitoring comings and goings and passing information to the most appropriate member should that intelligence warrant practical action.
The SSS was still considered a "branch" of the armed forces, though, but only its leadership reported directly to the army or navy.

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Why "Silent Shields"?

Silent

The simplest answer to this lies in its secrecy. Members did not talk about their role - to do so immediately invalidated their purpose within the organisation. Such action effectively ousted themselves, for no "disciplinary action" was required.
This had to be reported to prevent any further loss in the network and if unreported disclosure was subsequently discovered then this usually led to criminal proceedings.
A secret, once revealed, cannot be covered over again.

Shields

The role was Protection. Whether from possible enemies, weather conditions, illnesses, unusual beasts or wild rumours, the Shields were in the business of guarding the Queendom. In this way, they were not designed to go into battle in the military sense.
They were, however, trained to fight and could still be called up in an emergency, not necessarily as front-line soldiers, but in other roles that matched their civilian skill-set.
In the same way that a person requires clothes to protect them from the elements, medicine against illnesses and friendship against emotional distress, the Queendom required such invisible defences.

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Not Military

Not only was the SSS non-military in its activities, those who formed part of it came from many different backgrounds, each chosen for their position, or skill or sometimes even their race.

Any Citizen Anywhere

By choosing people from all walks of life, some of whom may have high positions in their official capacity, while others may have been still in pre-research education, the SSS was able to ensure people who society could overlook, or be unassuming about, would be recruited.
The main prerequisite for membership, aside from it being a Silent Shield leader who recruited someone, was that the new member must have been a Shevezzi citizen for at least three years, without any criminal convictions nor noticeable breaches of the peace or disruptions of Shevezzi life.

Involved in the Military

That isn't to say that military personnel were excluded from the Silent Shields. When they joined, their commanding officers had to be informed that someone within their unit(s) had been recruited. However, they were not informed about who that was.
Commanding officers were never part of the SSS for two main reasons:

1. Divided Attention: The Queen's advisors wished military leaders to be focused on that job in order to fulfil it. Adding an additional role would make their position more complicated.
   
   
2. Accountability: The Queendom was aware that not all threats to the nation would appear from outside of it. Thus the SSS existed to also hold to account those within the Queendom. It was hoped that, even by informing a military head one of their number was in the SSS it would reduce the lure of treachery.

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Training

Recognising that the Silent Shields would have to, on occasion, apprehend someone deemed a threat, all members underwent some combat training. Performance was not graded and refresher sessions were held at irregular intervals at various locations outside of the capital.
At its inception, before BFD350 all SSS recruits and members took melée-style training, usually with a literal shield and some form of short arm, such as a knife, dagger and short sword.
Seven hundred Ana later and the Queendom had invented many times of weapons, ranged and melée - and were not averse to employing Magicks in a technological application to gain the advantage. Advancements within their realm only diversified their capability in war and the types of weapons the Silent Shields carried, which helped them to blend in to everyday life with greater ease.

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The Two Paths

Once their initial training had been completed, documents signed and secrecy issues covered, recruits were set onto one of two paths: The Warrior Path and the Non-Warrior Path. Neither was superior to the other, they simply catered to an individual Shield's strengths.

Warriors

Warriors took on extra training, which, for most, meant being instructed by a military scout, then sent out on hunts or forays to acquire meat, or other resources in dangerous areas of the wild.
Other assignments included acting as a bodyguard for civilian scientist or researcher who needed samples from out in the wilds. This would be under the cover as a contracted service, but as a Shield they would gather information from their charge, survey the wilds and bring back extra intelligence from any venture.
Warriors would sometimes be sent in small bands to investigate, or occasionally eliminate external threats. Criminal gang camps, or dangerous creature nests, the jobs were varied and designed to test the Warriors, but also maintain their interest.

Non-Warriors

In the non-Warrior path, the Shevezzi retained their usual jobs or roles in the Queendom, but had to be ready to be called up should the Queen's forces required them. Inside the city, most were unarmed, though many wore supple armour layers under their civilian attire for protection. Their role was forming a network where information could be communicated about the state of the city, suspicious visitors, or anything else that their superiors may need to know. They protected the Shevezzi way of life, its knowledge and resources and, to some degree, its borders too.

Ensuring Parity and Equality

Because they often felt sidelined by "real fighters", non-Warriors were constantly reminded that, no matter their role in society, they were always Shields. Most Shields enjoyed extra funding - either in their department, or for their research or even as wages. In this respect, the pay was equal between the two Paths.
Non-Warriors often disputed this, but larger payment to Warriors often included a component for gear repair, weapon replacement or medical treatment and for time off work due to injury.
Fighters, on the other hand, were encouraged to view non-Warriors as a vital layer of security. They often ensured Warrior missions remained a secret, that training camp locations were never leaked and that supplies could reach them without raising undue speculation.
While it was a well-established organisation, the Silent Shields of Shevezz, due to its wide range of people and backgrounds, often faced internal disputes and friction. But, while there would understandably be no reason to record it, there is no mention of such issues reaching the courts, which is no mean feat.

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For Shevezz and Her Friends

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Type

Secret, Governmental arm

Alternative Names

Silent Shields, SSS

Demonym

Shield-Mate

Ruling Organization

Queendom of Shevezz

Parent Organization

Queendom of Shevezz

Location

Shevezz City

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Historical Members
The following were recorded as serving around the founding of Qal'ath. Their names were divulged in order to provide a comprehensive overview of their efforts in the former Nectar Glen, and their earliest interactions with Qal'ath. This also represents a tiny proportion of the Shields at that date.
Key:
Warrior Path | Non-Warrior Path | Called to Either

• Overseer Findat
• Vazkyr
• Kykass¹
• Shenzàn Khryt
• Azachet²
• Vider Nihl
• Veman
• Naja Joiae ³

¹ Did not form part of Findat's team.
² Azachet was a researcher and nature-lover at heart. But she retained her capability in combat throughout most of her life. By the end of their investigation of the Nectar Glen, Shenzàn reportedly told her she would be better suited for the Warrior Path. This was a discussion upon which they would never agree, though in a spirit of camaraderie rather than conflict.
³ Naja did not wish to be part of the SSS after Findat's mission. As all the others did, she became the first "associate", bound by its secrecy and able to feed into the network, but unable to hear from it.

Referenced In

The Silent Shields of Shevezz are mentioned in Plumes of Distress, Chapter 6 of The Cleansing. You can start reading this serial fantasy fiction from Prelude - the Landing.