Guard Goose
The Guard Geese of the Jhemmen Gardens in Vindemia are renowned throughout humanity's high society elite. For those who visit the Jhemmen Gardens by invitation, the geese within the three acre gardens are lovely ornaments upon an exquisitely maintained botanical display. But for those that enter the grounds of the gardens in a more illicit manner, the guard geese become a flurry of beating wings and loud honks of alarm. This alone is usually enough to harry unwanted intruders away from the gardens, but the cacophony quickly brings guards of the human variety to help the geese sort the situation.
Geese as a whole are inquisitive, observant, with keen eyesight, and aggressively territorial. But the geese bred to guard the Jhemmen Gardens are chosen for their exceeding qualities in those regards, as well as familial loyalty to the ducal house and servants. It is said that Duchess Illiana Jhemmen knows the names of all the guard geese, and can recognize them on sight. The guard geese in turn, always recognize their ducal mistress. In fact the geese have a special bond with all of Jhemmen blood.
Origins
The official mythology, as the bards are oft fond of reciting, states that the first pair of Jhemmen Guard Geese belonged to the daughter of the first duke of Vindemia. They were mere goslings during The Crossing. And although they were a burden to keep alive during those trying times crossing the Plague Sea, the future Duke of Vindemia could deny his daughter nothing, so the goslings were cared for better than most other passengers during the Crossing. After the Crossing, and the founding of Vindemia, the young girl had grown into a lovely young woman. She married a promising young nobleman, and was soon with child. The Duke, and his whole realm, was overjoyed. But then tragedy struck, as it often did in the time after the arduous Crossing. The Duke's daughter died in childbirth, but her child, a daughter, lived. The Duke, deep in his grief, buried his daughter in a stern mausoleum in a lovely small garden near his palace. He then named his granddaughter as his heir. The two geese who dearly loved their departed mistress stayed by the mausoleum for the rest of their lives, as did all of their offspring to this very day. Over the centuries, the simple garden gravesite has grown into a sprawling three acre wonder known to the realms of man as the Jhemmen Gardens, which are guarded by the fierce and loyal descendants of the very first Guard Geese.Additional Information
Geographic Origin and Distribution
The Guard Geese of Vindemia are found exclusively on the grounds of the Jhemmen Gardens. Although other, slightly less aggressive, breeds of geese can be found throughout the Coastal Realms
Average Intelligence
The Guard Geese are more intelligent than their wild cousins. they can identify individuals that they have become aquanted with, and can recognize the designated insignia of those who have permission to be within the garden
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