Tagapangalaga ng Aten (tɐɡɐpɐŋɐˈlaɡɐ nɐʔ ˈʔaten)
"They are magnificent! I must have some of my own. Arrange it." - Emperor Matatag, before he ascended the throne, speaking to his katulong
When Emperor Matatag was crown prince, he was known as an indulgent and eccentric character, given to whims and fancies. So when he returned from a hunting trip to the Humalik Islands with a group of Aten bodyguards, nobody was particularly surprised. When the bodyguard remained after his ascension to the throne, eyebrows were raised, but nobody said anything. In the years since, the Tagapangalaga ng Aten have become an accepted part of the Tagápulo Empire, and have proven their value to the Emperor many times over.
Before the formation of the Tagapangalaga ng Aten, most of the citizens in Mynilad had never seen one of the Aten in person. They mostly lived on the Humalik Islands, which the Empire had always laid claim to, and had administered without any acknowledgement of the native people. To many, the black-scaled Kikipua were not considered people, but dangerous animals that the military sometimes had to deal with, far away from the capital city. Their initial reaction to the crown prince's new bodyguards was the same as if he had returned with a pride of lions; bemusement, and some concern over whether they might eat the servants.
The Tagapangalaga ng Aten quickly altered that perception. Ascending to the throne of Tagápulo has always been a dangerous affair, and Matatag faced numerous assassination attempts in the years before he received the crown. In each case, his bodyguards handled the situation with incredible skill and finesse, and frequently without the prince even realizing what had happened. The courtiers they spoke with were startled at how intelligent, observant, and well-spoken the Aten were, and those who thought to bully or manipulate the bodyguards were precisely and elegantly rebuffed.
Soon, people ceased to wonder why Matatag would want to retain the Tagapangalaga ng Aten, and instead wondered why they would put up with him, instead. The answer to this became clear shortly after Matatag's coronation. At the instigation of his katulong, who had been with him during the hunting trip to the Humalik Islands and had brokered the deal that created the Tagapangalaga ng Aten, the newly crowned Emperor made several decrees in favor of the Aten people. He officially recognized them as citizens of the Empire, and established their rights over the Humalik Islands. He assigned certain privileges of self-governance to the Aten, including allowing them to select their own regional governor, subject only to the Emperor's veto. Additionally, he returned land to their control that had been seized by nobles of the Empire, compensating those nobles out of the Imperial treasury.
In the nearly two decades since, Matatag has maintained these reforms, despite pressure from various courtiers. The Tagapangalaga ng Aten has expanded to protect the entire royal family, and are considered to be the most loyal part of the Empire's military, many of whom hold more affection for the great general Pangkalahatan Malaking than they do for the Emperor. They have continued to ensure the safety and privacy of the royal family, and have garnered the respect of all within the Empire.
Composition
Manpower
The Tagapangalaga ng Aten has never been a large force, although they have expanded over the years as their duties expanded to include the rest of the royal family. Today, there are about 160 members in the capital at any one time, with reserve members living in the Humalik Islands. The active and reserve members rotate regularly, with terms of service lasting three years.
Weaponry
The Aten have always been known for their archery, and they all carry large compound bows when on duty. Additionally, they carry a sword, several knives, and usually wear weighted gauntlets that can deliver a crushing blow.
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