The Imperial Guard

The Imperial Guard is the personal guard of the Litherian emperor and their palace, appointed personally from the Litherian military. They are famed the world over for their skill and loyalty, and only one incident of betrayal, albeit a serious one, has ever been recorded despite Litheria's legendary political intrigue.
History
The original Imperial Guard of the First Litherian Empire was created by Drelphor Eccsand, a famously paranoid Emperor whose reign was as short as it was bloody. It is said that, when Eccsand died and a temporary alliance of priests set about undoing his works, they brought in a single soldier from the Guard to determine if it should be dissolved. The soldier remained entirely silent and still, despite repeated questioning, and it was eventually decided to suspend the council for the day. When the priests returned the following morning, however, they found him still standing there, having not moved an inch. The stoicism displayed by the soldier convinced the priests to maintain the Imperial Guard, and the silent soldier was appointed its first Captain, a role that the paranoid Eccsand refused to create for fear of allowing someone with potential ambitions so close to him.
After the reformation of the Empire, a smaller Guard was created, compromising between the Council's wish to preserve traditions and protect the nation's leader and Empress Tristris's insistence that her bladesinging skills made protection unnecessary. The guard was later restored to its former size under subsequent Emperors, less confident in their own capacity for self-defence.
During the Darhemian War, the first and only instance of betrayal from a member of the Guard occurred: the attempted assassination, and successful maiming, of the Crown Prince Brental Tristris. The would-be assassin took her own life after she believed the Prince dead, and no explanation was ever provided. Theories range from the guard being a Darhemian spy or under the effect of some kind of mind control, magical or otherwise, to having a personal vendetta against the Prince or even acting under the orders of the Empress who believed her son to be unworthy of the throne.
After this incident, the already stellar standards of the Guard were tightened, and the influence of the Council of Priests and other parties in their appointment was curtailed. There has not been another defection since, and in fact the guard has saved the lives of no less than 3 subsequent emperors on various occasions.
Composition
The Guard is appointed solely by the Litherian Emperor or Empress, often by recommendation of the Captain. Almost all recruits come from the military or navy, but a rare few come from the citizenry, priesthood, or trusted mercenary services. There are a number of unique roles within the Guard, including:

• The Captain of the Guard - leads and organises the Emperor's protection, and often serves as a confidante and even friend to the monarch.
• The Quartermaster - procures specialised equipment for Guard members, including magical gear. Often a magic-user themself.
• The Sage - leads the Guard's magic-wielding members, and arranges magical defences for the Palace and Emperor including runes, traps, and decoys.
• The Blade - known only to the Captain and Emperor, protects the crown in a more direct way by eliminating potential future threats. Operates sparingly in Litheria itself, especially among the priesthood, for fear of discovery.
• The Shield - protected by magical invisibility and sometimes restrained with magic such as geas, the Shield accompanies the Emperor to all public events, ready to physically block the path of any projectile or assailant that threatens their liege's life.

Type

Escort