Crown’s Guard
A Crown’s Guard is an elite four-person security unit tasked with defending the life of a monarch, a monarch’s consort, or an heir apparent. The unit was created during the Second Age of Eden, and has been regularly employed by royalty every since.
Nine Crown’s Guard units comprise a Platoon Royal and these units rotate posts at regular intervals. One team is posted within arm’s reach of their charge, one team patrols the perimeter of the charge’s location in a clockwise direction, and one team patrols the perimeter in a counter-clockwise direction. Three teams remain on standby while the final three sleep.
Smaller or developing nations have been known to use fewer units, but the nine-unit Platoon Royal has become the standard.
Composition
Manpower
Each Crown’s Guard unit is comprised of four individuals, typically recruited from the infantry of the nation’s professional standing army.
Equipment
Each soldier in the unit is equipped with a ranged weapon; a melee weapon; and lightweight body armor, typically crafted from dragon scales.
Weaponry
The ranged weapon used by Crown’s Guard soldiers has varied over time, beginning with the bow and arrow and moving on to crossbows, muskets, rifles, and, eventually, automatic weapons. Conversely, the melee weapon employed has remained constant over time but varies from country to country.
Highlanders prefer longswords, Neverlanders the cutlass, and Motherlanders the rapier, for example. Other countries prefer axes, spears, or blunt weapons like hammers, clubs, and maces. The Crown’s Guard for an elven monarch might use a stoy.
I love Crown Guard and Platoon Royal. It's fun that the ranged weapon has changed over the years but the melee one has remained the same.
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I thought that would be a fun touch and I'm glad you agreed!