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The Honour Guard of Metz History The origins of the Honour Guard stem from the events preceding the Duke’s War, when Lord Marshal Augustus d'Amaury’s nascent noble house was granted a considerate holding in the former fiefdom of Adria. The hardened bannermen of the Lord’s personal retinue remained staunch servants to the strong leader, and continued to serve him in the newly formed county of Amaury as the first of his prestigious entourage. Garrisoned alongside their liege within the imposing keep of Summerhall, the veterans were offered service by the Lord Marshal- to form an Honour Guard with the goal of maintaining order in the county and protecting the House d’Amaury if need be. This company of stalwart and honorable men consists mainly of the experienced cavalrymen and halberdiers that saw service alongside the Lord Marshal during the Duke’s War, though apt newcomers in search of virtuous employ are encouraged to join the ranks of the capable band. Serving the House d’Amaury as Summerhall’s peacekeepers and their liege lord’s elite bannermen, the Honour Guard is tasked with maintaining order in times of internal and external turbulence. With the ebullient return of both Lothar d’Amaury and his brother, Jacques d’Amaury, the Honour Guard finds itself placed in the competent hands of Ser Cullen Uhtredsson, son of the Archduchy’s previous Marshal, Uhtred Vallberg. Role in Amaury Portrait of Augustus d’Amaury, founder of the Honour Guard and the 1st Archduke of Lorraine, dated 1545 Since the birth of the intrepid House d’Amaury, the Honor Guard have been charged with protecting the Archduchy of Lorraine and ensuring stability over their Lord’s holdings. Patrolling the burgh- oft on horseback - the brave men of Metz watch over their lands with a wary gaze, protecting the denizens of Amaury from ruthless bandits and savage marauders. The men of the Honor Guard are also graced with the task of guaranteeing their the safety of their lieges, the honorable aristocracy of House d’Amaury. Acting as an armed escort and guard force when the need arises, the soldiers garrisoned within Metz city walls serve the Lord Marshal and his kinfolk with zeal and ardor, upholding the virtues of their commander while protecting his family. Comprised mostly of the tested veterans of the Duke’s War, the Honor Guard is gracious to bear a large number of weathered combatants under its service. The brave footsoldiers of a vicious and bloody conflict, the Lord Marshal’s banner force boasts a capable number of courageous and valiant combatants who are well-suited to fighting wars with skillful organization and unfaltering loyalty. Duty to the Lords of Lorraine Depiction of assorted Lorrainian nobility, date unknown. In seeing the military largely centralized, lords who chose to contribute men to the Honour Guard are given more than just respect; they receive protection, save minae on wages, and save resources in our arming of these men. Lords of the realm will receive, upon request, a number of men to come protect them. Patrols will be sent through the lands as well to ensure the continued safety of all fiefs who contribute men to the force. Men who have risen to the esteemed rank of Honour Guard will also serve lords personally, acting with the authority and regal manner of a knight, but with the servitude of a page. A lord may suggest someone to act as their first Honour Guard, but all subsequent Honour Guards in service to such a lord would have to opt into it. Guardsmen will uphold the law of the Duchy wherever they are or are sent, and may actively garrison a fief if need be. Lords may approach the Commander to negotiate/make requests at any time. Feats of Bravery Augustus d’Amaury leads the siege on Barrowyk, accompanied by his personal retinue, date unknown. Feats of Bravery are acts of an extraordinary nature that showcase the merits of the soldier who performed them as well as their willingness to fight against impossible odds. The Feat itself does not have to follow a strict format, but is often required to be an act of incredible daring or unsurpassable skill, such as being first over an enemy’s fortress wall or successfully capturing an enemy leader. Feats of Bravery are often rewarded with promotion, medals, or more fungible rewards such as bonus pay, all of which are determined at the discretion of the Marshal. Ranks A noble lady escorted by a mounted unit of Honour Guards, dated 1537 Rank and File Initiate The starting rank of the Honour Guard. This rank is given to the fledgling guardsmen who have recently began their tenure within the Honour Guard, and as such they have yet to prove their aptitude and valor. As befitting of their fledgeling status, initiates do not earn pay. Footman Those who have been tested as able-bodied and loyal levies of the House d’Amaury, the Honour Guard’s Footmen make up the auxiliary of the force, and carry out their duties with coordination and devotion. Payment: 50 minae Man at Arms Often regarded as the more gifted and skilled counterparts to the footmen, the Men at Arms of Lorraine boast considerable competence and are proficient soldiers. A service of considerable longitude under the Lord Marshal is usually rewarded with this respectable ranking. Payment: 75 minae Sergeant The men of Lorraine who have displayed an aptitude for leadership and an ample amount of confidence and zeal are repaid for their prowess with this rank. Sergeants of the Honour Guard are shrewd disciplinarians and soldiers capable of relaying orders and maintaining authority. Sergeants are expected to lead patrols, recruit new members, and enforce discipline in the ranks. Soldiers who attain this rank are eligible to become chaplains (though they must first be ratified by the Church of the Holy Canon). Payment: 100 minae Officers Honour Guard (Puer, pl. Pueri) With the steely vigor and unflinching obedience long regarded as traits of exemplary soldiers, these ironclad cavalrymen carry the banners of House d’Amaury into combat. They are professional soldiers with a heightened finesse and a prolonged service under the Lord Marshal both in times of peace and war. The Honour Guard are also expected to recruit new members and to assist the Lieutenants and Captains wherever necessary. Regular pay is forfeited hereon. Lieutenant (Antrustion, pl. Antrustiones) A lieutenant is an officer who has proven, time and again, that they can excel in a leadership role. Lieutenants may command a detachment of soldiers, and are often responsible for leading training drills, recruiting, inspecting the troops, and assigning patrols and guard duty. A lieutenant may promote members of the enlisted (excluding the promotion of sergeants) with the approval of the Marshal. Additionally, officers of this rank are eligible to become quartermasters or drill instructors. Captain (Leud, pl. Leudes) The rank of Captain commands both respect and unflinching obedience. They are steadfast leaders who are expected to inspire the soldiers they lead and encourage the officers under their command to greater feats of bravery and wit. The Captain’s duties include leading the troops, recruiting new members, distributing the payroll, and overseeing disciplinary action. The Captains also serve as advisors to the Marshal and Commander of the Guard. High Command First Captain (Comes Stabuli) The First Captain is a man of great authority and power within the Honour Guard. As the most senior of the Captains, he is expected to ensure that the army functions as efficiently and professionally as possible. The First Captain may inspect both the troops and other officers, and report any failings directly to the Marshal. His duties include the regular duties of a Captain, though as his official title suggests, he is also tasked with maintaining the Honour Guard’s stablery and warhorses. Commander of the Guard (Comes Militum) The Commander of the Guard is the manifestation of authority in the Honour Guard, and is the principal overseer of the military and its progress. He answers only to the Marshal and the Duke, and is often tasked with leading flanking forces in battle. The Commander must not only be a skilled leader, but a master logistician; for wars are won by efficient supply more than they are won by acts of gallantry. Marshal (Magnus) The Marshal is the leader of the Honour Guard, and he has the final say in all matters. Though the Marshal is generally expected to leave the more trivial affairs of the Guard to the Commander, he may intervene as he pleases, and once he has spoken the matter is no longer up for discussion. Commanding a seat on Lorraine’s Privy Council, the Marshal also enjoys a great deal of political power, and thus must be able to navigate the murky and often dangerous political waters of Oren; in fact, he spends just as much of his time acting as the face and advocate for the Guard as he does overseeing its military matters. The Marshal answers only to the Duke of Lorraine. Specialist Ranks Chaplain The Chaplain is a supportive role to the Honour Guard. The Chaplain may advise and help soldiers with moral and ethical questions. The Chaplain serves the Honour Guard’s spiritual needs and strives to boost the morale of the military. Quartermaster The Quartermaster is more of a role and necessarily not a rank as the quartermaster may serve as a fellow soldier while fulfilling his duties as Quartermaster at the side of Honour Guard duties. The Quartermaster is charged with the task of supervising and coordinating supplies and provisions in the garrison. Field Surgeon Field Surgeon is another role that a soldier with the necessary set of skills may pick up. The Field Surgeon offers soldiers of the Honour Guard with medical attention in any and all situations where it is required. Disciplinarian The Disciplinarian of the Honour Guard is responsible for making sure the soldiers are disciplined and follow orders given by their superiors. The Disciplinarian would commonly be a Sergeant or a higher ranked commander. The Disciplinarian has the authority to hand out punishments to soldiers who break the Honour Guard’s Code of Conduct, as long as the soldier if below the Disciplinarians own rank. Should an Honour Guard from a higher rank break the Code the Disciplinarian would forward this to the High Command, preferably the Marshal. Application MC Name: Character Name: Race: Age: Profession (if applicable): Timezone: Skype (PM if you’d like): Do you have Teamspeak?