Varcanai Guard (Var-can-I)
Protect. Preserve. Prevail.
The Varcanai Guard:
The Varcanai Guard are the protectors of the Aalarelai bloodline and native citizens of Aethel Caeloria. Known for their bravery and courage, the guards keep Aethel Caeloria to their highest standards and will not tolerate insurgence. The full force of the guard stands beyond 50,000 to 60,000, strong and counting. Everyone recruited or signs up to the Varcanai Guard understands that duty comes above all else. They have only one rule; to preserve that which is the foundation of their existence; the Aalarelai bloodline, the Starlight Veil, and the native citizens of Aethel Caeloria. Both elf and elfa sign up to the Varcanai guard as it does not discriminate against gender, but it will only recruit native High elves. No other race is permitted to join the guard because other races are easily prone to corruption and greed. Any citizen from Aethel Caeloria can join the Varcanai Guard. During elflinghood, elves are sent to practise in the Varcanai Guard for a few years as a means of learning basic self-defence.
There is one separate division in the Varcanai Guard based on long distant targets, the Taive Vision (tie-eve). These are named after the mythical creature, 'Nagtaive.' The scouts can throw spears with three detachable heads up to 180 yards, providing mass upper body strength. They are commonly known for their stealth abilities.
Armour:
A white leather tunic with an avial chainmail armour and silver leaves bearing a wreath outline with the Aalarelai crest (one Hyphicen head with silver branches weaving in and out of its antlers) in the centre accompanied with their motto; "One People. One Kingdom." They wear silver leaf patterned shoulder guards too. They wear a light brown leather belt with a leather sheath for the divided spears along the waist. They also wore a back grip for their shields. All guards had to wear brown leather gloves that stopped at their elbow. They wore black hosens with avial chainmail embedded into them and brown knee-high boots. The helm was silver and took the shape of an oval (slightly widened) helmet with a pointed top. Two retractable silver leaves covered the mouth of the helm. Attached to the inside of the helmet was avial chainmail, which was attached to the tunic's body via a velvet silver cloak. Their cloaks were of purity, having been made of the finest linen and imbued with the saer properties of the starlight veil. The outer layer of the cloak had a thin golden lace embroidered down to the very end, giving it a refined appearance. Attached at the top of the cloak was a circular silver tree carved medallion and a thinly twisted lace formed into a loop to connect the chainmail helm underlay and cloak together. Fitted around the neck, it was the perfect fit for any elf.
The only difference in armour is that the commander wears a silver and black leaf-patterned wreath-like crown with a cerulean-blue diamond in the centre. In contrast, the captain wears a smooth silver, leaf-patterned, wreath-like crown with a maple-orange diamond in the centre. It's almost like looking into a mirror to see your very soul emerge from beyond.
Weaponry:
Each guard wields a white staff that could change into a double-ended spear or dual one-sided spears. They can also exert a 4-point star-shaped silver and cerulean blue metallic shield infused with starlight. This is highly effective in battle because it is blinding to their enemies.
Composition
Manpower
Patrols:
Patrols within Aethel Caeloria consist of 5-10 guards in each section of the city. Each patrol will take a pair and observe different parts of the city and help with the citizen's queries.
- Patrols within Tharnhim Castle consist of 15 guards overseeing Teyidorai and Seosseocyre.
- Patrols within Myserth Hall consist of 20 guards overseeing Phiseqar and Ciavala.
- Assault Division can comprise up to 5,000-10,000 elves depending on the severity of the situation. They are located in the centre of the squadron.
- Taive Vision Division can comprise up to 200-300 elves and are often located to the sides of the assault group.
- Calvary Division can comprise up to 2,000-3,000 elves depending on the severity of the situation. They are located at the forefront of the squadron.
Equipment
Patrol Equipment:
Patrols don't bring any additional pieces of equipment unless they are searching for fugitives (which is rare) within the city, in which case they will bring lanterns and hold posters of what the fugitive looks like.
Squadron Equipment:
Each squadron sub-group uses different equipment. When away from the kingdom, chefs and Varcanian Healers also make their way with the Varcanai Guards to ensure the guards are well-fed and healthy to fight.
All soldiers bring along a thin blanket, a leather waterskin, tents for groups, small lockboxes of saer and wine coins for financial negotiations, and chests for additional resources. The Calvary division brings stallions along with them, which is the only additional piece of equipment brought.
Weaponry
Patrol Weaponry:
Patrols only use their staffs when out and have their shields attached to their back so that they have one hand free to help where they can.
Squadron Weaponry:
Each squadron sub-division uses different weaponry. When away from the kingdom, chefs and Varcanian Healers also make their way with the Varcanai Guards to ensure the guards are well-fed and healthy to fight. The three groups wield the below weapons:
- Assault wields a white staff that changes into either a double-ended spear or dual double-ended spears. They also wield a 4-point star-shaped silver and cerulean blue metallic shield infused with starlight.
- Taive Vision uses throwing spears that they can successfully lunge up to 180 yards. The spears have three heads and detach from the main spear (like throwing knives) when in the air to pierce more enemies. Therefore, the elves throwing the spears must know the precise trajectory of their throw so that their weapon can work efficiently. This is highly advanced work.
- Calvary wields the same as the assault division do only they also ride with stallions.
- Only the Crowned Prince can wield Insight and Heartwood.
- Only the Commander and Captain can wield specially made Saer Blades.
- Only the Taive Vision can wield the throwing spears.
- There are no ranked weapons. Everyone can use everything with the exception of the above.
- Staffs that detach into dual spears or change into double-ended spears
- Throwing Spears (Taive Vision only)
- Short swords
- Daggers
- Reflective Shields
- Sabres
- Catapults (only during wars)
Vehicles
Aethel Caeloria uses multiple methods of transportation outside of its walls. Transportation as below:
- Horses: No horses are utilised within Aethel Caeloria's walls, for everything can be travelled on foot. The only time horses are used is when guards are requested to go to the neighbouring houses or check something that someone reported as suspicious out or surrounding the kingdom.
- The Nagtaive: An avian mammal used to deliver letters and small packages to elves over long distances.
- The F'itidana: It's common for the F'itidana (Fit-e-darn-ah) of Myserth Hall to carry local and short distance messages.
- Wagons: Wagons are utilised for carrying the larger resources including chests, barrels of alcohol, traders tools, finances, tools and equipment, and sometimes elves for transport purposes.
- Carriages: There is only one carriage available throughout the entire kingdom and it belongs to the reigning Queen for long-distance travels and significant events.
Structure
The Ranking System:
While the Varcanai Guard is officially one army, there is a formal structure to its ranks: Captain and Commander. There are only two individuals who are the head of the army, however, they can appoint leaders to care for a certain amount of soldiers in different areas of the kingdom.
- The King/Prince: When a big war is taking place, the King or Prince will be the one's leading the charge from the front on their Hyphicen's (which are legendary ungulates only the Aalarelai Bloodline can ride). Royalty finalised National Service positions throughout the military and other occupations. The King/Prince arranges training for all Varcanai Guards and specially selects elves for elite training within the Caelorian Incline with the input of their leader, Viykar. They also deal with promotions and demotions within their ranks.
- The Queen: The Queen ensures all the welfare needs, armour and weaponry requests, and general resources are kept up to date. She also focuses on the reports of each squadron throughout the kingdom as well as their finances, which includes income and taxes.
- The Commander: The Commander controls the squadrons of the kingdom as well as visits the neighbouring houses military units, The Caelorian Incline of House Tythal and the Howlite Clan of House M'ithai. The Commander does this to ensure each military unit is well-tended to, has everything they need, takes their requests, and ensures they are as up to date on training techniques as possible. National Service details are also passed through the Commander who takes it upon them to choose wisely.
- The Captain: This Captain oversees the specialised Taive Vision Division of the Varcanai Guard ensuring their needs are tended to and that their requests are acknowledged and acted upon. The Captain also deals with other kingdoms and the Varcanai Guard's involvement in the Great Kingdom of Galsra as inexperienced National Service guards are temporarily relocated to work alongside the Daireel Assassins.
- The Squadron Leaders: Squadron leaders are hand-selected by the King/Prince to lead. When war is not in place, these squadron leaders will choose guards to patrol the streets when needed. Squadron leaders arrange their guards, teach them the ropes, ensure everyone is medically fit, contends to their uniform needs, and deal with their basic needs.
- The Guards: The Guards are the lowest rank in the system and have to follow Squadron Leaders in all aspects of their jobs. Many of them conduct regular patrols in Aethel Caeloria, the neighbouring houses, and Galsra. Perform selfless aid to those less fortunate, deliver messages where the Nagtaive cannot travel and are assigned as personal protectors of the royal family.
Tactics
Common Formations
- The Deflection: The Varcanai Guard boxes the common folk into the centre of an elf-made box designed to protect them from harm. Their formation is known as 'The Deflection' for the guards at the front, sides, and the rear wield their chromatic shields, deflecting the sunlight and moonlight upon their enemies giving them an advantage in combat. At the sides of this formation, spears are placed in-between the shields to keep the citizens of Aethel Caeloria protected.
- Heaven's Leap: The Taive Vision creates five layers of circles/squares or star shapes (smallest in the centre) with different ranged throws allocated within each shape (usually a circle). The point of this is to use the scouts of the kingdom to reach further targets. Each range differs with the situation, but an example could be:
- The Outer shape will throw 10 yards and lower.
- The Fourth shape will throw 25 yards and lower
- The Third shape will throw 75 yards more and lower.
- The Second shape will throw 125 yards more and lower.
- The Inner shape will throw 150 yards more and lower
- Four-Pointed Star: The Varcanai Guard's cavalry division form a four-pointed star with the assault division huddled within the centre. Once the calvary moves forwards, they create a circle and a small entrance at the tip of the star allowing the assault division to charge through with their spears facing forward in three widened vertical rows. Once all the guards have charged forward the cavalry division will shortly follow surrounding the sides of the assault division, horizontally and charge alongside them.
- The Hydraen's Toil: All divisions, including the royal family, neighbouring houses and their militia are arranged from the front to the rear via multiple layers of horizontal lines. The Royal family take the front, the neighbouring houses beside them, the Caelorian Incline and Howlite Clan behind them, and then the entirety of the Varcanai Guard. There are no formations to this other than a charge that the King of the kingdom takes with the raising of his sword.
- Nelaeryn's Rage: The Varcanai Guard's cavalry division creates multiple horizontal rows in front of the assault division, the Caelorian Incline soldiers, and Howlite Clan guardians, which comprises over 100,000 elves. To the sides of the primary formation is the Taive Vision Division, which comprises over 50,000 elves in multiple lines. In front of them is the Caelorian Guard Leading Associates, Howlite Clan Leaders, House Tythal Family leaders, and House M'ithai Family Leaders. Finally, in front of all of them is the Aalarelai Bloodline on their legendary Hyphicen's. Once the King gives the first signal, the Taive Vision throws their spears 180 yards and further. Once the king gives the second signal, everyone charges forward in the shape of an arrowhead and straight into their enemies.
Training
National Service:
Many elves of Aethel Caeloria and its neighbouring houses choose to sign up for national service within the Varcanai Guard for 2 years and over. After that, the duration of the Varcanai Guard is optional; however, many choose to serve for life. Once the 2 years are over, elves have the choice of remaining in the Varcanai guard or transferring over to different occupations such as agriculture, arboriculture, trading and sales, scholar studies, law studies within the Virtuous Order, and more. Any citizen from Aethel Caeloria can join the Varcanai Guard's national service. During elflinghood, elves are sent to practise in the Varcanai Guard for a few hundred years as a means of learning basic self-defence.
Everyone is treated with respect and cared for accordingly by the Commander of the Guard, Linthuwai Aalarelai. Where recruitment used to be compulsory, King Filarion Aalarelai changed it so that it would become optional and that all citizens could choose what field they wanted to serve in. All members of the Varcanai Guard are trained for years to perfect and hone their skills. When war is looming, Nelaeryn's Rage is practised regularly to ensure everyone knows what they're doing, especially the more inexperienced elves.
C.R. Eede, Aethel Caeloria.
The Varcanai Guard are the soldiers (elf and elfa alike) who protect the lands of Aethel Caeloria and its neighbouring houses.
The Varcanai Guard are the protectors of Aethel Caeloria designed at preserving the royal bloodline, nature, all lives within their borders, and the environment. They are well-respected and looked after, for the Aalarelai bloodline values their commitment to protecting those who cannot protect themselves. A well-established and trained militia, the Varcanai Guard undergo hundreds of years of training from elflinghood to adulthood where they gain the relevant experience within the kingdom's walls and within the walls of their allies walls, The Great Kingdom of Galsra. The Varcanai Guard protect, preserve, and prevail.
The Taive Vision is a specialised unit within the Varcanai Guard exclusively focusing on stealth and long-range targets
Type
Militia
Overall training Level
Professional
Assumed Veterancy
Experienced
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Comments
Author's Notes
"I decided to make the Varcanai Guard as a force not to be reckoned with, but also one's that are genuinely present for their people. I wanted compassion and love to be a fundamental part of the Varcanai Guard as they are big on selflessness and helping those who cannot help themselves or just need additional assistance. As well as this, I wanted them to be the best-militarised unit that has more unconventional means of combat formations. I think being different is great, especially when you know how to utilise it to get the upper hand, which is what I like the Varcanai Guard to be able to do. Yes, they may be quite reserved at first, but the citizens of the kingdom know that their hearts are in the right place and will do whatever is necessary to help those in need, friend and stranger alike."