Lions Guard Cataphracts

Lore

Founded in 1002, the Lions Guard Cataphracts are the elite personal guards of the sultan. Capped at only 250 warriors, these fighters are pulled from the best of the other military orders of House Aquilar,.

Each year would be warriors aged 15 or older can enter a training program at the Vangarian Military Academy. Typically as many as 1500 warriors register. This starts them through a 2 year training program, where all but the best fail out of the program. Typically only 15 new lions guard are selected at the end of each year.

These warriors are the best in best in Belkar, and they expect to be paid for that quality. New members of the guard earn around 5 gold pieces per week, and officers can earn as much as 20 gold per week. This means that as each Lions guard serves the 20 year term, they will almost certainly retire wealthy. When the service term is complete, the guard is offered an estate with more than 100 acres of land for their service.

These warriors wear well made plate armour, with some of the officers wearing plate of abnormal materials. Typically they carry heavy lances and spatha swords as well as a steel buckler.

Those who have shown additional prowess are often assigned to an ambassador or royal family member, meaning it’s extremely rare for more than even 20 lions guard to be together, with the exception of Theodosius II, Sultan of Belkar personal guard of 30.

Strength

300/300

Ranks

Royal Guard

The 30 royal lions that guard Sultan Theodosuis II . They have have been gifted special sets of Lammelar plate armour.

Family Guard

20 cataphracts are dispersed amount the direct royal line and a few close/influential family members.

Ambassador Guard

Typically in groups of 3-5, accompanying lesser House Aquilar Family members and official ambassadors carrying messages to other nobles and beyond. There are between 10 and 15 groups totalling 50 cataphracts.

Inquisitor Seniori (The Black Lions)

Groups of 20 or so cataphracts sent to bring justice to bandits if they get serious enough. They also purge heretics, and investigate any sightings of strange magic, monsters ect. There are 100 cataphracts with the the assignment.

Cataphacti Dinari

Royal tax collection needs protection for these sums of coin. These warriors dissuade anybody from thinking to seize a kings worth of treasure on the royal tax caravans.