Drakemetal Vanguard
They are not men in armor. They are the Stormlord’s will, hammered in drakemetal and bound by wyrm-law.
Overview
The Drakemetal Vanguard is the elite state law enforcement and military arm of Kendron, a force that is both a civic authority and an arcane deterrent. Forged in the aftermath of the devastating Motaran Wars, the Vanguard was created to be the unyielding enforcers of the Draconic Accord. They are the sworn sword of the Stormlord, the guardians against arcane corruption, and the most visible symbol of the Dragon Overlord's authority in the mortal realm. Their presence is ubiquitous in Platinus, their gleaming, rune-etched armor a constant reminder that in Kendron, order is not a suggestion—it is an absolute. To the common folk, they are known colloquially as "Deevs" (from D.V.) or "Vans," steel-clad silhouettes who walk the streets with the weight of ancient oaths on their shoulders.
Founding and Purpose
In the smoldering wake of the Motaran Wars, when Rogue constructs and spell-born aberrations patrolled the skies, the newly crowned Stormlord called upon the ancient forges beneath the Sky Crucible, a floating citadel of draconic design. There, under the guidance of emissaries from the Dragon Overlords, the first suits of Drakemetal were cast. This rare alloy, tempered in wyrmfire, was unmatched in its resilience and its resonance with arcane commands. It became the armor of a chosen few, sworn to uphold the Stormlord's justice and the Overlords' decree.
Thus was born the Vanguard—not merely enforcers, but keepers of balance, hunters of forbidden sorcery, and interpreters of the Overlords’ will. Their primary mandate is to protect the people of Kendron from all threats that exceed the purview of the common army or the city watch, specializing in the containment of Rogue magic, the suppression of seditious movements like the Knights of Man, and the eradication of Azhra cults.
Organization and Structure
The Vanguard is a rigid, hierarchical military order, its structure designed for discipline and efficiency. Its headquarters is a formidable fortress-complex in the Kelhun's Vanguard district of Platinus.
| Rank | Title | Role & Description |
|---|---|---|
| I | Acolyte of Scale | Initiates undergoing grueling training in law, arcane protocol, and combat at the Ironhand War Academy. Not yet armored in drakemetal. |
| II | Steelbound | Full-fledged Vanguards granted their first suit of drakemetal armor. They form the core of the Vanguard's patrols and enforcement squads. |
| III | Talon Marshal | Veteran squad leaders and field tacticians. They lead missions into dangerous arcane zones or hostile territories. |
| IV | Warden of the Crucible | Overseers of training, the armories, and the sacred forging rites of drakemetal. |
| V | Fangbearer | Elite, special-operations agents entrusted with high-risk missions and diplomatic enforcement. They often serve as the Stormlord’s personal agents. |
| VI | Drakemaster | Commanders of entire regions or city garrisons. They are the strategic minds of the Vanguard. |
| VII | Voice of the Scale | The supreme commander, chosen by the Stormlord and confirmed by the Dragon Overlords. They wield ultimate military and ceremonial authority. |
The Concord of Scale and Steel
Every member of the Vanguard is bound by a sacred code, a fusion of draconic law and Kendroni justice. To break the Concord is a fate worse than death.
- Honor the Accord: Uphold the will of the Stormlord and the decrees of the Dragon Overlords without question or delay.
- Shield the Innocent: Protect the people of Kendron from arcane corruption, Rogue constructs, and unlawful sorcery.
- Temper Power with Wisdom: Use force only when necessary. Let judgment be as sharp as your blade, and as measured as your oath.
- Guard the Crucible: Preserve the secrets of the Sky Crucible and the forging rites of drakemetal.
- Speak with One Voice: Disunity among the Vanguard is treason. In the field, the chain of command is sacred.
- Never Draw Against Kin: A Vanguard shall not raise arms against another without a trial by flame—a ritual duel sanctioned by a Drakemaster.
- Die with Scale Unbroken: In death, a Vanguard’s armor must be returned to the Crucible. It shall not be worn by the unworthy.
Role in Platinus
Within the capital, the Vanguard's role is distinct from that of the Brotherhood of Protectors. While the Protectors handle common crime, the Vanguard is a silent, intimidating presence, their patrols a constant reminder of the state's power. They do not walk a beat; they secure strategic locations, guard the members of the Heliox Assembly, and respond with overwhelming force to any major disturbance. They have absolute jurisdiction in matters of national security and are the only force legally permitted to investigate and detain high-ranking nobles or guild masters suspected of treason or dealing in forbidden magic.
Structure
A Steelbound is a weapon. A Talon Marshal is the hand that wields it. A Drakemaster is the mind that commands the hand. And the Voice of the Scale is the will that moves the mind. Every part has its purpose. That is how the Accord endures.
The Drakemetal Vanguard is a rigid and deeply hierarchical military order. Its structure is a reflection of its purpose: to be the unwavering, disciplined sword of the Draconic Accord. The chain of command is sacred, and every member, regardless of rank, is expected to understand their precise role within the greater machine. This structure ensures that the Vanguard can operate with the speed, precision, and absolute loyalty required to confront the kingdom's most dangerous threats.
The High Command
While the Vanguard operates with significant autonomy, its ultimate authority flows from the throne and the Dragon Overlord.
- The Stormlord (Commander-in-Chief): As the mortal head of state, the Stormlord holds supreme command over the Vanguard. He is the only individual with the authority to deploy the Vanguard in a full-scale military capacity.
- The Voice of the Scale (Supreme Commander): The highest-ranking officer within the Vanguard. Chosen by the Stormlord and confirmed by the Dragon Overlords, the Voice of the Scale is a figure of immense military and ceremonial authority. They are responsible for the overall strategic direction of the Vanguard, advising the Heliox Assembly on matters of national security, and ensuring the order's unwavering loyalty to the Accord. Their identity is a closely guarded state secret.
The Officer Corps
The commissioned officers of the Vanguard are the strategic minds and field leaders who translate the will of the High Command into decisive action.
- Drakemaster: The highest field rank. A Drakemaster commands the entire Vanguard presence within a major geographical region (such as the Fallen Mountains or the southern coast) or a critical city garrison like Platinus. They are master strategists who report directly to the Voice of the Scale and often sit on regional councils.
- Fangbearer: Elite, special-operations officers who operate outside the standard chain of command. A Fangbearer is a veteran of countless campaigns, entrusted with the most sensitive and high-risk missions: hunting down rogue sorcerers, infiltrating the leadership of the Knights of Man, or acting as the Stormlord's personal, heavily-armed emissary. They are the troubleshooters and secret weapons of the Vanguard.
- Warden of the Crucible: A specialized, high-ranking officer responsible for the very soul of the Vanguard. Wardens oversee the training of new recruits at the Ironhand War Academy, manage the sacred armories, and preside over the forging rites of drakemetal armor. They are the keepers of the Vanguard's traditions and the guardians of its most vital secrets.
The Ranks
These are the warriors who form the backbone of the Vanguard, the steel-clad enforcers of the law.
- Talon Marshal: Veteran squad leaders and field tacticians. A Talon Marshal is responsible for a single squad of Steelbound (typically 8-12 soldiers). They are experienced combatants who have proven their ability to lead under fire, often leading missions into dangerous arcane zones or hostile territories.
- Steelbound: The full-fledged soldiers of the Drakemetal Vanguard. Upon completing their training, they are granted their first suit of drakemetal armor and are sworn into the order. They form the core of the Vanguard's patrols in major cities, its garrisons in frontier fortresses, and its rapid-response strike teams.
- Acolyte of Scale: The lowest rank. Acolytes are the unarmored initiates undergoing their grueling training at the Ironhand War Academy. They spend their days in rigorous drills, studying law and arcane protocol, and being tested to their absolute physical and mental limits. Only the most disciplined and loyal survive to become Steelbound.
Culture
Flesh fails. Ambition fades. The self is a fleeting, passionate thing. But the Accord is eternal. The armor is a promise. And the oath is all that truly matters.
For the Drakemetal Vanguard, duty is identity and order is sacred. These warriors are shaped not by blood or origin, but by the fire of their oaths. Once an Acolyte dons the armor and becomes Steelbound, they are no longer an individual—they are the Vanguard. Their lives are defined by discipline, loyalty, and the unwavering belief that the Draconic Accord is not just law, but divine truth.
Armor is treated as an extension of the self, a sacred symbol of purpose. Maintaining it is a daily act of reverence. To falter in duty or question the chain of command is unthinkable, a betrayal of the very order that holds the world together. Discipline replaces doctrine; every precise movement, silent vigil, or perfect formation is a form of devotion.
Their traditions reflect this austere creed. The Forging Rite marks the rebirth of an Acolyte, as their armor is sealed and they speak the Concord of Scale and Steel. Disputes are settled in the Trial by Flame, where technique and clarity of will—not brute force—determine justice. Fallen warriors are honored through the Return of the Scale, their armor disassembled and consecrated at the forge, ready to serve anew. Even punishment becomes meditation; the Silent Vigil transforms atonement into endurance and stillness into strength.
Public Agenda
The Drakemetal Vanguard exists not to conquer, but to preserve. We are the Accord made flesh—its shield, its edge, and its enduring will. Sworn by oath and bound in armor, we serve not for wealth or fame, but to uphold the sacred harmony that defines the Golden Dominion.
Our foremost duty is protection. We hunt the Azhra cults to extinction, crush sedition without hesitation, and defend the people of Kendron from any who would sow chaos. Whether through outlaw sorcery, insurgent violence, or monstrous threat, disorder will find no refuge under our watch.
We serve the law absolutely. The edicts of the Heliox Assembly and the Stormlord are not ours to debate—they are ours to enforce. The Dragon Overlord’s wisdom is our guiding star; her will, our command.
We wield the power of progress with discipline. Dragocite, drakemetal, and magi-tech are the lifeblood of our nation—but only when tightly bound to purpose. We guard the forges, the mines, and the sacred rites of creation. No rogue invention or reckless sorcery will endanger what we are sworn to defend.
Assets
Do not ask what a suit of our armor is worth. Ask what the kingdom would be worth without it. That is its price. And it is a debt we pay in steel and blood, not coin.
The Vanguard does not measure its wealth in coin, but in the steel it tempers, the soldiers it trains, and the order it enforces. Funded by the Golden Dominion’s treasury, its resources are shaped into elite personnel, advanced weaponry, and fortified strongholds that serve as both sword and shield of the Accord.
Its force numbers fifteen thousand, including the elite Steelbound, seasoned officers, and a constant flow of recruits at the Ironhand War Academy. Their central command, the Citadel of the Accord, dominates the Kelhun’s Vanguard district of Platinus, while regional citadels and border forts secure the kingdom’s edges. The legendary Sky Crucible—its sacred forge and most guarded secret—sustains the spiritual and technological soul of the order.
Every Vanguard soldier is equipped with masterwork drakemetal armor, empowered by arcane engineering. They carry elemental-firearms of unmatched precision, anti-magic restraints, and use warding gear developed for arcane suppression. Armored transports and dragocite-powered vehicles ensure swift overland movement, while a dedicated wing of sky-vessels extends the Vanguard’s reach to the kingdom’s furthest frontiers. Even in rugged terrain, they remain mobile, fielding trained plainsrunner mounts where machines cannot pass.
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