The Shadowguard Legions

At their peak formation strength ( 890 BF) Twenty full Legions of Shadowguards were on active duty with five additional Legions assigned to the Imperial Family itself.

Every Shadowguard was issued the latest and most powerful version of Shadowarmor. Senior officers were often issued specialized magic items depending on their current mission.

The Shadowguard had access to the best crafted weapons in the Empire. The standard kit included Longsword, Shortsword, pair of kukri and assorted throwing blades. Those assigned to specialized mission would outfit as needed based on the mission.

The Shadowguard had access to every form of mount and vehicle in The Empire

Based on Imperial Legion model. Nine Shadowguards form a Squad and answer to a squad leader. Two Squads and a command squad form a File and report to a File Leader. Three Files and a command squad form a Century and report to a Century Captain. Nine Centuries and and command century form a Legion and report to a Legion Captain.

The Shadowguard Legions routinely modified their tactics and changed their methods whenever something better is learned or discovered. They stayed at the forefront of Military Science.

Any boy or girl of at least ten years old and whose parents were Imperial Citizens was eligible to attempt to become a Shadowguard. Every Spring all those hopeful candidates, often numbering in the thousands, were gathered to begin their training. What followed was the most intensive training regime that could be devised. A decade spent in training on every weapon within The Empire's arsenal. Conditioned to the peak of human potential. Exhaustive and comprehensive training in tactics and strategy. The dropout rate was extreme. On average, one out of every two to three hundred would survive and pass every test to become a Shadowguard

Any request submitted by the Shadowguard Legions for material or equipment was automatically approved by Imperial Law (Shontella II 1801 BF) Those that led the Legions had undergone such intensive training and vetting that they were trust implicitly. Countless were the tales of some functionary who impeded or obstructed the Legion only be punished severely so that all would see what would happen to those who stood against the wishes of the Shadowguard Legions.

When Val the First launched his retaliatory strike against Zwintar he had with him Bolderin, a former Zwintar Captain. Bolderin was given command of four warriors and all were outfitted in Shadowarmor. These were the first Shadowguards. When Zwintar fell the first full Shadowguard Century was formed. Over the centuries their numbers have grown as the need for them rose. They were the last line of defense for the Holder of the Imperial Throne and the ultimate expression of Imperial Power. When the Shadowguard Legions were deployed, enemies of the Empire died. For the entirety of the history of the Empire the Shadowguard Legions were loyal to the throne. For over two thousand years they did their duty and not one single act of betrayal. When Goval the VI was lost and the Empire fell to disarray, Marshal Veria Togona summoned the remaining ten Shadowguard Legions to Mor Daven. There they held the Imperial Capital against every and all attacker until the city finally fell in 8 AF and was burned to ruin. Some units of the Shadowguard Legions managed to escape, none bigger then a Century. These usually threw themselves into vengeful crusades against those who should have kept the Empire alive. Historians generally regard the destruction of Mor Daven as the formal end to the Shadowguard Legions. A History that spanned over 2180 years.

Flawlessly loyal to the Holder of the Imperial Family and the established Line of Succession.