The Queensguard
As a symbol of their representation of the queen's authority, members of the Queensguard must bear the Royal Standard while on duty - the full body cape of plain dark green and lining of golden thread, with the golden leaf of the dark elves embroidered in the middle. It is a simple and powerful symbol representing that the bearer of the Standard acts on behalf of the dark elven state and any action toward them is equivalent to an action toward the High Queen.
There was a lot more text here but because of misposting and copy/paste/delete issues that will come back later.
Structure
The Queensguard barely has any structure to it due to it's extremely low membership count and the unique role each one serves. Their leader is Arsianna and internally, one member in the face of Elisabeth holds the title of Matron.
As soon as they join the organisation, they receive the highest social status, regardless of previous position within the society, birthright, etc. Each member of the Queensguard is by extension considered Noble Lady of the Dark Elves and carries the title of Lady. They are put in command over the organisation that best suits their expertise and are the highest ranking members of the Military, regardless of their combat capabilities, with Elisabeth holding the title of Commander. As the ones that most often travel outside the Vale, all members are also senior Envoys and the only one that outranks them is Arsianna herself.
Public Agenda
The primary objective of the Queensguard is obvious and very simple - protect the High Queen at all costs. Arsianna will rarely be seen without a member at her side and among the dark elves it is well know that even if she appears to be alone, approaching her is more likely to end at the tip of Valla's blades than... not.
Aside from this duty, members are often times sent out to carry missions throughout the world on the behalf of the queen, their purpose known only to them. They serve the High Queen with unwavering
but not blinded loyalty and are her most trusted subjects. Whenever there is a major event going on in their part of the world, Arsianna and her elite team are likely not too far behind.
They are also dedicated to protecting each other as much as the queen. Upon induction into the ranks of the Queensguard, members undertake a powerful blood ritual that forever binds them as sisters. Through circumstance or not, all of them owe a life debt to Arsianna and in combination with their deep love for their queen, nurtured in all dark elves from little children, they carry out tasks better than almost any other unit in the world, because a person acting out of conviction and fighting for what they love, what they believe in, will always have the upper hand.
Assets
The Queensguard have unlimited access to all of Arsianna's vast resources. In the Vale they can take advantage of land, property, training grounds and their status in society - a rank above ranks and subject to no organisation save for the High Queen, the Duchess of Sateene and the Council of Judges.
Outside the Vale they can draw on dark elven assets in foreign banks and rely on their status as Envoys for all their needs.
History
The first recruit, at an unknown time, was Valla, after the queen allegedly rescued her from execution at the hands of the elven court. Swearing eternal gratitude and allegiance to her queen, Valla could be seen periodically around her when she was needed, and rumours started to spread.
One day, after venturing on affairs to the east of the Great Divide, Arsi and Valla returned with the long-lost Lady Elisabeth. The latter two then became the first members of the Queensguard, vowing lifelong allegiance to the High Queen and to protect her at all cost. They both also partook in a binding ritual that made them sisters, creating a blood bond of kinship between them. Elisabeth, who was the stronger and infinitely more social one, was named Captain.
It was perhaps these circumstances that started and interesting recruiting tradition where all members of the Queensguard have been personally saved by Arsianna at some point and owe her their lives in one for or another. Aside from that, in order to be invited to serve, one must be an absolute master, the very best in their respective field of expertise. Valla, though now retired from a life of killing, is the most legendary assassin to have ever lived. To this day, tales of the Shadowstalker are part of some local folklore. Elisabeth, upon her return, has been unanimously pronounced as the strongest fighter alive, having won every tournament she has been allowed to participate in. She is a paragon of protection, known as the fabled Defender.
Cathelyne and Innara are the latest recruits. Shortly after their wedding, the Sharpest Eye and her spouse were sent on a secret mission to the edge of the world, by the queen herself. However, as time passed, they did not return. One night years later, almost every witch in the Vale had a vision of their torture and suffering. Arsianna herself, along with her entourage, personally marched into Hell to get her people back home. Owing her their lives, the couple insisted to serve their queen and were inducted into the Queensguard, becoming sisters to the other two.
Currently the young envoy Elmyra is rumoured to be personally groomed by the queen with the help of Elisabeth, however she still has yet to prove is she be worthy.
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