The Heart Guard

Written by Marty McMarn

The events that day during the first battle of Koerin Gap led to the formation of the Heart Guard when a brave band of Knights had fought to rescue the first of the Warrior Queens and the Royal Banner from the clutches of the Archenemy. Legend said that they had each fought with the strength and ferocity of Snow Lions and each man and woman that had since worn the crimson heart on their breast, did so with the solemn knowledge that they also carried the honour of those original brave souls that had bled and died that day to protect the queen from death or worse.

The Heart Guard primarily serve as the personal honour guard for the King or Queen of Naos and their family and are sworn to protect and defend them even if it means sacrificing themselves to ensure their duty is fulfilled. World renown swordsmen and said by many to be the premier heavy cavalry unit in all of Lohadalar when they take to battle none can stand in their path as they sweep the foe from the field like wheat before a scythe. They are mounted on the best horses in the kingdom and armed with the finest weapons and armour that money can buy.

One can normally only be appointed to the Heart Guard after performing an act of courage or heroism whilst serving in the Legions of Naos. However, there are a handful throughout history that had been inducted straight into the Heart Guard as a posthumous reward for the actions of one or more of their parents. Elijah Caleb is one of these and had been orphaned when his father, a simple charcoal-burner had died saving the Queen from an Ice Bear that had attacked her whilst out riding. It is said that he had snapped the jaws of the animal that had been driven mad by disease even as it had disembowelled him.