Praetorian Guard

Formation & Responsibilities

When Julius Caesar arrived and assumed control he upgraded his personal guard for his personal protection in the aftermath of his assassination in Claustrum. The original name that has been gifted to the new unit has been lost but records tell us that Caesar Augustus changed it to its familiar name 'Praetorian guard'. While their original task was to protect Caesar and later on the emperor of Rome this quickly evolved to secret policing Rome. They protected the imperial family from brash attacks and court intrigue. Later on however they became more and more involved into the very scheming they were to prevent, using their influence over the emperor to gain wealth and power. One time an emperor was even taken hostage because he refused the command of the Praetorian Perfect (the leader of the Praetorian guard). The emperor was later executed and a puppet was installed. The gods didn't interfere with the chaos and kept doing what they did before, education. Emperors kept being puppets until Vespasian arrived and greatly undermined their influence. The guard was even briefly purged under Domitian and resulted in a lack of manpower, none dared to enter the service.

Demigods

When Trajan arrived the guard was a shell of its former self. There were only old men who had nothing to lose guarding the most important people in the empire. He fired these men and adjusted the requested qualities while reforming education alongside the gods. From this moment forth only demigods were allowed into the guard. They also had to be orphans so they wouldn't have any ties with the senate or other influential families. Orphanages were erected especially for that reason, filling the guard or any other profession, using potential wish was rotting on the streets. After the orphanes finished their mandatory service they were gifted with the salary that was kept from them and freed to decide their own path. Only few leave the guard.

Many of us aimed to become a Praetorian Guard. If you can't make magic flow from your body you quickly give up on your dream. Those who can compete in all possible ways. Eat the most. Run the fastest. Be the smartest. Be the best with any kind of weapon. It's not unusual for deaths to occur, but most are rejected fools who hang themselves or fall on pointy swords. It's ironic how the state molds orphanes for their needs under the statement of using wasted potential, yet they let these young boys die.
_{-Unknown Praetorian Guard}