Grand Master's Royal Guard

The Grand Master's Royal Guard was an invite-only society of the Dark Jedi Brotherhood. New members would be invited by existing Guardsmen in order to join the GMRG. After joining, GMRG members would participate in a variety of competitions: using gaming platforms which support team play. The GMRG focused on precepts of: dedication, cooperation, loyalty, and friendship. Guardsman constantly sought to improve themselves and their Cell--and in doing so they acquired unfathomable power.

Objectives of the GMRG

The Grand Master's Royal Guard will…

• Encourage team-oriented gaming and promote competitions at the unit level.

• Provide both complementary and supplementary activities to normal members of the Dark Brotherhood as well as Guardsmen.

• Create an in-depth roleplaying environment using information about the Emperor's Royal Guard and from Crimson Empire as a basis for the Grand Master's Royal Guard.

Chapter II: Sponsorship

Sponsorship

Before you can join the Grand Master's Royal Guard you must first acquire sponsorship from an existing member of the GMRG in the form of an invitation. Guardsmen issuing invites to others are responsible for these individuals. It their duty to encourage and help these individuals fulfill all the requirements for becoming a Guardsman.

It should also be noted that the CoG may periodically invite individuals whom perform admirably in other areas of the Dark brotherhood.

Qualification

Once a prospective Guardsman has acquired sponsorship he may complete any of the following optional trials. Upon completion of any of these Trials, bonus Loyalty will be awarded. The trials may be completed in any orders and will allow an individual to rapidly advance to the rank of Initiate.

I. Trial of Obeisance

Anyone wishing to become a Royal Guardsman must first authenticate their intentions to protect and serve the Grand Master above all others. Some wish to serve out of deference or homage to the Grand Master. Others have their own, more sinister, motives for becoming a Guardsman. But should your intentions be to harm the Grand Master, or any member of the Dark Council, the only result this Trial will yield is your punctual execution.

Requirements: Write a short story detailing your character's motives for becoming a Royal Guardsman. Minimum of 1 page. All submissions should be sent directly to the Commander of the Guard (khobai83@hotmail.com)

Reward: 25 Loyalty

II. Trial of Conviction

To become a Guardsman requires an aptitude for killing your opponents swiftly and unquestionably. Should a Guardsman be commanded to destroy a friend or family member he will do so without hesitation. This display of intangible will and absolute resolve terrifies even the most powerful Dark Jedi--for they know nothing of loyalty to a cause greater than themselves.

Requirement: Fight against another Dark Jedi in your own Clan using one of the following platforms: RC, JA, JO, XWA, XvT, or ACC. Three Matches must be played to at least 5 kills each. Submit the match results to the Commander of the Guard (khobai83@hotmail.com)

Reward: 25 Loyalty

III. Trial of Blood & Power

Royal Guardsmen are the most feared of all Dark Jedi in the Dark Brotherhood; their martial prowess is unrivaled by even the highest ranking members of the Sith and Obelisk Order. Royal Guardsmen spend twelve hours each day training in all manner of weaponry and martial arts. It is often rumored that one Royal Guardsman is more powerful than an entire brigade of Obelisk troopers; the Obelisk Order of course refutes this suggestion and scoffs at any such notion.

Requirement: Participate in any official GMRG competition (in either 3 matches or 3 events). Submissions should be sent directly to the Commander of the Guard (khobai83@hotmail.com)

Reward: 25 Loyalty

IV. Trial of Ascension

The origins of the Grand Master's Royal Guard and the Emperor's Royal Guard are undoubtedly the same. Both are derived from the Cerulean-clad Senate Guard that once protected the High Chancellor before the dissolution of the Senate. The history that surrounds the Grand Master's Royal Guard must never be forgotten; because the GMRG is an embodiment of stability--and so long as the GMRG exists, there will be a Grand Master to impose order upon a universe full of chaos and strife.

Requirement: You must complete the GMRG Shadow Academy course.

Reward: 25 Loyalty

Chapter III: Organization

The Grand Master's Royal Guard has three distinct Organizational units. Found below is a short description of all three units and what their function is.

The Element

Elements are the basic organizational unit of the GMRG. An element consists of two Guardsmen who are "force-bonded" to each other. These Guardsmen are trained to fight together a single cohesive unit; complementing each other with perfect synergy.

Purpose: Because the smallest team game possible is 2v2, the smallest unit in the GMRG must include 2 people. The purpose of Elements is to promote team matches at the smallest level possible.

Requirement: There is no minimum rank requirement to join an element.

The Cell

Cells are the standard organizational unit of the GMRG. Every Dark Council member is assigned one cell to protect and serve them as required. A single cell is comprised of two Elements.

Purpose: The purpose of Cells is to provide GMRG member with a sense of accomplishment by being given the honor of protecting a member of the Dark Council. Cells are also used in 4v4 team events and are the primary organization unit used in Shadow Wars (see Chapter 05 for more information).

Requirement: The minimum rank required to join a cell is Sentinel I. If an element wishes to join a cell than both members of the element must hold the rank Sentinel I.

The Circle

Circles are a special temporary organizational unit sometimes used in the GMRG when a team larger than four individuals is needed for a competition. A circle is comprised of two or more cells which join forces for the duration of a competition.

Purpose: Circles exist to add some flexibility to the rigid element/cell structure. In competition events which require 8 or more people per side a Circle becomes a necessary inclusion in the GMRG.

Requirement: There is no minimum required rank to join a Circle.

Chapter IV: Bodyguards

One of the highest honors in the Grand Master's Royal Guard is when a Guardsman is entrusted to safeguard a member of the Dark Council. To become a Bodyguard is a privilege without equal. Bodyguards are organized into units called Cells. One Cell is assigned to each Dark Council member and serves as that Councilor's entourage.

Responsibilities: A Guardsman is solely responsible for protecting his assigned Dark Councilor. This duty also extends to serving your Dark Councilor by performing various missions for them.

Requirements: The minimum rank for joining a GMRG Cell is Sentinel I. If an Element wishes to join a Cell then both Guardsmen in the Element must meet the minimum requirements.

Chapter V: Events

GMRG Training Events

Crucible

A GMRG Training Event is a regularly scheduled gaming day (usually once per week). Guardsmen who play other Guardsman during official Training Events will have the opportunity to earn loyalty as well as unique GMRG medals.

GMRG Missions

The simplest form of competition in the GMRG is a Mission. A Mission consists of a single event. This form of competition exists primarily for the benefit of the Dark Council so they can run small competitions for their own cells.

GMRG Competitions

GMRG Brackets & Campaigns

Regular GMRG Competitions consist of multiple events and are normally open to the entire GMRG. The leader of the winning element/cell receives the title of Gladiator Prime. All other guardsmen in the winning element/cell receive the title of Gladiator.

GMRG Shadow Wars

(See Chapter VI for more information)

ICTE and Sunday Tournaments

Guardsmen who participate in the ICTE or Sunday Tournaments will normally receive CFs instead of GMRG competition medals. Although at the CoG's discretion an ICTE/Sunday Tournament might sometimes be treated as a GMRG Training Event.

GMRG Titles

Royal Guardsmen are afforded the opportunity during major, singular competitions to earn Honor Titles that reflect their skill and mastery. These titles are imperative to unlocking special conditions for further advancement in the latter of Royal Guard ranks.

• Gladiator - Title awarded to all member(s) of a winning element/cell
• Gladiator Prime - Title awarded to the leader of a winning element/cell
• Grand Master's Champion - (description pending)

Chapter VI: Shadow War

Unbeknownst to many of the Dark Jedi in the Brotherhood, there is a silent war that rages within the Dark Council. The Dark Council always has difficulty agreeing upon anything and the conflict that results is often bitter and unforgiving.

The Grand Master has decreed that any Dark Councilors that lock lightsaber blades with each other will both be executed. However this has not stopped some Councilors from pursuing other avenues to humiliate and hinder their adversaries.

In recent years this has given rise to a Shadow War of sorts. Where the Dark Council has begun abusing the Royal Guard as a means to accomplish their ends; by ordering political assassinations, kidnappings, sabotage, and espionage of a rival councilor’s entire infrastructure.

While the Commander of the Guard openly protests the Guard being used for such purposes, the Grand Master has secretly ordained this form of personal vendetta as acceptable--knowing that as long as the Dark Council is disunified, the Iron Throne can never be abdicated or overthrown.

A Shadow War is a massive free-for-all competition between the various Cells of the Grand Master's Royal Guard. A Shadow War is oriented at destroying the resources of another Dark Council member to fictionally hinder their ability to perform their duties.

Chapter VII: Ranks & Medals

To qualify for a promotion in the GMRG you must meet the Loyalty requirements as well as the Merit/Title requirement. For example, if a rank has a (3 Merit Awards) requirement you would need 3 GMRG merit awards to achieve that rank.

Ranks

First Echelon

GMRG Ranks	Abbreviation	Required Loyalty/Merit/Titles
Inductee	GMRG-IND	GMRG Trial
Initiate	GMRG-INI	100 Loyalty
Neophyte	GMRG-NEO	125 Loyalty
Preceptor	GMRG-PRE	150 Loyalty
Crusader	GMRG-CRS	175 Loyalty

Second Echelon

GMRG Ranks	Abbreviation	Required Loyalty/Merit/Titles
Sentinel I	[GMRG-S1]	200 Loyalty
Sentinel II	[GMRG-S2]	250 Loyalty
Sentinel III	[GMRG-S3]	300 Loyalty
Sentinel IV	[GMRG-S4]	350 Loyalty

Third Echelon

GMRG Ranks	Abbreviation	Required Loyalty/Merit/Titles
Guardsman I	[GMRG-RG1]	400 Loyalty (1 Merit Award)
Guardsman II	[GMRG-RG2]	475 Loyalty (1 Title)
Guardsman III	[GMRG-RG3]	550 Loyalty (2 Merit Awards)
Guardsman IV	[GMRG-RG4]	625 Loyalty (2 Titles)

Fourth Echelon

GMRG Ranks	Abbreviation	Required Loyalty/Merit/Titles
Praetorian	[GMRG-PTN]	700 Loyalty (3 Merit Awards)
Ordinator	[GMRG-ORD]	800 Loyalty (3 Titles)
Imperator	[GMRG-IMP]	900 Loyalty (4 Merit Awards)
Sovereign Protector	[GMRG-SOV]	1000 Loyalty (4 Titles)
Commander of the Guard	[GMRG-CoG]	Appointed by GM

GMRG Medals

The Elite Cluster of Firwe (ECF): This medal will only be awarded for multiplayer wins over Guardsmen. It is functionally used as a measuring stick of skill and prowess in combat. If one acquries enough ECFs, the hand-to-hand combat form of Echani may be unlocked.

GMRG Merit Award (name pending): This medal is functionally equivalent to a steel cross and is awarded to Guardsmen whose performance has consistently and continually improved the GMRG.

ID Lines

ID Line Syntax: [GMRG-RANK(Honor Title)/CELL:ELEMENT]

Example 1: [GMRG-CoG/GM:1] or Commander of the Guard, Grand Master's Cell, Element #1

Example 2: [GMRG-RG3(G)/DGM:1] or Royal Guardsman III, Gladiator, Deputy Grand Master's Cell, Element #1

Chapter VIII: Loyalty Never Dies

Loyalty

Loyalty is a numerical value assigned to each Guardsman. Whenever a Guardsman participates in GMRG competitions or completes certain GMRG missions Loyalty points will be awarded. If a Guardsman quits the GMRG they lose all loyalty. The exception to this is Guardsman who resigns honorably. To resign honorably you must have at least 750 loyalty.