The Imperial Guard is a primary branch of the Geban Empire's military structure, established during the Era of Imperial Conquest to safeguard core territories—capital, major cities, and critical infrastructure—focusing on defense, protection, and stability.
Key characteristics include maintaining internal order, protecting civilians, and fortifying holdings against invasion and unrest. The Guard’s defining edge was the partnership between elite Watch Snipers and disciplined heavy artillery. From elevated kill-lines to overlapping battery arcs, their doctrine made siege lines untenable. Between the snipers and the guns, no imperial city was ever taken from the outside; even in the Warlord Eras, imperial cities remained havens for common citizens. Local relays extended surveillance and targeting, while strict urban discipline kept streets calm and safe. Beloved by civilians, the Guard became the emblem of reassurance during the Empire’s height.
Affiliated elite unit: The Prince’s Directive, jointly with The Emperor’s Embrace, managed post-conquest assimilation and long-term stability in integrated regions through persuasion, advanced imperial education, and the encouragement of intermarriage for loyalty.
After the Era of Fracture, the Guard fragmented into regional defense forces loyal to imperial remnants and fleeing royals, including support of the escort of Auren’s family to Kela. Under Shadow Rule, elements integrated into clandestine networks for quiet stability, emphasizing relay enforcement and discreet policing in regions such as Geba and Ngorrhal. During the Warlord Eras, those outside of major imperial hubs operated as independent militias or undercover Shadow operatives, defending clearings against warlord incursions while blending into fractured societies. In the modern era, no formal Guard exists; its legacy persists in local law enforcement, celebrated urban defenders from the end of the Warlord period, and cultural integration programs shaped by the Prince’s Directive.