Grand Order of the Reiksguard

"Reiksguard Knights, your Emperor is calling! Death or glory await us, but if we die, we will die as warriors, with swords in hand, and there can be no better death than that."

- Kurt Helborg, The Reiksmarshal

The Reiksguard Knights are the personal army of the Emperor. As an Elector Count, the Emperor also has direct command of his own provincial army which in the case of Karl Franz, he has personal command of all Regiments hailing from the city of Altdorf, and the ability to field the Reikguard Knights into battle if he so choses. The Reiksguard forms an elite core of highly trained, expensively-equipped troops who are loyal to the Emperor in person. As the best troops available to the Emperor, the Reiksguard Knights form the core of the Imperial household guard, both on the field of battle as well as at other, more stately, functions. The Reiksguard Knights accompanies the Emperor on campaign and during diplomatic and political tours throughout the Empire and abroad, essentially forming his own personal army of Honour Guards. However, it is not uncommon for the Emperor to attach a unit of these renowned warriors to fight alongside another Elector Count's army, if the situation is in need of their expertise. In doing so, the Emperor is effectively lending the count his personal support for the upcoming struggle, as well as a way to keep an eye on weary and unstable Electors that might threaten the stability of the Empire as a whole. A relatively young Order, the creation of the particular group of Knights was first founded during the reign of Count Wilhelm the First, the founder of the Riekland lineage of Emperors. Formerly devout Templars of Sigmar, the first Reiksguard Knights swore their greatest oaths to give their lives to protect the Emperor from all dangers, believing the Emperor to be the living incarnation of Sigmar himself. Over the decades, the Reiksguard have forged a legendary reputation on the battlefield, often charging into the fray against opponents that would see lesser warriors flee in terror. Time and again, this stoic bravery has brought the Empire a great, if bloody, victory and the name "Reiksguard" is synonymous throughout the provinces with feats of selfless heroism==Overview== The ranks of the Reiksguard are open to all men of noble birth, regardless of what city or state they originally hail from. Provided they can prove their loyalty to the Emperor, and their feats of martial prowess meet the stern expectations of the Reiksmarshal, any warrior can hope to join this illustrious brotherhood if they so chooses. This is considered a great military and social honour amongst the nobility of the Empire, and there is no shortage of applicants that are eager to seek both fame and glory for him and his household. The Reiksguard can therefore maintain the highest standards amongst the many Knightly Orders and includes the very best warriors from all the Empire's provinces, including those from as far north as Ostland and Nordland, to as far south as Wissenland and Averland. The ranks of the Reiksguard include the heirs to many of the wealthiest and most powerful noble houses in the Empire, including the sons of several Elector Counts such as the Counts of Nordland and Averland. After an arduous training retinue that would take months to accomplish, these new inductees join the Reiksgaurd in an austere, if deadly, tournament that concludes the Emperor’s Tournament. This event occurs every year in Altdorf during the spring festivals. A newly knighted member is given a duty by the Reiksmarshal, the Grand Master of the order itself. This could be an order to join theEmperor’s Personal guard, a political task, or attachment to a formation that marches to war under the command of an Elector Count