"While this was going on, Haqim the Eunuch had noticed that another company of Al Saurim had appeared behind us. These were much bigger warriors than the ones who stood to our front. They were armed with spears and shields of bronze which glinted in the sun. These were undoubtedly the best soldiers of the Al Saurim..."
- —Extract from Ibn Jellaba's Expedition to Zltatlan, circa. 1150 IC.[3a]
The mighty Temple Guard, the greatest of all the Saurus.
The Temple Guard are a revered and uncommon spawning of Saurus. They were created to protect the Slann Mage-Priests and the temple-cities in which the Lizardmen dwell. To their tasks, they dedicate every fibre of their beings, displaying a single-minded determination that will result in either the safeguarding of their charges or their own deaths. As befits their honoured status, Temple Guard are armed with heavy ornamental halberds and adorned with sacred glyphs. In addition to armour plates of the strongest bronze, the Temple Guard bear distinctive helms fashioned from the horned and crested skulls of Lustria’s predatory beasts.[1a]
Some Temple Guard are as old as the temple-cities and Slann that they protect. However, should one fall in battle, his helm is salvaged by Skink attendants to be placed within the inner sanctum of a pyramid-temple. There it remains, a relic, until a new generation of Temple Guard is spawned to claim the helms of the fallen. It is believed that when a Saurus inherits one of these sacred heirlooms, he becomes imbued with a portion of its predecessor’s strength and martial skill. In this way, the Temple Guard continue to safeguard their charges for eternity — clearly the role for which they were designed.[1a]
Role[]
Portrait of a Temple Guard in Total War: Warhammer III.
As protectors, Temple Guard are matchless. They stand sentry, silent and motionless, not even blinking their eyes. It has been known for Temple Guard to maintain such a sleepless vigil for centuries, thick layers of dust settling upon their reptilian forms -- yet the ever-watchful guardians are not immobile statues, and can erupt into sudden violence should they perceive any threat to their charges. Even Skink Priests and other attendants to the Slann approach with skittish caution, least they by some unintended move invite the Temple Guards’ heavy-handed response.[1a]
Wherever a Slann Mage-Priest goes, his Temple Guard will follow him. If the Slann wishes to ascend a towering pyramid or retire to the solitude of a Star Chamber, his guardians will dutifully follow. The most powerful of their number, the "Revered Guardian," takes the foremost position. No matter to the Temple Guard if the Winds of Magic blow so strongly that prismatic arcs of energy flash through the air, or if the warming rays of a solar engine bask the area in its intense heat - they are beyond distraction. If their temple-city is threatened or a sacred object they were tasked with guarding is stolen, the Temple Guard will attack their foes relentlessly, pursuing until the threat is over or the object returned before returning to their silent vigil. Should a Slann Mage-Priest go to war, his Temple Guard go with him, often forming up around their master — shielding him with their own tough, scaled bodies and interlocking shields. Heedless of their own casualties, the Temple Guard execute their sacred duty until the enemy is annihilated or they themselves are slain.[1a]
Guard Rank[]
There is a strict hierarchy amongst the Temple Guard. The youngest spawnings are tasked with the protection of places of power, great constructions that are rarely graced with the presence of a Slann but are still of sacred significance. Older, tougher, and more proven Temple Guard are sent to watch the outer limits and lesser pyramids of their own city whilst the most ancient protect the great temples and the many plaques and relics kept within the crypts themselves.[2a]
When not protecting their charge in battle, each of these Saurus attends to a specific duty. The Stone Warden guards the Slann's Palanquin Chamber. The Sentinel of the Blessed is responsible for the safety of the Temple's Skink attendants. The Relic Keeper stands sentry in the temple-city's vault, watching over the treasures so valued by warm blooded thieves, whilst the Mortuary Custodian guards the most sacred relics of all, deep within the pyramid's tomb-chamber, the Relic-Priests. The Revered Guardian, inevitably the strongest and most savage of the Temple Guard, stands sentry at the very entrance to the inner sanctum of the Slann itself. It is the Revered Guardian, sometimes called the Master of the Twenty-Two, who leads the Temple Guard in battle and it is he alone who can grant access to the Slann Mage-Priest. Highest ranked of all is the Eternity Warden, who stands at his master's side, locked inside the Star Chamber as the Slann casts his mind to the furthest reaches of the universe.[2a]
Notable Temple Guard[]
- Chakax - Chakax is the head of the Temple Guard of Xlanhuapec and the last line of defense for that temple-city's Slaan.
Notable Regiments[]
- Honour Guard of Hexoatl - The eldest spawning of Temple Guard tasked with defending the oldest living Slaan, Mazdamundi.
- Temple Guard of Xlanhuapec - An ancient order of Temple Guards that defended the Slaan of Xlanhuapec.
- Star Chamber Guardians - Guards of the Slaan Star Chambers, some of the most skilled and elite Temple Guards in existence.
Miniatures[]
.jpg "Lizardmen - Saurus Temple Guards (1).jpg (148 KB)")
.jpg "Lizardmen - Saurus Temple Guards (2).jpg (93 KB)")
.jpg "Lizardmen - Saurus Temple Guards (3).jpg (93 KB)")
Videos[]
Total War WARHAMMER 2 - Introducing... Temple Guard
The Temple Guard.
Sources[]
- 1: Warhammer Armies: Lizardmen (8th Edition)
- 1a: pg. 35
- 2: Warhammer Armies: Lizardmen (7th Edition)
- 2a: pg. 18
- 3: Warhammer Armies: Lizardmen (5th Edition)
- 3a: pp. 6-8
Gallery[]
