Azerothian Guard

The Azerothian Guard is the ground-based armed forces of the Kingdom of Azeroth, consisting of infantry, armored units, and water-based naval units. The Azerothian Guard was established before the Great Exodus from Azeroth by the various nations on the Homeworld, and since then has grown in size while being under the control of the Kingdom of Azeroth.

The Azerothian Guard is split up into Brigades, with five hailing from the Homeworld itself, and three more from the core systems of Azerothian space; Orakon, Sigma Draconis, and Denar 2.

Brigades are units of five thousand to ten thousand men, with multiple regiments existing within a Brigade, which themselves are made up of Companies.

The Azerothian Guard as a whole is based within the Royal War Office in Stormwind City on the homeworld, but fields hundreds of bases across Azerothian space. Brigades of the Azerothian Guard are led by Marshals.

Brigades
The Azerothian Guard is structured into various Brigades, drawn from the people of the system or planet they're based upon.

Elwynn Brigade
"For King and Crown."

The oldest unit of the Azerothian Guard, the Elwynn Brigade encompasses men and women recruited from the capital city of Stormwind, and the major cities of Goldshire and Eastvale; as well as the various other towns that dot the Old Kingdom’s heart.

The Elwynn Brigade often is viewed as being the most loyal of the Azerothian Guard due to their proximity to the Capital, and their base within it; the Command Center within the ‘Old Town’ district, and it’s direct tram connection to the Royal Palace.

Members of the Elwynn Brigade wear Azerothian blue armor with golden shoulder pads for all ranks. Ranks are differentiated by stripes on the helmet, with a single white stripe representing all enlisted ranks, with NCO’s gaining silver chevrons over the stripe, and Officers gaining golden chevrons.

The heraldry of the Elwynn Brigade is a stalking golden lion over a silver shield.

Redridge Brigade
"With Steel and Fire."

The second oldest unit of the Azerothian Guard, the Redridge Brigade hails from the province of Redridge and is drawn specifically from men and women within the ancient province and the re-fertilized areas of the northern Redridge Mountains, once known as the Searing Gorge and Burning Steppes, and is based in the city of Lakeshire; in the fortress known as Keeshan’s Keep.

Members of the Redridge Brigade wear dusty red armor with a white pauldron with black stripes that denote rank. A single stripe represents all enlisted ranks, with NCO’s gaining silver chevrons over the stripe, and Officers gaining golden chevrons.

The heraldry of the Redridge Brigade is the white head of a Great Goretusk over a scarlet shield.

Westfall Brigade
"Azeroth Eternal!"

The third oldest unit of the Azerothian Guard, the Westfall Brigade encompasses men and women from the large region of Westfall, parts of what used to be Stranglethorn Vale, and various islands within the Great Sea near the Eastern Kingdoms. The Brigade is based in what was formerly called Sentinel Hill, now known as Stoutmantle’s Citadel; the seat of the Stoutmantle Dukes.

Members of the Westfall Brigade wear bright yellow armor with blue shoulderpads, with white stripes that denote rank. A single stripe represents all enlisted ranks, with NCO’s gaining silver chevrons over the stripe, and Officers gaining golden chevrons.

The heraldry of the Westfall Brigade is a gold Fleshripper, clutching a wheat shaft over a dark-brown shield.

Duskwood Brigade
"Victory at any cost."

The fourth oldest unit in the Azerothian Guard, the Duskwood Brigade hails from the grand province of Duskwood, and recruits from other dark and forested areas of Azeroth; such as Ashenvale, and Kaldorei from the slopes of Mount Hyjal. The Brigade is based in a fortress built over the ruins of Zul’gurub, known as the Midnight Fortress.

The Duskwood Brigade is the smallest of the Azerothian Guard, and is not a frontline combat unit. Instead, the Brigade houses sappers, assassins, and infiltration units.

Members of the Brigade wear dark black armor with navy blue pauldrons and kneepad, and unlike most Brigades, have no distinctive markings for rank. Rank within the Brigade is shown by the color of the visor, with higher-ranking members having darker lenses. The Marshal of the Brigade’s visors are pure black. The shoulder pad is instead used for the Brigade’s heraldry.

The Duskwood Brigade’s heraldry is a black mastiff, standing alert and ready over a light grey shield.

Azeroth Brigade
"We are the Shield!"

The Azeroth Brigade is the primary defense force of the Azeroth System, with recruits being drawn from everywhere upon Azeroth itself. It is by far the largest Brigade and features double sized Regiments. Every Company within the Brigade is responsible for a single defensive station in the system. The Brigade is based in Azeroth's primary shipyard, the Victory Shipyards, in orbit over Azeroth itself.

Members of the Azerothian Brigade wear light blue armor with a white pauldron, while the color of their kneepad varies depending on the planet they hail from. The regiments recruited from Azeroth itself have white kneepad. Ranks are differentiated by gold stripes on the shoulder. A single stripe represents all enlisted ranks, with NCO’s gaining silver chevrons over the stripe, and Officers gaining golden chevrons.

The heraldry of the Brigade is the planet of Azeroth, placed on the kneepad, sitting in a golden circle.

Denar Brigade
"By Land and Sky."

The Denar 2 Brigade is the primary defense force of the Denar 2 System, with recruits being drawn purely from Denar 2 itself.

The Denar 2 Brigade is presently the largest Brigade outside of the Azeroth system, and wear green-colored armor with a red pauldron and kneepad. Ranks are differentiated by gold stripes on the shoulder. A single stripe represents all enlisted ranks, with NCO’s gaining silver chevrons over the stripe, and Officers gaining golden chevrons.

The heraldry of the Brigade is a stretch of blue water on a black shield.

Draconis Brigade
"Space is Ours."

The Draconis Brigade is the most ethnically and racially diverse Brigade in the Guard, and is based on the world itself. Recruits are mainly drawn from the planet itself, though it does also feature a large number of individuals from other areas of Azerothian space.

Many former members of the Brigade go on to have successful careers in the Azerothian navy, thanks to experience dealing with the many asteroids of the system. The Draconis Brigade is noted to be the greatest Brigade in the Guard when it comes to combat in space thanks to extensive zero-gravity trainings in the system's asteroid belt.

The Brigade wears cyan-colored armor with white shoulder guard and kneepad. Ranks are differentiated by gold stripes on the shoulder. A single stripe represents all enlisted ranks, with NCO’s gaining silver chevrons over the stripe, and Officers gaining golden chevrons.

The heraldry of the Brigade is a shooting star on a black shield.

Orakon Brigade
"Let them Come."

The Orakon Brigade stands as the smallest unit of the Azerothian Guard, based on the planet of Orakon. Members of the Orakon Brigade have a reputation as stubborn and determined due to the Regiment's harsh training regime.

The Orakon Brigade, despite its small size, holds a valued place in Azeroth's military. Known as the Lords of the Wall, the Brigade is specialized in defensive warfare, with their main base being described as unreachable by those within the wider Azerothian military.

Members of the Brigade wear dark orange-brown colored armor, with white pauldron and kneepad. Ranks are differentiated by gold stripes on the shoulder. A single stripe represents all enlisted ranks, with NCO’s gaining silver chevrons over the stripe, and Officers gaining golden chevrons.

Chain of Command
The Azeothian Guard utilizes a chain of command that exists relatively unchanged since the days of the Kingdom of Stormwind.

Monarch of Azeroth
The Monarch of Azeroth serves as the Commander in Chief of the Azerothian Guard, with every Guardsmen’s oath of loyalty to the Kingdom including a separate oath of loyalty to the Monarch. The Monarch holds absolute authority over the Guard, with the power to change Commanding Officers, alter overarching Regimental Organization regulations, and doctrine, and take command of the Guard in times of war, or in the event of a national emergency.

Lord High Marshal
The Lord High Marshal serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Azerothian Guard, and is in turn placed in charge of all logistical and strategic matters involving the Guard with their staff. In times of war, the Lord High Marshal can take active command of the entire Guard with all the authority that entails.

The Lord High Marshal is appointed by the Monarch at their discretion.

Grand Marshal
The Grand Marshal is the third-highest rank in the Guard and is active Commanding Officer of the Guard. The Grand Marshal is the representative of the career soldier on the High Marshal's team, and is a position which must be achieved through active service. The Grand Marshal of the Guard leads the Guard in all major operations, often from either the frontlines or on the bridge of a starship, in tandem with the High Marshal and Monarch.

The Grand Marshal is always the most senior Officer of the Guard, likely a former Marshal, and is oftentimes a true master of military strategy and tactics. Both Commoners and Nobility are permitted to serve as Grand Marshal.

Field Marshals
The rank of Field Marshal is not a standard rank which can be obtained within the Guard, rather it is a rank which a Marshal obtains, often given from the King of Lord High Marshal, when multiple Brigades of the Azerothian Guard are engaged in a single war front. The Field Marshal is the one in overall charge of a front of war, and is responsible for coordinating all Azerothian Guard personnel present.

Marshal
Marshals are the commanding officers of the Azerothian Guard’s Brigades, leading their units with an iron fist and steel will; equivalent to a general in many other militaries. A Marshal may command and conduct their Brigade however they please, provided they abide by standards, doctrine, and regulations set by the King and Lord High Marshal.

Many Marshals are members of the nobility, but the position is not restricted to the noble class. Commoners and those who rise through the ranks can serve as Marshals, but it requires immense dedication and skill.

Brigade Division
Brigades of the Azerothian Guard vary in size, and are split up into several smaller ‘Regiments’ if the size allows.

The overall commanding officer of any Brigade at any one time is the Marshal of the Brigade (The one exception to this is the Azeroth Brigade, who’s Commanding Officer is the reigning Monarch), while in turn individual regiments within the Brigade are led by Generals and their handpicked Command Staff.

Each Regiment is further split into 2 Battalions, led by Commanders, then further into 10 Companies led by Captains, with additional Construction Companies, Artillery Companies, and a dedicated Medical Company.

Regiments on average number anywhere from 2,000 to 5,000 men, with Company size scaled accordingly to the number of the overall Regiment and Brigade.

Companies further split into two platoons each, numbering 50+ men, commanded by Lieutenants, and assisted by Master Sergeants.

Platoons split into squads of 10+, led by Sergeants and assisted by Corporals.

Tactical Supremacy
The Guard functions on a guiding principle of tactical flexibility, and in battle, individual Officers and Sergeants are permitted to act independently of the main force if they believe it to be necessary to achieve victory, without needing to await orders from higher command.

In the event of a battle line collapsing, a Company Lieutenant in reserve may choose to advance to help stabilize the line, unless there is a specific command from above preventing him from doing so.

Simillarly, if a ranking officer is incapacitated or killed, the next highest ranking individual automatically assumes command of their unit unless absorbed into another by a higher rank.

Units of the Guard regularly split formations and are capable of adapting their tactics and strategies as necessary.

Squad Loadouts
Standard Squads in the Azerothian Guard generally have the same combat loadout, with six of ten soldiers being issued the following. Keeping with the Guard's tenant of tactical flexibility, the standard loadout can be edited and modified to suit the combat environment or specific mission.
 * RAA Strikefuse-pattern Rifle, with the soldier’s prefered attachment or what is determined best for the mission
 * Five 30 round magazines of ammunition.
 * A-11 “Victory” Pistol
 * Two 10 round magazines of ammunition
 * M3 Combat Knife / Bayonet
 * Survivalist’s Kit
 * Water Purification Tablets, x1 Splint, x1 Compass, x1 GPS (If applicable), x1 Matchbox, x2 Emergency Flares, x3 Healing Potions, x2 Mana Potion, x5 Ration Tablets
 * X1 Melee Weapon
 * 1h Blessed/Enchanted Mace, Sword, dagger, ect
 * X2 Frag Grenades
 * x1 Satchel Charge

Guard Corporals always carries the standard loadout, plus a backpack-mounted long-range communications amplifier for the squad's comms, plus a Scroll of Mass Recall linked to the Squad's primary base. Standard combat doctrine is for the scroll to be destroyed in event of capture, and it can simply be ripped in half. It is just paper.

The squad's medic is outfitted with a melee weapon of their choice, and then either staff or rifle depending on their preference. Azerothian Combat Medics carry a large backpack filled with medical supplies, two extra-large water canteens, and additional satchels containing triage kits, mana potions, and health potions.

The next soldier in the Squad is a Heavy Weapons Operator, who will be armed depending on the situation at hand. The rifle will be exchanged for either a heavy or light machine gun, flamethrower, light mortar, or heavy anti-tank weapon. This soldier can also keep their rifle and be assigned in a Sapper role, with additional entrenching tools, explosive ordnance, and other specialized equipment to assist in establishing a forward position or rendering a hostile one inoperable.

The final soldier in any Azerothian squad is the Sergeant, who has free reign over their own loadout beyond what is assigned as necessary for the mission by superior staff. Many Azerothian sergeants favor wielding two-handed enchanted weapons, or heavier one-handed weapons, and a larger 50. caliber pistol.

Hellraisers
While the guard favors flexibility over anything, every Platoon always includes a Hellbringer Squad; a squad type almost unique to the Azerothian Guard. Hellbringer Squads are specialized melee combatants. Members are exclusively Paladins, Battle-Magi, War-Priests, and Spellbreakers, allowing them the deadly arts of Magic to add to their already lethal arsenal. Hellbringers are outfitted with the best armor the Guard can produce, along with massive two-handed melee weapons, or one-handers and large reinforced riot shields, with backup 50. caliber pistols and grenades. Every inch of Hellbringer armor is enchanted by Azerothian Magi to the soldier's desired outcome. It's not uncommon to see Hellbringers charging into battle, literally aflame with Arcane fire, or possessing armor which renders them far lighter than they should be naturally to assist in deployments where landing is not an option.

Hellbringers often deploy to battle in unconventional ways, often by either teleporting into an engagement or by Dawnbreaker Assault Transports; the ships blasting away a clear landing zone and then deploying their cargo. Due to the nature of their engagements, every Hellbringer is outfitted with a personal Scroll of Teleportation, which is linked to the Soldier's blood with Hemomancy to prevent tampering or use by the enemy.

In defensive situations, Hellbringers are commonly found in the rear of a defensive line, ready to rush forward and engage the enemy when they are nearing the Guard’s bunkers or trenches where the enemy force is strongest. Once the enemy has been worn down by heavy fire from the front lines, the Hellbreakers will charge as they are only a few yards from the trenches; teleporting over the top and engaging in brutal hand-to-hand combat.

Hellbringers charge the enemy under a heavy barrage of covering fire from two dedicated soldiers in the squad, equipped with enchanted Arcane miniguns that can fire either explosive blasts of pure magic or standard rounds. Due to the weight of these weapons, they can only be fired from the hip or mounted on cover. Once the main squad engages, these soldiers continue to engage; laying down bursts of suppressing fire to pin down hostile ranged positions, enabling the rest of their squad to lay waste to the hostile forces. Both of these soldiers are outfitted with an additional layer of protection, as their role often leaves them without cover and exposed; personal Arcane or Holy Barriers, powered by runes engraved into their armor. Hellbringer Suppressors are also outfitted with heavier armor and backpacks with ammunition feeds for their miniguns.

Hellbringer Squads are a cruel reminder to Azeroth’s enemies of it’s long and bloody past; living embodiments of Azerothian resolve and courage. Azeroth cut its teeth in brutal hand to hand warfare, and the Guard has no qualms about continuing its legacy to the present day.

Specialized Regiments
Along with the standard Brigades, Azeroth also employs specialist regiments which operate independently from any individual Brigade, while still serving within the overarching purview of AG Command. These regiments are often far smaller than standard brigades, generally only fielding up to 4-5 thousand men, with individual regiments often fielding their own tank battalions and supporting air wings.

A notable specialized regiment is the Silithus Desert Raiders, who were formed under the then United Azerothian Forces before the Great Exodus. The Raiders are forces specialized in desert combat, and are notably the only Azerothian Guard unit to include Tol'vir.