Highguard

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<quote">“The empire is our destiny.”</quote>

The Highborn are men and women supremely confident of their own manifest destiny. They revere the highest ideals, to epitomize Imperial Virtues, to reflect the noble obligations of leadership and thereby to embody the very spirit of the Empire. Their destiny is to drive the barbarians from the land and unite all humankind; they will accept nothing less.

The chapters, the great stone settlements in which most Highborn dwell, are scattered across the plains that lie between Orison and the Bay of Catazar. Many are built on ancient battle sites, scenes of triumph in the historic wars that wrested control of the land from the Barbarians. All are heavily fortified, with granite quarried from the southern mountains, for the Highborn will brook no expense to protect what is theirs. “Wood burns, stone endures” is an old Highborn aphorism that says much about their perspective.

Although the First Empress put aside her nationality when she united the Empire, the Highborn consider their nation the proud parent of the Empire, and themselves to be its founders, tutors and guardians. They protect the Empire with their armies, guide its hand in the Senate and guard its soul in the Synod; perhaps most important of all, they keep the Imperial Histories to record and tell of the deeds that make the Empire great.

Five things to know about the Highguard

• We made the Empire. The First Empress was Highborn. She pulled the scattered human nations together and enlightened them to the true faith.
• Only actions are virtuous. Thoughts and feelings are never virtuous or vile. It is only the actions that you undertake that demonstrate your worth.
• The purpose of the past is ti inspire the present. We study history not to argue over the facts but to identify lessons that can inspire us today.
• Virtue and vice are contagious. A virtuous life leads the faithful to further righteous action but vile behaviour spreads just as easily if not checked.

Needs Work * A fifth thing or change the title. We need either a fifth thing here, or a change to the title of this section.

What the Highguard are not

Needs Work * Lawful stupid. This is a Nation committed to the ideals of virtue that nonetheles slives in the real world.

The Nation

• The People
• Culture and Customs
• History
• Leadership
• Economic Interests
• Military Concerns
• Religious Beliefs
• Magical Traditions
• Hearth Magic and the Egregore
• Icons and Images
• Lineage and Species Attitudes
• Territories
• Children
• Highguard Look and Feel
• Highguard Music
• Costumes