White Guards of the Realm



The White Guards, also known as the "White Cloaks" or "Arms Supreme", are the royal bodyguards of the monarchy of Cattala. The elite team of soldiers was founded more than 600 years ago and was merged into the Military Police in 1959. They are synonymous with using brutal tactics throughout history to protect the monarch and ensure the succession of the crown.

History
The White Guards were founded by King Lucius the Absolute as an almighty protection force for members of the royal household after the Golden Revolution. Historically, the guards pledged fealty to the Crown and were prohibited from holding lands, having children, marrying or forming any allegiance beside that of the one with the monarch. Cattala's greatest warriors and commanders were bought into the White Guards and many of the most famous soldiers in history were members of the guard.

The White Guards were known by many ordinary Cattalians as the "White Cloaks" as they used to all wear white cloaks with shields encrusted in the gold seal associated with their elite force. Many guards from history knew more about their king than even the king's wife, due to their constant presence.

The Guard reached its peak in power in the 17th century, as the crown sought to secure its absolute power over the throne. Villages who rose in rebellion and demanded a say in local affairs were treated brutally, with accounts from Monte Calida implying that the King regularly sent the White Guards to threaten communities, with reports of widespread rape and pillaging becoming more common during the reign of John the Deranged.

After the abdication of King Harold in 1814, the White Guard faded into obscurity as it was dismissed by the Governor of Cattala. Former members of the guard continued to work for the deposed King in his retirement quarters in Celeste, but by the time of Italian unification the last serving guardsmen had died. Prince Amadeus, the rebel heir to the throne, reformed the White Cloaks as the core to his militia army, and used them as his personal guards when he became King of Celestine. The guard was restored to full duties by King Charles III after the revolution of 1917/18 and the reinstatement of the monarchy.

Upon Italian occupation in 1939, the White Guards were disassembled for only the second time in history after the same King who had restored their position as royal guards was executed in Rome. Surviving members of the Guard who weren't killed by Mussolini's troops became outlaws, and the former Lord Commander of the White Guard, Sir Leonardo Obara, led resistance forces in the forests and villages of Cattala who regularly cause chaos in German and Italian bases on the island. He was killed by a German bombing raid on a small village outside Celeste in 1943, but his successors and colleagues continued to represent the White Guards despite the absence of both a monarch and a sovereign Cattala.

In 1995, the White Guards used live rounds on activists who tried to storm the Queen's Suite of King Marco Palace and killed three unarmed activists. The Queen and the Crown Prince, 8 months old, were unharmed.

A rally outside the Victoria Palace, the residence of the pregnant Queen, was attended by several thousand women arguing for a complete legalisation of abortion one month later. When police arrived in large numbers to move the demonstration away, fighting broke out and a pregnant police constable was thrown to the ground. The police began forming a line to protect the officer, but were attacked by the campaigners and 25 officers required hospital treatment. Queen Alexandra, upon hearing of the fighting, instructed her White Guards of the Realm, her personal body guards, to assist the police, despite objections from courtiers. The White Guards forced back the protesters and cleared the way for the injured female constable to be bought into the Palace and treated, earning universal praise for their valiant rescue effort and washing away any bad feelings after the shootings in August.

Modern White Guards
Today, the Guards number more than 1600 soldiers, spread across Cattala serving at all the royal palaces and as guardians of the royal household. Queen Alexandra has more than 40 White Guards located within her residence at any one time and regularly travels the world with an entourage of white cloaks following her. White Guards flank the Queen at each state opening of Parliament, and are a symbol of force and strength alongside the royal family.

The White Guards ceased carrying swords except for on ceremonial occasions in 1932, and now carry Colt Canada C7 rifles on official duty as well as handguns. They wear kevlar armour beneath either white garments, with cloaks worn occasionally, and regularly wear civilian clothing when operating incognito.