Royal Guardians
The Royal Guardians are a society within House Balor charged with guarding the treasures of the House.
Overview
When a Balor knight has proven him or herself against the Seelie, they are eligible to join the Royal Guardians. While it sounds like they are the elite bodyguards of the high lord of the House, they are, in fact, the caretakers of the house treasures collected by Cathal, the first real king of the house. Just because one is eligible, though, doesn't mean one will automatically be tapped. The number of Guardians is limited to 13, though each has a chosen apprentice capable of stepping up if something happens to the Guardian. No one except the Royal Guardians themselves and High Lord Li-Tili know who they are; their identities are kept strictly secret in case greedier members of the try to get knowledge of the hiding places of the treasures from them. The Guardians have sworn not to reveal the locations of the assembled treasures until Cathal returns to claim them and lead the House in the final war. Despite the rigid nature of the group, the suffer a high turnover rate in members as an apprentice slays their patron and takes their place, only to be slain in turn. Assassination is permitted among the Guardians to keep them on their toes and produce some of the toughest, most savage, and determined guards the House could want.