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PRAETORIAN GUARD Praetorian Organization Leadership of the Praetorian Guards As in many of the Empire’s legions there is a hierarchy within the Praetorian Guards. There are three Prefects that have command over all guards. There is no automatic inheritance of the position as there is a ritual that must be passed in order to gain this position of leadership. These Prefects would be chosen to form a trinity of leadership among the guards. A person that seeks to ascend into one of these positions must be one of the nine tribunes stationed among the empire. In order to determine the tribune is worthy of both the title and the Imperator’s Blade they must pass these rituals. A tribune can only be accepted after receiving approval from the Emperor and after retrieving the blade itself. The tribune must also complete a pilgrimage of sorts to the graves and tombs of the past prefects to pay homage and tribute. Upon completing these rituals, the seat of the prefect is taken indefinitely. Until the death of the Prefect, or his willing resignation without duress, the seat cannot be taken. The only other exception is that the position can only be opened by a majority vote among the Praetorian Tribunes. This vote can also be used to force a person that deemed fit to stay in office despite the willingness to leave. This can only be successful with the approval of the Emperor. Due to the usual life terms of the Prefects, their terms can be quite lengthy. These reigns are enough to influence the direction of the guards dramatically. These reigns of the Prefects have been held by those that were Imperials or of any other human ancestry. The only exception to this was the Symmachus, the great Dunmer general that served the father of the empire, Tiber Septim. By tradition the Prime prefect is the primary commander of the entire Praetorian Guard. This job has changed little since it was first conceived. His primary concern though is that of the Praetorian Guards, the militant wing of the Praetorians. This elite offensive arm of the empire often acts in concert with regular Imperial Legions as well as with the militant hierophants. The Prime Prefects word is to be obeyed within the Praetorians. His voice and orders are to keep the Praetorians from deviating from their tasks as well as to keep them in one train of though, to be united. His orders may be questioned and reversed with a council and discussion of sorts but it is usually final once the order is given, with approval or not by the Praetorians. The title for the Prefect Commander of the magical defenses and forces for the Praetorians is known as the Prefect Spell Paragon and also wields the Blade of Kel Sargas. This pseudo mage warrior is also commonly known simply as the Paragon, and each title bearer has gained other names and marks throughout time. The Paragon’s primary concern is the upkeep of the magical forces of Praetorian Hierophants throughout the Empire as well as the Praetorian magical defenses in their numerous outposts, garrisons and fortresses. Though the position is open to any of race of any gender, the position by tradition and by chance, has always been a female mer or human. The Consul and Consuls Council Beneath the Prefects are the field commanders, the Consuls. Each commands and watches over their posts and men as the Prefect watches and commands over all the Praetorians. There are nine tribunes throughout the empire, one in every province. The Consul that serves in Cyrodill is a position most wanted by tribunes that wish for a transfer or for lower officer that wishes to be a tribune. It is sought out not only for prestige but also because for command of the elite of the elite. The best and the most loyal of the Praetorians are stationed in the Imperial Province. The Consul’s power is limited to the borders of the province that they are posted to. They cannot also overrule any commands of the neighboring tribune without consent of the Prefect. A Consul is not allowed as well to over rule the command of the Prefect. Generally the Consul’s had all once served as centurions, a title for the highest commanding officer beneath a tribune. All Consuls sit in the Consul Council, where they discuss and debate over the Praetorian policies in each province as well as the policies set by the Prefect. Once a year unless other circumstances state otherwise, the Prefect is obligated to meet with the Consul council to discuss with them their concerns and advise. Though he is not obliged to follow through with what the council wants, he must try to keep the unity and dissent among the Praetorians low or completely nil. Defense of the Empire When the Akaviri Potentates had taken over the empire after the fall of the Reman Dynasty, the Potentate had twenty-one blades forged. These blades were specifically made for the highest commanding officers of the Praetorians. These blades were forged to form a council and companionship among the men and mer of the guards. Three of these twenty-one were especially made for the Prefects. There was the Imperators Blade, which would represent the rule over all the other blades and over the Praetorians. This blade would never leave the side of the Prime Praetorian Prefect. The other two blades created for the Prefects were the blades of Kel Sargas and Vigil’s Sacrifice. The lesser eighteen swords were those given to the consuls overseeing their own command of Praetorians in the far-reaching provinces. These blades were known as the Defenders’ blades. The Imperators blade would represent the men and mer of the Praetorian Guard in War and Death. Its blade has never dulled nor chipped in the entirety of its life. Through battles, time and age this blade remains ever as sharp and beautiful as it was forged since the Second Era. The Blade of Kel Sargas represents the Praetorians in Magicka and Wisdom. The last blade of the Praetorians is known as the Divine Tranquillity. It is a shame though that this blade was lost during the Interregnum. The authority of this blade has fallen to the wielder of the Imperators Blade. Since then a new blade has been forged, Vigil’s Sacrifice, has taken the place of its lost predecessor. They are tasked with the defence of Imperial Magistrates and Officials being their personal escort and bodyguards. The Praetorian Guards and Hierophants are often the force that is tasked with the safe keeping of the Praetorian Citadel of Ocaenth, rather than have it fall upon the sole shoulders of the Imperial Legion. To simply put it they are the elite police force, tasked with the guardianship of the Citadel. Based in Cyrodill, the Citadel Ocaenth is fortress city of the Praetorians, their home and a bastion of defence for the empire.Though the duty often falls upon the regular Imperial Guards, the Praetorians do patrol the streets, enforcing the laws of the Empire, along with the regular Imperial Guards when their presence is needed to help ensure the peace among the citadel as well as enforcing the laws of the Empire. This often rare as their main duty is the protection of Imperial Officials that they are assigned too.