Ring Guard

Ring Guard
Emblem
Ring Guard personnel outside the Great Arena of Vharnhold during a Hand Trials event.
Founded	2031
Dissolved
Headquarters	Great Arena of Vharnhold, Colby
Jurisdiction	Ulmarkan Empire
Role	Internal security, censorship enforcement, public order maintenance
Subsidiaries	None
Parent organization	Ministry of Internal Security (Ulmarkan Empire)
Commander-in-chief	Emperor Torvald Hesk
Strength	Approx. 12,000 active personnel (as of 2061)
Equipment	Standard Imperial issue; specialized riot gear
Motto	Strength Rules, Defeat Verdicts
Precursor	Brotherhood of the Oil Royal Guard
Website

Ring Guard is an elite paramilitary division of the Ulmarkan Empire, established immediately following the Night of the Oil coup in October 2031 under the command of Emperor Torvald Hesk. Originally tasked with securing the Great Arena and suppressing dissent among adherents of the Cult of Landon, the unit's mandate expanded rapidly to include road blockades during the 2043 Ulmarkan Famine and managing the logistics of the state-sanctioned Hand Trials from 2039 onwards. By 2041, following international condemnation after smuggled footage of these events, the Ring Guard assumed increased internal surveillance operations. The unit operates directly under the Emperor's command, bypassing standard military chains of command to ensure absolute loyalty to the state ideology, the Way of the Circle.

The personnel of the Ring Guard are selected from elite backgrounds in Ulmarkan oil wrestling, specifically those trained in oil-wrestling, to ensure ideological alignment with the Way of the Circle. Their primary responsibilities include monitoring Hand Trials for rule violations, enforcing the ban on the Cult of Landon in public spaces, and managing labour camp populations, which were estimated at 80,000 individuals as of 2061. Although distinct from the regular Imperial Army, the Ring Guard coordinates closely with military forces during wartime operations. The unit is headquartered at the Great Arena of Vharnhold, Colby and maintains strict secrecy regarding its full operational capacity.^[1]

Ring Guard From Wikirot, the free encyclopedia of Orylia

Established in October 2031 following the Night of the Oil, the Ring Guard was initially a royal guard unit designed to protect Emperor Torvald Hesk and suppress internal dissent. The coup itself saw the Brotherhood of the Oil seize power in Vharnhold, with Hesk leading the takeover before being crowned Heir of Colby and proclaimed Emperor of the Ulmarkan Empire in 2032.^[2] In its early years, the unit's focus was narrowly defined: securing the Great Arena and ensuring the safety of the imperial family. However, as the political climate shifted, so did the unit's duties. By 2039, the Ring Guard became integral to the administration of the Hand Trials, a state-sanctioned event where imprisoned Landonites compete against trained Imperial wrestlers.

The scope of the Ring Guard's authority expanded significantly during the crisis years. Sanctions followed 2041 footage smuggling, causing increased surveillance and trial frequency. from the Cohesive Global Concord, the unit was charged with increased internal surveillance operations.^[3] During the Protectorate Wars (2035–2041), Ring Guard units were deployed alongside military forces to block civilian flight during famines and sieges, notably closing roads out of districts hit hardest by hunger in 2043.^[4] The unit continued to evolve through the late 2040s; following the 2049 Sylvaris Transit Corridor Bombing, blame was shifted to Landonites, prompting a doubling of Hand Trials frequency and a further militarization of the Ring Guard's presence at these events.

The Ring Guard operates under the direct command of the Emperor, bypassing standard military chains of command to maintain loyalty to the Way of the Circle. This unique chain of command places the unit outside the conventional hierarchy of the Imperial Army, allowing for rapid deployment without bureaucratic delay. Personnel are rigorously selected from elite oil-wrestling backgrounds, ensuring that members possess both the physical prowess and ideological commitment required for their role. The unit's motto, "Strength Rules, Defeat Verdicts," encapsulates the philosophy that governs their actions and interactions with the populace.^[5]

Primary responsibilities include monitoring Hand Trials for rule violations, enforcing the ban on the Cult of Landon in public spaces, and managing labour camp populations. The unit is distinct from the regular Imperial Army but coordinates closely during wartime operations. They are equipped with standard Imperial issue gear, supplemented by specialized riot control equipment necessary for suppressing large-scale dissent. As of 2061, the estimated strength of the Ring Guard stands at approximately 12,000 active personnel.^[6] The unit maintains a headquarters at the Great Arena of Vharnhold, Colby and continues to operate out of this location with strict secrecy regarding its full operational capacity.

Since 2039, the Ring Guard has been integral to the state-sanctioned Hand Trials. They oversee matches where imprisoned Landonites compete against trained Imperial wrestlers, enforcing Arena Law, which was legalized in 2034 and permits bouts to the death.^[7] State media portrays their role as a revival of ancient tradition, broadcasting live on holidays as part of the imperial narrative. According to state propaganda, the Way of the Circle holds that the strong have a duty to rule and that defeat in the ring is a moral verdict.^[8]

State media present the Circle of Silence as a revival of ancient tradition, and grave-circle bouts are broadcast live on holidays.^[9] Since 2039 the form has been used in the Hand Trials, in which imprisoned Landonites are matched against trained wrestlers of the Ring Guard.^[10] While the unit officially enforces Arena Law, accountability for incidents involving excessive brutality or rule-breaking by fighters is rare. The state narrative frames these events as a necessary purification process, though investigations into specific violations often lack transparency. The unit's involvement in these trials remains a central pillar of their public identity and internal function.

The Ring Guard faced intense international condemnation after smuggled footage of the Hand Trials in 2041 led to sanctions from the Cohesive Global Concord. During this period, the unit was also deployed to block civilian flight during famines and sieges, actions that drew criticism from humanitarian organizations and neighboring states.^[11] Following the Protectorate Wars, which ended with the occupation of the Rendorlin coast in 2041, the unit's reputation suffered further due to reports of brutality against civilians attempting to flee conflict zones.^[12]

During the Protectorate Wars (2035–2041), units were deployed to block civilian flight during famines and sieges. Following the 2049 Sylvaris Transit Corridor Bombing, blame was shifted to Landonites, prompting a doubling of Hand Trials frequency; Ring Guard presence at these events became more militarized.^[13] After the bombing, which killed 842 people, the Brass Concord claimed responsibility, and Ulmarka blamed Landonites. This political maneuvering led to increased scrutiny of the Ring Guard's tactics and a hardening of their stance against perceived dissenters. The data privacy scandal in 2046 further radicalized state institutions, leading the Ring Guard to expand its surveillance capabilities significantly.^[14]

As of October 2061, the Ring Guard remains active under Emperor Torvald Hesk. Following the data privacy scandal in 2046 and subsequent radicalization within state institutions, the unit has expanded its surveillance capabilities, integrating advanced monitoring technologies into its operations.^[15] No major defections or internal collapses have occurred since the Night of the Oil, indicating a high degree of cohesion within the ranks despite external pressures. The unit continues to operate out of Vharnhold, maintaining strict secrecy regarding its full operational capacity and the extent of its involvement in domestic security matters.^[16]

• Hand Trials
• Ulmarkan Empire
• Brotherhood of the Oil
• 2043 Ulmarkan Famine
• Vharnhold
• Rendorlin
• Open Hand
• Hand Physicians