Gilnean Royal Guard
- For other royal guards, see Royal Guard.
 Gilnean Royal Guard | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Main leader |
 Queen Tess Greymane |
| Formerly |
  King Genn Greymane King Archibald Greymane † |
| Race(s) |
 Human  Worgen |
| Capital | Gilneas City |
| Theater of operations | Wherever the royal family is located |
| Affiliation | Greymane family, Gilnean military, Kingdom of Gilneas, Alliance |
| Status | Active |
The Gilnean Royal Guard[1] is a force of elite human and worgen soldiers dedicated to the service and protection of the monarch of the kingdom of Gilneas and the royal family, the Greymane.
The force has been present during many of Gilneas's darkest times, such as the infamous Northgate Rebellion, where they formed a portion of the royalist forces attempting to crush the revolt. In more recent times, the Royal Guard has played a role during the outbreak of the worgen curse, the invasion of Gilneas, the Burning Legion's third invasion, the Fourth War, and lastly the Reclamation of Gilneas.
History
Northgate Rebellion
- Main article: Northgate Rebellion
Following the end of the Third War, tensions began to rise within the kingdom of Gilneas as a result of King Genn Greymane's controversial isolationist policies.[2] During the Northgate Rebellion, the Royal Guard supported King Genn and his loyalists, and fought against the Northgate rebels led by Lord Darius Crowley. As part of his bid to secure the capital, Crowley succeeded in getting cannons smuggled and hidden within Gilneas City, under the loyalists' noses. The final conflict occurred when Crowley's army marched upon the capital, setting it ablaze with artillery fire. Much street fighting followed, but the rebels were ultimately unable to overcome Greymane resistance. Having broken upon the city's defenses, the rebels were defeated, with the majority of its leaders, including Crowley, captured and imprisoned within Stoneward Prison for high treason.[3]
Cataclysm
During the Wolf Cult's attack on Gilneas City, the Royal Guard was deployed to fight the worgen across the capital. In the Military District, they were led by King Genn Greymane and Lord Vincent Godfrey, and used the Northgate rebels' Commandeered Cannons to fire at Bloodfang Rippers.[4] They later protected the civilians in the Greymane Court, and evacuated the capital on the orders of the king to take refuge in Duskhaven.[5] During the invasion of Gilneas by the Forsaken, the Royal Guard was presumed to have remained with the king and the rest of the royal family. It is unclear how many remained at this point, and whether they played a role in the battle for Gilneas City. In the wake of the conflict, the majority of Gilneans in the kingdom began to leave with the aid of their new night elven allies.
Wolfheart
During the Darnassus' summit to induct Gilneas back into the Alliance, Malfurion Stormrage proposed a hunting challenge to settle the conflict between King Genn Greymane and King Varian Wrynn about who was the better hunter. Among those who accompanied King Genn were his personal staff and guards. From King Varian's point of view, the guards would be the ones that he would have to watch out for most, for although the Gilnean monarch was their first priority, in what was considered a safe land the soldiers would also probably have some leeway in pursuing the prey.[6]
Legion
During the Battle for the Broken Shore, the first engagement of the Burning Legion's third invasion, the Gilnean worgen troops formed a large portion of the Alliance attack force. When King Genn Greymane led a charge onto the Broken Shore in person, he was accompanied by a contingent of the Gilnean Royal Guard in worgen form. However, the battle ultimately proved disastrous, and King Greymane and his Royal Guard were only barely able to escape aboard the Skyfire gunship thanks to the sacrifice of High King Varian Wrynn. Returning to Stormwind City, King Genn began to rally his forces, namely the Gilneas Brigade, in preparation for another attack on the Broken Isles. The Captured Warriors later found in Felrage Strand were members of the Royal Guard captured by the demons.
Battle for Azeroth
At the beginning of the Fourth War, King Genn Greymane was accompanied by Greyguards at the Harbormaster's Office in Boralus.
When Maiev Shadowsong and Shandris Feathermoon petitioned High King Anduin Wrynn for aid in retaking Darkshore, King Greymane was accompanied by his Royal Guard in the War Room of Stormwind Keep.[7] During the Battle for Darkshore, Princess Tess Greymane was accompanied by Gilnean Royal Guards as she led the Gilnean forces to aid the night elves reclaim their land.
Wishing to become a worgen, so she could better rule her people when she becomes queen, Princess Tess Greymane was sent by Goldrinn on a spiritual journey into the Emerald Dream's version of Gilneas City, in order to learn more about the worgen curse.[8] With the Wild God's help, Tess realized that she did not need to be a worgen to understand her people, for it was being Gilnean in spite of the curse that defined them. She later promoted the Gilnean adventurer who aided her in this journey to a member of the Greyguard, in thanks and as recognition for their contribution to Gilneas.[9]
Dragonflight
Following the war against the Primalists, King Genn Greymane was accompanied by Greyguard Elites at the Seat of the Aspects in Valdrakken.
During the Reclamation of Gilneas, the Greyguard Elites were stationed at Keel Harbor to protect the royal family and were later present among the allied forces facing the Scarlet Crusaders in Gilneas City. Following the Gilnean victory, the Greyguard Elites were posted as guards at all entrances of the capital, while a group of them could be found at the center of the Greymane Court. Some of them were also tasked to protect Stormglen Village.
Appearances
In most of their appearances, the royal guards wear the same armor as the majority of the Gilnean guards, such as the Gilneas City Guards or Gilnean Guards. Their appearance in Darkshore has them wearing the Stormwind footman set, while Greyguards wear a unique set of unobtainable armor.
- Gilnean Royal Guards (Gilneas City)
- Gilnean Royal Guards (Broken Shore)
- Gilnean Royal Guards (Stormwind City)
- Gilnean Royal Guards (Darkshore)
- Greyguards
- Greyguard Elites
- Greyguard Watchers
- Gilnean Royal Guard
- Spellshifter[10]
- Swift Messenger[10]
Notes
- In Cataclysm, the Royal Guard NPCs were only male.
- The Greyguards seem to be the equivalent of the Lion's Guard of High King Anduin Wrynn.
Speculation
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This article or section includes speculation, observations or opinions possibly supported by lore or by Blizzard officials. It should not be taken as representing official lore.
|
Lieutenant Walden, the Wounded Guards and Slain Guards might be members of the Royal Guard or the Gilneas City Guards.
Gallery
A Royal Guard on the Broken Shore.
A Royal Guard in Darkshore.
A Greyguard Elite in Gilneas City.
A Greyguard Watcher in Stormglen Village.
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![Spellshifter[10]](/wiki/File:Spellshifter_HS.jpg)
![Swift Messenger[10]](/wiki/File:Swift_Messenger_HS.jpg)
References
- ^
[1-30] Time to Regroup
- ^ Lord of His Pack
- ^ [1-30] Old Divisions
- ^ [1-30] Time to Regroup
- ^ Curse of the Worgen Issue 4
- ^ Wolfheart, chapter 18
- ^ [60] On Whispered Winds
- ^ Heritage of Gilneas description
- ^ [50-70] The New Guard
- ^ a b c d Hearthstone: The Witchwood - Here are the Next Three Cards