The Creed of Oath and Shadow
Unlike Shaolin’s vows of compassion or Scholar’s Academy’s pursuit of knowledge, the Royal Guards’ philosophy is singular: loyalty above all. Their creed strips disciples of name, family, and ambition, binding them as shadows of the throne. To live as a Guard is to surrender individuality and embrace unity — to become not a man or woman, but a blade of the empire.
Their maxim is etched into every hall of their barracks:
“The Throne Before All.”
Absolute Loyalty: The emperor is the embodiment of the realm. To betray the throne is to betray all under heaven.
Discipline as Identity: A Guard has no “self.” Their identity is forged through service, ritual, and unity.
The Shadow’s Creed: A Guard does not speak unless commanded, does not act unless ordered, does not falter even when alone.
Sacrifice is Glory: To die for the emperor is the highest honor; to live without loyalty is the deepest shame.
The rhythm of a Guard’s life is defined by duty:
Dawn Watch: Guards rise with the first bell, standing vigil across palace gates, training yards, and watchtowers.
Morning Drills: Hours of swordplay, archery, and formation tactics, drilled until movements are indistinguishable between Guards.
Midday Discipline: Sparring sessions interwoven with lectures on loyalty and betrayal, where the stories of traitors are recited as warnings.
Evening Vigil: Rotations of palace watch continue until midnight, each Guard trained to remain alert in silence for hours without movement.
Night Reflection: Before sleep, Guards kneel in the Oath Chamber, reciting their creed. Those caught failing to complete this ritual are punished severely.
Where other sects allow joy, creativity, or brotherhood, the Guards allow only discipline and obedience.
The First Oath: Every initiate swears loyalty in the Oath Chamber, cutting their palm and sealing it with blood upon the Jade Seal of Loyalty. From this moment, their birth name is erased.
The Vigil of Silence: Guards stand motionless for one night each month, in honor of those who died without recognition. It is said the silence binds them closer to fallen comrades.
The Crimson Cloak Ceremony: When a Guard achieves mastery, they are gifted a cloak dyed in deep crimson, symbolizing their readiness to shed blood for the empire.
The Purge of Betrayal: When a Guard is discovered to have faltered, their execution is public among their brethren — not as cruelty, but as reminder that weakness is contagion.
Unlike the artistry of Emei or the philosophy of Wudang, the Guards suppress individual expression. Masks, cloaks, and identical drills erase personal distinction. Yet subtle traditions exist:
Sword Etchings: Some Guards etch verses or prayers onto their blades, believing it strengthens resolve.
Silent Brotherhood: Though words are forbidden, gestures and glances between comrades carry deep meaning, forging bonds in silence.
Funeral Songs: Rarely, Guards hum low dirges during rites — mournful tones said to date back to the Han dynasty, sung for comrades who die unremembered.
Meals are communal and austere — rice, broth, and simple meats. No wine, no indulgence. Feasts are forbidden unless sanctioned by the emperor. Guards eat in silence, lined in ranks, embodying the discipline of their creed.
To be a Royal Guard is to accept erasure. Family ties are cut, personal ambitions buried. Their identity is not “I,” but “We.” Outsiders often call them cold, unfeeling, or inhuman. Yet Guards themselves see it differently: they are eternal, because they are not individuals but extensions of the throne.
Their culture is sacrifice, their ritual is loyalty, and their life is duty. No sect embodies unity so absolute, nor demands surrender so complete.
Summary:
The philosophy and culture of the Royal Guards is loyalty incarnate. Every ritual, every day, every breath serves the throne. Individuality is erased, replaced by discipline and shadow. They are neither family nor brotherhood, but an unbroken wall of crimson and steel, bound to the emperor’s will. In their creed, loyalty is not duty — it is existence.