Crimson Guard
The Crimson Guard is the Order of the Shining Star's elite guards. Given their name from the crimson red cassocks they wear, they are an elite fighting force, having been selected from the best of the main body of the warriors, and asked to serve.
To be asked to serve as a Crimson Guard is seen as an honour. Guards are usually recruited at a younger age, just as their military career begins. Their primary purpose to is to defend each of the Order's strongholds, and central NOD. At times, they may also be assigned to escourt and protect high ranking invdividuals within the Order, or their family members, and are known as Honour Guard. To serve as Honour Guard is seen as one of the highest privileges that can be bestowed.
Though the Crimson Guard's number is small in, they still provide a strong show of force. Trained fighters, and masters of swordplay, higher ranking officers are additionally trained in the use of magic. Standard issue equipment for them includes an enchanted halberd.
Ranking
The Crimson Guard is its own sovereign branch within the Order. The Commandant of the Guard oversees their placement and general assignments. Within each of the Order's stronghold is the Captain (known for their individual locations, ie: Captain of Nightstar, Captain of Lighthaven, Captain of Lexingrad and so on), who oversees operations, training, and responds to threats at his individual station.
Duties
The Crimson Guard chiefly serve in what they're named for: guard duty. They protect the installments that they are assigned to, and with senior guards serving as Honour Guard upon the request of high ranking officers and leaders of the Order. They have also been known to be used as a peace keeping force in times of strife in Order controlled cities. This was most notably seen in Lighthaven's Trade Wars, whereby Robert the Dog led a small contingency of the Crimson Guard to settle the strife caused by a standoff between the city's merchants and thieves.