the Crimson Guard
| Strength 7d |
Agility 5b |
Intellect 5d * |
Willpower 8d * |
| Hand Size: Edge: |
3 (17) 1 |
* The men and women of the Crimson Guard will have at least one additional skill, in addition to the common capabilities listed below. This skill will have either an Intellect or Willpower suit, which will raise the applicable ability code from d to c.
Origin:
Despite the occult mystique ascribed to the Crimson Guard, they are normal humans, lacking special powers altogether. The Guard, colloquially known as 'Siegies', are nonetheless highly skilled in numerous areas, which only bolsters this reputation among friend and foe alike.
Powers:
(none)
Hindrances / Augmentations:
(none)
Equipment:
AK-47 (a): members of the Crimson Guard may discharge a single round with this weapon to inflict their Agility +4 in damage, a short burst of fire to inflict their Agility +5 in damage, or fire it continuously to inflict their Agility +6 in damage.
Bayonette (s): used by itself or attached to their AK, Siegies may wield this implement to inflict their Strength +2 slashing damage in melee. Made from m.s. 13 materials, it may also be utilized to cut through items of up to like m.s., given enough time.
Helmet (s): the Crimson Guard are distinguished by their crimson uniforms, which are topped off by their equally distinguished helmets. This black and crimson headgear provides them intensity 8 (or +2) protection against physical attacks striking them in the head.
Sidearm (a): in the event that their AK is disabled or drained of ammunition, each Siegie may discharge this backup piece to inflict their Agility +4 damage in a single shot, or their Agility +5 damage when engaging in semi-automatic fire.
Skills:
Additional Skill: on top of their intense physical conditioning and their numerous skills in devious arts, each member of the Crimson Guard must have at least a four year degree, the better to infiltrate the highest echelons in the society that Cobra has currently targeted.
Typically, these skills revolve around professions that either give them access to great sums of money, or to people at their most vulnerable. Business / Finance, Law, and Medicine are most often what Siegies choose, but some pursue mastery of various sciences, instead.
Boxing (s): on top of their skill with firearms, and of course the martial arts, Crimson Guardsman are well-versed in the sweet science. Siegies may divide their pre-card play action score between two unarmed attacks, the second of which will occur as a contingent action.
Demolitions (a): saboteurs par excellence, each member of the Crimson Guard is a highly trained and experienced demolitionist. They are allowed to reduce the difficulty of actions called for when either planning or executing the destruction of a structure or vehicle.
Detective / Espionage (i): their primary purpose, Siegies are adept in posing as mundane citizens, easily blending in to whatever position they have been assigned to infiltrate. They should receive a reduced difficulty on actions called for while attempting to maintain their charade.
Guns (a): like all Cobra operatives, the Crimson Guard are proficient in the use of firearms. Whether wielding a standard, semi-automatic, or fully automatic rifle or pistol, members of the Guard may discharge such weapons at one difficulty level lower than is normally necessary.
Martial Arts (a): each Siegie is trained in advanced unarmed combat techniques, in addition to the ability to strike fast. They may reduce the difficulty of actions intended to dodge attacks, catch thrown weaponry, or even to strike others while unarmed.
Military (w): even more than most Cobras, the Crimson Guard are all indoctrinated into the Commander's way of doing things. Though its organizational structure is complicated to say the least, these elite Cobra operatives can navigate it with almost instinctual ability.
Contacts:
The Crimson Guard is one of the most well-respected ranks in the Cobra hierarchy, for these operatives are incredibly motivated and highly skilled. The Guard itself considers all of its members reliable contacts, even if one of their duties include keeping tabs on each other.
When a Siegie calls in help from his or her fellow Cobras, someone will typically answer the call. After all, most members of the Guard work hard to maintain their position wherever it is that they're currently infiltrating, so if they break character you know it's a big deal.
Calling:
Idealist: the hidden qualification to being a member of the Crimson Guard, each of these elite operatives truly believe in Cobra and its philosophy, however selfish and sinister it may be. This accounts for their incredible motivation and unwavering loyalty.
Costume:
The distinctive Crimson Guard uniform consists of a crimson jacket over a white T-shirt, adorned with silver medals and a silver Cobra sigil, crimson trousers with silver side stripes, black leather boots, gloves, and belts, and a crimson helmet with a black face plate.
Notes:
While the men and women of the Crimson Guard would already be respected for their infiltration and demolition skills, the truth is that their overwhelming motivation and unwavering loyalty is what earns them their place of esteem amongst Cobra - and its Commander.
Only a select few Cobras receive an invitation to join the Guard from its twin leaders, Tomax and Xamot, even if otherwise qualified for the position. Those who do seal the deal during an initiation rite deep in the bowls of Cobra's headquarters, one too horrific to detail.
Upon gaining their crimson uniform, individual Guardsmen and Guardswomen are often inducted into 'series' of operatives, all of which receive plastic surgery to appear identical. This allows a Siegie to seamlessly replace another of their 'line' should circumstances require it.
1989 Variations
Equipment:
Wraith Suit (i): the primary benefit to Crimson Guard members assigned to the Python Patrol, aside from even more pay, is the requisite wraith suit. The ensembles of the Python Guard render them invisible to infrared scanners and radio wave detectors with intensity 15 ability.
Costume:
The Guard's second, Pythonized uniform includes a yellow and gray jacket over a white T-shirt, adorned with red medals and cuff stripes, gray trousers, black leather boots, gray leather gloves, black leather belts, a red sidearm holster, and a black helmet with a gray face plate.
2004 Variations
Equipment:
Shotgun (a): the Crimson Guard wield shotguns, with which they can fire birdshot to inflict their Agility +4 in damage in a sixty degree arc, buckshot to inflict their Agility +5 in damage to adjacent targets, and slugs to inflict their Agility +6 in damage to a single foe.
Costume:
The third Crimson Guard uniform is comprised of a crimson jacket with silver cuffs over a white T-shirt, adorned with silver medals and a gold Cobra sigil, crimson trousers with black side stripes, black leather boots, gloves, and belts, and a crimson helmet with a black face plate.
2005 Variations
Equipment:
Blade (v3) (s): some Shadow Guard members utilize a sword or machete during nocturnal work. They can wield these m.s. 12 blades to cut through items of up to a like m.s., given enough time, or to inflict their Strength +2 in slashing damage in melee combat.
Bow (v3) (a): more coordinated Shadow Guard operatives wield a bow to end opponents silently at a distance. These weapons can fire arrows which will inflict their wielder's Strength +3 in piercing damage, and leave no forensic evidence aside from their projectiles.
Crossbow (v3) (a): less skilled Shadow Guard members instead take a crossbow with them when they wish to engage foes at range. They can use these mechanical contraptions to fire a bolt which inflicts their Agility +4 in damage per deadlier, yet louder shot.
Nunchaku (v3) (s): some Shadow Guard operatives rely upon blunt instruments when engaging foes at night. They can spin these chain-linked clubs to inflict their Strength +3 in bashing damage with each brutal strike, which may or may not be enough to knock an enemy out cold.
Tekagi (v3) (s): useful for both climbing and stabbing, a few Shadow Guard members wield these three-pronged claws while active in the dark. They can be used to inflict one's Strength +2 in slashing damage, or add a like bonus to actions applicable to climbing attempts.
Costume:
The fourth Crimson Guard uniform consists of a crimson jacket with silver cuffs over a white T-shirt, adorned with silver medals and a copper Cobra sigil, crimson trousers with black side stripes, black leather boots, gloves, and belts, and a crimson helmet with a black face plate.
Their fifth ensemble includes a larger crimson coat with silver Cobra sigils on the arms, over a white T-shirt, dark red trousers, black leather boots, belts, holsters, and sheathes, and a crimson helmet with a black face plate.
The sixth, Crimson Shadow Guard uniform is comprised of a black jacket with silver cuffs over a white T-shirt, adorned with silver medals and a copper Cobra sigil, black trousers, black leather boots, gloves, belts, holsters, and sheathes, and a black helmet with a black face plate.
2008 Variations
Equipment:
Bolt-action Rifle (a): while such weapons may seem more ceremonial than anything else, the Crimson Guard makes use of them when acting in a leadership capacity on missions. They can fire these weapons to inflict their Agility +5 in damage per deadly shot.
Costume:
The seventh Crimson Guard uniform consists of a crimson jacket with silver trim, adorned with silver and gold medals and a silver Cobra sigil, crimson trousers with silver side stripes, black leather boots, gloves, and belts, and a crimson helmet with a black face plate.
The eighth, Desert Guard uniform includes a tan jacket with red trim, adorned with silver medals and a red Cobra sigil, tan trousers with red side stripes, black leather boots, brown leather gloves and belts, tan holsters and sheathes, and a brown helmet with a silver face plate.
2013 Variations
Equipment:
Blade (s): on occasion, members of the Crimson Guard will carry an ornate, seemingly ceremonial blade. They can wield these m.s. 12 blades to cut through items of up to a like m.s., given enough time, or to inflict their Strength +2 in slashing damage in melee combat.
Costume:
The ninth Crimson Guard uniform features a crimson jacket beneath a red vest, adorned with silver and gold medals and a silver Cobra sigil, red trousers, black leather boots, gloves, and belts, red holsters and sheathes, gray knee pads, and a red helmet with a black face plate.
2015 Variations
Equipment:
Blade (s): on occasion, members of the Crimson Guard will carry an ornate, seemingly ceremonial blade. They can wield these m.s. 12 blades to cut through items of up to a like m.s., given enough time, or to inflict their Strength +2 in slashing damage in melee combat.
Costume:
The tenth Crimson Guard uniform includes a black jacket beneath a black vest featuring a copper Cobra sigil, adorned with silver medals, black trousers, black leather boots, gloves, belts, holsters, and sheathes, black knee pads, and a black helmet with a black face plate.
Extra Goodies:
Cobra directories featuring a version of the Crimson Guard:
| 1985 | 1989 | 2004 | 2005 | 2008 | 2013 | 2015 |
Note: there were three versions of the Crimson Guard issued in 2005 (Versions 4, 5, and 6), while 2008 saw two (Versions 7 and 8).
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