Sentinel society
Sentinels are a military order known for their strict regimentation and their use of silkswords (''khazkamma'', pl. khazkammar), long one-handed slashing blades. Once the elite soldiers of the Omban Empire, they now serve as the core of various militaries and as independent mercenary units.
Sentinels were originally formed in the latter years of the Omban monarchy during the expansion north into Hasmala ca. 42-35 BE. They were an elite legion of the royal army noted for their use of an innovation, the khazkamma, a word derived from a pre-Omban language now lost. (The term 'silksword', sometimes also applied to sentinels themselves, is keskapon in Ombesh, lit. 'sword of silk'). The success of sentinels in those early campaigns was notable but it was during the western campaigns - into what are now Taizi, Daligash, and Choradan - after the Epiphany of Zunuga, that they became a powerful political force as well. The willingness of sentinels to become some of the earliest and most powerful revenants led to them having a fearsome reputation on the battlefield.
The greatest moment in the history of the sentinels as an order was the Battle of Endazh in 230 IE, at the beginning of the conquest of Malfan. Endazh was a village in northern Malfan that was the site of a battle between Omban imperial forces and enormous legions of Malfander soldiers. Ninety sentinels alone held off ten times that number of enemies, and afterwards, their swords became almost-holy relics in the eyes of all sentinels. These blades, of which only forty-nine now survive or have a known location, are held in trust by the most powerful sentinels until they retire or die and pass their blades on. The genealogy of these blades from sentinel to sentinel becomes as important to a sentinel as their own lineage.
Sentinels are hierarchically organized in six ranks. Customarily, sentinels spend their first two years of service in the first level. Higher ranks are achievable by great deeds, through leadership and service, through death in battle, and (controversially), in more conservative areas in the central Omban countries, through noble birth. The sixth rank entitles the sentinel to one of the forty-nine endazhi (those who bear one of the great khazkammar from the battle of Endazh) and is achievable only upon the death or retirement of one of the forty-nine.
Sentinels are trained separately from other warriors in specialized schools, mainly located in larger cities. Sentinels must demonstrate superior physical strength and courage as part of this training, which by its nature is designed to weed out half or more of prospective sentinels. These schools can be costly to attend, although impoverished candidates of promise usually find themselves sponsored by some well-to-do sentinel. These schools are the only way to obtain the training needed to use a khazkamma, and anyone caught teaching outsiders this weapon are severely punished. Becoming a sentinel also involves training in morals, leadership, and service.
Today sentinels serve in a variety of roles. A substantial number - though fewer than in the past - serve in dedicated units composed entirely of sentinels. This is the norm in Choradan, where sentinels are most numerous, but is not a majority elsewhere. Others serve as soldiers within mixed units of sentinels and non-sentinels, usually in leadership roles. Still others serve as mercenaries or guards for wealthy traders, noble lineages, or, just in general, the highest bidder (this is the norm in Daligash, where there is a mistrust of sentinels because of that country's poor relations with its Choradani neighbours.
