Hundred Kingdoms: Gilded Legions

Today, recruitment standards for the Golden Legion are even stricter than those for the Steel Legion. Each candidate must be able to prove ten years' prior service in an active armed unit. In addition, they must submit two letters of recommendation, at least one of which must come from a recognised Imperial servant of the rank of Lictor or above, guaranteeing the individual's loyalty, skills and character. Once a potential candidate's references have been accepted, they must then endure the Ordeal, an Agoge-based fitness regime practised in the City-States, one of the most ruthless training processes ever devised by man.

While the hearts of the people would never be conquered despite the restructuring of the Legion, what was once hatred and disgust turned into fearful contempt. In the end, the Golden Legionnaires could care less. Sharing common living quarters, their families befriending each other, their children growing up together, the Golden Legion has become more than a choice for many. It is a tradition and a way of life, the bonds between its members as enduring and loyal as their dedication to their work.

As a result of these reforms, the Golden Legion has become a powerful tool in the hands of the Chamberlain, ensuring the sanctity and security of the Imperial Mint, the most influential imperial institution under his control. Unwilling to waste such a precious resource on mere quarrels, the Golden Legion cannot be hired as mere mercenaries and remains dedicated to its duties as guard and garrison. Their presence on the battlefield means that the Chamberlain himself has a vested interest in the outcome, a prospect almost as daunting as facing these professional killers in the field.