The Mark of the Blood Guard

Before launching into the more in depth explanations of the specific groups within the Guard, certain aspects need to be explained as to prevent at least some of the confusion.

The title of this post is in regards to a crest, also referred to as a brand, that each member of the Blood Guard possess. This mark is located on the back of either hand and in some cases, some members possess a crest on each hand.

Thus far I have three ways and maybe a fourth for how each member receives their crest. For each crest, there is a name and a purpose. In regards to most of the Prism Guard, they usually have either a rank, title, call sign, or a notable position of authority.

The first and primary means of receiving a mark is the Star Child herself. By giving them a name and a specific purpose, they receive their crest, denoting who they are and in which faction they reside in. This is often referred to as the naming ceremony and is considered to be one of greatest forms of honor that Her Ladyship can bestow upon them.

The second means is quite rare and currently only one group has been created for this particular branding. Their crests are granted to them by their own souls. The emergence of a crest usually occurs after meeting the Star Child and can take mere minutes to several years in order to appear. It is up to the Guard to locate these individuals and give them a home, people to love them, a family to protect.

The third means has been used only once. The Star Child wouldn't normally do this and the only reason why she did was due to some rather extreme circumstances which required to shut off her heart, becoming emotionless and fully analytical.

She forcibly branded a man deemed as the perfect assassin. At the time, he did not possess a soul but in a moment of weakness, her soul acted on its own accord, placing one of the lost souls she had saved but they didn't have bodies of their own.

The assassin had a power called Empathic Clarity. It granted him the ability to use a person's emotions to predict their every move. Thus the reason why he was considered the perfect assassin.

However, upon receiving a soul, that ability became clouded with his new emotions which allowed Her Ladyship to brand him, not once but twice. She has never branded anyone else like that. A forced crest results in a disconnection between the bearer and the rest of the Guard. It took quite some time before the assassin could form emotional ties to anyone besides Her Ladyship.

The fourth means is still under development and is to be used predominantly within The Bladeworks division. More information will be provided at a later date...just a few wrinkles to iron out...I hope.