Special thanks to Kalyn for helping develop the game.

In the hot summer months when the bridge to The Fang is melted, boredom often plagues the soldiers of the Vigilant Guard. To pass the time and to hone their skills for the hard winters, they developed a game called Vanguard.

The game consists of two teams, an offensive team called the Demons and a defensive team called the Guard. The teams generally consist of 2 players each, but can go up to 5. The Demons are tasked with running from one end of the field to the other with a large ball. They can throw or “pass” the ball to each other so long as the ball does not touch the ground. If they are able to successfully reach the opposite side of the field, they receive 5 points. The Guard, however, is tasked with preventing them from reaching their goal by any means necessary. They can tackle, grab, punch, and wrestle the opposite team with the goal of getting the Demons to drop the ball. If the Demons drop the ball, the Guard gains 1 point.

The game is played in 4 rounds. Sometimes each round is timed, sometimes it ends when a team gains 5 points. Halfway through the game starting from the 3rd round, the teams switch positions. Whichever team has won the most rounds wins the game.

Since it was developed and polished by orcs, it has slowly begun expanding as gnomes and humans have come and gone from the Vigilant Watch fortifications. It has become popular for children and young adults to play on sunny days recreationally. Some small leagues have been started in major cities and within the Vigilant Watch itself, but the sport is still in its infancy. Even still many things have not been standardized. The Demons and Guard names don’t make much sense outside of the context of the Vigilant Guard, and there is no specified length the field must be. There are some offshoots that don’t allow punching or wrestling of any kind and instead require the Guard to grab a piece of cloth the Demons hang from their belts.

The simplicity of the game has caused it to be quite popular among working people. Whether they enjoy playing casually or are one of the lucky few who can catch a live game, it is largely a hit. Although in the eyes of nobility, the sport is viewed as barbaric and unseemly. Some have come around on it though as the possibility of gambling has presented itself.