Tales of Rikard Guardsman

The Tales of Rikard Guardsman, or in Imerian Rikard Riksnkekts sagorna, is a series of children's books and movies aimed at young men and is often compared to Harald Harding as the two series often compete for readers and much ink and even blood has been spilt between fans of both series about who would win in a fight. While Harald Harding follows the adventures of a line of rugged survivalist and adventurers do Rikard Guardsman follow a small section of Imerian guardsmen lead by Rikard Guardsman himself, not his real name but his last name is not ever given so it is assumed that rikard Guardsman is a soldier name and not a birth name.

The stories follow Rikard and his independent attachment of soldiers that are sent from regiment to regiment on all manners of adventures and stories and tend to follow more down to earth and military adventures compared to harald harding. Like most books aimed at a young audience does Rikard Guardsman include helpful educational bits however these are often more military in nature and teaches everything a young man might need for his service in the high king from sewing buttons and repairing kits to how to fieldstrip and clean the ever popular KVG to even how to drive a tracklayer and squad based tactics and management.

Stories

Name	Published	Summary
Guard at the advance!	1991	Rikard is a newly deployed guardsman, however fighting in the dense jungles of Aqualisha against foul dark magic using serpent men is his entire regiment destroyed and he and a handfull of survivors are caught behind enemy lines as they must figure out a way to gather stranglers and organise a counter offensive to rejoin their lines. Can our heroic fighters win the day against their foul foeman?
Hammer wielder	1992	While the conflict in Aqualisha brews on is Rikard and his merry men of survivors redeployed this time not as infantrymen but instead are they deployed in the armoured enclosure of the hammar class medium tracklayer as the federal lines now stabilised are readying themselves for a counter offensive. Can our heroes enable themselves to break through the enemy lines and secure victory of the forces of good?
Hammer of witches	1992	As the glorious offensive continues in Aqualisha after the death of warlord Ssssnek are the federal troops ready to perpare the final assault against the vile witch-queen of the serpentmen, as such are Rikard and his tracklayer section assigned to the troops that are going to launch the final assault on her dark stronghold. Their tracklayers are upgraded for city fighting and they are reformed to a mixed formation of one tracklayer and infantry to fight their way into the enemy city. However despite that can even the might of federal armour stand against such vile magic as they might face?
Horse soldier! Horse soldier!	1995	A disturbance has arisen in the far distant colony of Shugorland where a revolt against the crown led by evil nercomancers are threatening the natives and federal authroties alike, assigned to the 26th regiment of lancers are Rikard and his independent attachment assigned to clear out this dastardly foe. However on the eve of the campaign does it become clearer and clearer that ded'raisar the arch necromancer himself might be within reach. Can our brave heroes solve this situation with a glorious charge with lance and blade, or will the long grueling work of bayonet and bullet be the nature of this conflict? Only the divine gods can know the outcome when a charge is ordered for glory or death.
An adventure in the sky	1998	A foreign state has forced the federation's hand as war is declared in the name of honour and glory, however the nature of the enemy is a shallow archipelago meaning that the large naval attacks must be carried out only after the skies are secured. In enters Rikard and his independent attachment in the form of an airwing. However up against him is the dangerous ace simply named the red commissar. Can our brave heroes fight down such a horrid foe and secure victory for the forces of light and civilisation?
Necromancer's folly	1999	A necromancer has put up shop on the blessed home continent itself and is raising hordes of the living dead to overthrow the order of light and righteousness that most blessed continent gave birth to. However two thing was not something he expected to deal with. One is the nearby 23th regiment of grenadiers. The Second is the 213th independent attachment assigned to them. Can the elite of the infantry be enough to put a spawn into the plans of darkness?
Duel in the desert	2000	A short sighted local nobleman has raised his banners in revolt against his rightful king and made a stronghold for himself in the desert, in command of a great number of light tracklayers and hovercraft is he ready to defend his new stronghold and as such is it the glorious task of the 25th light tracklayer regiment from Blåland to deal with their opposite numbers. Amongst the heat and lightly armoured vehicles can we also find the glorious and elite fighting unit that is the 213th independent attachment.
Charge by torchlight	2002	In the dark evernight of the underground kingdom of the mole people is there a conflict brewing, dark rituals have been reported. As such is the federation forced to clean up this dreadful mess and sent in is the guard. However not only going up against dark magic but also forced to fight in the tunnels of the dark underground kingdom.
By sea to adventure!	2004	A dark conspiracy is brewing, the ancient dark pirate realm of Sharashora is again harassing the seas as a vampire now rule the pirate kingdom. Unable to let such a thing stand is the royal and federal navy sent in to mop up such horrid abominations. However can the 213th independent attachment even attached to such a magnificent machinery of war survive a war at sea?
To strike at the vile	2005	A slavery revolt has caused crisis in the realm of Khaloborg as more and more evidence comes in that it is caused and supported by the foreign vampiric blued sukhar and his vile band of abolitionists, as such is it up to the 213th independent attachment to move in with military peacekeeping and regiments specialised in woodland warfare. However this time might not the danger be entirely coming from the enemy as inquisitorial combat regiments have also been attached to the region.
Moving fortress	2006	As a vile demon summoner attempted to grasp power were the guard sent to intervene, the vile magician were quickly driven to his stronghold and a mighty siege has begun. However as food supplies and the logistic situation grow more and more dire is it decided that an assault must be made. This task falls unto our heroes in the 213th independent attachment and their new parent regiment; The 12th heavy tracklayer regiment.
Realm sworn	2008	A conundrum faces the 213th independent attachment as they are assigned to the incompetent and cruel commander Björn Hufudfrissen that has nesstled his way up the ranks despite his common birth. Under his leadership offensives stalls and defensive trenches are slowly pushed back when finally an opportunity present itself are the 213th independent attachment ready to act, however their orders are to not push. Rikard must chose between his duties as an oathsworn soldier and as a warrior fighting for the glory and victory of the high king.
Táfosoclast	2010	A crude necromantic race of machines and automatons have risen up from the ground and struck out from their vile cavern network where they made their home and slaughtered numerous innocent federal subjects. The counter offensive of whatever local forces that could be gathered have managed to halt the advance of the robotic invaders. However it is up to storm regiments and 213th independent attachment to strike at the heart of these foul beast
Liberators	2011	Under the glorious and righteous rule of the newly crowned high king is a great campaign organised against the vampire slavers of the dark realm of vhampir as such is it up to the 213th independent attachment and naval infantry regiments to establish a breach head and see if contact can be established with the oppressed masses.
Scanderans never die	2013	An especially troublesome foeman have decided not to face down a federal invasion and instead scattered through the jungles and bushlands of their homelands leaving the seaside and cities in federal hands. However despite superiority at air and sea are the federal troops forced to struggle through the enemy guerilla campaign. Can the 213th independent attachment turn this around as they are assigned to the autogyro born regiments that are deployed en mass for surgical mass assaults against enemy strongpoints?
I once had a comrade	2015	During a specially brutal trench conflict is the line infantry regiment that the 213th independent attachment is assigned to does Rikards childhood friend Göran fall during a failed assault. However even worse is the regimental banner taken off by the enemy. On the dying friend's urging does the 213th independent attachment take off towards the enemy line in an attempt to regain the lost banner and slay whatever foeman that stands in their way.
Slayer of false gods	2016	While the invasion of the home continent is raging has one lone enemy ship made landfall, up against such fearsome foe is only local militia, religious military orders, a lone tracklayer attachment, and most importantly the 213th independent attachment. Can our brave heroes lay such a vile force low?
Breaker of vile Idols	2019	With the death of First Prime Jakha are the irregular forces under the command of Rikard ready to finally assault the enemy stronghold, however without artillery support would such a situation be impossible. Luckily for our brave heroes has an artillery battery separated from the main command been found but is under heavy enemy assault so it comes to the duty of the irregulars and the 213th independent attachment to rescue them.
Serpent bane	2020	With all forces ready and prepared for a final assault against the downed enemy mothership is the federal troops ready to go on a glorious last offensive. However despite this can the irregulars and the 213th independent attachment be victorious against such dangerous foes?
Short and ginger.	2021	In a joint military organisation is the 213th independent attachment assigned to a Malgravean and a Kouralian superior sections from two regiments of the line for drills in the home continent to harden the foreign soldiers. However to the shock of everyone did the drill turn sour as they by mistake wandered into the hunting ground of a large pack of werewolves. Can the 213th independent attachment lead the foreigners to safety or will this be the end of our great heroes?

Movies

Every book has to date been released as a motion picture by the royal merchant guild. However due to the more grounded style of the series as a series of war stories did the military provide their support on the condition that a more realistic tone was to be followed. This was agreed to and the series is noted for huge numbers of extras and appropriate uniforms as they use active krigsmakt personal in the shooting. Resulting in some rather stunning visuals of large scale federal offensives with tracklayers, infantry, artillery, and airsupport acting in co-ordination with one another.

This however caused the lead actor of Rikard, Björk auf Eriksfrid, to suffer a great number of injuries on set. From frostbite almost setting in during arctic scenes to him almost drowning when a bridge gave out under a tracklayer chase scene to other numerous situations like those caused Björk to remark that if he did not know beter were he sure that Rikard were out to get him. Several injuries have been reported amongst guardsmen aiding in the filming and rumours claim that one can see a guardsman die on screen where a rifle were not properly given blank ammunition, however this was debunked later on.

Characters

The books follow the stories and adventures of the 213th independent attachment as they are shuffled around from battlefield to battlefield, at times serving as infantry, naval assets, pilots, tracklayer drivers and crews, artillery men, etc etc. While the characters of the 213th tend to shift along a lot is Rikard Guardsman the one common constant. He is proud, aggressive and a very skilled officer, to an ridiculous degree. While it is true that the federation do make use of so called independent attachments that can be shuffled around as need be between regiments and these can at times be the most skilled and elite of the guard are they mostly local guides, scholars, experts on local cultures that serves as avisors to regimental commands.

Reception

Tales of Rikard Guardsman initially had quite a small following in Malgrave, however, following the thawing in relations between Imeriata and Malgrave the series enjoyed a surge in popularity. It has been noted that Katia De Campo is quite a fan of the series, and according to rumours has even taken part in a few cosplay events that have taken part in the country since the creation of the fan group Rikards Cadre of Guardsman.

Since 2020 it has been been hinted that the Territorial Defence Force could lend assistance in the production of episodes involving Malgrave, however, this proposal was put on hold following the activation of the military.