: Actually if you check the Encyclopedia, which I feel is
: not used enough around here, you will find some info
: on Imperial bowmen from Myth 2 flavour texts. Here it
: is for the lazy ones: "To be a bowman in the
: Imperial Army was an honor second only to acceptance
: into the Heron Guard. It is said that their honor was
: so great they would not sleep as long as the crown was
: in peril."
: -Bowman Ghost Flavor Text, Myth II
: Make your own conclusions but I think that means there
: was a separate class of bowmen who served th Cath
: Bruig Empire who were not part of the Heron Guard as
: they are clearly separated as two distinct groups in
: this text.
I was under the impression that the archers we see in Myth 3 were Imperial Bowmen (especially since their fighting prowess is comparable to that of the archer ghosts in the crypts). As for the hand to hand element, GURPS does say that as far as Heron Guard initiations are concerned, "All they really seek is a will of iron. A clumsy or ignorant contestant who endures the combats and intensive questions with stoic face will impress them more than a virtuoso who flusters the first time he falters."
Also, seeing as Herons are unaging, it would be relatively simple to just give them a few years of gruelling training in swordplay. This would probably be necessary to an extent for any new Heron Guard: using two swords requires a much more offensive combat stance than using a sword and shield.
Although, considering the samurai influences that the Herons have, I wouldn't say that bow equipped Herons were out of the question.
