guard

Someone whose job is guarding a place. And is wearing the appropriate uniform. Tend to wear armor and wield polearms. Often just background characters to set a scene (literally, by standing in the back), or mooks guarding an entrance that the hero must bypass.

Sometimes also called "watchmen".

Fantasy/Medieval/Renaissance: City guards, palace guards, noble's mansion guards, etc.

For the modern variants, use bodyguard or security guard.

Avoid using the guard tag for fantasy bodyguards, as they tend to dress like knights or normal soldiers (and are functionally such, in the case of a noble's "household" guard), or be out of uniform.

Notable examples:

• Guard (Skyrim)
• Generic city guard from Skyrim. Often depicted dressed in the colors and equipment of the Whiterun Hold Guard.
• Heavily associated with the Arrow to the knee meme.
• Guard (Oblivion)
• Generic city guard from Oblivion. Often depicted dressed in the colors and armor of the Imperial City Guard.
• Heavily associated with the Criminal scum! meme.