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Courtyard > Enemies > The City Watch |
The City Watch
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Classification: Human Location(s): varies Variations: numerous Known Weaknesses: sword, dagger, blackjack, arrows, mines, gas |
Description:
The police force of the City, City Watch officers are nearly as numerous as the common guard and equally as dangerous. The City and its individual estates are primarily protected by three forces - the Baron's Guard, the City Watch, and private guardsmen. The Order of the Hammer, of course, was once a factor but have yet to reclaim their former presence within the city following the events of the Metal Age and the actions of Karras.
The Baron's Guard answers only to the Baron himself whilst the City Watch fall under the authority of the City Council. Private guardsmen, of course, are privately hired and supervised by their employers. With the Baron and his Guard away at war, however, the past several years have witnessed the City Watch grow in both number and authority. No longer checked by their counterparts, the Watch can now be found in all areas of the City -- typically enforcing their own brand of justice along the length of a sword. Because of this, the Watch can be a dangerous foe.
Of course, throughout the years, the Watch has changed in various ways. Not only has their power to dispense justice waxed and waned, but they have also undergone various changes in clothing and procedure. Each man elected to the position of Sheriff - the head of the Watch - typically brings change in his wake. To discuss the entire history of the City Watch would consume far more time than we have here. For history's sake, however, we shall briefly discuss the most recent changes.
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Variation: Pre-DP Prior to the events of the Dark Project incident, the chief power of justice in the City was the Order of the Hammer. Fearing conflict with the Order, the City Council was content to allow the Hammerites a free hand in the dispensation of justice. The Watch could still be found, of course, patrolling the city while wearing the colors of the Council. No less dangerous in those days than now, the Watch still tended to dispense justice of its own, although the far more numerous adversary was the Hammerite. |
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Variation: Truart Administration After the destruction wreaked upon the city by the Trickster and his minions during the Dark Project, the Council anonymously elected a new Sheriff - Gorman Truart. During his three years of administration, Truart introduced new uniforms and procedures to the Watch. The new uniforms caused quite a stir - bright blue surcoats over chainmail and armament - and earned the Watch the nickname "bluecoats", a slur which remains to this day. Under Truart's administration, women were also allowed to join the Watch. |
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Variation: Age of Darkness Following the death of Gorman Truart during the Metal Age, the only individual interested in the position of Sheriff was a Lieutenant Mosley - one of the two lieutenants under Truart. The Council, however, was apparently not ready to accept a female Sheriff, as Mosley was later dismissed despite a nearly immaculate record. Instead Council member Elridge himself assumed leadership of the City Watch. The blue uniforms were replaced by another - the dark green tunic now seen among the Watch. The Watch has also adopted the crest of the Council - a black falcon on a purple shield. |
Weaknesses:
Watchmen are, of course, susceptible to the same weapons and tactics as any other human. During the administration of Truart, some members of the Watch wore steel helmets which protected them against the simple blackjack, but this practice appears to have fallen out of popularity. Since the Watch often dispenses its own justice, conflict with them is best avoided.
Threat Assessment:
The City Watch is nearly as numerous as the common guard, even more so in recent times. Care must be taken in any part of the City to either avoid or reduce their number. Due to both their coverage and aggressiveness, the City Watch is given a very high threat assessment.
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