Difference between revisions of "Civic Guard"

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Within the borders of Arangoth live those that swear to uphold the laws of the land and provide safety and security to those that dwell in it. The Royal Guard of Arangoth, as they are known by others, have their main station in the city of Drache, a city that at the present time is experiencing great turmoil and unrest.  
The Royal Guard is charged with enforcing the laws of the kingdom, protecting the citizenry, and maintaining the peace in all cities, towns, and villages throughout the kingdom. Fealty to the Crown shall be unwavering. The Nobility of Arangoth in no way has any authority to Command Guardsmen. The members of the Royal Guard are subject only to the orders of their superior officers, the Crown, or the appointed Regents of the Crown.  


=Law and Order in Arangoth=
=Law and Order in Arangoth=

Revision as of 16:15, 6 November 2012

The Royal Guard is charged with enforcing the laws of the kingdom, protecting the citizenry, and maintaining the peace in all cities, towns, and villages throughout the kingdom. Fealty to the Crown shall be unwavering. The Nobility of Arangoth in no way has any authority to Command Guardsmen. The members of the Royal Guard are subject only to the orders of their superior officers, the Crown, or the appointed Regents of the Crown.

Law and Order in Arangoth

While Drache has the largest contingent of the Royal Guard by far, there are detachments stationed in every city and town in the provinces of Transdariania (where Drache is located) and Arania (to the southwest). Each detachment has its own captain. In small villages, one member of the Royal Guard will be stationed as the Sheriff (Aptentrod), generally assisted by deputees from the local lord's private guards.

The Border Watch patrols the countryside, particularly the roads and the kingdom's borders. The Watch and the Guard cooperate when necessary, but their jurisdictions generally don't overlap much. The Lord Protector oversees both the Royal Guard and the Border Watch, but cannot take direct command of either organization without permission of the Sithire (Arangothian for Duke/Duchess/Governor). The Lord Protector is appointed by the Sithire, who governs the provinces Transdariania and Arania on behalf of the King. The Sithire trusts the Lord Protector and the Captain to do their jobs, and generally doesn't have much of a direct impact on the Guard, except when it comes to passing new laws to enforce, or appropriating funding.

The Royal Guard in Drache

The current strength of the Royal Guard is approximately four hundred individuals in the city of Drache. Royal Guard operations are divided into two precincts, the Upper and Lower City, each of which is overseen by a Commander, who in turn report to the Captain of the Guard. Approximately three hundred Guards operate out of the Main Guardhouse, which is located in the BlkDragon District in the Upper City. Guards from the Main Guardhouse patrol the BlkDragon District, The Market District (where the Merchant's Square is located), the Royal Church district, West Drache, the Mingit District, and the Forest Reserve. The Main Guardhouse also stations guard details at Castle Black (to protect the royal treasury, castle granary, and royal armory), the Guard's armory, the Podar ul Sinetattel (the Sithire's administrative headquarters), the Chancellery, and the Royal Church granary. In addition, Guards serving in administrative positions and as jailors for the Guardhouse's dungeon levels are counted among the Main Guardhouse's numbers. Deployment of Guards is tracked on a large slate in the Guardhouse, indicating whether a given guard is in the Guardhouse, out on patrol, or off duty. This is done so that if a guard doesn't show up for work or fails to check in before going home at the end of his or her shift, the absence will be noted and investigated.

The main Guardhouse is a large, fortified stone building located just down the street from the BlkDragon Inn. A standard cell in the Guardhouse's Dungeon levels has thick stone walls, and a heavy iron door with an observation window covered by bars. Cells may or may not have a window, which is reinforced by steel bars and magical wards. A narrow slot at floor level allows the Guards to slide a tray with food and water into the cell. Cells do not have beds that could potentially be disassembled by prisoners and made into makeshift weapons. Rather, a slab of stone protrudes from one wall of the cell, and is covered with a straw mattress. Each cell is also equipped with a chamber pot that drains into Drache's sewer system. Some cells are fitted with shackles on the wall to restrain particularly violent prisoners. Due to the number of magic-using individuals in Drache, the entire Guardhouse is magically warded to prevent teleportation (or other forms of supernatural travel) into or out of the Guardhouse. Some cells are specially designed to house supernatural creatures or other especially dangerous individuals whom the Royal Guard have arrested.

The remaining one hundred Guards make up the Wharf Patrol, which was created by Captain Alastair Courrant, called Solace, during his campaign to clean up the city in the year 471. The Wharf granary had been used as the temporary headquarters for Guards trapped in the Lower City during a plague, since it was already a heavily fortified structure to protect the city's grain supply from fire and looters. Under Solace, the granary complex was expanded and further fortified into a permanent garrison for the Wharfers. The garrison contains holding cells for prisoners, though these are usually used to hold drunks until they sober up, or temporarily hold prisoners until they can be transferred to the Guardhouse's dungeons. The Wharf patrol is responsible for the Wharf District, Red Lantern District (including the Xiunlan Quarter), the Gessi District, and the Back Alley. The Guard doesn't often venture into the Back Alley, since doing so usually turns out to be more trouble than it's worth. Members of the Wharf Patrol always patrol in pairs, some times accompanied by attack dogs. and Wharfers receive a 10% bonus to their salary for hazard pay. The Wharf Commander can request additional manpower from the main guardhouse when needed.

Uniform Regulations

Guard formal/parade/banquet uniform is black tunic, pants and boots, with a grey stripe down the crease of the pants, grey cuffs on the tunic, and a grey cloak clasped by a pin that denotes rank. The pin takes the shape of a shield and depicts the Royal Guard's insignia, a silver dragon rampant on a black field. Grey armbands embroidered with the Guard's insignia are worn on the upper arms over the tunic. Officers above the rank of Corporal are given a silver-braid stripe down the side of their pants, and silver braid trim on the tunics. Officers above Lieutenant are given a gray silk sash to wear under their swordbelts. Decorations are worn on the right breast. Guardsmen are issued ceremonial daggers, while Non-Commissioned Officers are issued straight broadswords. Commissioned Officers are issued ceremonial curved Khalar sabres. If approved by the captain, issued ceremonial blades may be replaced with other blades that the guardsman supplies for the formal uniform.

Magic-using Guards may substitute a black robe for the tunic and trousers of their dress uniform if they so desire. The robe has grey trim at the cuffs, collar, and hem for guardsmen; officers' robes have a pattern of dragon scales embroidered on the trim in silver thread. Spellcasters carry carved wooden staves as ceremonial weapons; officers carry staves with a silver dragon's head ornament atop it.

Uniform on patrol does not have to conform with the formal dress standards of the guard, though the gray cloak is required, as is the insignia pin. Alternately, a pair of gray armbands embroidered with the Guard's insignia can be substituted for the cloak in hot weather. The rank pin can be worn on the breast or the belt if the cloak is not worn, so long as it is prominently displayed. Individual equipment and armor are allowed on patrol. Because the guards tend to be highly trained in their unique abilities, equipment for patrols is not standardized and left to the individual guard's discretion.

Available Resources

Members of the Royal Guard have a plethora of resources available to them at any given time. These resources are meant to strengthen the force and ensure the highest of standards are met.

Training

While many Guards are already accomplished warriors or wizards, green recruits aren't left to fend for themselves. Arms training and basic hand-to-hand combat skills are taught by veteran Guards. Novice spellcasters can receive training through the Royal University.

Weapons/Armor

When the Royal Legion disbanded several years ago, the Guard took over a substantial portion of its armory. Guards who don't have their own weapons and armor, or would like pick up some new equipment can scrounge up just about any sort of mundane military equipment. The armory may also include weapons and armor confiscated from criminals, so exotic or even magical equipment might occasionally be found in the armory.

Restraints

Each Guard is issued one pair of null magic shackles to use for restraining arrested individuals for transfer to the Guardhouse's dungeon. These shackles are quite heavy, designed to restrain creatures much stronger than humans. These shackles prevent the captured individual from using magic, and also prevents others from using magic on him/her.

Housing

The Guard took possession of the Royal Legion's former barracks in Drache, so free housing is available for Guards who need it. There's very little privacy in the barracks, but at least it's warm and dry.

Healing

The Guard would have a frightening mortality rate if they were unable to provide medical treatment to injured Guards. There is an infirmary in the main Guardhouse with a staff of full time healers to patch up Guards who've been beaten within an inch of their lives.

Death Benefits

Some times, even the Guard's healers can't prevent the worst from happening. The Royal Guard will pay the funeral expenses of any Guard killed in the line of duty. Furthermore, the family of the slain Guard will continue to receive the Guard's full salary for a period of one year.

Canine Patrols

The Guard used to keep a small number of Griffons for use as flying mounts. Lord Protector Mistwinter transferred the Griffons to the Border Watch, citing the greater territory to be covered. The former rookery has been transformed into a kennel, and the Guard has Khalar Herding Dogs available for use as attack dogs for members of the Wharf Patrol. The kennel is overseen by a woman named Paxida, who trains the dogs, and also trains Guards to work with them. Wharfers who'd like to be considered for this program should make a request to the Captain of the Guard. While this is intended to augment the Wharf Patrol and help keep Guardsmen safe in the worst parts of the city, the dogs are not a substitute for a human partner. Paxida also has bloodhounds available for tracking suspects and searching out contraband, available for duty as needed.

Current Roster

A current roster can be found amongst the Crown Officials listing.