The Cerulean Watch

[SeventhCircle 460]

The Cerulean Watch

 

Foreword

 

Inside the Realm of Sutica, the enforcement of law granted by the will of the Sutican Crown is placed on the shoulders of the Sutican Guard. The laws to which they are beholden to enforce are bound within the Codex of Sutica, the book of laws within the realm of Sutica. Their roles and responsibilities are outlined both in this handbook and within the Writ of Governance. There are no exceptions, modifications or other interpretations of the responsibilities of the Sutican Guard other than the written will of the Crown found in those documents.

 

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Table of Contents

 

1. Mission of the Guard

• Guard Oath
• Code of the Guard

 

2. Chain of Command

 

3. Ranks of the Guard

• Minister of  Defense
• Captain of the Guard
• Officers
• Guardsmen
• Recruit

 

4. Honors & Medals

 

5. Administrative Policies

• Activity
• Law Exemptions
• Discharge
• Uniforms
• Recruitment

 

6. Basic Training

 

 

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1. Mission of the Guard

“We stand watch and protect the Sacred Crown of the realm, the rights of the people and its plentiful land”

 

• Guard Oath
  "Upon my honor, I swear my undying loyalty to the Prince,
  May those who judge me, and those below take me, if I fail in my duty.
  Long live the Prince! Long live the Federation!
  And unwavering obedience to the officers of the Federation."
   
• Code of the Guard
  "To Serve Faithfully the Federation With My Life
  To Maintain Mental Fortitude
  To Safeguard the Lives and Property of the Civilians
  To Protect the Innocent Against Deception
  To Defend the Weak Against Oppression and Intimidation
  To Guard the Peaceful Against Violence and Disorder
  To Serve Faithfully the Federation With My Life"

 

 

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2. Chain of Command

 

The Chain of Command begins with the Crown of the Realm and her direct subordinates such as the Minister of Defense or Lord/Lady Protector then to the officers of the guard where command stops. Guardsmen and Recruits exert no command on those of any rank or stature.

 

 

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3. Ranks of the Guard

 

• Minister of Defense
  The Minister of Defense ensures the whole of Sutica’s Defenses are in places as well as seeing to the Day to day command of the Guard as a whole in the place of the Crown. They act with the highest form of authority in regard to the Guard next to the Crown who of course has absolute power in all regards.
  Pay: Minister Pay Grade
  Prefix: N/A
  Uniform: N/A

 

• Captain of the Guard
  A rarely used rank of the Guard but in times of great troubles and strife. A specialized officer is appointed and approved to reorder and ensure structural functionality of the guard force when it has faltered.
  Pay: 500 mina per week
  Prefix: Guard Captain
  Uniform: Compulsory on Duty

 

• Officers
  Officers of the Guard act as the Minister of Defense's direct underlings. Ensuring orders are properly sent out across the Guard and ensuring policy and law is upheld. An officer is also tasked with ensuring all recruits attend regular officer run training and are properly established and equipped to serve the Guard. Currently there are three officer positions within the Guard ranked upon the basis of seniority. The three goes as follows, Senior Officer, 2nd Officer and Junior Officer.
  Pay: 350 mina per week
  Prefix: Guard Officer
  Uniform: Compulsory on Duty

 

• Guardsmen
  The standard rank of all guards who have passed their recruit period.Guards are the basic enlisted men, the backbone of the Cerulean Guard. They carry out the day-to-day tasks within the Guard. Guardsmen are entitled to room and board provided by the Federation, as well as armament and pay.
  Pay: 250 per week
  Prefix: Sutican Guard
  Uniform: Compulsory on duty

 

• Recruit
  Recruits are newly joined members of the Guard who have yet shown understanding of Sutican Law, Policy and an aptitude for protecting the Crowns Wishes. They are expected to regularly attend trainings.
  Pay: 50 mina per week
  Prefix: Guard Recruit
  Uniform: Compulsory on Duty

 

 

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4. Honors & Medals

 

• The Medal of Honour
  This medal is the Federation highest military honor, awarded by the ruling crown monarch themselves. The Medal Of Honour is given to those that demonstrate acts of valor beyond what is required for in the call of duty. To receive the award is quite difficult but those that do, will always be regarded as the best of the best.

 

• Ribbon of Heroism
  Given to a individual who has against all odds performed above and beyond in service to his fellow watch members and in doing so saved the life or lives of his companions. This award is given by the Stewards of the Watch with personal blessings from the Crown.

 

• Medal of Sacrifice
  This medal is given to those who have sacrificed permanent loss of ability in protecting and serving the federation. It is given with the blessing of the Crown to show their unending support of those who have sacrificed to see the  Federation continue to grow and prosper. This is given to those that were willing to sacrifice something, for the federation to gain something else.

 

• Archrims Legacy
  Named after Captain Archrim this medal is a level above the medal of sacrifice in that it is only ever bestowed upon those those that have given their all and placed everything on the line in the defence of Sutica.

 

• Ribbon of Loyalty
  This military honor is given to those individuals that stood and continue to stand firm in their duty to the Crown. This is usually awarded by the Stewards of the Watch. It is awarded to those that have devoted their life to the watch and to the sacred Crown of the Federation.

 

• Medal of Eternal Memory
  This Medal is given to the families of those that lost their loved ones in their duty to the Crown and the federation. At the end of every second year a remembrance ceremony is held to commemorate the ones who lost their lives during the years and to remember the ones that gave the ultimate sacrifice in the years long gone, the medal given to the families of the fallen at this time.

 

 

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5. Administrative Policies

 

• Duties
   
  • Law Enforcement
    The first of the duties that fall into the laps of newly recruited guards is the learning and upholding of the Sutican Codex of laws. Every law must be obeyed by everyone no matter what, from the lowest pleb to the highest standing noble no one is above the law as set out by the Trade Princess and her Government. It is the first and foremost goal of the Sutican guard to maintain Law and order within the borders of the federation thus we must both be lawyer and warrior. For if we do not know or understand the letter of the law ourselves how are we truly meant to uphold it.
     
  • Royal Protection
    Perhaps the most sacred duty of the Sutican guard is the defence of the sovereign of our federation. All guards must swear an oath of fealty to the sovereign and be prepared to lay down one's life to protect them. For without the Sovereign to lead the federation Sutica as we know it would cease to exist.
     
  • Sutican Defence
    As Sutica has no standing military army the defence of the city and federation falls squarely upon the shoulders of the Sutican Guard. As such all equipment is provided for by the federations coffers ensuring the guard is well equipped. This alongside rigorous training ensure the battle readiness of the guard to bring sword and shield into the fray in defence of Sutica if the need ever arise.  Sutica may not be a militaristic society but that does not mean the Sutican guard may allow ourselves to become sloppy in our duties and preparations for the worst.
     
  • City Watch
    City watch is one of the main duties of the Sutican guard, watching to city proper and seeking out and putting a stop to any criminal behaviour. The simple presence of the guard walking the streets or standing in a tavern on watch has proven to lower the chance of criminal activity significantly. At times the simple presence and show of force the guard exerts by being around is enough to quell much of the unrest known to infect the city.
     
  • Gate Management
    The city gates are one of the first line of defence, it allows the guards to check the identities of any visitors. This short screening process has it flaws but is crucial to the protection of Sutica as it enables a method of weeding out the unwanted miscreants from entering the city. Such as those whom have been banished from the federation of Sutica. The Gate house should always be manned by at least one or ideally two guards at a time, one works the gates and takes down notes on those entering the city to be included in reports filed at the end of a guard shift. The other conducts interviews and inspections searching for suspicious and shady persons.
     
  • Patrols
    Patrols are groups of guards that embark out to survey the surrounding lands of Sutica around the capital itself. Normally guard do not venture from the city walls but Sutica is not but one city, it is an entire nation and as such guards should patrol the roads and protect citizens even when they are travelling outside of the walls of the capital. This will help ensure the safety felt by all the merchants that flock to Sutica and its policy of free trade.
     
  • Expeditions
    Expeditions are joint military ventures that exceed the borders of Sutica, these expeditions are only allowed in rare occasions and used to combat dire threats to the federation of Sutica. The most commonly known example of Sutican Expeditions is the multitude of expeditions taken on by the Lord Protector to combat the threat of the Dark Druid in the war for Ceru.
     
  • Public Relations
    Guards in many ways form the face of the Sutican Government, We are the first officials any visitor sees when entering the city gates and the last as they leave. Due to this while guards should maintain a strong and firm level of authority we should also be approachable and able to be engaged in friendly conversation. Remember that Every individual guard represents the federation of Sutica and we should carry ourselves as such and act accordingly.
     
  • Reports
    Reporting on major events and incidents is a crucial part of a Guard's job, this allows fellow guards to be aware of the happenings of Sutica during their own off hours. Ideally every guard should read the reports of their colleagues thus allowing each shift to be made aware of any major incidents involving suspicious people. This ensure that every guard is on the same page and allows us to be more vigilant in regards to repeat offenders, being able to catch them in the act or even before they have the chance to cause trouble. Reporting also allows Superiors and members of the government to keep a tracked record of the success and failures of both the Law and the Law enforcement allowing any changes or adjustments to be made to counter any critical issues. In this same regard Reports allow a way of Guards expressing their own opinions and ideas for change to higher ups via their reports, suggestions from the point of view of those of us that walk the streets upholding the law and protecting Sutica and all the struggles we encounter in doing so.
     
  • Training
    All Guards are responsible for their own training outside of regular rostered training sessions supervised by officers. A guard must always maintain a fighting fit physique. They must ensure that they do not suffer from any crippling injuries that may hinder their fighting capabilities, if any arise the guard should seek immediate medical aid. Training is further outlined in the Training section, but it is worth noting that regular exercise, weapons training and sparring is a necessity to maintain oneself as an able bodied fighter ready to draw steel in defence of the federation.

 

• Law Exemptions
  No one is above the Law… except the Trade Prince/Princess.

 

• Recruitment
  Recruit of the Guard falls to the duties of the Officers of the guard, overseen by the Captain and minister of Defence. The recruitment process is rather simple as it is only once recruited that a guard is truly tested in their ability to serve as such the only requirements are a individual is of fit and fighting shape and can follow orders. From there most of the needed skills and knowledge require to dutifully carry out one's role as a guard can be taught through experience and instruction.
  
  There are three methods of recruitment currently, the first by approaching a guard officer of which can be identified by their distinct uniform when compared to the regular rank and file. After a short interview process and perhaps a trial of combat to prove one's ability to fight the officer can decide to give the potential recruit a position in the guard.
  
  The Second method is by attending a guard training session and signing up at the event to join the guard. This is an idea situation as a potential recruit can see the guard in practise and better determine if its the path for them. Furthermore it creates a easy and relatively safe environment for the potential recruit to conduct his or her combat trial to prove they have some level of fighting capability before being recruited by the overseeing officer.
  
  The last form of recruitment is done via a recruitment notices posted throughout the world of atlas, potential recruits can post an application via courier or bird to the guard barracks in Sutica where there application will be reviewed by a Officer, upon the completion of the review the applicant will either be invited to come to sutica for a in person inspection and interview or they will be denied if deemed unfit and receive a letter informing them of such.

 

• Discharge
  Discharge from the guard force can occur in one of two ways, voluntary retirement or forceful ejection. When a Guard retires from the force they give up all the responsibilities and privileges of that they once had however in some cases a reward or entitlement for long and dedicated service may or may not be bestowed upon a retiring veteran of the Guard this is rare and occurs only at the discretion of the Guard Captain and his/her superiors.
  
  A forceful Discharge is akin to a dishonourable one but not always the same, however in effect both have the same outcome as the guard in question is ejected from the guard force, stripped of their uniform and all privileges that went along with the uniform. Forceful discharge can happen due to a range of reasons the most common of which is failure to follow orders of superior officers. A more unique situation is that if it is decided that a guard is simply unfit for the rigours and responsibilities of serving and protecting the people and federation of sutica it may be decided that they are to be ejected from the guard force for their own good or the betterment of the guard itself this is rare and has yet to occur.

 

 

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6. Uniform
 

The uniform of the Guard is granted great protection and status among all walks of the world. It is a sign of self-sacrifice for the realm of Sutica; a symbol of strength and honor among a world full of bandits and misfits; a shield for the sanctity of mankind and the fluid liveliness of all. To wear it is a great honor, and to shame one’s self is to shame both the Uniform and the Federation. To be a disgrace is not only an insult to your people; it is a violation of the the trust and faith put into you as a Guard and a horrendous case of misconduct.

But onto more practical matters: the uniform of the Sutican Guard will not be edited in any way that is disgraceful or of ill-taste, but personalization is otherwise welcomed. Adorning an armband, sporting basic decal painting on the shoulders, and one other single personalized touch to the uniform is encouraged. Any infringement on this simple and pure principle is enough to have a man flogged, to have a unit decimated.

[Unwillingly 18127]

Cyrene reads over the papers carefully, though soon nods in satisfaction. "We're finally back on our feet."