Erasti Law Enforcement

In theory, both the city of Alvera and Cappalina are under the protection of a single law enforcement agency, The Watch, their HQ located in Alvera, the Bastion Ward, but in practice, this is far from the truth.

In reality, the two cities have two separate law enforcement, with their own command structures, equipment, HQ, hierarchies, and tradition.

## Alvera City Watch

**What’s going on down there! This is the City Watch! Cut that crap!**
**-*A city watchmen from on top of the city’s wall, their natural habitat.***

The Alvera’s City Watch, their headquarters located in the Bastion Ward of Alvera, is, in theory, in charge of the two cities` public safety.

You will mostly see them working at the city gates, walking on top of the walls moving rapidly from one part of the town to another, quite literally above the crowd of rabbles walking on the ground, and from time to time walking around the nicer parts of the town, the Gold District, and the Noble’s Enclave.

If you are lucky enough, you will be able to find some walking around the lesser districts, but in reality, you are better off hiring private guards, or better yet, go armed.

They look charming in their shining breastplates and standard-issue helmets, armed with longswords. They are the very image of diligent law enforcement, but once again, the truth is far away from what it appears to be.

Alvera being what it is, and intrigue and politics being the favorite hobby of the nation’s upper class, it’s not surprising to find that the organization is a player of its own in this political arena of Alvera.

Nobles constantly ‘sponsor’ their favorites to the officer cadre, the cousins and the nephews of the minor houses are encouraged to join their officer rank, hoping that way to control a portion of these sometimes overlooked armed group easier to control compared to the other more noble and incorruptible military organizations of the city.

### The Organization

Their organizational structure looks simple at first glance.

At the base of the organization are the watchmen guided and lead in the field by the sergeants.

Numerous lieutenants and district captains spend their time comfortably in the HQ. In theory, they are in charge of administering the watch resources of each district, organizing patrols, oversee the ordinary watchmen and the sergeants supposed to be occupying the entire city of Erasti.

These officers, positioned by their rich family looking to put their cousins or nephew in a comfortable position or by an ambitious family looking to influence the Watch, do not sit idle in their cushy job.

They constantly seek to increase their influence in The Watch. Contradictory orders are given to the men on the ground, fights for The Watch’s resources are constant, boardroom fights for influences within The Watch are routine, factions are formed constantly, and duels within the officer corps are ordinary.

There are even rumors of moves made to vacate the position of the Watch Captain. Some of them involving bloodshed within the halls of The Watch HQ.

So it’s not surprising to see that most of their efforts are concentrated on maintaining order within the richer districts. And the lesser ones are mostly left on their own, as few watchmen and their sergeants still believe in their mission to maintain law and order within the city, and private guards are on their rise.

### General Presence of The Watch in the City of Alvera.

The Gold District: The Gold District, known for being a commercial hub, contains many exotic and fine goods. The district is one of the areas where the presence of The Watch is evident. It is a great source of income for the nobles and the affluent citizens of the city. They make sure that the district is without any problem.

The Noble’s Enclosure: As you would expect from the district of the Alvera’s most elite, the guard makes sure to observe anyone entering the district.

Basilica of Light: The presence of The Watch is small in the district of the Litany of Light and the Saint’s square. The reason behind this is not very well known, except to the few members of the Litany, the upper echelon of The Watch, and the City’s elite. Many believe the Litany do not trust The Watch and discourages them from patrolling the district. Another theory is that The Watch is withholding protection at the order of the City's most influential houses, jealous of the Litany’s influence in the city.

Wyvern’s Gate: They say, “Who controls the Gate controls the goods.” The Watch stationed at the gate will swear it’s them who control the Gate, but they will remain silent if asked who controls them.

The Bastion Ward: Home to the city’s government, The Watch HQ, many nobles, and rich merchants. Crime here is heavily discouraged and swiftly punished. The Watch is many things, and pride is one of them.

Ovid’s Wall: Commoners live in this walled district, once well patrolled by the Watchmen who spent their entire career knowing the citizens of each household, now their absence speaks loud and clear to the common people of the Ovid’s wall.

South Side: The tightly packed district was once one of the most heavily patrolled areas of the city, now the business of private guards thrives, as The Watch focuses their attention on more ‘Important’ areas of the city.

River’s Run: This district runs the length of the East River, and it is known for its heavy Watch presence, but the reason behind that is quite different from the other districts.

It contains all the bridges to the East side of Erasti and Noxi, and The Watch is one of the forces in charge of the quarantine of the lost city, and they are authorized, along with their military archer brethren on top of the several watchtowers, to destroy anything coming out of Noxi on sight with extreme prejudice.

If you are lucky (or unlucky) enough, you will be able to hear tales of deep dark nights, crawling things in the river, and of things that shouldn't be from the unfortunate souls with thousand-yard stares of Alvera’s Watch stationed in River’s Run. And some tales you will never be able to hear, for they all have terrors they never dare to speak out loud.

### Notable NPCs

Sgt. Mario ‘Surefist’ Crispo

Sgt Mario Crispo is old school as you can get in The Watch of Alvera, joining the illustrious rank of The Watch at the age of 19, at the insistence of his late mother to do something with his life, he has now become a fixture in the district of River’s Run.

Now 30 years standing watch at the River’s Run, things he has seen coming out of the now-lost city of Noxi would terrify any other people, but he still stands at the riverbanks of River’s Run.

He had become a quasi de facto leader of the River’s Run quarantine watch, even the unlucky officers stationed at this district, by political reasons or because of their conviction of what they believe is the true mission of the watch, will listen to this grizzly old Watchmen.

But his experience is not the only thing that garners respect. His nickname Surefist was well earned in his younger days and is still well deserved. There are plenty of rumors of this veteran facing overwhelming odds and surviving, and even tales of him facing a ducal singulares and walking away.

Lt. Liliana Cartolano

Lieutenant Liliana Cartolano, a senior Lieutenant of The Watch, is perhaps one of the most influential individuals in the city of Alvera. She is the field commander of the Wyvern’s Gate, the gate that connects the Western World to Alvera and to the rest of the continent.

Little is known about the origin of this lieutenant. She joined the officer rank at the age of 25, the family name of Cartolano is unknown, and she does not appear to be from a noble house, nor does she seems to have an apparent political backer.

Her track record is impeccable. She is capable, disciplined, and nothing much seems to escape her notice, except, of course, when she chooses to let things escape. Despite these few voluntary moments of negligence, the administration of the custom through the gate itself seems to be in perfect order.

But despite her competence, one could ask, why is this lieutenant of an unknown family, lacking any apparent political backing, in charge of one of the most important areas in Erasti? Perhaps in the entire continent of Clyath?

This is a question that has given birth to many speculations, but one thing is clear, "Who controls the Gate, controls the goods." and who controls our lieutenant Liliana Cartolano controls the Gate.

District Captain Eliseo Tarantola

Eliso Tarantola, brother to Marquis Marco Tarantola, the current head of the noble house Tarantola, is what you would expect from a minor noble of Erasti. He is charming, ambitious, a social butterfly, and overly proud. You would not be surprised to encounter him taking tea with other nobles pledged to the House of Volante, and in fact, that’s how you will find him most of the days.

But make no mistake, his upper-class Erasti accent, charming smiles, and well-groomed manners might give you an impression of a well-mannered gentleman enjoying his cozy life, but that is only part of the truth.

This well-mannered gentleman is the younger brother to Marquis Marco Tarantola, a minor house pledged to House Volante, the princeps of Cappalina, and he represents the house interest in The Watch. He will lie with a smile, charmingly negotiate through The Watch HQ internal politics, and with a burning ambition, he will make his way to the position of The Watch Captain. For himself, and of course, the family.

District Captain Romola Scipione

District Captain Romola Scipione, a cousin to Duca Alessandro Ludovisi, protects and aids House Urso’s interest in The Watch HQ of Alvera.

She carries out this mission by being ruthless, vicious and by being a constant reminder that they should all tread very carefully. And no matter how much the Volante’s influence has grown in Alvera, Princep Urso’s rule is still supreme.

Currently, she is busy keeping everyone in line, reminding people that this Eliseo Tarantola, a minor noble upstart from Cappalina, is just a minor nuisance, a minor bleep in the history of The Watch, and he will soon be forgotten, like many other before.

The Watch Captain

Ezio Lio, an uncle of Dame Camilla Lio, is a mystery to most people in Erasti, not because of some eccentric characteristics or almost supernatural abilities, but because people can't figure out how this octogenarian has survived the internal politics of The Watch for all these years.

Ezio Lio has been in charge of The Watch for 40 years now, starting as a brilliant but not overly remarkable captain of The Watch, remembered more by his decisiveness than his abilities.

Now at the age of 85, he is a mere shadow of what he was before and is now sadly known as The Captain Vacillator behind his back. Had he been the decisive captain of his younger days, the internal squabbles of The Watch would have ended a long time ago.

But despite calling him the Vacillator, making fun of his old age, no one dares to do it publicly because something has kept him in place for a long time, and that something must be powerful indeed.

## *Cappalina City Guard*

**Freeze! This is the Guard Enforcer, resist, and your kneecaps will be destroyed with extreme prejudice!**

*-Cappalina Guard Enforcer at work.*

**ARRRGHH!! MY KNEECAPS!**

*-A criminal receives just punishment.*

Cappalina, theoretically under Alvera’s Watch jurisdiction, but in reality, it has a Law Enforcement force of its own, and the difference between them can be staggering.

The Cappalina City Guard, the law enforcement of Cappalina, diverges heavily from Alvera in their organization, types of equipment, and tradition.

The organization of Cappalina law enforcement is not as centralized as the law enforcement of Alvera and not as hierarchical.

The day-to-day patrolling is mostly done by the citizens. They organize militias or patrols using different methods, and they equip them with the resources offered by the district citizen. All of them are given the necessary authorities and duties during their time of service and carefully supervised by Guards of Cappalina.

### Points of Interest

Mare’s Gate: Mare’s Gate is one of the areas guarded mainly by the Cappalina Guard itself, the so-called “Noses” They are not part of the Cappalina neighborhood militia system favored by the citizens of Cappalina but under the Guard hierarchy. The importance of the gate is not on par with the famous Wyvern’s Gate of Alvera, but control of this entrance into the city is still heavily contested.

The Clanks and The Cobbles: Many people in these areas have given up maintaining law and order in these districts, and the militias in these areas are almost extinct. Smuggles, fences, and other criminal elements rule the districts, and only people with enough muscle or influence can survive in this district.

Smithy's Square: The militia system in Smithy's Square is a point of pride to the citizens of Smithy's Square. They are perhaps one of the best armed and armored militia in the city and perhaps in the entire world.

Apprentices and journeymen of the district are often volunteered into the militia, and they are equipped with the best the district smiths can offer, equipment often forged by themselves, something that has become a tradition for the district.

Masters are not fond of losing their apprentices, and mercenaries are often paid to instruct, providing training for the militia.

These facts have created a point of conflict between the district and the nobles, who see the existence of this group as a threat to their dominance within the city.

Silksend and the Noble Quarters: The rich merchants and nobles of the city are too valuable and too important to be guarding the safety of their residences with their own hands. These jobs are delegated to paid mercenaries, who ensure the safety of their employers.

### Cappalina City Guard:

The fact that daily patrols are usually done by the district citizens themselves does not mean that the City Guard itself has no role in law enforcement in the city.

The city guard differs from Alvera's Watch in the organization, and it shows right from the beginning.

There are no guardsmen, or sergeants, or lieutenants, and they are not divided by the district they guard.

The day-to-day operations in the different districts are done by the militia system, and the guard is not required to take care of those duties.

But some special circumstances require skillsets, and this is where the guards themselves come in.

The Cappalina City Guard is divided not by districts or area but by skillsets, and each department is in charge of a certain operation within the requirement of law enforcement.

Each department has a leader controlling the day-to-day operations of their department, but the control they each hold in their respective department varies due to the nature of work each department do

Cappalina BWAT: Also known as the Enforcers. They are the Guard's finest warriors. They rapidly respond to any immediate danger the city might face that can't be handled by the usual militia. Riots, gang war, large scale raids, etc. Their ruthless effectiveness is famous throughout Erasti.

Department of Accounting: The district militias in the city of Cappalina have immense power in the daily life of its citizens, and they also carry the legal authorities to carry out the duties they have each day.

But it doesn't mean they have free reign. When a militia is in need of inspections, legal counseling, and general auditing, the accountants are sent to assess the situation and report.

The Department of Accounting is one of many mysteries of Cappalina, the information regarding how they operate is scarce, and only very few confess having seen them in action.

### Notable NPCs

*Sorcerer Contantinus Bandolino:* *Often hired sorcerer working for the City Guard of Cappalina, he is dangerous but extremely effective. He leaves a trail of destruction as he literally blasts crimes one by one.*