The Guard:
The Protector of
Aislings
Introduction:
Advancing Guard Skills:
Other Issues:
1- Introduction
How to be a guard
The art of Guardsmanship is a delicate
one. You must know every law, have it all memorized in the back of your mind
waiting to be let out. You must obey the laws at all times and never be judgmental,
always remain un-bias no matter what the case it. When presented with a problem,
hear out all sided of the story and make a decision. If the decision is too
difficult, consult a Guard Captain or a Judge. Even another guard may help you
out, don't be afraid to ask, remember you are a guide and protector to these
people, do anything to seek justice. Read and memorize any guard standards laws
and especially read the guard conduct laws if you are a Mileth Guard. Once you
have gained focus, bear your tabard and set out to bring justice to these dark
ages...
Proper Guard Etiquette
Always stay focused in your goal and don't
be wavered by those who want to manipulate their way out of things. Keep your
temper in check and always explain what is not understood. If you cannot explain,
don't panic, ask another official for help. Never take sides in 2 cases, it
doesn't matter if it is your best friend and your worst enemy, be un-bias at
all times, it is your duty, don't abuse it. Never deal punishment for personal
reasons or self gain. Always make a report of all banishments you have. Once
again, read guard procedure laws especially the Mileth guard conduct law. Don't
be bias because of someone's companions or the guild he is in, you don't know
him so don't judge him, and even if you do know him, remain un-bias at all times.
Try to obey this basic etiquette and your guardsmanship can be refined to new
levels as you go along.
Handling Trouble
Makers
Lets put it this way, when Deoch made the
aisling, some of the ones that he got weren't what he had in mind. Like all
orchards there is a bad apple; every vine has a rotten grape and every community
has a troublemaker . Lets take an aisling for example I have grown to detest
over the Deochs. Zeken. He look normal (to an extent) he seems normal (when
he's asleep) and he... OK, hold up right there. This is an assumption of a non
experienced guard. Behaviors of a troublemaker can be seen as profanity, sexual
and non sexual harassment. Acting like one is on a combination of hemlock and
nila dust all packs into 1 thing, a trouble maker. These aislings don't care
about others and like to get a reaction from guards and officials. Stay in a
professional manner but it doesn't hurt to show him up a little, but that is
off the record and not normal procedure (ex. Zeken asks me to kiss his arse
and I reply telling him to wipe it first, course this is not normal procedure,
I just like to show up troublemakers, make them feel less invincible). When
a trouble maker comes watch for heresy and profanity. If he is a troublemaker
and you know it, give only 2 warnings for heresy and 1 for harassment (Mileth
laws) after that dispose of him ASAP, chances are he will posses another aisling's
body and do the same thing. Do the previous procedure about 3 times, then just
ban when you recognize him. By then you may stop writing reports. Other trouble
makers are high insight and will make you lose your temper than outwit you on
laws. Just ignore them, although they are troublemakers they don't use immature
techniques as the ones described above do. Ignore them and they'll get bored
and leave.
Seeking Help
Every guard has a time in their life when
they can't handle some of these things alone. Weather it be understanding a
law, or handling a troublemaker, one of these days you will need help. Solution:
ask for it. Almost all guards will help with the understanding of laws. If they
know it themselves, they will explain it in better perspective. Ask for veteran
guard's help (about 3-4 guard terms) or ask a Guard Captain/Judge. When it is
the understanding of a law you can pretty much ask anyone. When it comes to
handling aislings, ask a fellow guard unless this is a particularly serious
case that needs the insight of a guard captain. If none of the above work, stall
and read the laws while he is telling you needed information, the aislings don't
need to know that you do not understand the laws they have based their case
on, as always read the laws so that this situation hopefully doesn't come.
2- Advancing Guard Skills
Dealing With Advanced
Cases
Not all cased require a look at, making
a decision and dishing out punishment. In cases such as theft and harassment,
evidence and witnesses will be required. First off, get witness names. Second,
ask the aisling to mail you his/her memories ((screenshots)) by ((E-mail)).
While the aisling is doing this (the he/she has memories that is) speak to the
witnesses about the situation and what they witnessed. If you notice a long
awaited pause before an answer tell him and the complainant (if he isn't mailing
memories) to ignore whispers ((F4)). They may be making up this story as they
go along through whispers and if you disable this, you can find nooks and crannies
in their story. Also, if this is the case, separate them in 2 areas. Every once
and a while try to whisper them and make sure they cant hear you. If they can
hear you, crack down on them about how they are incriminating themselves by
doing this. If it happens a second time, demand an explanation and you decide
if it is sufficient enough to not throw their case out the window. Also speak
with the accused aisling in an advanced case. Hear both sides and get the accused
memories and witnesses in the same manner as you did the accuser. Review the
witness reports and the memories and finally do the hard part, make the decision
Look for loopholes in the stories and take into consideration what the memories
really show. Do this and you can make a case over. Lucky you, now you get to
do another case soon enough =).
Who's Lying and Who's
Telling the Truth?
Ahh yes, the good ol' your word against
mine situation. No legitimate witnesses. Inconclusive evidence (note this situation
only comes in a case that evidence/witnesses are not required, just recommended)
and both sided have a completely different story to what happened. What do you
do? Separate them. Ask them exact same questions and look into answers. If there
is a somewhat of a pause, take that into consideration, he may have to think
about his answer but also take into consideration his speaking speed. He may
just be slow. Think closely on what they are talking about (ex. If they say
he was fighting a scorpion at the time in crypt 3-1, you can tell there is a
bad part of the story there) and listen for mistakes. Push them for answers
and don't let them take a breather. If they are lying, they may very well buckle
under the pressure. Be consistent and persistent. If all else fails, since there
is not enough incrimination against each other, you'll have to dismiss the case
(as it often ends up) and make a report about it. This may be a tough choice,
but justice is blind without evidence to be seen.
The Art of Investigating
Some crimes are not going to be open and
shut in a few seconds. When evidence lacks and witnesses are no where to be
found, you are the one who has to find them. The main crime that will take investigation
is murder, so we will use it as an example. First off, find a guard captain
or anyone to assist, doing this solo can be difficult. Next, go to the location
of the crime and look for the victims and make sure you get their names. Then
look for witnesses, asking if anyone saw anything that may have pertained to
murder like healing monsters, Sgrios summons and such. Try to get the name of
the accused from the witnesses. Get memories also if their are any. Once you
have all known witness, victim and accused names, ask the victims if they wish
to press charges. If so, state that in your report. Make a formal report using
the proper report format and send it to both the justice case board (Mileth)
and to a local judge. If a judge is not available, a guard captain. Make sure
you have done enough investigating so all the judge/Guard Captain has to do
it set up a trial and get the people to that trial. Make sure you get all names
including accused witness names. Also mail your memories to the judge. Make
sure if you are new to guard that you get a veteran guard to assist you, or
if you are a veteran yourself, get any guard who can follow commands. Splitting
up to get names and such will help and reporting findings to each other will
also speed this up. Time is of the essence in an investigation. Only after the
investigation is concluded, and the report sent to the judge can punishment
be dealt.
3- Other Issues
Friends and the Law
This situation all goes back to the bias issue. Here
is a common rule for guard, everyone is innocent until proven guilty and Justice
does not care if it is your friend or enemy in a dispute. When a friend gets
into trouble, like he starts to speak heretically, warn him. If he continues,
warn him again. Eventually, banish him. If he's a friend he'll understand that
guard comes first, friends come later. Also, if a friend complains to you about
a case and you immediately banish the accused because it is your friend complaining
you are showing bad guardsmanship right there and is subject for removal and
punishment for abuse of power. If your friend wants you to be unbanished because
another guard banished him, take into regard the Persistence of Law (Mileth)
and you will not bear your tabard for long if you un-banish him. Always look
at things as a guard, not as a friend.
Higher Authorities
Now what do you do if you are ordered by a higher rank
in office to punish someone? Simple, get the info. If this person is a guard
or in the law enforcement business s/he can do it his/herself without you. There
must be a reason for asking you. Look into the situation briefly and make a
snap judgment. Then make a report about the punishment declaring that the higher
authority person did indeed tell you to do so. If this was punishment for an
corrupt reason manipulated by the higher official, it will show so in the report
once investigated and that official may not be in office for much longer. If
you have a problem with higher authorities, go to an even higher one for help.
If a Guard you are having trouble with. Go to a Guard Captain. Guard Captain,
go to a judge. Judge, go to the burgess or mundanes. There is always a solution
to problems with aislings, it is your job as a guard to find them.
Intimidation
As a guard, you will see aislings try to
intimidate you into submission to avoid punishment or other hindering effects
to them. Don't give into threats. It is against the law to intimidate someone
in this way and will add on to whatever punishment they may be getting dealt.
If they threaten to remove you and do so, simply write the mundanes stating
you were removed for doing your job. You will be reinstated in office and the
"removers" will have to deal with the mundanes, not a pretty picture
((write them at aisling@darkages.com)).
Any intimidation after that will either cease or be dealt with further until
that aisling's ability to enter Temuair will not be existent. If you need to
deal with this intimidation/threat, ask a higher official for assistance before
the mundanes. Mundanes only do their job when all other procedures have failed.
The mundanes are here to help, not pamper, but that doesn't mean they stay away.
Try to get things solved with officials, after that write the mundanes. You
didn't become a guard to be threatened for doing your job, don't accept it when
it happens, fight it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How does the Mileth Law secret work?
A: Cast Mileth Law, then drop 1 coin and
go from there.
Q: What is heresy exactly?
A: Anything that does not pertain to Temuair,
being the earth-sea, or things that seem to be nonsense or gibberish. ((The
word video is Out Of Character and is not prohibited outside double brackets
like these.))
Q: If someone from Mileth commits a crime
in Rucesion or vica versa, who has the authority?
A: Some Rucesion laws protect all Rucesion
citizens anywhere. Mileth citizens are expected to obey their laws and especially
Rucesion laws while they are there. Read the jurisdiction law for the best answer
to this dilemma.
Q: What insight to be a guard?
A: 11th
Q: ((Do I have to be registered to be a
guard?))
A: Yes
Q: Is old English accent heresy?
A: No, it is not recommended that you use
it as an accent (like I do) but it has not been deemed illegal as of yet, read
the current heresy laws for more details.
Q: Is swearing against the law?
A: Any words that are not prohibited by
the mundanes and altered is considered heresy and profanity. The word "ass"
can be said but that is mainly for reference to a donkey and such. Profain words
used to degrate somebody is illegal.
Q: Where can and can't I wear my tabard?
A: Read the current jurisdiction law.
Q: How can I find out about any questions
not answered here?
A: Ask myself (NitroTFD) or any veteran
guard, guard captain or judge. Other officials may help also.
My Personal Experience
Well, I have been a guard for 4 terms and
am going to soon be a guard captain. Thus far in my guard life I have encountered
many things. Heretical, harassing trouble makers seek me out day in and day
out trying to get a rise out of me only to be shown up and eventually banished.
Higher insight aislings try to make me loose my temper and outwit me in the
laws, only to be outwitted themselves on laws they probably haven't even heard
of. Such is the way a veteran guard who does his job may operate. Soon the tough
cases will be daily and the harassment will increase. You will not pay so much
attention to the troublemakers and keep your cool around them. The higher insight
aislings will soon discover that you know the laws better than they do and leave
you alone. As time progresses, your name will get well known and more aislings
will be asking you for help than other guards. Also, you'll better realize that
this job is more important than you first comprehended and because you enforce
it with no remorse, you will be threatened with removals and such. Eventually
you will rise to Guard Captain and maybe even Judge, securing your place as
one of the greater guardians of Temuair and its people... Back
to the Top
NitroTFD
*Leader of the Lords de Niara*