Politics: Security Branch

Politics: Security Branch Politics: Security Branch

The Guard is devoted to the defense of Rephidim and to the Temple. It is primarily concerned with the defense of Rephidim from outside attack, the apprehension of criminals, and protecting members of the Temple. However, the Temple's military falls under the jurisdiction of the Guard as well, though Guard forces may at times be placed under the authority of an Inquisitor, or under the Knights Templar.

Due to ability or tradition (most likely the latter), most Guardsmen are of City Jupani stock, though the fliers are necessarily composed mainly of Eeee and Vartans. Officers, especially those in command of air ships in the Temple's fleet, tend to be of poodle Gallee stock.

1.1 Temple Guard

Temple Guards typically wear red chitin armor and robes of white, the robes covering most of their armor save for the shoulder pauldrons, and bearing the emblem of the Star and Anchor. Schemes deviating from this indicate a "special forces" status, or else special assignment as the personal guards of a Temple official. At times, they are also assigned to duties beyond Rephidim -- as guards for dignitaries traveling abroad, or for expeditions into First Ones sites.

Temple Guards typically have Novice to Average fighting ability.

1.2 City Watch

Guards are not found only in the Temple, but are assigned the duty to patrol Rephidim City ... and, to a limited extent, the areas beyond it, such as the Bazaar. They generally are not found in Darkside except in special circumstances, due to the anarchy that reigns there, and a tendency of many Darksiders to try to kill the City Watch on general principle (and for the one gold shekel bounty on the head of any City Watch member that can be killed within the borders of Darkside).

A City Watch patrol typically consists of two to four City Jupani, optionally accompanied by a Zelak purchased from the Hives. They are armed with chitin blades, and wear chitin armor. In game terms, the average member of the City watch has Novice to Average fighting ability -- more likely the latter if patrolling higher risk areas. They wear the same red-and-white uniform as that of Temple Guards, and it is not unusual for Guards to be swapped between City Watch and Temple Guard duty as deemed necessary.

1.3 Elite Guard

The Elite Guard are assigned the task to protect members of the Bridge (including the Captain-Astromancer), and to protect especially sensitive areas. They are rarely seen outside of the Temple, save for the Honor Guard on the Temple steps. They typically wear a variation on the uniform of the Temple Guard, with colors of black and silver instead of red and white. At times, however, they will wear full suits of chitin armor. They are armed with swords and either flintlocks or shields. Officers may carry a flintlock pistol as well.

The Elite Guardsmen are recruited from the ranks of the Temple Guard, though at times they may come from the Knights Templar. (On occasion, there is a candidate to become a Lancer who isn't quite ready to give up his identity, and is given the option to transfer to the Guard instead.) Elite Guardsmen are Good fighters or better.

From time to time, Elite Guardsmen are rotated out into Temple Guard roles abroad, to make sure that they don't lose their "edge". In this case, Elite Guardsmen are usually given command of a group of Temple Guards.

1.4 Temple Rangers

Temple Rangers are assigned the duty of protecting the Rephidim countryside. They are expected to be not only warriors and policemen, but their role makes them caretakers and public-relations representatives as well. They tend to patrol the wilderness areas around the estates of the nobility in the Noble Quarter, though they're also charged with patrolling the places on the island of Rephidim but far beyond the city. Rephidim is large enough that this is a nearly impossible task, but the Temple Rangers are often the first on the scene when there is a forest fire or airship crash in the wild, and they're typically deployed on the occasion when there's a lost cub in the woods.

Temple Rangers tend to work alone, only sometimes in pairs, and this can be a fairly high-risk job at times. (That is not to say that they are above corruption -- It is not unheard-of for some Temple official to see to it that the son of a wealthy family is given a safe little patrol in the woods where there's minimal chance of any action.) There is always the chance of encountering a Darksider, and many Darksiders have a tendency to attack lone Guards or Rangers on general principle (and in the hopes of collecting an illegal bounty).

The official uniform of a Temple Ranger is a variation on the armor and robes of the Temple Guard, but in colors of dark brown and forest green. However, given the requirements of the job, Temple Rangers may wear hardened leather instead of chitin.

The average Temple Ranger has at least Average fighting skill, at least Average Woodsman skill, and at least Novice Riding (being given the option to use a mount to cover a wider range). Temple Rangers are usually City Jupani, or of some other species with natural tracking abilities.

1.5 Air Guard

Given that many threats to the Temple can be airborne, the Temple's defenses have to be as well. The Air Guard, which shares the red-and-white uniform scheme of the Temple Guard, is comprised wholly of fliers -- usually Vartans and Eeee. They sometimes perform aerial patrols, but are most instrumental in coordinating pursuit of fleeing suspects.

1.6 Air Fleet

Rephidim Temple has control of several airships, not the least of which would be the gargantuan battleship Intimidator. These are assigned the tasks of ferrying diplomats and expedition crews from point to point, maintaining blockades and quarantines of certain surface locations, moving troops to/from the surface, and providing aerial defense of Rephidim and its holdings.

Air Fleet captains tend not to be drawn from the ranks of the other Guard branches, but rather are trained in the Temple Academy. Many of the Academy's graduates go on to civilian pursuits, but others become officers in the Air Fleet or, in the event of war, in charge of Rephidim's ground forces. Given tradition, Air Fleet officers have a large number of poodle Gallees in their ranks, though there are other species to be found as well. (It tends to be a little more diverse than the other branches of the Guard.)

2.0 Inquisition

The Inquisition concerns itself with matters of intelligence and investigation, though the exact boundaries of its jurisdiction have become vague at times -- partially due to corruption within the Temple, and a tendency of more powerful officers to push their authority into other areas.

Inquisitors may investigate crimes against the Temple, but have enough leeway that they may sometimes deal out punishment as well -- The average Rephidimite has very little in the way of true "rights", after all. The judicial system is most often used for members of the nobility, or other high-profile citizens. Common criminals may expect a stay in the "Hospitality Suites" only if there's any hope of gaining some sort of information from them. Otherwise, they may simply be quietly dispatched, depending upon the severity of the crime.

Inquisitors also at times investigate relics and ruins, since the Technopriesthood is typically too busy to deal with such matters, and they may even sometimes be asked to act in a diplomatic capacity. The Inquisition can be, at times, a "catch-all" department.

2.1 Arch-Inquisitor Supreme

The head of the Inquisition is the Arch-Inquisitor Supreme. He is in direct communication with the Inquisition's representative on the Bridge, and with the other heads of the Security departments. Previously, the Arch-Inquisitors Majores were directly under the Arch-Inquisitor Supreme, but with a recent restructuring of the department, the Arch-Inquisitors are now the next step down.

2.2 Arch-Inquisitors Majores

The title of "Arch-Inquisitor Majoris" is now largely retired, due to a restructuring of the Inquisition. Previously, the Arch-Inquisitors Majores were below the Arch-Inquisitor Supreme, and had multiple Arch-Inquisitors serving underneath them. Each Arch-Inquisitor Majoris would have a different two-color scheme to his robes, and his underlings would have uniforms of similar design.

Now, the title of "Arch-Inquisitor Majoris" only exists as an honorary, occasionally used to refer to certain long-lived members of the Inquisition who held that position before. More often, they are simply referred to as "Arch-Inquisitors". Some sub-sets of the Inquisition still follow the old tradition of having uniforms of colors that identify what Arch-Inquisitor they serve under, but this has by and large gone by the wayside.

2.3 Arch-Inquisitors

The Arch-Inquisitors once served under the Arch-Inquisitors Majores, but this now represents a tier reporting directly to the Arch-Inquisitor Supreme. Each Arch-Inquisitor has several Inquisitors and Investigators under his direct authority, and usually has one or two personal guards. One of the Arch-Inquisitors serves as a liaison with the Knights Templar -- a duty that officially would fall to the Arch-Inquisitor Supreme, but which has been traditionally delegated to one of his underlings.

2.4 Inquisitors

Inquisitors are the backbone of the Inquisition. The job carries a wide range of duties; some Inquisitors focus on a particular subset of those duties, while others are more versatile. They investigate serious crimes, handle the questioning of criminals, process Exiles, and investigate problems with internal affairs of the Temple. They may be dispatched on occasion to study sites of First Ones relics. Inquisitors hold a certain degree of authority, and can call for the assistance of Guards to help them perform their duties. Most Inquisitors have a secretary or personal assistant, but only the most important have permanently assigned personal guards. Inquisitors generally have little involvement with administrative duties -- unlike the Arch-Inquisitors.

Inquisitors sometimes wear uniforms rather than robes, having a much more active role than their superiors.

2.5 Investigators

Investigators have the least authority and influence of the Inquisition members. They are analagous to "junior Inquisitors," charged with investigating less serious crimes which do not warrant the attention of an Inquisitor. Investigators typically report directly to Arch-Inquisitors, rather than answering to Inquisitors. However, Investigators may on occasion work as part of a team lead by an Inquisitor on major cases requiring many hands.

2.6 Executors

Unlike Investigators and Inquisitors, Executors specialize in the capture of known criminals who have proven particularly elusive. Since their specialty is comparatively narrow, there are far fewer Executors than Investigators or Inquisitors. Because they are dealing with known criminals, Executors come across as even more heavy-handed than the rest of the Inquisition. They are commonly referred to as "Executioners" and are often feared and disliked by the regular citizenry (and even other Templars). Executors sometimes capture criminals on Rephidim, but more often they are involved in pursuits to various surface countries, where treaties with Rephidim allow the Executors to carry out their missions.

3.0 Knights Templar

Please note: The information presented here on the Knights Templar reflects the way the Order was before recent events that resulted in its separation from the Temple, and replacement with a new set of Knightly Orders. It is still listed here only for the sake of history.

The Knights Templar, also known as the Order of the Bounded Star and Anchor, have their base of operations at Golgotha, a headquarters built into the base of the mountain at the center of the sky island of Rephidim, outside city limits. Sometimes it is considered another "branch" of the Temple, since it is almost an autonomous organization. Still, it draws most of its members from the Temple Guard, and some of the Squires trained under the Order may go on to serve as officers in the Guard, or in other Temple positions.

The Knights Templar have Sanctuaries that serve as outposts on the surface of Sinai in many locations, where the Temple has varying degrees of presence -- often monasteries, or set at holy places. In times of war, the Knights Templar band together to join Rephidim's fighting forces.

The term "Knight" is a misnomer (perhaps just a bad translation), as while they may own land privately, there is no ownership of land tied to their position -- save for their assignment to guard Sanctuaries associated with their Lances.

3.1 Champions

The Knights Templar are divided into Lances, usually segregated by species and gender. Most Lances are headed by a Champion, who is identified wholly by the identity of his or her station, rather than by personal name. The Champion is associated with a different Aspect, which is also exemplified by the Lance that the Champion leads. Due to attrition in the ranks, and the time and difficulty in forming new Lances, there may be a Champion without a Lance, or a Lance without a Champion.

Champions are always proficient fighters, of at least Expert skill, trained in the use of at least one melee weapon, at least one ranged weapon, in the use of the lance, and in beast-riding. They wear antique armor, and their weapons typically have a long history.

Although some Champions may already have families, when they take this position, they are expected to take a vow of chastity. Historically, this is believed to be tied to problems with "hereditary" claims to succession in the ranks of the Lancers. Many of them take vows of silence. This is because a Lancer is expected to put his personal identity aside upon taking such a position, although a Lancer may from time to time be assigned to a new Lance and a new name. A Champion, however -- barring disgrace or retirement -- is expected to be a Champion for life and the warrior foreswears his previous life, instead taking on the identity of this Champion: The Champion of Roses, the Champion of Ashes, the Champion of Amber, and so forth. While the armor and mask may hide the warrior's identity, and establish it anew as that particular Champion, to speak is to perhaps betray one's prior identity ... or perhaps to risk saying things that would dishonor the tradition of that Champion. Therefore, many choose to keep silent.

3.2 Lancers

The Lancers comprise the bulk of the Knights Templar, assigned to different teams known as Lances. Traditionally, these consist of four warriors serving under a Champion. In reality, however, Lances vary in size, since the requirements for admission are strict, the time for training is long, and traditions further restrict the ability to assign replacements. Some may be smaller due to losses, while others may be significantly larger, as new Knights Templar may be assigned to a "holding" Lance until enough warriors of similar ability can be assigned together to form a new Lance.

The Black Lance, headed by the Champion of Ashes, is an example of one of these "holding" Lances, comprised of Jupani warriors. It is the largest Lance, although there is a "core" of four warriors at any given time who most often accompany the Champion on special missions.

3.3 Squires

Squires are, in theory, Knights Templar in training. They may be children being raised in the ways of the Knights, or adult warriors transferred from the Guard, going through a period of training before being inducted into a Lance. Young squires are sponsored either by a member of the Order, or else by an outside supporter (usually their families). Older Squires brought over from the Guard may still be serving in their original roles, taking time off to partake in training exercises with the Order.

Squires are expected to not only take part in training exercises and (generally in the case of children) schooling, but also to perform various menial tasks for the Lancers. The majority of Squires "drop out" rather than joining the Order, or else they may be extended offers from the Guard, or other departments in the Temple.

3.4 Monks

There are many monks associated with the Sanctuaries held by the Knights Templar, and at Golgotha. Some of these are retired Knights Templar or Champions. Some "monks" are actually beholden to other departments of the Temple (typically the Priesthood), but assigned to stations at the Sanctuaries. Some are Squires who never were selected to become Lancers (or perhaps were offered the position and declined), but nonetheless wished to remain with the Order.

The monks are charged with the maintenance of operations for the Knights Templar, as caretakers for the grounds, cooking food, cleaning clothes, and other mundane affairs, but certain monks (particularly those retired from the Lancers) hold some authority.

4.0 Temple Scouts

This is the newest department in the Security Division, comprised of very young members who are essentially being trained and tested to eventually take up positions in the Temple when they are old enough and deemed capable. The Temple Scouts provide a means for citizens to see to it that their children are educated, if they are not wealthy enough to get into the College of Natural Sciences or to hire private tutors, or if their children do not have the aptitude to gain the attention of the Collegia Esoterica. The selection process can be fairly ruthless, however, and some parents are not willing to submit their children to the Temple Scout program, for fear of the indoctrination their children will go through, and the fear that their children might actually be used as spies on family activities.

4.1 Den Leaders

Den Leaders are adult leaders assigned to the Temple Scouts. In actuality, Den Leaders are drawn from other departments and branches of the Temple, still holding positions elsewhere, but simultaneously serving in a leadership capacity for the Temple Scout "Dens". The hierarchy of Den Leaders is based upon their respective ranks in their own departments. They are responsible for organizing Temple Scout events and lessons.

The responsibility for the day-to-day operation of the Temple Scouts is spread across the branches and departments: The Technopriests oversee the manufacture of Temple Scout Cookies. The Priesthood handles education for the Scouts. The Temple Guard and Temple Rangers typically oversee field trips and camping expeditions. Various departments are called upon to give the Temple Scouts tours of their areas, and lessons on what is involved in their work. (After all ... the Temple Scouts may be future members of their particular departments.)

4.2 Temple Scout Cookies

Temple Scouts raise funds for their own activities by the sale of Temple Scout Cookies. While these have apparently no nutritional value, they're still rather popular, and they're so packed with preservatives that they rarely go bad. A rumor among travelers is that a box of Temple Scout Cookies actually survived a journey through Bosch unscathed.

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