View source for City Council and The City Guard

The original City Guard was begun by Dane of the [[Order of the Sable Moon]], and was partly responsible for bringing peace in a time of war. 

Elder Balthiir tasked Isun to take over the reigns of the ancient City Guard, and Soulthief to revive the old City Council. 

The Council was to be a law-making body that would help govern the Dream State, and it was intended that the City Guard would join with the council and enforce its edicts. 

The ideas for the City Council fell through, but the City Guard remained and would help the City through difficult times.


==City Guard Preamble==

Nunquam non paratus!

Always ready


Guard Creed


We the dreamers of the City Guard, are committed to defending the city from any and all threats and to assisting new dreamers as they enter the dream.

In upholding our mission we are driven:

To protect [[Underlight]] from the force of [[Chaos]]

To help prevent our generation and those to come from the destruction of war.

To restore the City to its previous strength and glory perhaps even to improve it to insure the continuing social progress of the City.


To accomplish these goals, we vow:

To unite our strength to maintain peace and security 

To spread acceptance and tolerance through example

To evoke our arts for the benefit of other dreamers and the City

To share the power of our knowledge with the newly and recently awakened, in the hopes that they too, will use it in the service of [[Underlight]].


==Statement of Protocol==

The City Guard is to conduct itself professionally at all times, regardless of situation or involved affiliations. 

The Guard represents the City of [[Underlight]] in the aspects of keeping the peace for the entire dream, and not just a particular organization. 

All house beliefs are to be set aside when making a judgement call, and no Guard member is to be forced to ignore his/her beliefs when handling a violent situation. 

If necessary, it should be handed off to a Guardsman that can defend using violence.


Guard Uniform

Chalk clothing
To be worn while representing the City Guard.


=PROTOCOL=

If alerted of a situation after it has occurred:

Find both involved, victim and suspect, and any available witnesses.

Find out the background to the situation from both parties, one at a time, not allowing the opposing party to speak during this initial questioning.

Then question the witnesses to confirm or deny the validity of both sides.

Determine from this questioning whom to speak with first, be it suspect or victim.

Keep in mind that a witness may be biased, due to affiliation, so find out all applicable information, not opinion.

Question the facts presented.

Allow both sides to speak calmly and comment on facts discussed.

Maintain control of both parties, not allowing the discussion to escalate into a dispute or possible violent situation.

After listening to the facts, separate the two parties involved and question each individually for information they may feel inclined to withhold, due to being intimidated.

After you feel you have all available facts, determine who is at fault, and report it to the proper authorities. (I.E. any available house guardian or ruler, if applicable, or make note on a codex and turn it in to the administration department to keep record of the offense.)

If necessary, escort the parties to a safe location, such as threshold.

Keep in mind, we are not the law. We cannot lay judgement or punishment without consensus of either the organization/house responsible for the suspect, or the majority of the Guard.


If you witness a situation:

Resolve the immediate problem.

Attempt to intervene without violence.

Isolate the two parties for questioning.

Continue with investigation as outlined above.


If the problem involves a violent act:

Identify yourself as a City Guardsman. 
Use the saying "City Guard! Cease and Desist!"(fire a warning shot into the air-to get attention)

Demand that both parties cease the act of violence.

If necessary, try to forcefully break up the situation. (I.E. Paralyze, Scare, Stagger, etc.) Do NOT damage either party.

If all else fails, threaten to fire upon them.
If you have exhausted all options, and either your safety or any other innocent's safety is in danger, fire upon the aggressor. (the Guard should be using low-lvl effect chaks. Chalk chaks should only be used if there are no effect chaks available).

Do NOT collapse the aggressor unless he'she continues to resist. This is a LAST resort and is not condoned by the administration of the Guard, unless is dire need.

Remember, we try to protect, not harm.

Inform the proper authorities of the actions. Involve any house officials if applicable.

If time allows, evacuate any by-standers. Make sure all innocents are safe.

Try to find some form of back-up. If none is available, try to find a representative from both parties affiliations. Guardians of their house is preferred, if House members.


The Security Protocol:

Follow the above protocol when handling altercations at social events with the following exceptions.

Protect all the innocents first and foremost.

Isolate the parties involved from the gathering. Do not allow the situation to continue in public.

Protect the integrity and privacy of the group asking our assistance.

Do not allow unwelcome d guests into the group under any circumstances.

Offer to relay a message if necessary, or find and escort the requested party to the uninvited guest.

At any gathering, if you must leave the event, find a replacement.Never leave the gathering without security, if they have requested it.


Detective Protocol:

Follow all above questioning tactics with the following exceptions:

On any undercover operation, maintain your cover regardless of situation. Find a uniformed Guardsman if you need to confront a suspect.

While undercover, you are not given the authority to disobey the three basic laws of the City, nor are you permitted to violate oaths and strictures given by a house or organization. All houses' rights must be observed.


Administrative Protocol:

All Guardsmen involved in a situation should take note of the event and notify the Administration dept as soon as possible, but no longer than at the next Guard meeting. If possible, take notes and include entries from your "Journal of memories" ((chat logs)).

If any witness wishes to remain anonymous, do not release names to any of the Guard or parties involved OTHER than to Erasmus. Make sure to include ALL details in any reports, even the most obscure details.


Internal Conflict Protocol:

Any internal conflicts between Guardsmen should be handled through your Squad leader or the Captain of the Guard. 

If it involves your Squad leader, notify the Captain of the Guard. 

All information will remain classified.


===References===
*https://web.archive.org/web/20001217211900/http://pages.prodigy.net/cdkramer/ul_city_guard_scrolls/cg_page.html
*https://web.archive.org/web/20001217211900/http://pages.prodigy.net/cdkramer/ul_city_guard_scrolls/cg_page.html
*https://web.archive.org/web/20030805163904/http://www.underlight.com/php/story/history.php?histID=00011

[[Category:City Histories]]