Commander Griff's page

Robbie grins at the win. "Hmmm, you're not too bad for a copper."

You have heard of a high-ranking Barber named Badger but initial efforts to find him prove fruitless. Frizell swoops down with orders to return to the station.

....

Griff listens as you fill him in, then gives orders. "It's probably just a rumor, but I want you to stake out the museum tonight. Osku will be in charge. You've got a little time to do some reconaissance. Try not to break anything. I am taking my wife out to the theater for our anniversary."

Hazel executes a flawless feint only to strike hard muscle ineffectually.

After the training session, Chubb swears you in, reading flatly in a loud voice. "I swear to faithfully uphold the laws of the City of Absalom. I will not abuse my position. I will protect the innocent. Over....." (Here he flips the page.) "I will faithfully follow my superior officers and be ready to confront danger. I will support my fellow officers. To each other we pledge our lives. So help me insert deity."

There is a small ceremony where Griff gives each of you a badge. "Wear this badge with pride, and be worthy of it. You're going to go on patrol with senior officers. Two of you with Chubb and two with Osku. You, Frizell...you seem to know how to handle that bird of yours. You're the eye in the sky. Keep an eye on the two squads and let them know if there is any trouble about. Oh, speaking of birds....we have a sophisticated and modern communication system here. HIDGE!!!!"

A disheveled and thin old man with wisps of hair enters the room, dressed in a coat forty years out of fashion. He has four pigeons on his shoulders. He presents each of you save Frizell with a pigeon. "Yep...the latest thing. Genuine carrier pigeons. Specially trained to find you anywhere. But you have to carry them around for a while so they can attune to you." Osku and Chubb give each other an amused look.

Griff speaks up again. "Don't worry, it's just for a day. Leave your books here, you can study them later. Any questions, the senior officers will help you. Your assignment today is to get to know the precinct. Walk around, listen for rumors. Talk to the shop owners, people on the street. Boots on the street. These boots here...they know every cobblestone around." He motions to his own well-polished but definitely broken-in boots.

You decide where to go to listen for rumors. Pretty much any kind of business, Absalom will have.

Five new squad members are summoned to the precinct office. Some kind of new storefront is under construction down the street. You enter the station, let by a rotund red-faced officer with the unfortunate name of Chubb. "Commander Duncan Griff", he announces. Griff looks strangely familiar as you realize he was the bartender from across the street. Griff smiles as recognition dawns. "You can learn a lot about a person when they don't know they are being watched. Lesson Number One. You've all been selected for this job because you're the best..." He flips through the stack of applications. "...because you were available. Never mind that. We've had some unrest in this city. Established citizens not liking all the newcomers. Newcomers feeling like they aren't represented. Well, this is a prosperous city. It's a busy city. But a city's only as good as its laws. And the laws are only good as long as they are respected. So that's where you come in. We're the new face of the city watch. We're going to show that anybody who comes here, and respects the laws, and is willing to work, has a place in this city. We want everyone to trust the Watch, from the nobles down to the dirtiest goblin at the city dump. Because that's the best way to keep order."

"You'll get assigned to patrols soon enough, but first you have to complete some basic training. You each need to study this." He plops down a book big enough for a halfling to use for weight training. "Laws and Regulations of the City of Absalom, with Official Procedures", it reads. "Chubb here will take you to combat training."

Any questions?

Chubb leads you to a training area where he runs you through some procedures on the use of force. "Our first job is to protect the citizens. We can use lethal force when people are threatened, including ourselves, but you don't even want to know the paperwork that creates. Much better to subdue them and arrest them and let the legal system deal with them. Sgt. Osku here is going to give you some instruction." He introduces you to a huge muscled half-orc officer who proceeds to show you some basic techniques for the use of nonlethal force. Then he passes out some padded nightsticks and invites each of you in turn to try to take him down.

d6 nonlethal attack vs. AC 18 or combat maneuver vs. CMD 20

The next morning finds the five new squad members waiting at the precinct office. Some kind of new storefront is under construction down the street. You enter the station, let by a rotund red-faced officer with the unfortunate name of Chubb. "Commander Duncan Griff", he announces. Griff looks strangely familiar as you realize he was the bartender from across the street. Griff smiles as recognition dawns. "You can learn a lot about a person when they don't know they are being watched. Lesson Number One. You've all been selected for this job because you're the best..." He flips through the stack of applications. "...because you were available. Never mind that. We've had some unrest in this city. Established citizens not liking all the newcomers. Newcomers feeling like they aren't represented. Well, this is a prosperous city. It's a busy city. But a city's only as good as its laws. And the laws are only good as long as they are respected. So that's where you come in. We're the new face of the city watch. We're going to show that anybody who comes here, and respects the laws, and is willing to work, has a place in this city. We want everyone to trust the Watch, from the nobles down to the dirtiest goblin at the city dump. Because that's the best way to keep order."

"You'll get assigned to patrols soon enough, but first you have to complete some basic training. You each need to study this." He plops down a book big enough for a halfling to use for weight training. "Laws and Regulations of the City of Absalom, with Official Procedures", it reads. "Chubb here will take you to combat training."