Guard

Public officers of the law in cities and large settlements, Guards protect the populace from the dangers both inside and outside the walls. If it looks like guards spend their time loitering and playing cards, it’s because most of the time the mere presence of a guard is enough to make petty criminals move along.

Guards occupy a variety of stations, ranging from lowly bar bouncers to royal men-at-arms who protect the royal family and their most prized possessions.

• Skill Proficiency: Perception.

• Additional Equipment: Manacles, a badge of office*.

*Negligible item of no value.

Ability: Informant

Upon spending an hour asking around and succeeding on a medium-DC Wisdom (Perception) check, you can find a contact within the local constabulary or guard hierarchy. This contact begins as friendly to you and will answer questions you have regarding local wanted criminals, law enforcement, and ongoing or previous investigations.

Ranks

Rank 1 – Town Militia

You have joined the local town militia out of necessity or desire. Either way, your duties have included many sleepless nights on watch, and many tedious days spent idly standing guard.

Holdings:

• Sensitive information relating to an unsolved murder that you have not told anyone about allowing you to perform /pc-profession to advance your career.

Progression: Solve a crime or uncover a major smuggling route.

• Spend a total of 1,200 hours patrolling the streets.

Rank 2 – Captain of the Watch

Your dedication to your city has not gone unnoticed, and you have been promoted to Captain of the Watch. You now lead a small detail of guards who follow your orders.

Holdings:

• Access to the keys to the city gates.
• A group of militia guards to train and organize as you see fit.
  • Grants a +1 bonus to your Wisdom proficiency bonus when performing your profession.

Progression: Catch a renowned criminal before they can escape the city, or another act worthy of a promotion.

• Spend a total of 2,400 hours patrolling the streets.

Rank 3 – Palace Guard

You have shown initiative and critical thinking under strain in leading your guard detail and have been suitably promoted to the rank of Palace Guard. Your loyalty is highly valued, and your discretion is even more so.

Your focus has shifted from keeping the peace to protecting the most important places and people in the city.

Holdings:

• Unquestioned access to restricted areas of the city.
• Permission to view the case files of ongoing investigations and past crimes. You can also access documents detailing guard routes and rosters.
  • Grants a +1 bonus to your Wisdom proficiency bonus when performing your profession. Stacks with prior rank (+2 total).

Progression: Save a VIP from an assassination attempt, rescue a kidnapped princess, or anything of equal import to be promoted.

• Spend a total of 4,800 hours patrolling the streets.

Rank 4 – Lord Commander

You now command the entire law enforcement system of your area, with accompanying fortresses and militia. You stand as the final authority for most executive and judicial problems in your region, making you the physical embodiment of the law. When the leaders of your city need protection or want a crime investigated, they go through you.

Holdings:

• You report directly to the highest officials and have the ear of the monarch on matters of the city’s defenses.

Source: Adapted from Grim Hollow Campaign