The Mouse Guard
by David Petersen
The Duties of the Mouse Guard
Guardmice are responsible for patrolling the Territories, pathfinding, blazing new trails, delivering mail, escorting mice safely between settlements, watching the weather, running off predators, rescuing stranded mice, mediating disputes and maintaining the scent borders.Patrolling
The Guard never know when they will be needed or where, so the Guard patrol the known paths and visit towns to offer their services. Patrols are meant to survey the Territories and keep the Guard circulating between the settlements. Guardmice often spend more time away from Lockhaven than in it. They live in the open country. They stay for short visits at settlements before moving on. A patrol will normally have a route it follows or an itinerary left at Lockhaven so the gate watch of Lockhaven can keep tabs on it.Pathfinding and Clearing
Weather and growth can make a once passable and safe route unusable. The Guard clears paths for mice and makes them less inviting for predators.Trail Blazing
There are times when new trails and paths need to be made. The Guard sends out mice to not only make the path, but make sure it meets a standard: Paths should provide cover, plenty of places to hide and access to food and water.Delivering Mail
Messages need to be delivered, whether from townsmice, governors or even the Guard’s Matriarch. Because there are few means of communication between the settlements, the Guard will carry messages from a town they are leaving to a town they plan on visiting next. They usually do not head to a settlement specifically to deliver a message unless it’s vitally important.Escorting
It is the Guard’s duty to ensure safe passage from one settlement to another. The journeys can take several days, so the guardmice must keep watch overnight and be able to forage for food if necessary. Most often they’re escorting shipments of goods, but sometimes guardmice will lead mice to other settlements—dignitaries, mice who perform services or just mice wanting to visit another settlement.Weather Watching
While on patrol, it’s the guardmouse’s job to keep a close eye on the weather. He’s to report any dangerous signs to the nearest settlement so that all can be prepared for bad weather. The Guard knows that when bad weather comes, there is more chance of trouble.Hunting Predators
The Guard must deal with the animals who threaten mice. This can mean hunting predators, killing their young or ruining their burrows. There have been times in the Guard’s past (most recently the Winter War of 1149) when the Guard declared war on a species. In ‘49, a weasel overlord set his sights on invading the Territories. He wanted to capture the mice and breed them for food. Gwendolyn, the current Matriarch of the Guard, felt that a full-scale war was needed to drive the weasels out of the Territories. It was a hard-won victory.Rescuing Mice
It falls on the Guard’s shoulders to rescue mice who have gotten into trouble out in the wild. Regular mice are not well-trained enough to be in the open for long, so rescue missions are fairly common.Mediating Disputes
Some governors, mayors and councilmice will call on guardmice to act as mediators and arbiters in disputes between their towns.Maintaining the Scent Border
The Scent Border is a rough line across the southwest and northeast borders of the Territories. Along these borders, the Guard pour a specially brewed mixture that simulates the scent wolves and other animals use to mark territory. The science mice of Sprucetuck brew an odd concoction to create a scent that wolves and foxes tend to respect. It is not completely effective, but it works well enough to keep most large predators out of the Territories. The Guard completely repours it twice a year and performs minor maintenance throughout the year.Structure
The first mouse to organize the defense of Lockhaven was female. Thereafter, it has remained tradition that the Guard be commanded by a female mouse given the rank of Matriarch.
The Matriarch is in charge of internal affairs, The Mouse Guard governing the mice of Lockhaven and setting the Guard’s missions and patrols. She determines Guard postings, what duties patrols are to complete, and which areas in the Territories need the most attention. Beneath her are a cadre of captains and administrators who assist her in day-to-day operations and long-term plans.
Public Agenda
In the wilds between the settlements, all mice agree, the Mouse Guard is the law. But, in the mouse towns, the Guard only has as much authority as that town’s government allows. Most settlements welcome guardmice, but many defer to their own lawmice and protectors. Some places even force visiting guardmice to turn over
their weapons at the gates of their settlements.
The Guard is responsible for its own survival as an organization. While it is supported by various towns with gifts and donations, it takes no tithes or taxes. The Mouse Guard undertakes its duties as sacred obligations. If every mouse in the Territories turned their backs on them, these selfless guardians would still spend their last breaths defending and protecting those very mice.
We as Guard offer all that we are to protect the sanctity of our species, the freedom of our kin, and the honor of our ancestors. With knowledge, sword, and shield, we do these deeds, never putting a lone mouse above the needs of all, or the desire of sel
Type
Civilian, Knightly Order
Capital
Leader
Location
Related Professions
Controlled Territories
Notable Members
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