Red Sentinels
The Red Sentinels are the discipline of the The Sentinel Order specialised towards urban policing, law and order, and simple criminal investigations.
They are among the most respected law enforcement groups in Sammerden, and are much in demand among cities and settlements eager to control crime and keep the streets safe. Given their skills and expense, few cities can afford large numbers of Red Sentinels - but they are often hired in for festivals, civic occasions, or in response top some criminal threat. Additionally, larger Weldic cities might have Red Sentinels undertaking their most important roles, and a civic guard performing day-to-day duties.
As a Sentinel Discipline, they are bound by the Code of the Oaths - dictating that no Sentinels will accept contracts which directly frustrate existing Sentinel contracts. The full terms (approved by the legal minds of the Grey Sentinels) are explained to each contracting corporation - but in general, they will not protect cities harbouring criminals sought by the Green Sentinels, nor will they act for cities proposing to harm anyone under the protection of the White Sentinels.
Public Agenda
The Red Sentinels are a highly focused urban police and guard force. They are distinct from the White Sentinels because they do not specialise in personal or intensive protection, and unlike the Green Sentinels because they do not hunt targets or patrol over long distances.
Instead, they specialise in urban pacification, the detection and prevention of crime, and the targeting of organised crime gangs in an urban environment. In smaller settlements, two or three Sentinels could act as an effective police force, whereas detachments of 50 or more might be used in larger settlements to police fairs, festivals, or high-profile executions (they are not a judicial force - their Code explicitly forbids them from performing judicial executions, or guarding condemned prisoners on the way to execution).
History
They were founded in 53AC, based on the increasing demand from cities to contract individual Sentinels to act as town guards or watch commanders. Seeing an opportunity to provide bespoke services, the Sentinel Order decided to specifically train recruits in urban and formation fighting, use of the pike, and light horse combat on narrow streets - enabling them to defend cities, serve as watchmen, and combat criminal gangs. As more and more cities took up the services of the Red Sentinels, the King of the Welds realised that there was an opportunity to professionalise criminal justice in cities (which were the main source of criminal activity) without royal expense. Therefore, they instructed the Commander-Knight of the Red to include basic detective work and criminal apprehension into the curriculum for Red Sentinel recruits.
At first, this was not a great success. The Sentinel model relies on a fixed training year, then one year of specialisation - there was not enough time to properly train Red Sentinels in anything approaching investigative technique. Furthermore, the usual character the Selectors looked for in assigning recruits to the Red was not the natural fit for keen detective work. Thus, the Constables were formed - Red initiates picked out for an additional year of training in detective work, undercover operations, hand-to-hand fighting, and intelligence gathering. The Constables are integrated into the wider Discipline, and are present in most large Chapters.
Ever Vigilant
Founding Date
53 AC
Type
Military Order
Alternative Names
Red Cloaks; Red B*****ds (in the criminal underworld)
Training Level
Professional
Veterancy Level
Experienced
Demonym
Sentinel
Leader Title
Parent Organization
Related Ranks & Titles
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