The Othean Relic Constabulary
The Relic Constabulary of Othea was established some years after the kingdom’s founding, when relic use began to become more widespread. Fearing the potential danger of relics if their power was harnessed unchecked, the Constabulary’s duty would be to act as a special police force - rounding up evokers and ensuring their relics could be used for the good of Othea.
Cases in which rogues, bandits, criminals and other chaotic individuals may possess relics are treated with utmost urgency. The said offender will be tracked, captured and prosecuted, both for any crimes against Othea and the unlawful use of a relic, should they utilize its power to aid in their acts. If the crimes are serious enough, the relic is forcefully removed, severing the bond between it and the criminal – effectively killing the evoker.
In the event of confiscating relics from the citizenry at large, commoners are asked to turn over their relics and are usually compensated for their compliance. The Constabulary is one of the only organizations with the means to remove an evoker’s bond with a relic without causing the evoker’s death. Those few evokers who possess the knowledge and skill to use their relics responsibly may be recruited by the Constabulary. They are then assigned to a position in the military, government or scholarly sectors, in which they can put their relic to use for the good of Othea.
The Constabulary maintains records of known relics in the kingdom – most of these have been confiscated or are in current use by government personnel. This list is a closely guarded secret that not even the Church is aware of. Although the Constabulary works to maintain order within the kingdom, many are uncomfortable with its influence and fear being associated with relics as a result of its pursuit of evokers. It is known for its near-ruthlessness towards hostile evokers and is generally not fond of negotiation. Regardless, the Constabulary works to maintain order in Othea, and has assisted local law enforcement with general cases in the past. As it is a military organization, it can and will mobilize for war, should Othea enter a conflict.
Constabulary Guard
The Constabulary Guard is the militant arm of the Relic Constabulary – a professional soldiery specializing in combating and subjugating evokers. Potential recruits are screened from Othea’s regular military and law enforcement before undergoing strict physical and mental training. Guardsmen are usually veterans of many battles or campaigns, and thus enter the Constabulary with a fair degree of initial skill. Guardsmen are organized into separate garrisons of around one thousand troops; each of which is stationed somewhere within Othea’s prominent cities. The Constabulary’s headquarters is located in the Othean capital and is home to several such legions. Each garrison is a self-sufficient unit, responsible for maintaining reliquary order in their local areas.
The rank-and-file guardsman is a well-equipped, well-trained soldier. He wears armor plate, not unlike Othea’s knights, although the suits may not always be 100% complete sets. Over the curiass, Guardsmen typically wear tabards with the Constabulary emblem. The principal weapon of the Guard is a halberd, an axe blade tipped with a spear point and rear spike on a six-foot pole. The halberd offers the Guard a versatile weapon – the spike can pry men from horseback or trip them from the ground; the length of the weapon gives it an advantage against shorter arms; and the halberd’s heavy axe head can smash through armor. Guardsmen are also equipped with a sword and dagger as secondary weapons. Each garrison also maintains a crossbow corps – these men are armored lighter than their regular counterparts and do not carry halberds. Instead, they carry a pavise to shelter behind when reloading their crossbow.
Considering the growing influence of the Church, the Constabulary does not “officially” use relics, however, it does have evokers within its ranks. Most evoker Guardsmen are elevated to special positions in rank and use their abilities to strengthen their respective units. Itani Ronah is one such example.
An armored Constabulary Guardsman (ignore polearm depicted in image)
A pair of Guardsmen at rest
More images to come.
