Constable of the Night
The Constables of the Night (also referred to as the Nightwatch) are the most elite members of the Cosmopolitan Constabulary, serving their duties, as the name implies, at night.
Their duties typically include clearing the streets for the Cosmopolitan Curfew as well as surveillance, committing difficult arrests and, in rare cases, sabotage.
Their duties typically include clearing the streets for the Cosmopolitan Curfew as well as surveillance, committing difficult arrests and, in rare cases, sabotage.
Composition
Manpower
A formation of Nightwatch usually consists of up to six individuals or, in military terminology, a claw, who coordinate their efforts to achieve a particular task.
When on regular duties a paw, or 26 Constables, survey a district during the night, with the two most senior coordinating efforts.
When on regular duties a paw, or 26 Constables, survey a district during the night, with the two most senior coordinating efforts.
Equipment
While the oter departments of the Constabulary all wear regular uniforms, apart from some more specialised equipment like magnifying glasses or additional pens, the Nightwatch takes pride in their strongly modified uniform that better suit their purpose.
As in regular uniform, the cloak has two cords running over the shoulder that may be pulled down and lached to the tunic to fold the cloak into a cape.
The common knowledge that black uniforms mean danger applies here too, so a Constable with the black of the cape exposed advises onlookers to flee.
Green was chosen for its fairly dark hue as well as to signal the oncoming curfew, and that street-goers should make their way home.
The cloak is designed to be easily removed and inverted for use as urban camouflage and to keep warm when on a long surveillance shift.
The uniform itself is bespoke, having been tailored on Needle Lane for each individual Nightwatch.
This improves the agility of the Constable considerably, as well as allowing sweat to evaporate faster through the fine Warese bamboo-thread textile and keeping the warm air trapped during the cold night.
The tunic contains a lightweight chest- and backplate and is opened along either side using a shoelace-like mechanism, the chestplate designed to not only protect the wearer but also improve the comfort of people with a chest of the female variety.
A pair of solid boots, which are worn over the undershoes, protects the rubber from degradation when treading the cobbled streets.
The boots are mirrored in shape, as is the modern standard of comfort, and are latched closed on the outer sides of the legs, allowing for quick removal.
They can then be hooked onto the utility belt in a compact fashion, so as not to get in the way.
A top-hat in the colours of the uniform is included, but instead of being reinforced to protect the head and be used as a step-ladder it is heat-resistant, collapsible and contains holes in the top for the handle of the lantern to pass through.
When the top-hat is being used for this function, a black military Luber Bonnet is worn, the visor sheilding the eyes and the felt keeping hair in order and the head warm.
The lantern is carried regularly before the begin of the curfew and is then mounted inside the top-hat on a low flame, hiding its light.
Should its light be needed, the eye-patch is mounted and the hat lifted to throw a beam of light in the appropriate direction.
In case of sudden darkness the eye-patch is lifted to expose the eye accustomed to the dark, increasing readiness.
The chloroformula may either be used to incapacitate a difficult offender or to knock oneself unconcious in the case of severe injury or to prevent leaking classified information.
Colour
The first, striking difference between the uniforms is the choice of colours, namely a royal green top-hat and cloak with matte, black lining instead of the usual imperial blue and red.As in regular uniform, the cloak has two cords running over the shoulder that may be pulled down and lached to the tunic to fold the cloak into a cape.
The common knowledge that black uniforms mean danger applies here too, so a Constable with the black of the cape exposed advises onlookers to flee.
Green was chosen for its fairly dark hue as well as to signal the oncoming curfew, and that street-goers should make their way home.
The cloak is designed to be easily removed and inverted for use as urban camouflage and to keep warm when on a long surveillance shift.
The uniform itself is bespoke, having been tailored on Needle Lane for each individual Nightwatch.
Tunic
The matte black tunic and trousers are combined to form a single piece of clothing and contain noticably more fabric around the joints while remaining close to the body where sensible.This improves the agility of the Constable considerably, as well as allowing sweat to evaporate faster through the fine Warese bamboo-thread textile and keeping the warm air trapped during the cold night.
The tunic contains a lightweight chest- and backplate and is opened along either side using a shoelace-like mechanism, the chestplate designed to not only protect the wearer but also improve the comfort of people with a chest of the female variety.
Further Apparel
Gloves and undershoes are made of thin leather and are studded with rubber, facilitating unorthodox navigation in the urban jungle that is Penchester.A pair of solid boots, which are worn over the undershoes, protects the rubber from degradation when treading the cobbled streets.
The boots are mirrored in shape, as is the modern standard of comfort, and are latched closed on the outer sides of the legs, allowing for quick removal.
They can then be hooked onto the utility belt in a compact fashion, so as not to get in the way.
A top-hat in the colours of the uniform is included, but instead of being reinforced to protect the head and be used as a step-ladder it is heat-resistant, collapsible and contains holes in the top for the handle of the lantern to pass through.
When the top-hat is being used for this function, a black military Luber Bonnet is worn, the visor sheilding the eyes and the felt keeping hair in order and the head warm.
Equipment
Apart from a non-lethal weapon of choice, the Constables are equipped an eye-patch, a small flask of chloroformula and a low-light lantern.The lantern is carried regularly before the begin of the curfew and is then mounted inside the top-hat on a low flame, hiding its light.
Should its light be needed, the eye-patch is mounted and the hat lifted to throw a beam of light in the appropriate direction.
In case of sudden darkness the eye-patch is lifted to expose the eye accustomed to the dark, increasing readiness.
The chloroformula may either be used to incapacitate a difficult offender or to knock oneself unconcious in the case of severe injury or to prevent leaking classified information.
Training
A Nighthunt must have proven themselves in the line of duty repeatedly, and must pass a rigurous examination of moral standards before beginning with their four-phase training.
The training takes place during the night every fortnight, since the Constable will still be required in their regular line of duty.
This also allows them to acclimatise to the night and become used to sleeping during the day.
In the first three phases they are lead by an experienced instructor, in the last they themselves become leaders of a unit.
It is essential that these skills are mastered first, since the following phases may include unexpected dangers, and a fast and silent retreat to safety can make the difference between life and death
This is trained by becoming familiar with the new equipment and its limitations and excersising on the rooftops of the Constabulary Headquarters, which were specifically designed to simulate various different shingling, angles and shapes.
Once they have shown a proficiency in this capacity, the training grounds extend beyond the Headquarters, also becoming a test of endurance and navigation across the urban jungle at night.
Only once they can find their way around the central districts and can find their way back to base from any point in the vast city do they commence with the stage's test.
On a regular duty week the constable is captured during the night and brought to an obscure location in Penchester.
If they do not make it back to headquarters and report before duty the following day, they fail the examination and must continue training on their current level.
Considering it can take three days without rest to cross the city on foot, it is safe to say this is one of the most difficult stages to pass.
Constables are given an area or individual to surveil for up to four nights per week, the others spent with training of motion, and must report any findings they had by dawn.
They must select a suitable spot while remaining hidden from their instructor, with the instructure providing valuable insights into methods of concealment and points worth noting while on observation duty.
Sleep is not tolerated and will result in the immediate abortion of the observation, slowing the rate of progress.
These objectives, unlike the previous ones, are not so much to improve the physical but rather the mental endurance of the Constable, resisting every urge to scratch an itch, taking care of the need to sleep, eat and defecate before duty and resisting these urges until after it.
This phase is completed after the examination, which takes place on the winter solstis with an instructor as the subject of observation.
The inspector will go about various activites according to an examination script, changing their position around their house, with and without lights, sometimes sleeping and sometimes not and changing various other factors in their surroundings and behaviour, expressing as much of the full range of possible situations as feasible until sunrise.
If the Constable's report does not satisfy the level of detail of observation required by the script, or the interpretation or recommended course of action is found lacking, they fail the examination and must train further until the next winter solstice.
This is viewed by many to be the peak of training, where exciting challenges and difficult problems challenge the intellect and expeience of the Constable.
The precise details of these missions is classified and is only communicated in Service Gestural, which must also be mastered in this phase.
How precisely the examination of this stage takes place is unknown, but it is safe to assume that it is just as challenging as the previous tasks.
By this time the Constable becomes the aide of an instructor, coordinating team efforts and leading by example.
There come times where the group is separated from the Constable in command, and it is the aide's responsibility to make sure this detachment fulfills its duties and rejoins the main unit.
The missions increase in difficulty up to the final examination, where the Constable in command suffers a fake injury or medical condition, resulting in the aide having to take the lead.
The Constable must complete the mission successfully and without any further incidents occuring to pass, and is promoted into the Nightwatch upon succeeding.
The training takes place during the night every fortnight, since the Constable will still be required in their regular line of duty.
This also allows them to acclimatise to the night and become used to sleeping during the day.
In the first three phases they are lead by an experienced instructor, in the last they themselves become leaders of a unit.
Mobility
Beginning in the first phase, the Constable is taught to move as air, swiftly and silently across any obstacles that may come in their way.It is essential that these skills are mastered first, since the following phases may include unexpected dangers, and a fast and silent retreat to safety can make the difference between life and death
This is trained by becoming familiar with the new equipment and its limitations and excersising on the rooftops of the Constabulary Headquarters, which were specifically designed to simulate various different shingling, angles and shapes.
Once they have shown a proficiency in this capacity, the training grounds extend beyond the Headquarters, also becoming a test of endurance and navigation across the urban jungle at night.
Only once they can find their way around the central districts and can find their way back to base from any point in the vast city do they commence with the stage's test.
On a regular duty week the constable is captured during the night and brought to an obscure location in Penchester.
If they do not make it back to headquarters and report before duty the following day, they fail the examination and must continue training on their current level.
Considering it can take three days without rest to cross the city on foot, it is safe to say this is one of the most difficult stages to pass.
Camouflage
The second phase is typically the shortest, with Constables being taught in the way of becoming as the earth, motionless and hidden in plain sight yet wise of their surroundings.Constables are given an area or individual to surveil for up to four nights per week, the others spent with training of motion, and must report any findings they had by dawn.
They must select a suitable spot while remaining hidden from their instructor, with the instructure providing valuable insights into methods of concealment and points worth noting while on observation duty.
Sleep is not tolerated and will result in the immediate abortion of the observation, slowing the rate of progress.
These objectives, unlike the previous ones, are not so much to improve the physical but rather the mental endurance of the Constable, resisting every urge to scratch an itch, taking care of the need to sleep, eat and defecate before duty and resisting these urges until after it.
This phase is completed after the examination, which takes place on the winter solstis with an instructor as the subject of observation.
The inspector will go about various activites according to an examination script, changing their position around their house, with and without lights, sometimes sleeping and sometimes not and changing various other factors in their surroundings and behaviour, expressing as much of the full range of possible situations as feasible until sunrise.
If the Constable's report does not satisfy the level of detail of observation required by the script, or the interpretation or recommended course of action is found lacking, they fail the examination and must train further until the next winter solstice.
Mission Duty
In the third phase the Constable is taught procedures relating to missions, such as breaking and entering a building, capturing difficult offenders, retrieving information or sabotaging illicit operations, being the unstoppable force of water that moulds its surroundings and sweeps up anything in its path with elegance and precision.This is viewed by many to be the peak of training, where exciting challenges and difficult problems challenge the intellect and expeience of the Constable.
The precise details of these missions is classified and is only communicated in Service Gestural, which must also be mastered in this phase.
How precisely the examination of this stage takes place is unknown, but it is safe to assume that it is just as challenging as the previous tasks.
Leadership
The final phase of training before becoming a full-time Nightwatch puts an emphasis on lighting the flame of passion in the hearts of one's colleagues and keeping it alight.By this time the Constable becomes the aide of an instructor, coordinating team efforts and leading by example.
There come times where the group is separated from the Constable in command, and it is the aide's responsibility to make sure this detachment fulfills its duties and rejoins the main unit.
The missions increase in difficulty up to the final examination, where the Constable in command suffers a fake injury or medical condition, resulting in the aide having to take the lead.
The Constable must complete the mission successfully and without any further incidents occuring to pass, and is promoted into the Nightwatch upon succeeding.
Type
Intelligence
Overall training Level
Elite
Assumed Veterancy
Experienced
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