Deacons

"The Deacons are a little ridiculous. Busybodies happy to spread gossip, but they do know how to fight and they are borderline fearless. They're also incorruptible. Much to my annoyance."
~Gormly Zazerac

Composition

Manpower

The Deacons normally have between 50 to 160 members at any given time. These consist mostly of volunteers who do the work part time around other duties. The typical Deacon works at one of the many temples, shrines, churches, or chapels around Krezzym and either ends or begins their day with a few hours in the uniform of the watch.
Recently, their ranks have swelled to beyond 250.

Equipment

Uniforms: The watch members wear distinctive uniforms that combine elements of practicality and religious symbolism. These uniforms include hooded tunics, aketons, or robes in colors associated with their respective faiths, adorned with insignias or symbols representing their devotion. Enforcer's Staff: Each watch member carries a staff, a symbol of authority and a tool for maintaining order. These staffs are often crafted from durable wood and may be decorated with religious motifs or personal insignias. A gold-felt hash mark on the sleeve is worn for every year in service.
Defensive Gear: For personal protection, watch members may wear light armor or carry shields made from durable materials like wood or metal. These items are designed to provide limited defense without hindering their mobility.
Communication Tools: To coordinate their efforts, the watch utilizes communication devices such as whistles, horns, or signal flares. These tools help them alert nearby members in case of emergencies or coordinate their movements during patrols.
Utility Tools: Watch members often carry utility tools such as ropes, handcuffs, lanterns, and flint and steel for various practical purposes. These tools assist in crowd control, investigation, and ensuring the safety of the district.
Symbolic Items: Depending on their religious affiliations, watch members may carry amulets, holy symbols, or religious texts that hold personal significance. These items serve as a source of inspiration, protection, and a reminder of their faith.

Weaponry

Non-lethal Weapons: Given their role as peacekeepers, the focus is on non-lethal weapons. Watch members may carry batons, staves, or slings for self-defense and to subdue unruly individuals. These weapons are designed to incapacitate or restrain without causing significant harm.

Vehicles

Deacons sometimes use wagons to assist in both transporting forces in bulk and arresting prisoners during a riot. Such a thing has not happened in living memory.

Structure

There is little in the way of a formalized command structure among the Deacons, with time-in-service denoting who should be listening to whom and with the whole organization largely answering to the Sheriff

Tactics

The Deacons use straightforward tactics, seeking to surround and press threats before subduing them. Oftentimes, the longest-serving Deacon on site will negotiate the surrender of any potential criminals, seeking to deescalate the situation rather than apply force immediately.

Training

Every member of the watch is expected to train at least one day per week, though this training rarely lasts more than an hour or two. Most Deacons run or run a dummy course every morning when they rise.

Logistics

Logistical Support

The 400 personnel responsible for logistics within the Bloodwaters Park District Watch play crucial roles in supporting the operations and efficiency of the law enforcement volunteers. Despite their insufficient numbers compared to the ideal 2500, they work diligently to fulfill various responsibilities. These roles include: 1. Equipment Management: Personnel in charge of logistics oversee the procurement, distribution, and maintenance of the Deacons' equipment, such as uniforms, defensive gear, non-lethal weapons, communication tools, and utility items. They ensure that the watch members have the necessary resources to perform their duties effectively.
2. Inventory Control: These individuals maintain detailed inventories of the Deacons' supplies and equipment. They track usage, monitor stock levels, and coordinate replenishment efforts to prevent shortages and ensure readiness.
3. Training and Development: The logistics team organizes and coordinates training programs for new recruits and ongoing professional development for existing members. They arrange training facilities, schedule instructors, and manage the necessary resources for skill-building exercises, drills, and workshops.
4. Personnel Administration: Personnel in this role handle various administrative tasks, such as record-keeping, roster management, and scheduling. They ensure proper documentation of the Deacons' personnel, handle internal communications, and address personnel issues or concerns.
5. Communication and Coordination: The logistics team facilitates communication and coordination between different units of the Bloodwaters Park District Watch. They disseminate information, relay instructions, and maintain effective channels of communication to enhance operational efficiency.
6. Resource Allocation: Given the overtaxed nature of logistics, personnel in this role prioritize resource allocation based on the immediate needs of the Deacons. They make decisions regarding equipment distribution, deployment of personnel, and allocation of supplies to ensure the smooth functioning of the law enforcement efforts.
The overtaxing of logistics due to the swollen ranks of the Deacons has put a strain on these operations. The insufficient number of personnel means that the workload is heavier and resources are stretched thin. Delays in equipment distribution, challenges in maintaining adequate supplies, and increased administrative burden are some of the effects of this overtaxing. It may lead to slower response times, limited availability of certain resources, and potential issues with coordination and communication. Efforts are being made to address these challenges, but the current situation necessitates careful prioritization and resource management to mitigate the impact on the Deacons' operations.

Auxilia

Due to the open ended nature of their oath of service, retired Deacons can be called up in an emergency. This levy is sometimes referred to as 'the Goodly Ghosts,' though originally this was a joke mocking the fact that the levy was mainly old men.

Upkeep

The wages, logistics, and management of the Deacons is around 175 GP per season.

Recruitment

While a few hired professionals fill full-time roles in the ranks, most of the force is made up of part time paid volunteers. The watch is selective about only picking those who live in the district.

 

Type

Security

Overall training Level

Semi-trained

Assumed Veterancy

Trained