Frisian Roadwardens
The arteries of trade move all across The Merchant League. When river ways can't facilitate movement of goods to certain areas, by road is the only method. The sheer volume of goods moving along these roads leads to less desirable and impoverished individuals such as bandits, highwaymen, and raiders taking advantage of travelers.
This is where the Roadwardens, or called Reiters in Frisia come in. They are a group of organized soldiers trained to travel the roadways of Frisia keeping the peace. They are trained to deal with any threats they may encounter on the roads.
Structure
The Reiter main headquarters is in Margraten alongside the governmental buildings of the Merchant League there. Here, the Reiters are administered by the [Gebiederpends of the Vergadering](https://www.worldanvil.com/w/orrus-Androkles/a/the-merchant-league-article). Funds are allotted to the nobles and merchant families in local areas around Frisia to manage their roadwardens.
At the local level, the roadwardens are organized into "Landgroep" which vary in size depending on the area they cover. They are led by a roadwarden Reiterhauptmann who receives missions and directives from the local lords, mayors, or merchants and in turn down to his men.
Roadwardens never patrol the roads in less than groups of 3 and each group is lead by a Reiterluitenant. In larger, more remote areas, groups of roadwardens can be in the dozens.
Public Agenda
The Reiters protect travelers on Frisian road ways throughout the Merchant League.
Assets
This varies from locality to locality, but by and large, all roadwardens are typically well armed and armored. They are all mounted and favor braces of pistols they fire on the move to stop fleeing or advancing brigands. They typically also carry a long blade of some sort and are armored in half-plate or full-plate.
The most valuable asset however, is the sanction to exact justice on the roads whether it be tolls, fines, incarceration, hard labor, or death. All Reiters are required to carry their seal with them, which is the symbol of their authority. No one on the roads is above this authority, even nobles and merchants, although bribes and favors are common ways of avoiding justice. The sanction and seals do not give roadwardens jurisdiction in cities, towns, and villages, however many commoners and low born would rather not test this.
History
Early on in its inception, the Merchant League understood the need for trained and armed enforcers of the law traveling the roads of Frisia. Out of this need, they chartered the Roadwardens, or the Reiters as they are officially known.
Sometimes shoot first and then sort it out is the answer when you are out in the more remote parts of the League. This motto has allowed me to keep my head through many tough spots over the years.
Type
Military, Paramilitary/Militia
Parent Organization
Location
Related Ethnicities
