Guard of Waterdeep

Ranks

Waterdhavian guard uses standard titles before given names, but each rank has its own names in referring to individuals of that rank. Thus, Maeda might be addressed as Sergeant Maeda, but she is an armar. She would never be referred to as "Armar Maeda," nor referred to as "a sergeant."

• Trusty (Private)
• Armar (Sergeant)
• Civilar (Lieutenant)
• Aumarr/Senior Civilar (Captain)
• Valabrar (non-rank): A valabrar is not a given rank; it is instead an assignment. Any guardsman assigned to protect a member of Waterdeep's government is referred to as a valabrar, with a higher rate of pay. They are also given a specific uniform for the duration of their service, and have the right to command other guards in the execution of their duty, so long as those orders do not countermand any others the guards in question are executing at the time.
• Torsin (non-rank): Like a valabrar, a torsin is an assignment. Specifically a torsin is assigned protection duty over foreign dignitaries, nobility, ambassadors, and similar figures. Like valabrars, torsins are given a specific uniform and the ability to command their fellow guards to accomplish their duties.
• Senior Command: Senior commanders all share the same ranking in the Guard hierarchy, with final say over their specific arena of responsibility, They include:
  • Seneschal of Castle Waterdeep: x
  • Defender of the Harbor: x
  • Master of the North Towers: x
  • Master of the South Towers: x
  • Master Armorer: x
  • Lords' Hand: In times of war, the Lords' Hand accompanies the Guard on its missions away from Waterdeep, to act as the voice of the Lords to the commanding officers. The Hand is given magical means of communicating with the Open Lord.
  • Lords' Champion: The Lords' Champion is traditionally the Open Lord's bodyguard, accompanying them to see to their safety. Though it is technically a wartime tradition, in the last two hundred years it has become a standing title.
• Warden of Waterdeep: The Warden is the head of the Guard as a whole, overseeing and commanding its resources. The Warden answers only to the Lords.
• Open Lord of Waterdeep: The Open Lord is ultimately the head of the Waterdeep Guard.

The City Guard was a highly trained military organization of fully-armored soldiers responsible for defending the great city of Waterdeep and patrolling its surroundings.

Organization

The City Guard servs many purposes related to defending the city. Within Waterdeep, the Guard protects the city walls, gates, and its important buildings, as well as providing escorts for government officials. It also patrols the harbor and the roads leading from Waterdeep to Amphail, Goldenfields, and Daggerford. It also mans the fortification at Zundbridge.

The exact size of the City Guard is a secret only known to the Lords of Waterdeep, but it was thought to be around 1,200 strong.[4] In times of war, it could enlist mercenaries and grow to a contingent of up to 12,000 members.

Like the City Watch, the City Guard had specific titles for the members of their forces. A City Guard patrol usually consisted of twelve members, whose commanding officer was called the civilar. A commanding officer holding the rank of captain was known as an aumarr, or senior civilar, while one holding the rank of lieutenant was known as a shieldlar. The patrol also contained one armar, or sergeant, and ten guardsmen or guardswomen, or trusties. A patrol could also be led by a sergeant.

Other officer positions existed within the ranks of the Guard, not typically associated with regular patrols. In particular, the ranks of valabrar and torsin were responsible for escorting important individuals within the city, while also composing honor guards and bodyguards to diplomats and illustrious visitors to the city. Officers holding those positions outranked captains.

The City Guard also had a special branch called the Griffon Cavalry. Its members were responsible for patrolling the skies of the city riding griffons.