SUIDDOCK WATCH BARRACKS

"'Jes' be careful by the Barracks.  Them Watch are some o' the meanest cusses ya'd ever come across in the whole Suiddock.  'Ave to be to survive there."

"Captain Graveland knows how to take care of his men.  Look at them.  They're better armed than some of the private militias."

"If they were any good, why is there still lots of crime in the Suiddock.  I think they've been bought out by criminals.  Where else would they get the money to equip themselves so?  I doubt that the Stadsraad would authorize more money to them than the Watch gets in the Guilderveld.  Mark my words, I think Captain Graveland is probably as corrupt as the rest of them." 

The Suiddock Watch Barracks is a large, bluish-grey stone building situated on the northern bank of Luydenhoek Isle across from Hightower Isle.  A stone stairway leads up to a set of heavy oak doors (T 7, D 15, CR 50) six feet above the street level.  The windows of the raised ground floor are nothing more than arrow slits while those at street level are small and barred by a heavy grate.  The Marienburg coat of arms hangs over the top of the stairs.

Inside the double door is the lobby of the Suiddock Ward Barracks.  At all times, two Watchmen are on duty at the receiving desk handling all sorts of people - ranging from spouses and lovers of the accused to lawyers of same to witnesses giving statements.  There are two doors at opposite ends of the lobby.  One leads to the barracks and meeting rooms of the Watch, while the other leads to stairs descending to the six holding cells and interrogation room.  Each cell usually accommodates four people, although more can be crammed in if needed.  Water seeps into the cells during high tide, making things rather uncomfortable.  Only severe flooding poses any threat to prisoners.

Lieutenant Vincent van Prim is typically the man in charge as Captain Theophilus Graveland is often making the rounds in the Suiddock.  Vincent is not a happy man.  He prefers cracking heads of law breakers rather than dealing with the whiny merchants who feel that the understaffed and underpaid Watch should do more to protect their interests.  To make matters worse, Vincent must answer in Graveland’s name all Commandant Escottus van Haaring’s sniveling correspondence prompted by these same merchant complaints.

Several Watch Sergeants can be found at the Ward Barracks or leading patrols nearby.  One of these, Wilhelm Hoogtoran, is an informant for Loretta Wakker of the Marienburg Gentlemen’s Club.  Wilhelm is smitten by her and foolishly dreams of the day they can escape the dreariness of the city together. Unfortunately for the Sergeant and his criminal associates, Captain Graveland is well aware - as are his trusted Lieutenant and Sergeants (except the vicious Reiner Kuypers) - of Wilhem's duplicity.  After all, he's not that good of a spy.  Graveland keeps Wilhelm preoccupied with other matters, assigning him the more time consuming and unimportant tasks.  The Captain even intentionally feeds Wilhelm misleading information from time to time knowing the Watch Sergeant will pass along to his other masters.

Unlike the Watch of other districts, the Suiddock Black Caps have their own resident wizard, Astrid Sterstaren.  Once a member of the Suiddock Watch, Astrid came into the services of the wizard, Theodosius Mistivinger.  Theodosius was a crotchety old man who needed some protection as he made enemies without much effort.  He recognized her latent magical abilities and took Astrid as his apprentice.  Within a few years, Astrid was a Wizard in her own right, a member of standing in the Wizards' and Alchemists' Guild.  As stated in her dead master’s will, Astrid inherited all of Theodosius' possessions and townhouse.

In time, Astrid became bored with her existence and jumped at the chance to rejoin her old Sergeant, Graveland, when he approached her with a substantial offer a year ago.  In addition, the donation Captain Graveland made to the Wizards' and Alchemists' Guild was more than enough to overcome any objections they may have had about Astrid's involvement with the Watch.  Her addition to the Watch has better enabled Captain Graveland to deal with the more difficult situations that arise in the Suiddock.

Some believe that the Suiddock Watch are readying themselves for an armed struggle of some sort.  Rumours of a possible gang war in the northern section of the city (M:SdtR, page 36) may be causing Graveland the jitters.  After all, gang wars in the past have spilled into the Suiddock no matter where they originated.  Some wishful merchants assume that the result of their frequent complaints to the Stadsraad has bore fruit.  The resulting political pressure on the Watch Commandant may be forcing Graveland to finally act.  Those that spread these tales point to the circulating gossip on the street that the Watch Captain is more tense and short-tempered than normal.  No one knows for sure since there are very few, if any, who would dare ask Graveland directly.

Whatever the cause of tension within the Suiddock Watch, its effects are telling on some of the lowly Watchmen.  Lodewijck Breedveld has taken to hanging around with Alicia Louter, one of the barmaids at a Stoessel dive called “the Gull and the Mermaid.”  Ambitious and domineering, the relatively delusional Alicia sees Lodewijck as her meal ticket out of the seedy dive and away from her lecherous (and drug dealing) landlord and part-time slaver, Sjef Huisman.  In turn, the self-styled Doktor Huisman prepares “medicine” to relax and quiet Lodewijck’s nerves.  The medicine is addictive and will, in time, bring the Watchman into Sjef’s service as an unwitting spy within the Suiddock Watch.

Reiner Kuyper, Watch Sergeant, Suiddock district, ex-Watchman, ex-Mercenary Sergeant
M	WS	BS	S	T	W	I	A	Dex	Ld	Int	Cl	WP	Fel	
4	57	54	6*	4	11	53	2	42	45	39	46	42	38	

Alignment: Neutral (Solkan- Not Devout)

Skills: Consume Alcohol, Dodge Blow, Gamble, Secret Language-Battle Tongue, Street Fighting, Strike Mighty Blow, Strike to Stun, Very Strong*

Trappings: Mail Shirt (1AP body), Shield (1AP all over), Sword, Club, and Purse (2d6 Gu, 5d6 Shillings)

Quotes: "Once he wakes up, he'll talk.  Take my word.  His words will likely be a bit garbled though.  What’s that?  If he didn't want his jaw broke, then he shouldn't have bit me."

"Just so you understand, slime, I don't like you.  If I see or hear that you laid another hand on this woman, I will make your life miserable.  Understand?"

"How can I eat this sausage surrounded by the carnage in this warehouse?  It's easier than you think."

Appearance: The 6ft, 185lb, blond-haired Reiner has a very craggy face with a scar across the left cheek.  His blue eyes are intense as if he is memorizing his surroundings as if they are the features of someone who crossed him.  Generally, Reiner’s demeanour is very stoic.  If he shows any expression at all, it’s most likely a sneer than a smile.

Personality and motivations: Reiner is as mean and tough as any Watch under Captain Graveland's command. Reiner is so completely dedicated to his job, the blond hair, blue eyed, 35 year old Reiner doesn't have any outside interest or life, for that matter.  It is a rare event for anyone to see Kuyper off duty and being semi-sociable except when he is in the company of Captain Graveland at the Pelican's Perch.

Reiner seems to get his pleasure from goading suspects and criminals in hopes that the fool will take a swing at him.  In this manner, the sadistic Reiner has the excuse to beat the living daylights out of the fool.  Should a suspect or criminal ignore the goading, Reiner will tire of the game after a couple more choice comments.  Few are those who try to retaliate later as most fear the resulting retribution from the Suiddock Watch.

Kuyper is a Watchmen through and through.  His father was one before him and his father before him.  His father was killed when Kuyper was only five and he has idolized him ever since.  His life is the Watch and the Suiddock.  He lives in a single room in the Suiddock, looked after by his elderly landlady.

Connections: Reiner and Captain Graveland have grown to be close friends as both have survived the hardship of living and working in the Suiddock.  Reiner thinks that Wilhelm Hoogtoran is a little too spineless to be an effective Watch Sergeant and doesn’t know that his comrade is a snitch for Loretta Wakker of the Marienburg Gentlemen’s Club.  Should the truth become known, Hoogtoran’s continuing health wouldn’t be worth two shillings.

Reiner detests the River Watch and will find ways to annoy them or get in the way of their business.  Thumping them is an excellent way of resolving territorial differences.  Reiner is also very wary of the League of Gentlemen Entrepreneurs and their lackeys, the Stevedores’ & Teamsters’ Guild.  Still, he’s a realist and knows the dangers of being caught tangling with either of the two “rulers” of the Suiddock.

Grunni "Hot Irons" Snagglebeard, Torturer, ex-Jailer, ex-Ratcatcher
M	WS	BS	S	T	W	I	A	Dex	Ld	Int	Cl	WP	Fel	
3	50	32	6	6*	11	32	1	32	49	39	62	69	19	

Alignment: Neutral (Grungni)

Skills: Animal Trainer-Dog, Concealment Urban, Consume Alcohol, Heal Wounds, Immunity to Disease, Immunity to Poison (Beastbane, Manbane, and Spider's Venom), Mining, Palm Object, Set Trap, Silent Move Urban, Smithing, Specialist Weapon-Flail, Specialist Weapon-Sling, Specialist Weapon-Whip, Spot Trap, Torture, Very Resilient*

Trappings: d10 Knives, Whips (to hit -10, D -2, Parry -20), Irons, Set of Keys, and Purse (d3 shillings, 2d6 pennies).

Psychology: Gallows humour.

Quotes: "Pay attention now.  Fer this round of questioning you 'ave a choice, thumb screws or 'ot irons.  What's yer pleasure?"

"I think you should stop 'anging around doing nothing.  Perhaps you would prefer to lay down and stretch awhile.  Or, maybe you want to go fer a dip with some furry critters.  Kind of makes yer skin crawl, eh?"

"Sorry, you lost any water privilege.  Better ‘ope for a ‘igh tide."

Appearance: Unkempt.  Not fit for proper company.  These are some of the polite words and phrases used to describe the 4ft 9in, 155lb Grunni.  More accurately, the 87 year old bald, medium brown eyed and bearded Dwarf is just plain filthy.  This lack of hygiene is what one would expect from someone with Grunni's choice of careers.

Personality and motivations: What the caustic and sarcastic Grunni does excel in is performing his role of Jailer and Interrogator for the Suiddock Watch.  Most people would describe Grunni as a sick Dwarf.  In contrast, the Jailer/Torturer considers himself as a man who likes his job and appreciates its lighter moments.  Around the Barracks, Grunni is known for his humor, though not all appreciate its finer qualities.  In these moments, Grunni’s boisterous laughter can be heard well before the smellier aspects of his being are noticed.

No matter how one views Grunni, he is effective and efficient at extracting information from those given to his care.  When dealing with the more stubborn suspects, the Dwarf is joined by Sergeant Kuypers in a team effort they call "Bad Torturer, Worse Cop."  Often, the teamwork of the two breaks the suspect down rather quickly, although the suspect is usually worse for the experience.  This method does have its unfortunate accidents.

To ease the time between interrogations, Grunni devises little tortures for any prisoner who annoys him.  This could be something as cruel as “accidentally” spilling their bowl of gruel, scrapping it back into the bowl and handing it to them.  He may even give them a mixture of salt and fresh water to slack their thirst.  If he really dislikes someone, Grunni may force them to strip in the cold night for a time when no one is around.

Connections:  None.  Most people stay away from Grunni for reasons of good sense and overpowering smell.  Even other Dwarfs go out of their way to avoid Grunni.  It is a situation Grunni is happy to keep up.  He refuse s to discuss his past and will get angry quickly if anyone insists.  Captain Graveland has heard rumours that a Dwarf Merchant tried to investigate Grunni’s history but it seems he got nowhere.