Uniforms of the Order
Wearing a uniform shows esprit d' corps. It is not the purpose of the uniform to hide the differences between Constables or make them feel they are all the same. Constables come from all racial and ethnic backgrounds. They have their own religious beliefs and family traditions. The Order wants soldiers to take pride in these differences, rather than to hide them or be ashamed of them. There is one way all soldiers are alike. Whenever a Constable sees another Constable in uniform he knows he is like that person because both have committed to the principles of The Code of Conduct. This is important in a time when there are too many things dividing people. The Code of Conduct binds all Constables, throughout Thardferr, in a common purpose. The Order uniform identifies Constables openly with someone of the same beliefs and values. By wearing the uniform, Constables are taking an open stand for their convictions. These uniforms serve to separate, as well as unify, throughout Thardferr. The uniform of a Constable stands out as a symbol of order and competence, proclaiming one's authority for all to see.
Class I
Field Uniform
This uniform is worn in a field environment (i.e. when conducting military operations in wilderness conditions). Scout Constables favor it for everyday use. This is the uniform worn by most reservists during their drill sessions.
The uniform consists of loose tunic and trousers in mottled shades of brown, black, and green. Footwear consists of calf-high black leather boots when in drill, but is at the soldiers discretion in the field. Rank insignia is embroidered on the right shoulder of the field uniform, while Division insignia is embroidered on the left shoulder of the uniform. All embroidered rank and division insignia are done in crimson, with gold colored trimming. A 6-cm Sword of the Order is displayed prominently on the left side of the chest.
Required accessories include belt, baldric with scabbard, and appropriate insignia. Optional (command and environment dictated) accessories include waterproof cloak, backpack, quiver, quilted cloak liner (black), and appropriate armor and shield.
Class II
Casual Uniform
This is the uniform most identified with the Order, and is worn in an operating environment (i.e. when conducting law enforcement operations in urban, rural, and wilderness conditions).
The Class II uniform consists of a crimson tunic and black pants, with appropriate division piping (see Divisions for more information). Footgear consists of black calf-high boots. Rank insignia is embroidered on the right shoulder, while Division insignia is embroidered on the left shoulder. All embroidered rank and division insignia are done in gold color, with black trimming.
Required accessories include belt, baldric with scabbard, and appropriate insignia. Optional (command and environment dictated) accessories include waterproof cloak, backpack, quiver, quilted cloak liner (black), surcoat, and appropriate armor and shield.
Class III
Officers' Informal Uniform
This uniform is worn for informal occasions (i.e. when visiting minor dignitaries or executing political or administrative duties). NCO's and Officers most often wear it when acting as Magistrate or as a Court Liaison.
The uniform consists of a white lord's shirt with crimson vambraces, black breeches with Division piping, a crimson jerkin, and formal crimson cloak bearing the full Order of the Sword heraldry embroidered on the back. Footgear consists of black calf-high boots. Headgear consists of a crimson plumed Corinthian light helm, when wearing armor.
Rank insignia is embroidered on both the right and left vambraces, while Division insignia is denoted by the piping on the pants. A 6-cm Sword of the Order insignia is embroidered on the left chest.
Required accessories include dress belt, dress baldric with scabbard, and appropriate insignia. Optional accessories include appropriate armor (chain or better) and shield.
Class IV
Officers' Formal Uniform
This uniform is worn for Formal occasions (i.e. dinners of state, appearing in Imperial functions). It is rarely worn, and most often by officers attending to matters of state. There are two variations that are permitted to be worn.
Variation I - Armored Detail
The uniform consists of a crimson lord's shirt with black leather vambraces, crimson pants with division piping, full armor, and a formal crimson cloak bearing the full Order of the Sword heraldry embroidered on the back. Headgear consists of white ceremonial arming cap and a golden plumed light helm. Footgear consists of black leather calf-high boots.
Rank insignia is smithed onto both the right and left vambraces with steel for NCO's and brass for Officers, while Division insignia is denoted by the piping on the pants.
Required accessories include black dress belt, black dress baldric with scabbard, full armor, and appropriate insignia. Optional accessories include spurs, gloves or guantlets, and shield.
Variation II - Dignitary Detail
For purposes of appearances as a dignitary, the uniform used will consist of a white lord's shirt, crimson cotehardie with black leather vambraces, crimson pants with division piping, and a formal crimson cloak bearing the full Order of the Sword heraldry embroidered on the back. Footwear consists of black leather calf-high boots.
Rank insignia is smithed onto both the right and left vambraces with steel for NCO's and brass for Officers, while Division insignia is denoted by the piping on the pants.
Required accessories include black dress belt, black dress baldric with scabbard, and appropriate insignia. Optional accessories include gloves.
Prestige
A Constable is respected in most communities in the Confederation. He has the right to request lodgings of any person of rank lower than nobility. Those of noble blood will most often be happy to offer lodgings to a Constable while travelling. This shelter will extend to any prisoners being transported and up to one companion for every two levels attained.
Most Inns and Taverns offer discounts or free lodgings to a Constable, as the presence of the Law is a boon to such establishments.
Pay & Equipment
These benefits can be found on their respective position pages:
Let it be noted, all ranks will have housing available to them via the garrison barracks. This is provided in order to compensate for necessary expenditures of housing. Should a soldier prefer to maintain a residence away from the garrison, a housing allowance will be alotted.
New Equipment
- Chainmail Hauberk (AC 6)
This simple armor is commonly issued to mid-level public servants such as sergeants-of-the-guard. It consists of a simple knee-length, long-sleeved tunic of chainmail. Unlike a suit of chain mail, it provides no protection for the legs. The addition of chain mail cuisses and greaves make this a full suit of "chain mail".
Cost = 60 crowns
Weight = 30 lb - Reinforced Chain mail (AC 4)
The current era has seen gradual reinforcements of chain mail armor to produce reinforced chain mail. A standard suit of chain mail is reinforced with a plate mail cuirass, shoulder guards, and shin guards. While increasing the weight somewhat, this additional armor actually increases agility as it decreases the drag of loose chainmail.
Cost = 120 crowns
Weight = 45 lb - Half-Ballista (Superheavy crossbow)
This weapon resembles nothing so much as a half-scale ballista. It is often used to support infantry platoons against large opponents.
This crossbow is so massive that it cannot be fired normally by anyone with a strength less than 19. Any other user must rest the weapon on a battlement, the integral bipod (requires one round to set up), or other solid object or suffer a -4 to hit. Dexterity bonus does not apply when used in this manner.
This weapon is normally deployed with a crew of two- the gunner, who fires, cocks and carries the weapon, and the assistant gunner, who sets up the bipod, cocks and loads the weapon, and carries ammunition.
| Superheavy Crossbow | Superheavy Bolt |
| Cost = 200 crowns | Cost = 3 linert |
| Weight = 40 lb | Weight = 1 lb |
| Size = L | Type = P |
| Speed = 15 | Damage = 2d6/3d6 (Seige damage is half that of ballista) |
| Rate of Fire = 1/4 (1 crew); 1/2 (2 crew) | |
| Range = 160/320/480 yds |
Additional Equipment
- Shackles
These sturdy steel restraints consist of a set of adjustable wristcuffs joined by a hinged bar (manacles for small races), a set of anklecuffs joined by a longer hinged bar (wristcuffs for large races), and a linking chain with two padlocks (usable as manacles for larger races). Each cuff has a warded lock (-40% to pick attempts) and may not be picked by the wearer.
When worn, Manacles reduce normal speed by half (maximum of 12) and negate dexterity bonuses to AC. and wristcuffs impose a -10 to hit penalty. The addition of the linking chain makes attacks impossible and further halves movement (1/4 total).
Shackles may be broken by making a Bend bars roll at -40% (due to leverage), but doing so only frees one limb. Rope use proficiency is only somewhat effective against these restraints (checks must be made at half normal chance of success).
Cost = 0.25gp
Weight = 0.5lb
- Order Horses
As the result of a special breeding program under the direction of the Order Marshal, the Mounts of the Order of the Sword have combined the desirable qualities of a Steppe Horse with the size and strength of a war-horse. Horses outside of the breeding program are sterilized to encourage growth and to preserve the breed purity (as well as the Order's control over the breed). They are not for sale for any price. Every year several of the Order's Horses disappear from the secret breeding grounds and reappear as a Paladin's bonded mount somewhere in Thardferr.
The horses are homely, and their black, bronze, or bay coats have a shaggy appearance. They are powerfully muscled, and have an exceptionally heavy bone structure, granting an AC 6. Even an untrained Order horse has average morale (8-10), and it panics rarely (5%) due to such things as fire or loud noise. These horses are extremely hardy. They are able to survive by grazing alone and receive a +3 to lameness and exhaustion checks. - Heavy Order Horse
Looking like a stocky Medium war-horse and moving every bit as quickly as a standard medium war-horse, they are identical to a Heavy war-horse in combat, with the above-mentioned exceptions. - Medium Order Horse
These horses look like a heavily built light war-horse and move every bit as quickly as a light war-horse. With the above mentioned exceptions, they are identical to a medium war-horse in combat.