Men at Arms
The Watch may have regretted drawing attention to themselves in gg because now, rather than being ignored, they were forced to take on three ethnic minority recruits: Lance-constables Angua (werewolf), Detritus (troll) and Cuddy (dwarf), bringing the force up to a strength of seven. Vimes may not have liked the change but he could afford to ignore it as he had a more pressing engagement (to Lady Sybil) to worry about. In the packed few days before his wedding and retirement from the ‘joke’ of a Night Watch, Colon trained the new recruits, Detritus – don’t salute! – and Cuddy came to a grudging understanding, Carrot displayed wanton cruelty to the common comma, Angua relied on a small mongrel for women’s intuition and a murderer terrorised the city.

With Captain Vimes off learning civilianing, Carrot came to the fore in a glow of charisma and shiny breastplate (but not because he’s a pillock) and brought the Watch’s strength up to 20 members. Approaching the problem from different angles, he and Vimes solved the mystery, destroyed the gonne and provided Acting-constable Cuddy, who died in the course of his brief career, with a very efficient burial weapon. Vimes retired but in no time at all the former captain was recalled as Commander and started planning the future of the Watch with his second-in-command, the newly-promoted Captain Carrot.



The Watch guard the Hubwards gate. If they see any approaching barbarian invaders they ring a bell to summon the rest of the squad.
New recruits practice archery at the butts in Butts Treat and other tactics on Arthur, the training dummy.
Watch members live in upstairs rooms in Pseudopolis Yard.
The traditional present for a retiring guard is a watch.
Vimes’ plans for the future of the Watch: The Watch to be brought up to an establishment strength of fifty-six; the old Watch Houses at the River Gate, the Deosil Gate and the Hubwards Gate to be reopened and manned on a twenty-four hour basis; a department of forensics; a special unit using dogs. Open to all, regardless of species or mortal status, pensions for the widows. Keep a general gate guard yes, one along Elm Street, close to the Shades and the docks, another one halfway up Short Street, maybe a smaller one in Kingsway. Six men based at each house, moved around on a monthly rota. Take over day watch, allow for days off, two grandmother’s funerals per year per man. Four shifts staggered around the city. Maintain a special squad in Pseudopolis Yard for emergencies.
The Watch is technically the Ankh-Morpork City Guard (Night Watch). The other branches of the guard are the Day Watch and Palace Guard.
Vimes has a badge with AMCW No.177 on it.
Their armour comes from old Remitt the armourer.
Recruits take and sign for one shirt (mail, chain) one helmet, iron and copper, one breastplate, iron, one truncheon, oak, one emergency pike or halberd, one crossbow, one hourglass, one short sword and one badge, office of, Night Watchman’s, copper.
The oath: I, [recruit’s name], do solemnly swear by [recruit’s deity of choice] to uphold the Laws and Ordinances of the city of Ankh-Morpork, serve the public truft, and defend the fubjects of His/Her (delete whichever is inappropriate) Majefty (name of reigning monarch) without fear, favour, or thought of personal fafety; to purfue evildoers and protect the innocent, laying down by life if necefsary in the caufe of said duty, so help me (aforefaid deity). Gods Save the King/Queen (delete whichever is inappropriate).
Given King’s Shilling: sequin-sized Ankh-Morpork dollars with about the gold content of seawater.
Only investigate crimes outside hours of daylight, although have never bothered with this rule.
Vimes (captain) earns thirty-eight dollars a month plus allowances.
Fourteen dollars is nearly half Vimes’ pay.
Traditionally form a guard of honour at a watchman’s wedding by holding swords up in an arch.
Men at Arms