Editing Landsoftheblacksea:Main Page/realms/athervon/settlements/belis-ar-weil (section)

== Military & Law Enforcement ==

=== ''L'Annou de Rouge et Noir'' ===

The Order of Red and Black, a large contingent of soldiers who owe alleigence directly to the Duc du Domaine Centre.  The name derives from their black-and-bright red livery, which includes broad starfish berets of alternating bands of these colors.  The Order is noted for being primarily heavy infantry, with all members proficient in two-handed swords.  A significant number of the soldiers cross-train with heavy crossbows and pikes to provide missile and distance-melee capabilities.  The Red-and-Blacks, as they are commonly called, are led by a Capitaine du Garde who reports directly to the Duc himself.  The Red-and-Blacks concern themselves primarily with protecting the town against foreign or monstrous incursions, and dealing with land-based smuggling that violates the King’s export regulations.  

There have only been a few cases where members of the Red-and-Blacks were accused and convicted of accepting bribes or cooperating with the Pointers; but more than once, an accuser disappeared before the case could be brought forth…

=== Royal Navy===

Belis-ar-Weil is also home for several ships of the Athervonian [[Landsoftheblacksea:Main_Page/realms/athervon#Naval_Forces|Royal Navy (''Le Marine'')]]; typically there is at least one fully-outfitted ship-of-the-line at the docks, and four or five smaller vessels that are used for interdiction of smugglers, piracy, and other marine traffic.  The military sailors are garrisoned at the fortress of Seld Bellac, which also has the official docks used for the King’s business only.  The forces of ''Le Marine'' are generally felt to be less influenced by corruption than the Red-and-Blacks; the pirates that control marine smuggling do not have the power and influence that the Five Points Brotherhood does in the Kingdom, and thus are less able to use bribes and corruption to their advantage.  It has been noted that the navy seems to intercept more smugglers that are trying to take goods out of the town than those bringing goods in, but no one has been interested enough to pursue the matter formally.

=== ''Garde Belis'' ===

The Garde Belis serves as the town watch, the municipal law enforcement arm of the town government.  They typically wear light armor (leather or studded leather) when on duty, and are armed with heavy metal-shod clubs and light crossbows when needed.  Their livery is comprised of gold-colored long-waisted surcoats and hats of matching color.  Crime in Belis-ar-Weil is typically of a property, rather than violent, nature, and even that is mostly related to smuggling, which is the jurisdiction of the Red-and-Blacks.  This lack of work, combined with bribes and graft that the Pointers use to lubricate their illicit activities in the town, do not generate a great deal of respect for the Garde.  As such, it does not attract the highest caliber of applicants, and it is not highly respected by the townsfolk.  The derogatory name of “Golden Stouts” is sometimes used to refer to them, a play on a popular beer in the area that also pokes fun at the average members less-than-athletic build.