Night Watch
Varrock. We've all been there. A city whose fingers are so far in the trade business it has been called "the City of a Thousand Stalls." Capital of a powerful nation. Center of trade for miles around. Positively reeking of culture and tradition and history.
It makes one wonder who exactly keeps it running, Captain Rovin thought as he gazed down from the Palace walls.
He knew the answer to that question, of course. Not many people did. The majority of the citizens who passed through here didn't have the faintest clue. They oohed and aahed at the parapets and the walls, the Grand Exchange and the Palace. Then they went about their business. They thought they knew who kept the city safe from all the gangs and hooligans.
They were wrong.
Who really kept Varrock safe? Rovin thought. The King? He snorted. Hardly. The old man sat on this throne all day, looking busy. Rovin's own Palace Guard? While they might play a more active role than the King, they weren't the ones keeping everything running. He turned and went back into the Castle. Evening was coming along, he needed his sleep.
So did his Guardsmen. And when the Palace Guard slept, who took up the slack?
***************
The RuneScape sun set on the western horizon. The darkness and stillness of night settled abruptly on the city. For most of the people, it was time for rest.
But not for this individual and his underlings. Tonight would have daggers and blood, curses and battle, stealth and surprise.
Just your average night on the job, thought Commander Vehot grimly. His gaze was set on a house across the alleyway. Its lights had gone out with everyone else's, but that meant nothing.
At last, his sensitive ears picked up the sound of a doorknob starting to turn. He made a hand signal over his shoulder, and his men repositioned themselves in the dark alley. The door opened, and a party of rouges stepped out, ready for a night of mischief and law-breaking. With their eyes flicking to the sides, they proceeded up the alley.
Behind him, Chief Constable Perk shifted uneasily. Vehot placed a calming hand on the younger man's shoulder, then, with his other hand, made another signal.
And all hell broke loose. The crossbowmen he had stationed on the roofs revealed themselves and opened fire on the rouges. They reacted, diving behind for cover. Yelling war cries, Vehot and his team rushed forward, swords drawn for battle. Screaming defiance, the rouges flashed out knives and daggers and ran into the fray.
Yes, thought Vehot as his blade clove a rouge, just another night on the job.
***************
Commander Vehot is the leader of the Varrock Night Watch. Infamous among the Palace staff, the Night Watch did the dirty work of keeping the city clean at night. Varrock was also called the "City of a Thousand Thieves." There were several large gangs, notably the Phoenix and Black Arm gangs, which roamed the city at night. Either one or the other - or sometimes both - were out after dusk, and they always had a devious plan in mind.
And the Night Watch were there to stop them.
In this proposed minigame, you have a chance to become either a Watchman or a Rouge. To join the Rouges, well, if you've completed Shield of Arrav, you already have! Congrats!
To join the Watchmen, talk to Commander Vehot. Now, he told me not to tell anyone, but [whisper] he's usually found in the basement of the Blue Moon!
[/whisper]
Talk to him, and offer your services to help keep Varrock safe. After that, he'll ask you when you want to start. If you select "Later." you can wait. If you select "NOW!" then the minigame will start.
You have similar options when you talk to either Katrine or Straven for the Rouges.
When the minigame starts, you'll be sent out into the streets of Varrock at night. (What really happens is that Jagex makes a new arena that looks like Varrock, except there are less players, most npcs are gone (sleeping) and, of course, it's dark. Several spots, such as dark alleys and behind buildings, are cast in complete shadow, so that if your character stands there he or she will be completely hidden from the view of enemies.)
If you're a Rouge, you'll spawn at the headquarters of whichever group happens to be out tonight. If you joined the Watch, you'll start at the Blue Moon.
Now, the point of this is to kill as many of the enemy as you can. To help you do this, you get several items.
For Watchmen:
Watch Crossbow - this crossbow, which you can only use in this minigame, is meant for sniping. Once you wield it, and you go to your inventory and select "operate", your view will change.
(You know that "sniper" pose, when you drop onto a knee, sight along your weapon, and pick off distant targets? That's how it'll look.)
You view will also shift so that you're looking from a point just behind your character's back. Your view distance will double (yes, double. It's a sniping crossbow, after all.) You can then right click on any enemy you see and select "attack" to start sniping. Your range level will affect your damage, so it’s advisable that only hard-core rangers be a team’s snipers.
Watch Bolts - just bolts to go along with your Crossbow. If you run out, find Commander Vehot, Constable Perk, or Sergeant-at-Arms Riley to refill your quiver. Those people can be found roaming around the streets, looking for rouges to jump.
Watchman’s Wand – This is a short wand that provides the same amount of runes as those you get in the Fist of Guthix minigame. You are not allowed to bring any other runes or staffs or wands into the game with you. This wand, after running out of rune charges, will disintegrate and you will have to go find Commander Vehot, Constable Perk, or Sergeant –at-Arms Riley to recharge it. It can be used for magical sniping. Your magic level will affect your damage, so it’s advisable that only your hard-core mages be magical snipers.
Map - this is a map of the city and your current position. It will replace the minimap.
Flare - every Watchman sometimes gets more than he can handle. If your back is up against a wall, hiding from the Rouges on the other side, and bolts are clattering at your feet, you use a Flare. This will send a magical flame up in the air as a sort of signal. On every Watchman's Map a red dot will flash, telling them that you are calling for backup and reporting your position. You only get 5, and you can't get more unless you re-enter the minigame. That way people won't be calling for help every time they get a scratch.
Watchman’s Cloak – This black cloak will conceal you from enemy eyes as longs as you stand still. Great for ambushes.
Bandages – The same ones as in the Fist of Guthix minigame. Other food is allowed.
For Rouges:
Rouge-versions of all the Watchmen’s equipment.
Once you receive your equipment, you can exit your headquarters. No enemies are allowed inside your base. Once you exit, you are fair game. Many buildings cast long, pitch-black shadows; and you can use these to move around without being seen, occasionally making mad sprints for a shadow across the street. You can only attack enemies.
However, before you run out, it would be good for you to stay at your base for a bit and perhaps join the clan chat of someone. This someone could be your leader, who will then assemble a group of friends/clanmates/random people. He’ll (or she’ll) lay down some basic strategies and give out commands. It is VERY advisable for you to join a group like this, because single people are easy targets, and this is a dangerous minigame. What would you do if, by yourself, you walked into an ambush?
Warriors are allowed to bring any melee weapon they see fit, but they ought to keep in mind that some are heavier than others, and that your cloak has a higher chance of failing to conceal you the bigger your weapon is. That's why daggers and knifes are encouraged.
When you defeat a foe, they will die and loose all their stuff (without a gravestone), but you will not get it. This is to prevent RWT. The xp you get and bragging rights should be reward enough.
To exit the minigame (which is one continuous battle and never really ends), go back to your base and right click on one of the beds there. Select “sleep” and your screen will blacken. Once you wake up, you will be back in daytime Varrock.
