The Peacekeepers

History of the Peacekeepers

The state of law and those upholding the law has changed drastically in America since the day it was first founded. In the Colonial Era the methods of upholding the law of the land was still based on English law where constables and night watchmen were appointed as protectors of the peace. Law enforcement was still very much a localized and community driven force.

During the Post-Revolution era of the late 1700s and into the 1800s, elected sheriffs became commonplace in counties; especially in southern and western regions. These sheriffs executed court orders, made arrests, and ran the jails throughout the region. Town marshals were also elected in towns and cities, enforcing local laws.

During the last century, as America expanded into the west more and more, the sparse population and remote settlements started to make laws harder and harder to enforce. Criminals were more mobile and vigilante justice had become common where law enforcement was scarce.

When the Rift first opened, in 1869, those sheriffs that were within the area became entrenched in the battle, fighting for survival in the first year when the war was at its strongest and most bloody. There was seldom time nor chance to enforce laws and many crimes during this time were left unpunished.

By the time that the brunt of the fighter and conflict had died down in 1871, when the Rift turned into many smaller rifts that opened on a near nightly basis, the remaining sheriffs were stretched thin and did their best to uphold commonplace laws as best they could. 

When the Veilguard first emerged out of Darraknoir some found their way to the sheriffs of the time and were greeted with open arms; being seen as it became known that they were here to “protect humanity”. Although the presence of the supernatural was known at this time, there were still none serving as lawmen as they were seen by law as an energy to humankind still.

1878 saw the time known as the Crimson Era where old settlements were rebuilt out of the ruins and new settlements were created from the ashes. The sheriffs and the Veilguard that worked at their side moved into the towns and started re-establishing law within the land now known as the Riftlands.

This was short lived as the Civil War and revolution rocked the fountains of the lands again in 1880. The sheriffs were the first to be overthrown as the government at the time was toppled.

In the year that followed, in 1881, a new group emerged from the ashes and formed The Peacekeepers. Not quite a traditional sheriff's office or government recognised group, these vigilanties came together to help try and keep peace within the lands once more. Striving to pull back the chaotic and lawless land into something more civilised state.

In this first year they struggled the best they could, no longer working hand-in-hand with the Veilguard as many of their number were of the supernatural castes themselves; lending their strength as best they could.

By 1882 the Peacekeepers were well recognised by the people that lived within the land now known as the Badlands. They upheld commonplace laws, working side by side with humans and supernatural beings alike.