Watch Promises Extra Patrols for Long Shadows

SHARN — The city will be well protected against criminals during the upcoming nights of the Long Shadows (Vult 26th through 28th), according to Lord Commander Iyan ir’Talan. “The Sharn Watch remains vigilant throughout the year, and Long Shadows is no exception,” asserted ir’Talan on Sar. “City residents can take comfort in knowing that they’re safe in their homes with the Watch on guard.”

Commander ir’Talan said patrols would be increased by one-quarter during Long Shadows nights. Furthermore, the Daggerwatch Garrison plans to augment patrols in the Dura quarter by one-half.

“I’d like to commend my watch commanders for the success of last year’s Shadows at Bay operation, during which the Watch arrested more than a thousand criminals during Long Shadows,” ir’Talan said. “And I can promise an even safer city this year.”

But Councillor Sava Kharisa maintains that the high number of arrests during Long Shadows last year is evidence of failure, not success. “In the Lower Central district, armed gangs ran wild and took over the streets at night,” she said. “Where was the Watch? Locked behind the doors of the garrisons. For every arrest the Watch officers made, two other criminals ran through the streets of Sharn unimpeded.”

Kharisa also pointed out that some of the high-profile crimes from last year’s Long Shadows — including the ritual murders at Bluebrick Spire — still remain unsolved a year later.

Commander ir’Talan said that while agents of the Blackened Book would doubtless be active throughout Long Shadows, few arrests have historically been made for crimes involving the supernatural. “Long Shadows carries with it a lot of superstition, and events such as the Bluebrick Spire case feed on that kind of hysteria,” he said. “But garden-variety criminals are using Long Shadows as an excuse for their own nefarious activities — it’s not a case of monsters running amok.”

The Sharn Inquisitive plans a special report on Long Shadows unrest in a later issue.