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The Ankh-Morpork City Watch is a fictional police force appearing in Terry Prattchett's
Discworld ''Discworld'' is a comic fantasy"Humorous Fantasy" in David Pringle, ed., ''The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Fantasy'' (pp.31-33). London, Carlton,2006. book series written by the English author Sir Terry Pratchett, set on the Discworld, a fl ...
series. The Watch primarily functions out of the fictional city of
Ankh-Morpork Ankh-Morpork is a fictional city-state that is the setting for many Discworld novels by Terry Pratchett. Overview Pratchett describes Ankh-Morpork as the biggest city in Discworld and its corrupt mercantile capital. In '' The Art of Discwo ...
, but some stories do include members of the watch elsewhere in the world. The watch and its members are the primary topic of 8 novels and one short story, listed below in order of publication. *''
Guards! Guards! ''Guards! Guards!'' is a fantasy novel by British writer Terry Pratchett, the eighth in the ''Discworld ''Discworld'' is a comic fantasy"Humorous Fantasy" in David Pringle, ed., ''The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Fantasy'' (pp.31-33). London, ...
'' (1989); *"
Theatre of Cruelty The Theatre of Cruelty (, also ) is a form of theatre conceptualised by Antonin Artaud. Artaud, who was briefly a member of the surrealist movement, outlined his theories in a series of essays and letters, which were collected as '' The Theatre an ...
" (1993) (short story); *''
Men at Arms ''Men at Arms'' is a fantasy novel by British writer Terry Pratchett, the 15th book in the ''Discworld'' series, first published in 1993. It is the second novel about the Ankh-Morpork City Watch on the Discworld. Lance-constable Angua von Über ...
'' (1993); *'' Feet of Clay'' (1996); *'' Jingo'' (1997); *''
The Fifth Elephant ''The Fifth Elephant'' is a 1999 fantasy novel by British writer Terry Pratchett, the 24th book in the ''Discworld'' series. It introduces the clacks, a long-distance semaphore system. Plot summary The Ankh-Morpork City Watch is expanding; the ...
'' (1999); *''
Night Watch Night Watch or Nightwatch may refer to: Being on duty at night * The nighttime shift worked by a security guard (night watchman) * Watchman (law enforcement), organized groups of men to deter criminal activity and provide law enforcement * One of ...
'' (2002); *''
Thud! ''Thud!'' is a fantasy novel by British writer Terry Pratchett, the 34th book in the ''Discworld'' series, first released in the United States on 13 September 2005, then the United Kingdom on 1 October 2005. It was released in the U.S. three wee ...
'' (2005); *'' Snuff'' (2011) The novels generally feature Watch Commander
Sam Vimes His Grace, The Duke of Ankh, Commander Sir Samuel "Sam" Vimes is a fictional character in Terry Pratchett's '' Discworld'' series. Vimes is depicted in the novels as somewhere between an Inspector Morse-type 'old-school' British policeman, and ...
as protagonist and often draw on the conventions of
crime novels Crime fiction, detective story, murder mystery, crime novel, mystery novel, and police novel are terms used to describe narratives or fiction that centre on criminal acts and especially on the investigation, either by an amateur or a profession ...
. The Watch and its individual members also appear as secondary characters in many other stories in the Discworld series, especially those set in Ankh-Morpork. The Watch was also a loose inspiration for the 2021 fantasy police procedural television series '' The Watch.''


Style

Pratchett's Watch has been described as part of a longstanding fantasy tradition wherein the characters of the city watch would "rush in and die, or run away", with Pratchett's approach to that tradition ranging from parody in the earlier novels to "deeper satire" in the later ones.


Fictional history (before the time in which the novels are set)

''Note:'' ''Some of the information repeated below was taken from ''
The Discworld Companion ''The Discworld Companion'' is an encyclopaedia of the Discworld fictional universe, created by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Briggs. Four editions have been published, under varying titles. The ''Companion'' contains precise definitions of wor ...
'' and the ''1999 Discworld Diary'', which had a City Watch theme, and has not been confirmed in any of the ''Discworld'' novels.'' The "Ankh-Morpork Watch & Ward" was founded in AM 1561 by King Veltrick I. They had full
copper Copper is a chemical element; it has symbol Cu (from Latin ) and atomic number 29. It is a soft, malleable, and ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. A freshly exposed surface of pure copper has a pinkish-orang ...
armour and a copper shield inscribed "''Fabricati Diem, Pvncti Agvnt Celeriter''" ("Make the Day, the Moments Pass Quickly", Veltrick's motto). Four days later Veltrick's son assassinated him, and became Veltrick II. Since he had little interest in maintaining a police force, the equipment of the Watch quickly deteriorated. At this time there were four separate forces: * The "Palace Guard", who guarded the palace. * The "Cable Street Particulars", a political police force concentrating on discovering "plots" against the current rulers of the city. The name may have been inspired by the
Baker Street Irregulars The Baker Street Irregulars are fictional characters who appear in three Sherlock Holmes stories, specifically two novels and one short story, by Arthur Conan Doyle. They are street boys who are employed by Holmes as intelligence agents. The na ...
from the stories of
Sherlock Holmes Sherlock Holmes () is a Detective fiction, fictional detective created by British author Arthur Conan Doyle. Referring to himself as a "Private investigator, consulting detective" in his stories, Holmes is known for his proficiency with obser ...
, and perhaps by the
Battle of Cable Street The Battle of Cable Street was a series of clashes that took place at several locations in the East End of London, most notably Cable Street, on Sunday 4 October 1936. It was a clash between the Metropolitan Police, sent to protect a march ...
, a riot started between
Oswald Mosley Sir Oswald Ernald Mosley, 6th Baronet (16 November 1896 – 3 December 1980), was a British aristocrat and politician who rose to fame during the 1920s and 1930s when he, having become disillusioned with mainstream politics, turned to fascism. ...
's
British Union of Fascists The British Union of Fascists (BUF) was a British fascist political party formed in 1932 by Oswald Mosley. Mosley changed its name to the British Union of Fascists and National Socialists in 1936 and, in 1937, to the British Union. In 1939, f ...
and anti-fascist protesters in 1936. They are also known as The
Unmentionables Underwear, underclothing, or undergarments are items of clothing worn beneath outer clothes, usually in direct contact with the skin, although they may comprise more than a single layer. They serve to keep outer clothing from being soiled ...
(a colloquial British term for underwear), possibly a parody of The Invincibles, an Irish extremist nationalist group, or of
The Untouchables Untouchable or Untouchables may refer to: People * Untouchability, the practice of socially ostracizing a minority group of very low social status * Untouchables, word for the Dalits or Scheduled Castes of India * Untouchables (law enforcement), ...
, a
prohibition Prohibition is the act or practice of forbidding something by law; more particularly the term refers to the banning of the manufacture, storage (whether in barrels or in bottles), transportation, sale, possession, and consumption of alcoholic b ...
-era law-enforcement group, who served as government intelligence. * The "Ward", who acted as gate-guards,
thief-taker In English legal history, a thief-taker was a private individual hired to capture criminals. The widespread establishment of professional police in England did not occur until the 19th century. With the rising crime rate and newspapers to bring t ...
s etc. during the day. * The "Watch", who served the same purpose in the hours of darkness. The force comprised one commander, five captains, ten sergeants, forty corporals, lance-corporals, constables and lance-constables, and, in times of emergency, a "citizens militia" of varied size. Public opinion of the Watches (the Ward became known as the Day Watch) was never high, and reached an all-time low when a Commander, who had told the public not to take the law into their own hands, was thrown onto the Ankh with a cry of "If it's not in our hands, whose hands is it in?" The Guilds were policing themselves by this point, so the Watch was becoming increasingly irrelevant. The Watch had a brief respite in AM 1688, following the Ankh-Morpork Civil War, when Commander Suffer-Not-Injustice Vimes and his Ironheads became the city's rulers. However, after he was deposed in favour of the Patricianship, the Watch sank even further into obscurity; he was (until recently) the last Watch Commander. Under the rule of the Patricians, not only did Guild Law apply in the Guilds, but the only laws that applied anywhere else were the whims of the man in charge. By the time of Homicidal Lord Winder's rule as Patrician, only a handful of Watch Houses remained. The Cable Street Particulars were thriving, however, having morphed from an
intelligence agency An intelligence agency is a government agency responsible for the collection, Intelligence analysis, analysis, and exploitation of information in support of law enforcement, national security, military, public safety, and foreign policy obj ...
into a
secret police image:Putin-Stasi-Ausweis.png, 300px, Vladimir Putin's secret police identity card, issued by the East German Stasi while he was working as a Soviet KGB liaison officer from 1985 to 1989. Both organizations used similar forms of repression. Secre ...
force employing torture with gusto. During the Glorious Revolution of the Twenty-Fifth of May, their building was burnt down by members of the Night Watch from Treacle Mine Road. The change in Patricians did not lead to an improvement in the public perception of the Watch, and when
Lord Vetinari Lord Havelock Vetinari (, ), Lord Patrician (Primus inter pares) of the city-state of Ankh-Morpork, is a fictional character in Terry Pratchett's ''Discworld'' series. Vetinari has written an unpublished manuscript known as ''The Servant'', ...
replaced Mad Lord Snapcase, and even theft was legalised, there seemed to be no point to them at all. The dysfunctional Night Watch now comprised three men, based in the old Treacle Mine Road Watch House. While the Day Watch had become another of the city's gangs, the Night Watch was just inactive.


History according to plot of novels

The Watch became active when Carrot Ironfoundersson became a constable and the Night Watch saved the city from a
dragon A dragon is a Magic (supernatural), magical legendary creature that appears in the folklore of multiple cultures worldwide. Beliefs about dragons vary considerably through regions, but European dragon, dragons in Western cultures since the Hi ...
. After the destruction of the Watch House, they moved to larger premises in Pseudopolis Yard (a name reminiscent of
Scotland Yard Scotland Yard (officially New Scotland Yard) is the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police, the territorial police force responsible for policing Greater London's London boroughs, 32 boroughs. Its name derives from the location of the original ...
) and more members joined, especially from ethnic minorities such as dwarfs, trolls and undead. The Watch even admitted a
vampire A vampire is a mythical creature that subsists by feeding on the Vitalism, vital essence (generally in the form of blood) of the living. In European folklore, vampires are undead, undead humanoid creatures that often visited loved ones and c ...
, a
werewolf In folklore, a werewolf (), or occasionally lycanthrope (from Ancient Greek ), is an individual who can shapeshifting, shapeshift into a wolf, or especially in modern film, a Shapeshifting, therianthropic Hybrid beasts in folklore, hybrid wol ...
, an Igor and a
Nac Mac Feegle In the fictional world of Terry Pratchett's ''Discworld'' series of novels, the Nac Mac Feegle (also sometimes known as Pictsies, Wee Free Men, the Little Men or "Person or Persons Unknown, Believed to be Armed") are a type of fairy folk. They a ...
. After the Watch saved the Patrician's life he agreed to increase its stature, with new Section Houses around the city. The remains of the Day Watch were incorporated into a new City Watch commanded by
Sam Vimes His Grace, The Duke of Ankh, Commander Sir Samuel "Sam" Vimes is a fictional character in Terry Pratchett's '' Discworld'' series. Vimes is depicted in the novels as somewhere between an Inspector Morse-type 'old-school' British policeman, and ...
. The Watch became a proper police force, dealing in crime prevention and investigation, rather than just "thief-taking". They had a
forensics Forensic science combines principles of law and science to investigate criminal activity. Through crime scene investigations and laboratory analysis, forensic scientists are able to link suspects to evidence. An example is determining the time and ...
section and a Traffic Division, and the Cable Street Particulars had been replaced by a plain-clothes division. The recently added "the Specials", were based on the Watch's ancient right to establish a Citizen's
Militia A militia ( ) is a military or paramilitary force that comprises civilian members, as opposed to a professional standing army of regular, full-time military personnel. Militias may be raised in times of need to support regular troops or se ...
as needed. More and more watchmen trained by the City Watch prefer to work in other cities abroad where they can earn good money. They are referred to as "Sammies" (similar to "Bobbies", a term for British police officers derived from the common abbreviation of the first name of
Sir Robert Peel Sir Robert Peel, 2nd Baronet (5 February 1788 – 2 July 1850), was a British Conservative statesman who twice was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1834–1835, 1841–1846), and simultaneously was Chancellor of the Exchequer (1834–183 ...
, the man credited with the creation of the first regular, uniformed, police service in the UK) and communicate with each other by telegraph ("clacks"), a reference to real-world Interpol (mentioned in ''The Night Watch'').


Members

The primary members of the Ankh-Morpork City Watch are (see the linked articles for full details of the characters):


His Grace, The Duke of Ankh, Commander Sir Samuel Vimes

Samuel Vimes, Commander of the City Watch, learned dirty tricks as a street copper, and passes them on to new recruits. Under him, the Watch strengthens its position, and while he makes many enemies, the Assassin's Guild has stopped accepting contracts for his assassination. He marries the richest woman in Ankh-Morpork, Lady Sybil, and has a son with her, young Sam.


Captain Carrot Ironfoundersson

Adopted by dwarfs as an infant Carrot grew up in the mines of the Copperhead mountains. He is "six feet tall and nearly as broad across the shoulders". His dwarfish name is ''Kzad-bhat'', which, roughly translated, means "Head Banger", a logical nickname for a man living in a mine built by dwarfs. He was quite surprised when he was told that he was human. His adoptive father thought it best that he go live among humans, and found him a job in Ankh-Morpork with the Night Watch, believing them respected and respectable. Carrot was "barely 16 years old". (''
Guards! Guards! ''Guards! Guards!'' is a fantasy novel by British writer Terry Pratchett, the eighth in the ''Discworld ''Discworld'' is a comic fantasy"Humorous Fantasy" in David Pringle, ed., ''The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Fantasy'' (pp.31-33). London, ...
'') Carrot joins the Night Watch when it is still a small group of misfits who run from criminals rather than arrest them (''
Guards! Guards! ''Guards! Guards!'' is a fantasy novel by British writer Terry Pratchett, the eighth in the ''Discworld ''Discworld'' is a comic fantasy"Humorous Fantasy" in David Pringle, ed., ''The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Fantasy'' (pp.31-33). London, ...
''). His old-fashioned view of justice leads him on his first day as a constable to arrest the leader of the entirely legal Thieves' Guild, but he later understands the city better. Captain Carrot rapidly and easily comes to know the city's one-million population by name and tax status, and is big on paperwork and organization. He always takes the time to see all sides of a story before acting. When
Sam Vimes His Grace, The Duke of Ankh, Commander Sir Samuel "Sam" Vimes is a fictional character in Terry Pratchett's '' Discworld'' series. Vimes is depicted in the novels as somewhere between an Inspector Morse-type 'old-school' British policeman, and ...
plans to retire after marrying Lady Sybil Ramkin, Carrot becomes his successor, and is described as "the Disc's most linear thinker". He interviews
Death Death is the end of life; the irreversible cessation of all biological functions that sustain a living organism. Death eventually and inevitably occurs in all organisms. The remains of a former organism normally begin to decompose sh ...
in a murder investigation. Carrot becomes famous enough for
action figure An action figure is a poseable character model figure made most commonly of plastic, and often based upon characters from a film, comic book, military, video game, television program, or sport; fictional or historical. These figures are usually ...
s of him to appear. (''
Hogfather ''Hogfather'' is the 20th '' Discworld'' novel by Terry Pratchett, and a 1997 British Fantasy Award nominee. It was first released in 1996 and published by Victor Gollancz. It came in 137th place in The Big Read, a BBC survey of the most loved ...
'') Carrot's main talents are his charisma and "supernatural likability". He genuinely likes people, in contrast to Vimes, who "doesn't like anybody". He is often shown getting people to do things no one else could force them to do, simply by assuming that they will: for example, his outreach programs for at-risk Ankh-Morporkian youth treat them like boy scouts. When he directly commands someone, they find it very difficult to disobey. Even Vimes is susceptible to this power. Carrot prefers not to use this except in dire emergencies. Carrot often seems unthreatening, a dangerous conclusion if one is unlucky enough to disappoint him. People think Carrot is simple, and the narrator occasionally points out that while that is true, people often mistake "simple" for "stupid". Carrot's simplicity is cunning (which he may have learned from Vimes). In ''
Soul Music Soul music is a popular music genre that originated in African-American culture, African-American African-American neighborhood, communities throughout the United States in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Catchy rhythms, stressed by handclaps ...
'', Carrot adds questions to the quiz machine in the Mended Drum, asking players who was responsible for recent crimes and frequently makes arrests as a result. Carrot sees the bright side of life. When Angua, a werewolf, tells him that her brother Andrei is stuck in wolf form and lives as a champion sheepdog, Carrot notes that he ''is'' a champion. Carrot has also promised Angua, at her request, that if she ever follows in her brother Wolfgang's murderous footsteps, he will be the one to stop her. It is commonly suspected (and somewhat of an open secret) that Carrot is the true
heir to the throne An heir apparent is a person who is first in the order of succession and cannot be displaced from inheriting by the birth of another person. A person who is first in the current order of succession but could be displaced by the birth of a more e ...
of Ankh-Morpork, but he does not acknowledge it, and has even hidden evidence of his royal heritage.
Havelock Vetinari Lord Havelock Vetinari (, ), Lord Patrician (Primus inter pares) of the city-state of Ankh-Morpork, is a fictional character in Terry Pratchett's ''Discworld'' series. Vetinari has written an unpublished manuscript known as ''The Servant'', ...
considers him useful, as he makes any attempt to claiming to be the true heir impossible, and any complaints that only a king has the authority to do something can simply be deferred to Carrot. Carrot himself never uses his royal powers or acknowledges his royal heritage. After he learns about it in ''
Men at Arms ''Men at Arms'' is a fantasy novel by British writer Terry Pratchett, the 15th book in the ''Discworld'' series, first published in 1993. It is the second novel about the Ankh-Morpork City Watch on the Discworld. Lance-constable Angua von Über ...
'', he confides to Vetinari that he wants people to obey the law because it is the law, not because "Captain Carrot is good at being obeyed". He says he is content to ring a bell and yell all's well, "provided of course that 'all is well'". Carrot on rare occasions does use his royal powers to make things happen. In '' Jingo'', Vetinari made Vimes a Duke, something only a King can do, while Carrot was present—noting that he "had been reminded" that Vimes could have the title. In ''
The Fifth Elephant ''The Fifth Elephant'' is a 1999 fantasy novel by British writer Terry Pratchett, the 24th book in the ''Discworld'' series. It introduces the clacks, a long-distance semaphore system. Plot summary The Ankh-Morpork City Watch is expanding; the ...
'', faced with the defection of most members of the Watch under Sergeant Fred Colon (then an acting captain), Carrot puts his plain and battered royal sword on a desk in plain sight and reminds Watch members that they took an oath to the King, and the King had not relieved them of it. Carrot is a stereotypical "perfect" policeman; totally honest, law-abiding, and determined to be friends with everyone. People of all species cannot help wanting to behave well in his presence. His love for everyone distresses Angua, who worries that he loves her as he loves everyone else and no more. He puts the welfare of the public above hers (and his), but when she was in danger, he travelled to the rim of the Disc to save her. In ''Jingo'', Angua is kidnapped on a Klatchian ship and The Watch pursues it. Carrot does not worry, but sensibly, gets some sleep to be ready to rescue her.
Sam Vimes His Grace, The Duke of Ankh, Commander Sir Samuel "Sam" Vimes is a fictional character in Terry Pratchett's '' Discworld'' series. Vimes is depicted in the novels as somewhere between an Inspector Morse-type 'old-school' British policeman, and ...
and the ship's captain see the sense of this, but cannot believe that someone in love can be so sensible. In ''
The Art of Discworld ''The Art of Discworld'' is a descriptive book of the world of the Discworld as portrayed in Terry Pratchett's '' Discworld'' series. It showcases the art of Paul Kidby with descriptions of characters and locations by Pratchett and some detail ...
'' Pratchett says that Carrot has a bright future, "should Lord Vetinari not survive the next assassination attempt", and notes that although most people envision Carrot as
Arnold Schwarzenegger Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger (born July30, 1947) is an Austrian and American actor, businessman, former politician, and former professional bodybuilder, known for his roles in high-profile action films. Governorship of Arnold Schwarzenegger, ...
, he is actually more like
Liam Neeson William John Neeson (born 7 June 1952) is an actor from Northern Ireland. He has received List of awards and nominations received by Liam Neeson, several accolades, including nominations for an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, BAFT ...
. In both the ''
Discworld ''Discworld'' is a comic fantasy"Humorous Fantasy" in David Pringle, ed., ''The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Fantasy'' (pp.31-33). London, Carlton,2006. book series written by the English author Sir Terry Pratchett, set on the Discworld, a fl ...
'' computer game and the
BBC Radio BBC Radio is an operational business division and service of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a royal charter since 1927. The service provides national radio stations cove ...
production of ''
Guards! Guards! ''Guards! Guards!'' is a fantasy novel by British writer Terry Pratchett, the eighth in the ''Discworld ''Discworld'' is a comic fantasy"Humorous Fantasy" in David Pringle, ed., ''The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Fantasy'' (pp.31-33). London, ...
'', he speaks with a Welsh accent.


Captain Angua von Überwald

Captain Delphine Angua von Überwald is a member of the Ankh-Morpork City Watch, originally hired under an
affirmative action Affirmative action (also sometimes called reservations, alternative access, positive discrimination or positive action in various countries' laws and policies) refers to a set of policies and practices within a government or organization seeking ...
plan by
Lord Vetinari Lord Havelock Vetinari (, ), Lord Patrician (Primus inter pares) of the city-state of Ankh-Morpork, is a fictional character in Terry Pratchett's ''Discworld'' series. Vetinari has written an unpublished manuscript known as ''The Servant'', ...
. She first appeared in ''
Men at Arms ''Men at Arms'' is a fantasy novel by British writer Terry Pratchett, the 15th book in the ''Discworld'' series, first published in 1993. It is the second novel about the Ankh-Morpork City Watch on the Discworld. Lance-constable Angua von Über ...
''. Her beauty led colleagues to predict that criminals would line up to be arrested by her, but Angua's surprising strength and tough attitude soon make her one of the most feared officers of the Watch. Angua is a
werewolf In folklore, a werewolf (), or occasionally lycanthrope (from Ancient Greek ), is an individual who can shapeshifting, shapeshift into a wolf, or especially in modern film, a Shapeshifting, therianthropic Hybrid beasts in folklore, hybrid wol ...
, but maintains a strict
vegetarian Vegetarianism is the practice of abstaining from the Eating, consumption of meat (red meat, poultry, seafood, insects as food, insects, and the flesh of any other animal). It may also include abstaining from eating all by-products of animal slau ...
diet in her human phase and as a wolf only eats chickens, for which she afterwards leaves discreet payment. In the 1999 computer game ''
Discworld Noir ''Discworld Noir'' is a 1999 adventure game developed by Perfect Entertainment and published by GT Interactive. The game is set in Terry Pratchett's satirical ''Discworld'' universe, and follows its first and only private investigator as he is ...
'', and the 2001 books-on-tape version of ''Men at Arms'', her name is pronounced "An-gyoo-uh" with a hard "g". Terry Pratchett writes at the terrypratchettbooks.com forum: "it's Ang as in Anger, u as in you, a as in a thing". Daughter of the Baron and Baroness of Überwald, Angua comes from a family of werewolves and has two brothers, Wolfgang and Andrei. Her sister Elsa is deceased, killed by Wolfgang. Only Angua and Wolfgang can shape-shift at will. Wolfgang is extremely violent and enjoys killing, even eating, "inferior" humans. Angua rebelled and left Überwald. Andrei managed to slip away as well. Angua moved to Ankh-Morpork and became the first woman in the City Watch. She and Corporal Carrot Ironfoundersson fall in love. After he recovers from his initial surprise, Carrot does not seem bothered that Angua is a werewolf, but Angua worries that their differences will eventually doom the relationship. Her friend Cheery Littlebottom, a dwarf, comes out in '' Feet of Clay'' as female with Angua's encouragement: dwarf society expects both male and female dwarfs to behave in an indistinguishable way. Angua loans Cheery dresses and make-up, but conceals her werewolf nature from Cheery, who hates and fears werewolves. Throughout the book Angua debates returning to Überwald to live among other werewolves. In the end, she stays in Ankh-Morpork. Angua also befriends Gaspode, a small dog with matted fur who gains and loses human speech in '' Moving Pictures'', then by the time ''Men at Arms'' begins regains it by sleeping near Unseen University's High-Energy Magic building. Gaspode flirts with Angua and helps her on her missions. In ''
The Fifth Elephant ''The Fifth Elephant'' is a 1999 fantasy novel by British writer Terry Pratchett, the 24th book in the ''Discworld'' series. It introduces the clacks, a long-distance semaphore system. Plot summary The Ankh-Morpork City Watch is expanding; the ...
'', Commander Vimes travels to Überwald on a diplomatic mission. Lord Vetinari chooses Angua to go with him, but she has already left for Überwald for reasons of her own. Carrot and Gaspode set out after her. This is the first Discworld book to reveal much about Angua's background, and her parents and brother Wolfgang all figure in the story. Angua's relationship with actual wolves also provides some tension. Vimes ultimately kills Wolfgang, who leads a violent werewolf movement in Überwald, in a violent confrontation in the city square. That there is a werewolf on the Watch becomes common knowledge in Ankh-Morpork, but Angua remains undisturbed, as the werewolf is generally assumed to be
Nobby Nobbs The Ankh-Morpork City Watch is a fictional police force appearing in Terry Pratchett, Terry Prattchett's Discworld series. The Watch primarily functions out of the fictional city of Ankh-Morpork, but some stories do include members of the watch ...
; Carrot, Vimes, Vetinari, and Angua herself all play along. However ''
The Truth The Truth may refer to: Film * ''The Truth'' (1920 film) starring Madge Kennedy * ''The Truth'' (1960 film) or ''La Vérité'', a French film by Henri-Georges Clouzot starring Brigitte Bardot * ''The Truth'' (1988 film), a Hong Kong trial cri ...
'' reveals in passing that several members of the Ankh-Morpork aristocracy and the lawyer Mr Slant do know her nature. In ''
Making Money ''Making Money'' is a fantasy novel by British writer Terry Pratchett, part of his ''Discworld'' series, first published in the UK on 20 September 2007. It is the second novel featuring Moist von Lipwig, and involves the Ankh-Morpork mint ...
'',
Moist von Lipwig Moist von Lipwig is a fictional character from Terry Pratchett's ''Discworld'' series. A "reformed con-man" who is one of the major characters of the series, von Lipwig is the protagonist of the novels ''Going Postal'', ''Making Money,'' and ''Ra ...
also figures this out when he sees Angua in werewolf form with Nobby. Though the widespread recognition of the werewolf presence in the Watch has not inconvenienced Angua on a human level, the city's criminal underworld learns to evade capture, for example with a scent bomb like The New Firm (Mr. Pin and Mr. Tulip) use in ''
The Truth The Truth may refer to: Film * ''The Truth'' (1920 film) starring Madge Kennedy * ''The Truth'' (1960 film) or ''La Vérité'', a French film by Henri-Georges Clouzot starring Brigitte Bardot * ''The Truth'' (1988 film), a Hong Kong trial cri ...
''. Several references to scent bombs follow, most notably used by Carcer at the beginning of ''
Night Watch Night Watch or Nightwatch may refer to: Being on duty at night * The nighttime shift worked by a security guard (night watchman) * Watchman (law enforcement), organized groups of men to deter criminal activity and provide law enforcement * One of ...
'', when he kills Sergeant Stronginthearm. Angua helps Vimes on another diplomatic mission in '' Monstrous Regiment'', and in ''
Going Postal ''Going Postal'' is a fantasy novel by British writer Terry Pratchett, the 33rd book in his '' Discworld'' series, released in the United Kingdom on 25 September 2004. Unlike most of Pratchett's Discworld novels, ''Going Postal'' is divided int ...
'' is mentioned as difficult to elude. Angua also appears in ''
Thud! ''Thud!'' is a fantasy novel by British writer Terry Pratchett, the 34th book in the ''Discworld'' series, first released in the United States on 13 September 2005, then the United Kingdom on 1 October 2005. It was released in the U.S. three wee ...
'', which features the Watch's first vampire officer, Sally. Though Angua is deeply committed to Carrot, calling herself his dog, others take a romantic interest in her. A wolf named Gavin in ''The Fifth Elephant'', provides tension, and the small wealthy mutt Mr. Fusspot in ''Making Money'' proposes marriage. ''
I Shall Wear Midnight ''I Shall Wear Midnight'' is a comic fantasy novel by English writer Terry Pratchett, set on the Discworld. It is the fourth novel within the ''Discworld'' series to be based on the character of Tiffany Aching. It was published on 2 Septembe ...
'' notes that Angua is newly promoted to
captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader or highest rank officer of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police depa ...
. Captain Carrot arrests Tiffany Aching after a disturbance in the King's Head involving the Nac Mac Feegles, defeated by
Wee Mad Arthur The Ankh-Morpork City Watch is a fictional police force appearing in Terry Prattchett's Discworld series. The Watch primarily functions out of the fictional city of Ankh-Morpork, but some stories do include members of the watch elsewhere in the ...
, another Feegle (the rat catcher from ''Feet of Clay'' who rescues Colon from the King Golem, although he is referred to as a gnome in the original novel). Wee Mad Arthur has now joined the watch, and tells Tiffany that she will be escorted by his colleague, Captain Angua. In the 2010 Sky television adaptation of ''
Going Postal ''Going Postal'' is a fantasy novel by British writer Terry Pratchett, the 33rd book in his '' Discworld'' series, released in the United Kingdom on 25 September 2004. Unlike most of Pratchett's Discworld novels, ''Going Postal'' is divided int ...
'', Angua was played by Ingrid Bolsø Berdal. The
Cretaceous The Cretaceous ( ) is a geological period that lasted from about 143.1 to 66 mya (unit), million years ago (Mya). It is the third and final period of the Mesozoic Era (geology), Era, as well as the longest. At around 77.1 million years, it is the ...
gymnosperm The gymnosperms ( ; ) are a group of woody, perennial Seed plant, seed-producing plants, typically lacking the protective outer covering which surrounds the seeds in flowering plants, that include Pinophyta, conifers, cycads, Ginkgo, and gnetoph ...
species '' Czekanowskia anguae'' is named after Angua.Watson, J., Lydon, S. J. and Harrison, N. A. (2001
"A revision of the English Wealden Flora, III: Czekanowskiales, Ginkgoales & allied Coniferales"
Bulletin of the Natural History Museum (Geology Series), 57(1), 29-82.


Sergeant Fred Colon

Frederick "Fred" Colon was a
sergeant Sergeant (Sgt) is a Military rank, rank in use by the armed forces of many countries. It is also a police rank in some police services. The alternative spelling, ''serjeant'', is used in The Rifles and in other units that draw their heritage f ...
, and had been for a long time. He may have been first mentioned in ''
The Colour of Magic ''The Colour of Magic'' is a 1983 fantasy comedy novel by Terry Pratchett, and is the first book of the ''Discworld'' series. The first printing of the British edition consisted of only 506 copies. Pratchett has described it as "an attempt to ...
'' as the "Sergeant of The Watch" who enters the then Broken Drum. He is described on several occasions as "one of nature's sergeants", overweight, preferring to avoid trouble and exertion, and rather unimaginative. He generally "guards" bridges or large buildings against theft. He was a
corporal Corporal is a military rank in use by the armed forces of many countries. It is also a police rank in some police services. The rank is usually the lowest ranking non-commissioned officer. In some militaries, the rank of corporal nominally corr ...
in the Watch at the time
Sam Vimes His Grace, The Duke of Ankh, Commander Sir Samuel "Sam" Vimes is a fictional character in Terry Pratchett's '' Discworld'' series. Vimes is depicted in the novels as somewhere between an Inspector Morse-type 'old-school' British policeman, and ...
first joined, and subsequent to this spent some time in the army (the Duke of
Quirm The Discworld is the fictional world where English writer Sir Terry Pratchett's ''Discworld'' fantasy novels take place. It consists of an interstellar planet-sized disc, which sits on the backs of four huge elephants, themselves standing on t ...
's Middleweight
Infantry Infantry, or infantryman are a type of soldier who specialize in ground combat, typically fighting dismounted. Historically the term was used to describe foot soldiers, i.e. those who march and fight on foot. In modern usage, the term broadl ...
and then the Duke of Eorle's First Heavy Infantry), before returning to the Watch. In ''
The Fifth Elephant ''The Fifth Elephant'' is a 1999 fantasy novel by British writer Terry Pratchett, the 24th book in the ''Discworld'' series. It introduces the clacks, a long-distance semaphore system. Plot summary The Ankh-Morpork City Watch is expanding; the ...
'', Colon becomes the head of the Traffic Squad, which also includes his friend
Nobby Nobbs The Ankh-Morpork City Watch is a fictional police force appearing in Terry Pratchett, Terry Prattchett's Discworld series. The Watch primarily functions out of the fictional city of Ankh-Morpork, but some stories do include members of the watch ...
. This role fits him perfectly, especially since the Traffic Squad is "self-financing" (they keep the fines). A brief promotion to acting-captain proved a disaster as everyone, including Colon himself, expected. He currently holds the dual positions of Custody Officer and Watch Liaison Officer: jobs so vague that no one knows what they entail, least of all Colon himself. Their purpose is to avoid overburdening his brain with responsibility, and to also avoid the catastrophic possibility that he might have a task of any real importance. His office, in a separate building from the main watch house, is frequented by old acquaintances who want somewhere quiet to get away from the wife, hear what is happening on the street and—in Vimes' words—"gossip like washerwomen." Vimes considers this free-flowing source of information well worth the price of the doughnuts. Vimes thought most other watch officers saw a fat, stupid, lazy, and cowardly man, and that this was mostly what was there. But Colon and Nobby have a street-level knowledge of Ankh-Morpork on a par with his own, and are good at sensing tension in a crowd. Both also survived the Glorious 25 May when, in the aftermath of a coup in ''
Night Watch Night Watch or Nightwatch may refer to: Being on duty at night * The nighttime shift worked by a security guard (night watchman) * Watchman (law enforcement), organized groups of men to deter criminal activity and provide law enforcement * One of ...
'', an assortment of police and hangers-on (including a then-apprentice assassin named Vetinari) took out the remnants of the outgoing regime's secret police, though at a cost. Colon performs his duties in ''
Thud! ''Thud!'' is a fantasy novel by British writer Terry Pratchett, the 34th book in the ''Discworld'' series, first released in the United States on 13 September 2005, then the United Kingdom on 1 October 2005. It was released in the U.S. three wee ...
'' fairly well, is an amiable jailer, bright enough to keep his keys in a closed tin box in the bottom drawer of his desk, well out of reach of anything an inmate could use to snag them. He is often portrayed as prejudiced, but his prejudice is so non-specific and naive, frequently short-lived when he actually meets one of the group in question, that nobody takes him seriously. He might be related to Sergeant Doppelpunkt (German for the punctiaton mark ''colon''), half of the town watch in Bad Blintz, Überwald, ('' The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents''). Other
Discworld characters This article contains brief biographies for prominent characters from Terry Pratchett's ''Discworld'' series. More central characters' biographies are also listed in articles relating to the organisations they belong to, main characters have the ...
notably similar to Colon include one of the guard in the Überwald town of Bonk, nicknamed "Colonesque" by Samuel Vimes, and one of the market guards in Al Khali, Klatch. As with the various Dibblers, this may be due to
morphic resonance Alfred Rupert Sheldrake (born 28 June 1942) is an English author and parapsychology researcher. He proposed the concept of morphic resonance, a conjecture that lacks mainstream acceptance and has been widely criticized as pseudoscience. He has ...
. Colon is married, but his wife works during the day and, since he works at night, the two seldom see one another and communicate by leaving notes. Vimes privately attributes the longevity of Fred's marriage to this. ''Guards! Guards!'' notes that they have children, which Vimes puts down to 'persuasive handwriting'. Colon briefly appears in the
Cosgrove Hall Cosgrove Hall Films was a British animation studio founded by Brian Cosgrove and Mark Hall, headquartered in Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester. Cosgrove Hall was a major producer of children's television and animated programmes/films, which are s ...
adaptation of ''
Soul Music Soul music is a popular music genre that originated in African-American culture, African-American African-American neighborhood, communities throughout the United States in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Catchy rhythms, stressed by handclaps ...
''. In the
BBC Radio 4 BBC Radio 4 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. The station replaced the BBC Home Service on 30 September 1967 and broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes from the BBC's headquarters at Broadcasti ...
adaptation of ''Guards! Guards!'' he was voiced by
Stephen Thorne Stephen John Thorne (2 March 1935 – 26 May 2019) was a British actor of radio, film, stage, and television. He was best known for his regular BBC Radio 4 work and audiobook recordings, and for his portrayals of a few ''Doctor Who'' villains, ...
, and in the 1988 stage play Roger Bingham portrays him. In the Radio 4 adaptation of ''Night Watch,'' he was voiced by Sam Dale.


Corporal Nobby Nobbs

Cecil Wormsborough St. John "Nobby" Nobbs is untidy, smelly, and about the size of a dwarf. He carries a certificate to prove he is, on the
balance of probabilities In a legal dispute, one party has the burden of proof to show that they are correct, while the other party has no such burden and is presumed to be correct. The burden of proof requires a party to produce evidence to establish the truth of facts ...
, a human being. A running joke is the inability of others to believe this, despite—or even because of—the evidence. Samuel Vimes is Nobby's commanding officer, and Sergeant Fred Colon his partner and longtime friend. Nobby and Colon have strangely philosophical conversations, including one on whether
Death Death is the end of life; the irreversible cessation of all biological functions that sustain a living organism. Death eventually and inevitably occurs in all organisms. The remains of a former organism normally begin to decompose sh ...
has a first name, or even any friends to use it. Oddly, these conversations hint at Nobby having more intelligence than Colon. Nobby is continually pointing out fatal flaws in Colon's statements and arguments, and Colon mentally scrambles to come up with an answer (not unlike some byplay in
Laurel and Hardy Laurel and Hardy were a British-American double act, comedy duo during the early Classical Hollywood cinema, Classical Hollywood era of American cinema, consisting of Englishman Stan Laurel (1890–1965) and American Oliver Hardy (1892–1957) ...
films). Nobby likes
folk dancing A folk dance is a dance that reflects the life of the people of a certain country or region. Not all ethnic dances are folk dances. For example, Ritual, ritual dances or dances of ritual origin are not considered to be folk dances. Ritual dances ...
. As a
street urchin Street children are poor or homeless children who live on the streets of a city, town, or village. Homeless youth are often called street kids, or urchins; the definition of street children is contested, but many practitioners and policymakers ...
he was a major source of information for city notables. His abusive father broke his leg at least once and Vimes noted in ''Night Watch'' that Nobby's father used to break his arms. Young Nobby sometimes referred to his father as "Number One Suspect", and was afraid of prison because his father was there. He was inspired to join the Watch after meeting Sergeant-At-Arms John Keel (Sam Vimes, due to time travel), who gave him a spoon. His father subsequently stole it when he was released from prison. Nobby was once thought by some to be the Earl of Ankh, but this was a ploy to make him
king King is a royal title given to a male monarch. A king is an Absolute monarchy, absolute monarch if he holds unrestricted Government, governmental power or exercises full sovereignty over a nation. Conversely, he is a Constitutional monarchy, ...
, as he was thought easier to manipulate than
Carrot The carrot ('' Daucus carota'' subsp. ''sativus'') is a root vegetable, typically orange in colour, though heirloom variants including purple, black, red, white, and yellow cultivars exist, all of which are domesticated forms of the wild ...
. But, being less tractable than expected, Nobby turned down a life as the
figurehead In politics, a figurehead is a practice of who ''de jure'' (in name or by law) appears to hold an important and often supremely powerful title or office, yet '' de facto'' (in reality) exercises little to no actual power. This usually means that ...
ruler of Ankh-Morpork. He said later that he was afraid of what Vimes would say when he found out. His family had long believed that there is always a catch, so they never
volunteer Volunteering is an elective and freely chosen act of an individual or group giving their time and labor, often for community service. Many volunteers are specifically trained in the areas they work, such as medicine, education, or emergency ...
for anything. Nonetheless, the ending of ''Feet of Clay'', suggests that he may truly have been a
nobleman Nobility is a social class found in many societies that have an aristocracy. It is normally appointed by and ranked immediately below royalty. Nobility has often been an estate of the realm with many exclusive functions and characteristics. T ...
, with family heirlooms he never mentions. His small stature and odd features may be a jab at royal inbreeding. But the Nobbses have stolen so much over the years, Vimes notes, "you could probably prove Nobby was the
Dowager A dowager is a widow or widower who holds a title or property – a "dower" – derived from her or his deceased spouse. As an adjective, ''dowager'' usually appears in association with monarchical and aristocratic titles. In popular usage, the n ...
Duchess of
Quirm The Discworld is the fictional world where English writer Sir Terry Pratchett's ''Discworld'' fantasy novels take place. It consists of an interstellar planet-sized disc, which sits on the backs of four huge elephants, themselves standing on t ...
". Nobby helped resolve the "war" between
Ankh-Morpork Ankh-Morpork is a fictional city-state that is the setting for many Discworld novels by Terry Pratchett. Overview Pratchett describes Ankh-Morpork as the biggest city in Discworld and its corrupt mercantile capital. In '' The Art of Discwo ...
and Klatch in '' Jingo''. In recognition, the Patrician gave him a new job in traffic control, and then "promoted" Fred Colon to Watch Liaison Officer, a job vague enough to ensure he never had to do anything actually important. Ironically, Nobby also ends the war between the dwarfs and the trolls. In ''Thud'' an ancient artifact called a Cube reveals that the Battle of Koom Valley, the main reason for the continuing hatred between the two races, was supposed to be a chance for the two Kings to discuss peace. Nobby steals the Cube, but the reader does not learn this until Vimes tells him to hand it over. Vimes works out how to make the Cube play its message in the presence of the current King of the Dwarves, and the truth of Koom Valley is heard for the first time in hundreds of years. Nobby thinks he has a romantic relationship with Verity " Hammerhead" Pushpram, a girl who runs a fish stall. Her nickname comes from the fact that her eyes appear to look in opposite directions. However, the relationship seems to consist solely of her hitting him with a fish and telling him to bugger off. He remains "faithful" to her, however, in all books except ''
Thud! ''Thud!'' is a fantasy novel by British writer Terry Pratchett, the 34th book in the ''Discworld'' series, first released in the United States on 13 September 2005, then the United Kingdom on 1 October 2005. It was released in the U.S. three wee ...
'', in which he temporarily has a relationship with exotic dancer Tawneee. In ''Snuff'' he appears have a romantic relationship with goblin girl Shine of the Rainbow. In " Raising Steam", Colon says Nobby is "practically married". Nobby may be related to Corporal KnopfKnopf can be translated as knob, half of the town watch of Bad Blintz, Überwald in '' The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents''. Other characters with a notable similarity to Nobby include a member of the guard in the Überwald town of Bonk, nicknamed "Nobbski" by Vimes, and one of the market guards in Al Khali, Klatch. Morphic resonance may have caused this, as with the various incarnations of Dibbler. But being related to Nobby is not seen as a good thing. An Unseen University
bledlow Bledlow is a village and former civil parish, now in the parish of Bledlow-cum-Saunderton, in Buckinghamshire, England. It is about west-southwest of Princes Risborough, and is on the county boundary with Oxfordshire. In 1931 the parish had a ...
who by sheer
coincidence A coincidence is a remarkable concurrence of events or circumstances that have no apparent causal connection with one another. The perception of remarkable coincidences may lead to supernatural, occult, or paranormal claims, or it may lead to b ...
shared Nobby's last name swiftly denied any family ties. The ''Pratchett Portfolio'' says Nobby is known for saying "'tis a lie sir, I never done it," but he has not actually been recorded saying it. When Nobby was in Klatch he "got in touch with his feminine side", and liked to wear women's clothing. He also dressed up as an old lady for a Traffic scam, to which Vimes put an end. Nobby briefly appeared in the
Cosgrove Hall Cosgrove Hall Films was a British animation studio founded by Brian Cosgrove and Mark Hall, headquartered in Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester. Cosgrove Hall was a major producer of children's television and animated programmes/films, which are s ...
adaptation of ''Soul Music''. In the
BBC Radio 4 BBC Radio 4 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. The station replaced the BBC Home Service on 30 September 1967 and broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes from the BBC's headquarters at Broadcasti ...
adaptation of ''Guards! Guards!'' he was voiced by
Melvyn Hayes Melvyn Hayes ('' né'' Hyams; born 11 January 1935) is an English actor and voice-over performer. He is best known for playing the effeminate Gunner (later Bombardier) "Gloria" Beaumont in the 1970s BBC sitcom '' It Ain't Half Hot Mum'', for ...
. David Brett, formerly of the Flying Pickets played Nobby in the 1988 stage play. Nobby also appears in two computer adventure games, '' Discworld (The Trouble With Dragons)'', where he was voiced by
Tony Robinson Sir Anthony Robinson (born 15 August 1946) is an English actor, author, broadcaster, and political activist. He played Baldrick in the BBC television sitcom ''Blackadder'' and has presented many historical documentaries, including the Channel ...
, and ''
Discworld Noir ''Discworld Noir'' is a 1999 adventure game developed by Perfect Entertainment and published by GT Interactive. The game is set in Terry Pratchett's satirical ''Discworld'' universe, and follows its first and only private investigator as he is ...
'', where he was voiced by
Rob Brydon Robert Brydon Jones (; born 3 May 1965) is a Welsh actor, comedian, impressionist, presenter, singer and writer. He gained prominence for his roles in film, television and radio. He was appointed Order of the British Empire, Member of the Order ...
). Nobby had a distinct Irish accent in both. In the 2006 TV adaptation of ''
Hogfather ''Hogfather'' is the 20th '' Discworld'' novel by Terry Pratchett, and a 1997 British Fantasy Award nominee. It was first released in 1996 and published by Victor Gollancz. It came in 137th place in The Big Read, a BBC survey of the most loved ...
'' Nicolas Tennant played Nobby.


Sergeant Detritus

The first troll to join the watch.


Sergeant Cheery Littlebottom

Cheery Littlebottom is a female
dwarf Dwarf, dwarfs or dwarves may refer to: Common uses *Dwarf (folklore), a supernatural being from Germanic folklore * Dwarf, a human or animal with dwarfism Arts, entertainment, and media Fictional entities * Dwarf (''Dungeons & Dragons''), a sh ...
and forensic expert working for the City Watch, introduced in '' Feet of Clay''.


Constable Reginald Shoe

''See: Undead (Discworld)''


Lance-Constable Salacia "Sally" von Humpeding

Sally joined the Ankh-Morpork City Watch in spite of Vimes' reluctance to have a vampire on the force. She invariably looks stunning in any outfit, much to the chagrin of Angua, who feels somewhat diminished in Sally's presence, and views Sally as a rival for the affections of Captain Carrot.


Constable Dorfl

''See: Golems (Discworld)''


Constable Visit-the-Infidel/Ungodly-with-Explanatory-Pamphlets

Visit-the-Infidel-with-Explanatory-Pamphlets (sometimes referred to as Visit-the-Ungodly-with-Explanatory-Pamphlets) is a constable of the City Watch. generally just called "Constable Visit", or occasionally "Washpot" from one of his favourite quotations, "Moab is my washpot. Over Edom will I cast out my shoe", from Psalm 60 of ''The Book of Om''. He first appeared in ''Feet of Clay''. Samuel Vimes says he is a good copper, his highest form of personal praise. He is a gentle but determined Omnian
proselytiser Proselytism () is the policy of attempting to convert people's religious or political beliefs. Carrying out attempts to instill beliefs can be called proselytization. Proselytism is illegal in some countries. Some draw distinctions between Chris ...
who can clear a large crowd in seconds by talking religion and offering pamphlets. When off-duty, he goes door to door with fellow Omnian Smite-the-Unbeliever-with-Cunning-Arguments. Not afraid of Visit's proselytising, his friend and fellow constable Dorfl, a golem with endless patience, wants to argue faith rationally. He appears in the SkyOne television adaptation of ''
Hogfather ''Hogfather'' is the 20th '' Discworld'' novel by Terry Pratchett, and a 1997 British Fantasy Award nominee. It was first released in 1996 and published by Victor Gollancz. It came in 137th place in The Big Read, a BBC survey of the most loved ...
'', portrayed by Richard Katz.


Inspector A E Pessimal

A E Pessimal was first the government Inspector of the Watch assigned (in ''
Thud! ''Thud!'' is a fantasy novel by British writer Terry Pratchett, the 34th book in the ''Discworld'' series, first released in the United States on 13 September 2005, then the United Kingdom on 1 October 2005. It was released in the U.S. three wee ...
'') by
Lord Vetinari Lord Havelock Vetinari (, ), Lord Patrician (Primus inter pares) of the city-state of Ankh-Morpork, is a fictional character in Terry Pratchett's ''Discworld'' series. Vetinari has written an unpublished manuscript known as ''The Servant'', ...
to inspect the Watch and judge whether they gave
fair value In accounting, fair value is a rational and unbiased estimate of the potential market price of a good, service, or asset. The derivation takes into account such objective factors as the costs associated with production or replacement, market c ...
(" who watches the watchmen?") and to inspect the Unseen University in ''
A Collegiate Casting-Out of Devilish Devices "A Collegiate Casting-Out of Devilish Devices" is a ''Discworld'' short story by Terry Pratchett. The story describes the reaction of the wizards of the Unseen University to a proposal from the Patrician to introduce regulation and metrics of unive ...
''. Described as a neat little man with very shiny shoes, no friends, and no sense of humour, he does not have a first name, and was "initialled" at birth rather than named. He could have seriously inconvenienced Vimes with difficult questions such as; "Why is C.W.St.J. 'Nobby' Nobbs in the Watch?" Vimes eventually swore him in as a special constable for the duration of an impending street fight of roughly a thousand trolls and dwarves, to scare the man and show him what it was like to be a copper. Instead, A E took his position seriously, to the point of bare-handedly attacking and trying to bite a troll who took a swing at Vimes. This totally shocked Vetinari ("''Mr Pessimal?'' Mr. A E ''Pessimal''? We are talking about the same person? Small man, very clean shoes?"). Vimes offered him the position of Lance-Constable and
adjutant Adjutant is a military appointment given to an Officer (armed forces), officer who assists the commanding officer with unit administration, mostly the management of “human resources” in an army unit. The term is used in French-speaking armed ...
, needing someone to look through paperwork and sift out important or suspicious facts. A E is the start of an internal affairs department in the Watch. In '' Snuff'', A E is a newly minted
Inspector Inspector, also police inspector or inspector of police, is a police rank. The rank or position varies in seniority depending on the organization that uses it. Australia The rank of Inspector is present in all Australian police forces excep ...
Of the Watch, and his
forensic accounting Forensic accounting, forensic accountancy or financial forensics is the specialty practice area of accounting that investigates whether firms engage in financial reporting misconduct, or financial misconduct within the workplace by employees, off ...
has become legendary and feared throughout Ankh-Morpork.


Constable Igor

Igor was an Igor his family considered "too modern" for Überwald, He specialised in
genetics Genetics is the study of genes, genetic variation, and heredity in organisms.Hartl D, Jones E (2005) It is an important branch in biology because heredity is vital to organisms' evolution. Gregor Mendel, a Moravian Augustinians, Augustinian ...
and created a rabbit named Eerie, on whom he grew human ears. He bred noses as lifeforms independent until applied. He experimented with swimming potatoes hoping for instant fish and chips. Like all Igors, he is a highly talented transplant surgeon. He sometimes forgets to lisp. Vimes hired him for his surgery methods, considerably more advanced than in Ankh-Morpork. Igor first appears in ''The Fifth Elephant''. He and Sergeant Cheery Littlebottom form the Watch forensics department.


Constable Downspout

Constable Downspout first appears in '' Feet of Clay'', and is a
surveillance Surveillance is the monitoring of behavior, many activities, or information for the purpose of information gathering, influencing, managing, or directing. This can include observation from a distance by means of electronic equipment, such as ...
expert for the Watch. As a
gargoyle In architecture, and specifically Gothic architecture, a gargoyle () is a carved or formed Grotesque (architecture), grotesque with a spout designed to convey water from a roof and away from the side of a building, thereby preventing it from ...
, he is able to remain motionless in one spot and watch for days at a time, a "world champion at not moving" as Vimes once remarked. He has no use for money and instead receives his salary in
pigeon Columbidae is a bird family consisting of doves and pigeons. It is the only family in the order Columbiformes. These are stout-bodied birds with small heads, relatively short necks and slender bills that in some species feature fleshy ceres. ...
s, which he eats.


Corporal Buggy Swires

A
gnome A gnome () is a mythological creature and diminutive spirit in Renaissance magic and alchemy, introduced by Paracelsus in the 16th century and widely adopted by authors, including those of modern fantasy literature. They are typically depict ...
. Introduced in ''Jingo'' or possibly in ''
The Light Fantastic ''The Light Fantastic'' is a comic fantasy novel by Terry Pratchett, the second of the ''Discworld'' series. It was published on 2 June 1986, the first printing being of 1,034 copies. The title is taken from ''L'Allegro'', a poem by John Milt ...
'', which mentions a gnome identified only as Swires, Buggy has the hard-nosed, bellicose personality typical of his species, and can shout down uncooperative witnesses despite being only six inches tall. He has established himself as the sole member of the Watch's Airborne Section except perhaps Wee Mad Arthur, by taming various birds (acquired from the
Picts The Picts were a group of peoples in what is now Scotland north of the Firth of Forth, in the Scotland in the early Middle Ages, Early Middle Ages. Where they lived and details of their culture can be gleaned from early medieval texts and Pic ...
ies for a crate of whiskey) as transport for reconnaissance and messaging.


References


External links


Discworld & Pratchett Wiki
{{Discworld Discworld characters Discworld organisations Fictional law enforcement agencies