The Mouse Guard
given day. Lockhaven is known for gabcroon: a
dense bread filled with seeds, fruits, and nuts.
It travels well and stays warm long after baking.
Woven and sewn fabrics are important to the
mice of Lockhaven. The Guard are known for
their cloaks, which need to be both warm and
durable, as they are a guardmouse’s primary
piece of clothing.
Lockhaven is also home to a hive of bees. The
mice harvest the honey for food and the wax for
goods and medicinal purposes. To do this, the
Apiarist uses smoke to charm the bees. The bees
also serve as a natural deterrent to predators.
The Guard’s Oath
The following is the oath that all mice must
swear when they are inducted into the ranks of
the Guard:
We as Guard offer all
that we are to protect the sanctity
of our species, the freedom of
our kin, and the honor of our
ancestors. With knowledge,
sword, and shield, we do these
deeds, never putting a lone
mouse above the needs of all, or
the desire of self above another.
We strive for no less than to
serve the greatest good.
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 The Duties of the
Mouse Guard
Guardmice are responsible for patrolling the
Territories, pathfinding, blazing new trails,
delivering mail, escorting mice safely between
settlements, watching the weather, running off
predators, rescuing stranded mice, mediating
disputes and maintaining the scent borders.
Patrolling
The Guard never know when they will be needed
or where, so the Guard patrol the known paths
and visit towns to offer their services. Patrols
are meant to survey the Territories and keep
the Guard circulating between the settlements.
Guardmice often spend more time away from
Lockhaven than in it. They live in the open
country. They stay for short visits at settlements
before moving on. A patrol will normally have a
route it follows or an itinerary left at Lockhaven
so the gate watch of Lockhaven can keep tabs
on it.
Pathfinding and Clearing
Weather and growth can make a once passable
and safe route unusable. The Guard clears
paths for mice and makes them less inviting for
predators.
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Trail Blazing
There are times when new trails and paths need
to be made. The Guard sends out mice to not
only make the path, but make sure it meets a
standard: Paths should provide cover, plenty of
places to hide and access to food and water.
Delivering Mail
Messages need to be delivered, whether from
townsmice, governors or even the Guard’s
Matriarch. Because there are few means of
communication between the settlements, the
Guard will carry messages from a town they are
leaving to a town they plan on visiting next. They
usually do not head to a settlement specifically
to deliver a message unless it’s vitally important.
Escorting
It is the Guard’s duty to ensure safe passage
from one settlement to another. The journeys
can take several days, so the guardmice must
keep watch overnight and be able to forage for
food if necessary. Most often they’re escorting
shipments of goods, but sometimes guardmice
will lead mice to other settlements—dignitaries,
mice who perform services or just mice wanting
to visit another settlement.