Wall Runners

In the tangled alleyways and crumbling corners of Edison’s Wall and Ditch Districts, where hope is a rarer currency than coin, a new force of justice has begun to stir

— the Wall Runners.

An offshoot of the venerable Lantern Society, the Wall Runners are a charitable organization dedicated to delivering justice to the forgotten and the poor. Formed with the support of Lantern patrons and a growing circle of benefactors, the Runners were founded on a simple, radical principle: every person, regardless of wealth or title, deserves access to fair justice.

The Problem of Pay-to-Pursue Justice

In Edison, the pursuit of justice is deeply entangled with the ancient custom of Seeking Boards. These public boards—nailed to market walls, tavern posts, and courthouse alleys—are filled with notices from citizens seeking redress, often offering coin to any runner willing to bring the offending party before a judge. The system, while functional for the wealthy, excludes the poor, who often cannot afford the initial bounty or risk hiring unscrupulous mercenaries to handle their claim.

The result? A justice system that leans heavily in favor of those with resources, while the voices of the impoverished are drowned out by the clamor of silver.

Enter the Wall Runners

The Wall Runners bridge that gap. Unlike bounty-runners or for-hire agents, Wall Runners take on cases free of charge for those unable to pay. They investigate claims, track down offenders, and escort them before magistrates—all in the name of truth and justice. Some cases are resolved peacefully; others require a more… persuasive approach. But always, the aim is justice—not revenge.

Their members are a patchwork of former guards, retired Lanterns, idealistic students, and everyday citizens with a sense of duty. Many wear no uniform, but carry the silver crescent pin, the emblem of the Wall Runners—a symbol of their dedication to fairness in the darkest parts of the city.

Still Young, Still Struggling

Despite their growing reputation, the Wall Runners are still in their infancy. They lack a formal headquarters, instead operating out of the basement of the Edison Chronicler. Their work is often dangerous, occasionally illegal by the letter of the law, and unpopular among those who profit from the current imbalance.

But for those living in the gutters of the Wall, they are already heroes. A widow cheated by her landlord, a child injured by a careless baron’s carriage, a dockworker whose wages were stolen—these are the cases the Wall Runners take on. Not for gold. Not for glory. But because someone must.

Justice in Motion

As their numbers grow, so too does their presence in Edison’s most desperate corners. And while the Lantern Society remains a powerful institution with influence in courtrooms and the halls of governance, the Wall Runners carry their mission to the streets—running walls, jumping fences, and tracking injustice wherever it hides.

In the city of Edison, justice may still wear a blindfold. But now, thanks to the Wall Runners, she has boots on the ground.