Oracles

The Oracles serve as Olympia’s police force. Their command center is based out of the Zeus Octant but smaller satellite offices exist in each of the other octants.   Oracles are some of the only Olympian residents commonly seen armed. While the Gatewardens are responsible for fighting the horrors, the Oracles are often the first on the scene in the city itself and as such typically carry weaponry and some sort of basic armor in case a horror arises within the walls itself, or in case of more mundane trouble. The Oracles are absolutely authorized to use whatever force necessary to subdue a problem. Law and order in Olympia is a critical part of keeping the city functional and defending against raiders and other outside concerns.   Despite this, the Oracles are generally seen as fair and helpful. This is not a society where “bad cop” is a theme. While not incorruptible, most of the Oracles membership holds a genuine desire to do good and protect the citizens of the city. Their training means that they are capable and vetted for intelligence and dedication.  

Joining and Training

Joining the Oracles requires a petition to the Olympian counselors to attest to general background and suitability. From there, cadets move into the Ares barracks, near the Gatewardens. Cadets serve on a three month rotation in each of the eight octants for the next two years (two three month spans in each octant). There, they learn the culture of the people, customs, and particular needs of each area. They are trained in combat, defense, arms and weapons, team tactics, surveillance, and in de-escalation techniques. Cadets are paired with pairs of senior officers to form patrol trios. Cadets must pass each of their training areas or repeat the class. Cadets must also pass their probation with each of their octant senior officers or repeat the quadrant training.  

Graduation from cadet

Provided that all the sections and classes are passed, after two years of training, cadets are accepted as Junior Oracles. At this point, their training record is reviewed and they are assigned to a suitable sector of the city based upon their skills, service record, and the nature that the senior oracles think they fit best. A particularly pacifistic Oracle may better suit Lud’s often peaceful community than the Zeus Octant, for example.