The Sheriff
Although a Sheriff's exact duties vary from city to city, the office's
central purpose remains the same: to serve as the Prince's police.
Sheriffs usually handle the violent side of governance, doing everything
from bringing offenders before a tribunal to keeping order in the
streets and, now and then, throwing fools out of Elysium.
In times of war, the Sheriff is often asked to serve as operations
commander, effectively rising to the role of Tribune while leading
assaults and coordinating the martial side of a conflict. A Sheriff may
appoint aides to act in their stead, field deputies in wartime, though
such appointments usually require the Prince's approval. Brujah and the
remaining Gangrel provide most Sheriffs, but any vampire with a gift for
violence and command may be chosen. Policing Masquerade breaches is one
of the office's core duties, which means a Sheriff must possess at least
some intelligence in addition to brute force. Mere thugs are becoming
rare; the norm now is the precise and disciplined application of force.
The Keeper of Elysium and the Sheriff may become close allies or bitter
enemies. A Keeper who insists on controlling Elysium security risks
trespassing on the Sheriff's domain, which the Harpies may read as a
sign of incompetence. A Sheriff who seizes control of conclave or
Elysium security without consulting existing plans may anger the Keeper
and lose vital support when harsher measures become necessary. When both
offices work side by side, however, especially during conclaves, they
can weave a web strong enough to hold back the sea. Keepers and Sheriffs
often have much to say in one another's appointment, and it is not
uncommon for two closely allied Kindred to hold both offices at once.
