Law enforcement
Law Enforcement in the Dresdenverse
“Some wear badges. Others wear crowns of bone. All of them want the last word.”
⚖️ 1. Mortal Law Enforcement
The police, the FBI, the military—they exist, and they’re doing their jobs… more or less.
Most of the time, mortal law enforcement is completely unaware of the supernatural. They attribute unexplained events to drugs, cults, terrorism, mental illness, or simple tragedy. And when something truly weird happens? It tends to get buried in red tape, classified files, or quietly shuffled off the books.
What They Do Know:
- Some cops are “clued-in”, usually through experience or trauma.
- Certain departments may have cold case squads, occult task forces, or unofficial monster files.
- A few individuals (detectives, coroners, forensic experts) know just enough to stay terrified.
What They Can’t Do:
- Mortal law can’t touch supernatural entities that exist outside jurisdiction—try subpoenaing a Sidhe Noble.
- They struggle with creatures who don’t show up on cameras, leave no fingerprints, or bend reality.
But mortal cops do enforce laws in cities like Gate City. If you set a building on fire, shoot someone, or rob a bank, you will attract attention. And if you mess up badly enough, you might trigger scrutiny from much more dangerous forces.
🧊 2. The Wardens – Magical Law Enforcement
The Wardens of the White Council are the closest thing the supernatural world has to “magic cops.” They enforce the Laws of Magic—ancient rules meant to prevent the abuse of magical power.
The Seven Laws Include:
- No killing with magic.
- No transformation of others.
- No mind control.
- (And more…)
Break one of these, and the Wardens will hunt you, judge you, and (often) execute you on the spot. There are no trials. No appeals. Just sword, spell, and judgment.
Wardens Are:
- Armed with magical training and enchanted blades.
- Authorized to use deadly force.
- Often overworked and stretched thin.
They’re not the good guys. They’re the enforcers of magical law, and they’ll come down on you hard—even if you had a good reason.
👑 3. The Unseelie Accords – Supernatural “International Law”
The Unseelie Accords function like a supernatural Geneva Convention. Signed by major powers—fae courts, vampire courts, dragons, and others—they establish rules of parley, territory, hospitality, and war.
Violation of the Accords can lead to:
- War between factions
- Sanctions
- Execution by neutral enforcers or supernatural consensus
Enforced By:
- The Queen of Winter (Mab) acts as arbiter.
- Emissaries of Power like Monoc Securities may carry out enforcement.
- Some Neutral Territories will call in outside enforcers to handle violations.
👁️ 4. Monoc Securities, Outsiders, and Other Watchers
Some supernatural factions maintain their own police forces. Monoc Securities (Odin’s outfit) fields operatives that act like corporate mercenaries, troubleshooters, and auditors across borders.
Others—like the Black Council, Outsiders, or secret societies—actively subvert law enforcement for their own ends.
🧿 Summary: Who Keeps the Peace?
| Force | Jurisdiction | Known For |
|---|---|---|
| Local Police | Mortal Law | Arresting you for blowing up a gas station |
| FBI / Fed Agencies | High-profile, “weird” cases | Cover-ups, disappearances |
| Wardens | Magic Users | Head-chopping wizard cops |
| Winter/Summer Courts | Fae dealing with Fae | Ruthless, literal |
| Accord Signatories | Signatory-to-Signatory conflict | Duels, declarations, assassins |
| Monoc Securities | Corporate supernatural enforcement | Clean, efficient, terrifying |
| The Archive (Ivy) | Keeper of the Accords | Absolute legal memory |
| You | If no one else is around | Unofficial enforcer, scapegoat, or both |