Guards will attack aggressive monsters that enter the settlement area, as well as any character with -30 or lower reputation. Negative reputation is automatically when stealing and otherwise breaking the settlement rules. Citizens with the '''manage roles''' permission can also set reputations manually.
Guards demand payment. This payment is calculated as a percentage of the deed price. One month with light guards costs 10% of the deed price. Medium guards cost 31%, and heavy guards 56%. ''Note that size 5 homesteads are an exception to this rule. See the table below for their upkeep cost''. Two months with medium guards on a size 10 village thus costs 2 * (1g * 31%) = 62 silver. Note that the payment happens continuously in small increments, not one big payment once a month.
Every settlement has an upkeep fund, which guards take their payment from. Anyone can donate money to the fund, even non-citizens. If the upkeep fund is depleted the settlement is disbanded automatically. A large upkeep fund reduces decay on buildings and fences in the settlement. If the fund has more than a month of upkeep there is no decay at all.
=== Upkeep draining ===
On the [[server Types|wild server]], citizens of the enemy kingdom can drain your token once all your deed guards are dead. An enemy draining your token will cost you 15% of the monthly upkeep, of which the drainer receives 7.5%. The minimum drain is 75 copper.
== Deed expansion ==