The banished dragon returns, and makes itself king of Ankh-Morpork (keeping the head of the Elucidated Brethren as its mouthpiece) and demands that the people of Ankh-Morpork bring it gold and regular virgin sacrifices, whilst preparing for an 'ambitious and vigorous' foreign policy, aimed at subjugating the neighbours of Ankh Morpork. The leader of the Elucidated Brethren is initially successful in controlling the dragon, but he has not accounted for the dragon's own abilities. Ramkin gives an underdeveloped dragon, Errol, to the Watch as a mascot.

Vimes begins investigating the dragon's appearances, which leads to an acquaintance with Sybil Ramkin, a breeder of swamp dragons. Carrot's policing style is reminiscent of traditional idealized portrayals of British police, but astoundingly, it actually seems to work.Ĭarrot's enthusiasm strikes a chord with Vimes, who decides that the Watch should try to carry out its ostensible duties. Brought up as a dwarf – dwarves are a literal, dutiful people – Carrot has an absolute dedication and conscientiousness that unnerve his colleagues who view them as bordering on the suicidal in the face of the reality of Ankh-Morpork life. Having memorized the Laws and Ordinances of the Cities of Ankh and Morpork, on his first day he tries to arrest the head of the Thieves' Guild for theft (the Thieves' Guild is permitted a quota of legally licensed thieving, a concept that the book of ancient Laws does not take into account). Additionally, he is 6'6'(1.9812 meters) tall and enormously strong. Carrot's arrival changes this Whereas the existing officers are either cynical, incompetent, mildly crooked or all three, Carrot is honest, straightforward and idealistic.

The Watch is generally regarded as a bunch of incompetents who walk around ringing their bells without accomplishing anything. It is the task of the Night Watch – Captain Vimes, Sergeant Colon, Corporal Nobbs, and new volunteer Carrot Ironfoundersson – to stop them, with some help from the Librarian of the Unseen University, an orangutan trying to get the stolen book back. Once a suitable state of terror and panic has been created, the Supreme Grand Master proposes to put forth an 'heir' to the throne, who will slay the dragon and rid the city of tyranny. Using a stolen magic book, they summon a dragon to strike fear into the people of ]. The story follows a plot by a secret brotherhood, the Unique and Supreme Lodge of the Elucidated Brethren of the Ebon Night, to overthrow the Patrician of Ankh-Morpork and install a puppet king, under the control of the Supreme Grand Master.

Guards! Guards! by Terry Pratchett