poke POLITICS — Hired fighters. Pokes are fighting men employed by → Regents or other local officials and/or civic leaders to help govern. Because there is no standardized system of government, the role of pokes varies from village to village. Generally, they work to enforce local laws, may be hired out as fighting men or bounty hunters, and are either paid wages, given room and board in exchange for their work, or a combination of both. Pokes often have unsavory reputations, as there is a stigma associated with them of taking bribes. Those men most often attracted to the position often cannot find gainful employment through other means because of a history of violence or, ironically, breaking the law.