Court Envoy

The envoy is usually someone who has some training in statecraft, speechcraft, and reading & writing, preferably in multiple languages. Long term serving envoys are usually trained in mathematics, persuasion and deception.

Most envoys are usually chosen for their ability to interact with others, especially those who show a degree of tact in the presence of those outranking them. Also, many are known for being shrewd, along with being calm under pressure and with a keen eye & ear.

Nearly all will be bilingual at least, and with a working knowledge of etiquette. This is especially true when dealing with other species and cultures completely foreign to the envoy's nation.

Usually the leading ruler, or one of their appointed court officers, will appoint the envoy based on a mix of personal knowledge of the person, background checks where & when they can, and personal interactions with the potential person. Some will also use a mix of magic and subterfuge to weed out those that are potentially unsuitable.

When chosen, the envoy will be told what is expected of them and any information for the job overall. Any person running a business or a noble house will usually have a family member or members take over the running of either of these where applicable.

To act on behalf of the Court and to act like the public individual for the Court. They must be able to supply the demands, and business needs of both in a fair & equitable manner where possible. Each envoy is expected to gather information about a specific nation or culture, or even opposing Court. They must be at hand or reachable in some capacity as to carry out their duties unless due to illness, injury, or personal circumstances.

Each envoy must be seen, at least in public, to be neutral in dealings of all kinds and convey all necessary to their own Noble, and their dealings must be seen to favour their own side where they can. Sometimes they must bow to the demands of foreign dignitaries, and not slate any Court or individual, as this can lead to problems down the line.

No envoy can carry out any personal business while carrying out this role as it is seen as them lining their own pockets. This hasn't stopped the rare envoy trying though.

Envoys have two major roles, one in the actual Court they are attached to, and the second in the Court of another nation's leaders.

An envoy is expected to attend a court when foreign dignitaries are present at the court they are attached to. The reason for this is simple enough. They act as go-betweens, translators, and supply the noble leading the court with insights to the people the court is dealing with. This allows for smoother relations and avoids conflict, whether in the Court or on the battlefield.

Each envoy will regularly deal with a specific nation and / or species, allowing for the envoy to put any knowledge of these to good use. they are expected to deal fairly with these opposing peoples, though there is the odd instance that an envoy will see an opportunity to get information or a deal that suits their side better. Even rarer is an envoy that comes back with their Court being at a disadvantage.

The envoy can expect to travel and have the ears of high-ranking individuals in more than one country, nation or culture. This allows them to make connections throughout a massive set of regions, something that could be of use if and when the envoy leaves the service of their masters.

Also, they regularly build up a number of dirty secrets that the mass of people wouldn't have access to. This can range from a noble having a mistress, or a warlord being weaker than what most think they are, and even worse. It wouldn't be much of a surprise that these are "accidentally" leaked to the public as & when needed.

Each envoy has a stipend they can use every month, and usually given a rank & a pension when they retire. This means that they may never have to work if they leave the service early.

Sheafs of paper, quill and a pot of ink are amongst the most important items carried by an envoy. These are usually accompanied by a Royal Seal set including the actual seal assigned by the Court and wax, along with a Passport of sorts to say that the envoy is on official business and can cross borders at will. Many also carry a chain or large pin with some design to show that the envoy is an official of a Court and speaks on their behalf mainly of a peaceful nature.

Some carry notebooks with personal information that can be of use in many situations, notes on the peoples they meet, maps that show regular routes, especially if they are dealing with semi- or fully nomadic peoples. Notes of common phrases and markings can be carried too, especially in regions where there is a dominant people, and may include information on minor or satellite tribes & peoples.

A few will carry some type of basic weapon such as a short sword or rapier, and a dagger or hand axe for personal protection and if challenged to a duel. These can prove handy as well if martial skills are needed to gain access to important personages who value such traits. Sometime medicines, poisons 7 toxins, and antidotes are carried. These prove useful if there is sickness or assassination attempts are carried out.

Many will carry a number of gold & silver hidden upon their person. This allows for bribes, and proving that the Court they represent is who they say they are and rick enough to deal with.

Some will carry specific items of great import that can be left as a gift to opposing rulers or their aides helping to cement favourable relations between the rulers.

In a few instances the envoy is completely useless, causing offense to other peoples instead of striking up friendly relations. Some turn on their masters and join the opposing faction, while others will make bargains or accidentally provide information t an opposing side that they shouldn't.

Pretty much all of these will cause automatic dismissal, and can even lead to the envoy be labelled as as an outlaw or traitor. In these cases, they may be killed on sight by their previous masters, or executed in front of a crowd as punishment & a warning to others not to betray their leaders.

Some fill their allotted time as an envoy and are retired from service. They are given a title or more regularly keep the title of Envoy permanently and given a pension, and small plot of land where they may retire to in peace.

In a few instances they are permanently kept in the court of an opposing tribe, people or culture to act as a go-between there in the respective court. From there, the role will stay as long as their services are needed and may become a citizen of the respective court. Their role in the original court will end at that point when they finish their tenure, and can still claim some benefits from their previous employer.

Envoys have existed in one form or another for centuries if not millennia. They are the public face of the rulers of nations or local authorities that need someone to speak on their behalf. They are seen as a necessary part of court life where their ability to speak to other peoples & appear as the "face" so to speak of others are highly important.

They come in many basic varieties initially, and can have the background of a well travelled adventurer, a cleric, a ranger, a minor noble, a minor religious character to name but a few. Most are chosen for their level headedness, ability to speak calmly and be devious / silvery tongued enough to persuade others in the name of the court. Almost all have a keen eye & ear looking for court secrets and will happily supply information to the right parties to influence decisions that the envoy is looking for from their targets.

Viewed as a necessary evil, the envoy can be a loved or loathed individual depending on their past actions. Many are viewed with caution as one wrong turn of phrase and the envoy is guaranteed to report it back to their masters, or twist it to their advantage in negotiations. They can easily bring peace between warring groups or bring news of hostility to the court they attend.

Their insights of both their parent court and those of others are always held in high regard, especially when it involves separate species or cultures completely alien their own. This can cause the envoy to be held with great suspicion of a number of weeks, months or even years until they win the trust of those they have to interact with.

Either way, they do fill an important position as no national leader or culture can be in every place at once, or have the time to interact with other such groups at the same time as dealing with other courtly business.

Most are generally treated with some respect, albeit with a some level of contempt at times, as the face of their leaders and let through many guard posts, usually after a thorough search and some questioning of course.