World under revision! This world was originally written purely as a Dugeons and DragonsĀ® setting. It is (slowly) being rewritten to be system agnostic When things don't seem to work togewther, this is likely why.

Town crier

News travel in various ways - through messengers, stringers, rumours, and more. But when it comes to disseminating this news, the most reliable is in the form of criers. It is an official function under the seneschal of an area. If there is enough information to go through, someone might be appointed as the Head Crier and functionally be the editor-in-chief.   Criers usually announce the news twice a day: in the morning and the early evening. When they do so, they walk through the main centres of the settlement, ringing a bell before each article of news. Each story is given no more than a sentence or two. Those who want more information are expected to seek out the criars after their announcements.

Career

Qualifications

A strong voice and good reputation are all one needs to get started as a crier. Of course, literacy is mandatory but also very common. To rise in rank, one must prove completely loyal to their employer and to the truth (in that order).

Payment & Reimbursement

Being a town crier isn't well paid, but it's a living. Many would argue that it is a very nice job for what it pays, but that comes down to how much else the crier has to do outside of their announcements.

Perception

Purpose

Not only do town criers provide the public with news from far and wide, but they also provide the latest messages from their rulers. When a new law is to be enacted, a message of hope is sent, or an heir has been born - the criers are how the people will find out.

Social Status

Being the ones many hear something from first, town criers tend to be seen as either a pillar of truth or a sinkhole of deceit. Someone who brings news the people like and that is true, fall into the first category and is relied on in all sorts of matters. The other kind is seen as a lapdog of an unpopular regent, as a doomsayer, or as pathetically naive. In this case, something might believe less just because it's spoken by the crier.   Fortunately, the truthful perspective is the most common by far. And the criers know that if they lie in their private life, that means the people won't trust them on important matters and so they try to remain clean.
Alternative Names
Proclaimer
Bellman
Type
Public Services

Comments

Please Login in order to comment!
Powered by World Anvil