Kjeforin Land Survey

Established in 5.710, the Kjeforin Land Survey is a branch of the Kjeforin government that comprises civilian experts and military specialists. Their mission is to explore the Wilds, map the terrain, plan routes between cities, and to identify resources, potential new city-sites, and trade routes.

Members of the Land Survey are expected to be flexible, resourceful, and creative. They operate in teams of eight, with enough overlap between their roles to ensure their success and survival in the event that they lose one or more team members. As a baseline, they are expected to be able to make camp, cook, sew, hunt and forage, climb mountains, ford rivers, erect survival shelters, and perform basic first aid and orienteering. Specialists within the group will know cartography, engineering, navigation, botany, geology, and wildlife management.

As a governmental department, the Land Survey does not have an official uniform, but members are equipped with a grey beret (green for company commander) and a metal badge showing the department’s insignia: a spreading tree in front of a mountain. Under the purposefully cheap enamel, the badge is solid 18 carat gold with a value roughly equivalent to a week’s wages - in the event of needing ready cash with which to trade or pay a bribe, the insignia can be melted down. It is prohibited to trade the badge as provided, for fear it will cause thieves to target Survey members.

The average age of new members is 30 and they can expect to retire into a civil service job at around 50, making it a popular choice for senior Journeymen from the Ratcatchers’ Guild - a job with an average life expectancy of 30 - who are often employed in the role of guide and wildlife expert.

Survey work is salaried, paid in arrears upon return or to a nominated wage-holder, such as a spouse (though unmarried individuals are preferred for selection), or to the next of kin in the event of a confirmed death.