Woodsman
Woodsmen are professionals who venture into the deeper depths of the Gloamwood, usually in teams of four or more, for a variety of tasks. Treecutting, material gathering, protection jobs, foraging and hunting, even mercenary work fall under the responsibilities of woodsmen.
They tend to work closely with clear-sky knights, and are considred their lesser counterparts due to how unglamorous their work is.
As an overreaching organisation, Woodsmen are officially neutral in the war between the Clear Skies Alliance and the Talonik Empire, but personal biases may come into play on an individual basis.
Career
Qualifications
Woodsmen are expected to be of a certain level of physical fitness when applying for the job. Basic weapons and vehicle training is given to everyone on acceptance into the Woodsman ranks.
Career Progression
Except in the case of networking or nepotism, every woodsman starts at the pruner rank. Pruners are expected to patrol the fringes of the gloamwood around peaks, enforcing the boundary between the 'wood and inhabited zones. In essence, they prune back the trees to stop it from overtaking homes.
Payment & Reimbursement
Woodsman squadrons are paid in their local currency, and are granted certain privileges when it comes to travel, supplies and converting currency. Higher ranked Woodsmen receive better pay, so rising in the ranks is greatly desired.
Perception
Purpose
The primary purpose of a woodsman is to prevent the spread of the Gloamwood. Most lower-ranked woodsmen are expected to burn or hack away at the fringes of the 'Wood at the cost of their own safety, preserving the limited space available for habitation.
As a woodsman manages to rise up in the ranks though, other opportunities are made available to them, allowing them to take on more varied - and potentially more dangerous - jobs.
While many dismiss the work of Woodsmen as grunt work, no one can deny that it provides a sense of safety.
Social Status
Fame as a woodsman is earned on an individual or team basis. Unless someone does something remarkable such as defending a town from a beast attack against all odds, most woodsmen are treated with indifference.
History
As a profession, being a Woodsman has always existed in some way, shape or form. The Gloamwood has been a looming threat in the world for longer than recorded history, there has always been a need to fight it off. As time and technology progressed, it became possible for Woodsman groups to unite and form an organised front against the Gloamwood, making it into the profession we know today.
Operations
Provided Services
Beast Hunting
It's not uncommon for the beasts of the Gloamwood to venture outside its reach. Woodsmen are the first line of defense against these roaming threats.
People also go into the 'wood to hunt its beasts before they set foot into civilised lands.
Headhunting
Beasts are not the only thing that woodsmen hunt in the Gloamwood. Fugitives runaways are also targets, sought to be brought back to civilisation before they become Gloamtouched or worse, Rootbound.
In the event that a ship crashes in the 'wood, woodsmen are the first to be sent in as search parties.
Guides & Protectors
Woodsmen are very commonly hired to work as entourages for adventurers, foragers, and sometimes even high-profile individuals who are willing to brave the dangers of the 'wood if it means inconspicuous ground travel.
Dangers & Hazards
High risk of becoming Rootbound
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