Common Professions

Common Professions - Educated Professions - Military ProfessionsEntertainer and Artisans - Servants - Merchant Professions - Magic Professions

Low Professions - Professions by Region

Common Professions

Common professions are those that are either the family business or taught through apprenticeship. Most of the common people of Arascon work in common professions. They are the most abundant type of profession in all of Arascon.

Farmer

This is the most common profession in all of Arascon. Most farmers have a 'personal plot' where they grow food and crop for their families and a 'large plot' where they grow crops for sale and trade.

Herder

Many people in Arascon herd goats, sheep, pigs and arshen. Herders often double as dairy men, trading butter, cheese yogurt an fresh milk on the markets along with wool, fur and meat.

Fisherman

Fish is a common meal for many in Arascon. Since most of the populations lives on the islands or on the coast, fishing is a very popular profession. Some fisherman use nets, others rod and tackle. It depends on what sort of fish they catch and where.

Baker

Bakers are common in the streets of all cities. They bake bread, pastries and crackers. This is a very honorable profession because "Those who provide bread, provide life."

Miller

Millers grind raw grains into meals and flours. It is common for grain farmers to have their own mill and hire on a miller to run it for them.

Spinner

Spinners are people who clean, card, spin and dye wool and fur into yarn and thread. The skill of a spinner is said to be in the vibrancy of their dyes and the calluses of their fingers.

Weaver

There are two kinds of weavers. The common weaver makes cloth from thread and yarn. There is also the artisan weaver who makes rugs, throws, tapestries and other artworks from thread and yarn. The artisan weaver is much more rare than the common weaver.

Seamstress/ Taylor

These are people who make clothes. They also alter and repair clothing. Clothes are very often handed down from one person to the next, making someone who can patch and alter clothing quite useful.

Stone Mason

These people shape and carve rock. They also lay rock for walls, roads and aqueducts. Stone Masonry is common in cities because of repair work on walls and houses and the need in Arascon to constantly rebuild houses to make them 'modern'.

Carpenter

This is a basic wood worker. They carve, shape and cut wood for furniture, buildings, utensils and nick knacks.

Hunter

Hunters hunt wild game for food. They also are known for hunting down rare beasts for claws, horns and other parts that are used in magic. They often act as protectors for smaller villages, hunting beasts that pose a threat.

Trapper

Trappers catch beasts for their pelts. They skin animals and sell the pelts and furs.

Tanner

Tanners soften and tan hides, pelts and furs. They also prepare and dye leathers and suede.

Tracker

Trackers track beasts, game and people. They often act as guides and scouts out in the wild.

Potter

The potters and ceramic workers of Arascon are considered the finest in the world. They make pots, dishes, urns, vases and other ceramic vessels as well as sculptures and works of art. Ceramic arrow heads are also common because they are light, study and easily replaceable and quick to make. Pottery in Arascon is very common and very fine. Each region has its own style based on what kind of clay they can get. Even the lowest potter in Arascon is considered a master in another country. Pottery and ceramics are one of Arascon's primary exports.

Brewer

Brewers make alcoholic beverages by fermenting fruit, grains, milk or honey. In Arascon beer, mead and melomels are common. Wine is rare, but there are a few vineyards in the country. Honey mead is a brew that every tavern and inn offers, each offering their own "house brew". Beer is also made in abundance and comes in several varieties. The most common beers include Black Stout, Purple Beer (which is brewed with wistwood chips and left to ferment in a wistwood barrel, turning it purple), Whistler Dark Ale (made with the addition of whistler nuts to the hops and barley), Lilurline Ale and Sag Melomel (more like a fruity mead than a beer).

Miner

Around the mountainous areas, mining is common. Miners extract ore, rock, minerals and gems from the mountains and underground caverns. What people mine depend on what region they are from.

Smelter

Smelters turn ore into workable metals by burning off the impurities and mixing different ores together to make them both pliable and strong. Smelters know how to blend ores properly and can create 'fancy' metals such as purple gold, red steel and blue silver.

Metal Smith

There are several categories of metal smiths. All can work metal into basic shapes, including nails, horse shoes and cooking pots.

Blacksmith - A blacksmith creates and repairs utilitarian objects made of metal. This include door latches, locks, brackets and other objects made from metal.

Armor Smith - An armor smith makes and repairs metal armors including plate, scale and chain.

Weapon Smith - A weapon smith forges and repairs weaponry including blades, maces, staves and chains.

Gold Smith - A gold smith creates and repairs things made from precious metals, including gold and silver. They make fine chains, gem settings, pendants and other jewelry. They also add filigree to other metal works.

Lumberjack

Lumberjacks are also known as woodcutters. They cut down trees and sell the wood.

Shipwright

Shipwrights build ships. Usually, they work for engineers who design the structure of the ship, but there are those who have been working in the business for so many generations that they have their own way of ship building.

Beekeeper

Most families have at least one bee hive and know the basics of beekeeping. However, true beekeepers keep several hives and know the secrets to proper mating and splitting of the hives. They also know how to make honeys of different varieties and flavors. Beekeepers also lend out hives to farmers to pollinate their crop.

Educated Professions

Educated professions are those that require more than basic schooling and are not part of magical training. Those in educated professions are considered specialists. They are not taught through apprenticeship or the family trade.

Engineer

Engineers do everything from design walls and houses to invent siege engines and mechanical devices. Engineers are schooled in mathematics, architecture, structural stability and mechanics. Most cities have Engineers to design their defenses, aqueducts and sewer systems. They also design grand castles and ensure that they don't fall down. The most famous engineers come from the Gran Duxi of Magen.

Alchemist

Alchemists know how to brew potions, poisons and antidotes. They are familiar with herbs and minerals as well as proper blending techniques. They are masters of the true elements: Fire, Air, Water, Earth, Ether and Darkness. They learn the basics of magic, herbs, potions and brewing.

Astrologer

An astrologer is on who knows the movements of the stars and celestial bodies as well as the meanings there in. They know time and math very well. They create elaborate star charts for people, events and even objects. They can tell the time events will occur, auspicious seasons and if someone was born under a lucky star. Astrologers are very ell regarded for their ability to assess the stars.

Surgeon

Surgeons study the anatomy of humans. They know how to performs basic surgery including repairing torn muscles and tendons, stitching wounds, removing surface tumors and clean amputation. They study medicine as well so they can treat basic ails such as fevers, cough and infection.

Anatomy is a rather basic science. Most surgeons know where organs are located, but they don't know what they all do. Arascon anatomy is very familiar with the musculature and skeletal systems of the body as well as fairly adept with the cardiovascular system. However, organs like the liver, the kidneys, female reproductive organs and the brain – they only know that they are important, not exactly what they do.

Priests and Priestesses

Priests are also known as clerics, monks and reverends depending on what church they devote themselves to. They all study myth, legend and the religious philosophy of their sect. Most are familiar with symbolism and know the very basics of magic as well. Different sects have different teachings and philosophies. Generally you know what doctrine a priest follows by what symbols he wears and the color of his robes. Some priest care for a specific shrine or temple and others travel. Many priests belong to both their church and the Gentle Sea. The Gentle Sea accepts those from any sect or religious philosophy. Priests act as advisors, psychologists and teachers of spirituality.

Judge

Judges must first study as a disciple in the Order of the Balanced Scales. As a disciple they study common law. They also act as juries learning to be impartial. Judges are the most respected, smarted and most educated of all of those in the Order of the Balanced Scales. They oversee cases. A judge has the final say in all cases and can pronounce the accused guilty or innocent. The judge also determines the sentence for the defendant. It is also the judge's duty to appoint the lawyers to both sides of the case.

Lawyer

Lawyers try cases. Like judges, they also study first as a disciple in the Order of the Balances Scales. All judges were once lawyers, but not all lawyers become judges. It is the lawyer's duty to argue their side of the case. They have a limited time to collect evidence and gather witnesses for their side. A lawyer never chooses who or what side they represent. This ensures that they are impartial and will argue the case fairly.

Teachers

Teachers all work for the Gentle Sea. They all study many subjects to they can teach them to others. Most teachers specialize in what they teach and at what level they teach.

Librarian

Librarians keep records of books, scrolls and other writings. They generals are record keepers for large stores of books or libraries. They come from many background but are usually well read and excellent organizers.

Scribe

Scribes write things down that people dictate to them. Most study several languages and calligraphy. Scribes are known for their excellent handwriting, spelling and grammar.

Historians

Historians write perspectives of events and gather information from people about events and history. They study the past, search for relics and ancient writings hoping to preserve the past and the present for future generations.

Military Professions

There are several branches of Military like professions. Most of them serve either the crown in the Red Dawn or the Gold Star. But there are also other militias and law enforcement type professions that are funded by the other noble houses and the cities.

The Red Dawn Army

Serving in the Army of the Crown means service in the Red Dawn. The Red Dawn is the land based forces of the Royal family and defends the country as a whole from foreign invaders and protects all of the people of the country from outside threat. The military has a relatively high drop out rate in the first year of basic training because many recruits cannot pass the basic training exams. About 35% of those who sign up do not make it past basic training.

There are several paths within the Red Dawn: Archers, Cavalry, Foot Soldier, Officer and Siege Man. People are placed into divisions and trained for another year within those division. Placement is based on basic training exam scores (both written and physical). Only those who score within the top 1% are allowed into Officer training. Those who score well enough, may choose their path between the different divisions.

The Gold Star Navy

Serving in the Navy of the Crown means service in the Gold Star Navy. The Navy of Arascon is the most powerful in the world. Mages who attend the Magic Institutes around the country for free must serve within the Navy for a term equal to that of their years of learning in the Institute. All mages go directly into service after just three month of physical training after they graduate from the Magical Institute.

Normally, people who enlist in the Navy undergo one year of basic training similar to that in the Army (actually, the Army is similar to that of the Navy as the Navy is older). About 45% of those who start the basic training fail their exams. Those who pass are split into three different groups: Sailor, Navigator and Officer. They are split based on their scores on the exams. All Mages serve as Water Wizards.

Militiaman

Most cities don't rely on the Red Dawn or the Gold Star for their defenses. Instead most have their own militia. Often a militiaman is one who either wasn't good enough for the army, is retired from the army or didn't wish to leave their home town for one reason or another. The city militias are divided by the judgment of the ruler of the city. They are funded by the local noble.

Knights

Knights are those who serve the Crown Directly. They are usually noble or named into either the Red Dawn or the Black Dove. The title of Knight can also be inherited. There is a Knightly Code of honor in the Black Dove and the Red Dawn that the knights serving within must pledge to obey.

Herald

Heralds act in two capacities; they announce nobles and armies and also act as couriers and messengers. They carry the banner of those they serve and usually walk in front of the army they serve within announcing them as they move through towns and down roads.

Constable

Constables keep watch over the cities acting as law enforcement for lesser crimes such as petty theft, drunkenness, bar brawls and indecency. They can arrest people and pass minor sentences on them for the lesser crimes, usually a night in jail or a day in the stocks. Lesser crimes are anything that the punishment only lasts a day.

Wardens/Jailers

Wardens are keepers of the jails. They watch over prisoners and inmates and ensure that the proper punishment is doled out. They follow the advice of the Judges and keep records of the prisoners, their crimes and their sentences organized.

Entertainers and Artisans

Those in the Entertainment and Artisan professions are considered blessed by Sosen. Entertainment and culture are highly esteemed in Arascon. They prize their civility and consider the Arts to be the gem of their civilization.

Actors

Actors and Actresses are people who act in plays. Usually, actors are members of an acting troop that travel from stage to stage showing off the latest and the greatest plays of Arascon. Reenactments of Legends are common in plays. An actor who can wear many faces is highly prized and highly paid throughout the country.

Storytellers

Storytellers are popular during festivals and in taverns. Usually caravans hire on a storyteller for the evening entertainment. They tell stories to crowds. Some make up their stories, those who do are often called Ruespielers, others recite known legends and ballads. Most do a mixture of both, putting their own personal spin on the stories, adding nuance and rhythm that suits them.

Playwright

Playwrights are those who write plays. Comedies are very popular in Arascon, especially Satires. Dramatic reenactments of old Legends are also popular. The best known and most popular playwrights of all time have come from the house of Pastin. Most playwrights write their plays for a specific troop, tailoring the parts for specific actors.

Poet

Poets write poetry. A popular form of poetry is Arascon is called the Tarian. The tarian is a poem eight lines long with eight words in each line. For example:

Winds of Whitefall -Written by Pastin Eloise Rowen

Today I walked the land with the wind.

The wind blew over me and through me.

The leaves scattered, catching the colors of the season.

My spirit turning with the leaves and season.

I can see the trees acting as hourglasses.

I am colorful but brittle as fallen leaves,

On the verge of Whitefall waiting for Rebirth.

This will be the season of my death.

Another popular form of poetry in Arascon is a 12 syllable couplet called the Divine Duo.

For Emily -Written by Handria Davin Garan

Golden hair, inner sunlight,

my heart shines for you.

Writers

These people write stories. Some write novels, but short stories are very popular in Arascon. People like having something short to read as most work full, long days. In general only the very rich who don't work read novels for pleasure. Reading novels is a sign of wealth and intellectuals. Like with plays, satire is very popular. Tragedy is popular for short romantic stories.

Painter

Painters paint. They paint painting, ceramic tiles, walls or any number of other surfaces with artistic pictures. The popular painting form in Arascon is a very simple, but stylized form called Bedoin Line, named for the artist who started it- Pastin Bedoin Tertek. The style has thick bold lines and bright color. Hair is shown in a flowing style. This work is called the Stork and the Eagle by Bedoin:

Jester

Jesters are highly skilled entertainer. The often act as comedians, jugglers and acrobats all in one. Most can also sing and act as well. To be a jester is to be at the top of the entertainment industry. The jester would be the closest thing Arascon has to a bard- he is a master of all things entertaining.

Singer

People of Arascon love to sing. Songs travel quickly from tavern to tavern and from city to city. Of course, some people sing better than others. People who are singers are the best of the best singers. Since so many people in Arascon love to sing, to make money at it takes a rare and exquisite voice. Many acting troops have a small choir of fine singers.

Musician

Musicians play instruments. Popular instruments in Arascon include the drums, flutes, bugles, lutes, harpboxes (a large, square box strung with 48 strings and plucked), xylophones, and baghorns (a long horn with manyholes that are covered by fingers for different notes, a bag is attached to the mouth of the long horn where the wind for the instrument is produced from).

Dancer

Dancers are very popular as well. Arasconians love to dance. Because of this, there are two kinds of dancers. The most common dancers are those who work in taverns, dance halls and inns and are paid to dance with customers. They know all the local and popular dances and simply act as dancing partners for those who have none and feel the dancing spirit. The second kind of dancer is known as a Storydancer. A storydancer is trained in several forms of Arasconian dance and they dance out stories similar to the way actors play them out. A good storydancer can portray a number of emotions with a simple movement of their hand, or how they place their feet before a jump.

Attendant

Arascon is fairly open about sex. It is not considered shameful in anyway. As such, there is a large and thriving business of people who will sleep with your for money. These people also act as escorts to parties, events and dances and are skilled in a number of social graces. Aside from sex, these people also provide things like conversation, companionship, relaxation and a number of other friendly functions. Most Attendants are part of the Pleasure Seekers of Gira, acting as clerics as well as Attendants, but there are those who work independently as well.

Servants

Sevants are those who directly serve another person. Most servants come from a long line of those who have served. Most servants work for nobles, but some of the wealthier merchants can afford servants as well.

Maid

A maid is generally a young, unwed woman employed to do housework of various sorts. They clean rooms, halls, dishes and other things depending on the number of servants in a household.

Chamberlain

A Chamberlain is the chief male servant of a household who has charge of other servants, receives guests, directs the serving of meals, and performs various personal services for the head of the household.

Butler

A Butler is a manservant in charge of the wines and liquors. He also makes sure the pantries are stocked and is in charge of making sure fresh produce, meat and other amenities for the kitchen are bought for each meal.

Cook

A cook is someone who is directed by the chamberlain to prepare meals for the household. They also are in charge of baking the bread for the house and cleaning the kitchens.

Launder/Laundress

A launder is the person who does the laundry for the house. They wash sheets, clothing, tapestries and other cloth objects.

Gardener

A gardener cares for the plants of the property. Usually there are many gardeners for a large estate, each person caring for the health of specific plants. A gardener also moves plants and replants them as directed.

Groundskeeper

The groundskeeper is in charge of the grounds of the estate. They organize the gardeners and ensure that the property is in order. They make sure walls, trees and the outer fixings of the houses are working properly. This includes things like fountains, gutters, lawn decorations and gates.

Hand Maid/Lady in Waiting

A hand maid, also know as a maid in waiting or lady in waiting, is the personal attendant for a woman, usually noble. This person attends to all of their lady's needs, including organizing their wardrobe and fixing their hair.

Merchant Professions

Merchant professions are those that involve buying and selling goods as well as the transportation of goods from one location to another. Merchants generally do not make anything of their own.

Privateer

Privateers are hired sailors and seamen who transport goods by boat. They ensure that the goods get from one place to another safely.

Caravaneer

These are people who run caravans to transport goods over land from one place to another. They ensure that the goods get from one place to another safely.

Appraisers

Appraisers place a value on goods, crops and properties. They determine the price based on quality, maker and location. Some goods are worth more when they come from one region rather than another. For example, Lilurline Mead is worth more than Kach Mead. Often, appraisers act as intermediaries in trade. Appraisers are all members of the Balanced Scales and are capable of writing contracts verifying value and trade agreements.

Banker

Bankers are members of the Balanced Scales. They trade currency for goods and keep track of personal wealth. They often run "Safe Houses". Safe houses are places where people may store precious items and large quantities of money. The Balanced Scales act as a large, country wide bank as well. The Bankers working for the Balanced Scales are able to give loans of gold and coin in exchange for future goods, property and future wealth. Bankers also act as debt collectors for those who have taken out loans versus their businesses. A Banker is also on who literally makes money. In Arascon, bankers ensure that all Regent Coins are precisely weighed and stamped with the seal of Arascon and the Royal house. A Banker is the only person by law, allowed to stamp any gold or precious metal with the seal of the Crown under penalty of death.

Trader

Traders act as hubs for a variety of goods. They make nothing themselves, but buy goods from artisans, farmer and others, then sell those goods for a profit. Traders often buy goods in one place and then sell them in another where those goods are rare or can sell for more.

Shopkeeper

Similar to traders, shopkeepers buy goods from others and sell them at a profit. However, shopkeepers keep a shop in one place. Often shopkeepers buy from traders or local artisans.

Magic Professions

Magic is abundant in Arascon. Many people study at the various magical institutes. This means mages have set up various professions for themselves around the world. There are several common magical professions. These magical professions make magical items a part of everyday life even for the mundane folk.

Healer

A healer is a mage who focuses on healing magic. They heal people through magical means, either through spirit magic, or, more commonly, thread magic. They can treat visible wounds, help bones knit faster (though not instantly) and some minor illnesses. They can also cure poisons, rashes and offset common ailments like acne, arthritis and rheumatism.

Teleporters

Teleporters are thread mages who work to send goods from one place to another by magical means. This is usually very expensive, but ensures near instant receipt of goods. Occasionally, they send people as well, but the act of getting transported from one place to another is unsettling to say the least.

Arch-Priests

Arch-Priests are actually mages who work in churches casting spells on people. These spells usually include blessings, signs of protection and some minor healing spells. These people have knowledge of both magic and religious doctrine.

Magineer

Magineer is short for "Magic Engineer". A magineer produces devices that serve a mundane purpose but work based on magic. Common examples of this include the magical hot pot, portable fire, collapsible tents and ever-clean cloth.

Magith

Magith is short for "Magic Smith". Magiths create armors and weapons embued with magic. The items are made by magical means as well. Common magical weapons include ever-sharp blade, seeking arrows, blades of poison, blades of fire and ice. Common armors include self-repairing armor, expanding shields, eagle-eye visors and swift boots. What a magith can create is limited by imagination, materials and their personal energy. Thread weapons are exceedingly rare and difficult to make. There has not been a successful Thread magith in well over 200 years.

Magisan

Magisan is short for "Magic Artisan". Magisans create items similar to those of magiths and magineers, but their items are often small baubles or jewelry. They pride themselves on creating items of beauty and usefulness. Common Magisan items include rings of truth, singing orbs, dancing stones, necklaces of beauty and brooches of empowering speech.

Low Professions

A "low" profession is one that most people see as beneath that of a civilized person. This does not mean that they do not serve a useful purpose, it just means that they are disrespected positions in society. Generally, a low position is one that was given to someone as punishment for breaking common law, or is otherwise frowned upon. Arasconians have very little respect for people who do not work or conform to the pillars of Civilization.

Muckrakers

Muckrakers are the people who clean the streets and gutters. The streets of cities get dirty form people throwing dirty water out onto them and emptying chamber pots into them. With thousands of people living in a city, this can cause not only a vile smell, but also a health concern. So, Muckrakers are the people who clean the streets. Being a muckraker is a common punishment for those who break common laws. You can see muckraker gangs in many cities. Often, people refer to criminals as muckers.

Dead Burners

The Dead Burners are those who haul away dead bodies to be burnt on the pyres outside of town. Since the body is merely a vessel for the soul, once the soul has left the body, Arasconians no longer have any use for it. (The only exception to this is the God-Blessed.) This job is traditionally reserved for lepers and others who have the green rot or other debilitating diseases. Also, the mentally unwell are made into Dead Haulers. People know that corpses can attract disease and curse, so this job, while low, it needed. That is why it is reserved who cannot otherwise be a part of society.

Gypsies and Nomads

Because gypsies and nomads are transient, they are seen as 'lowly' people. Arasconians put great pride in their civilization and society. They see those who are nomads and gypsies as rejecting the Arasconian way- rejecting society as a whole. This makes them low. To an Arasconian, having a permanent home and a job is a sign of a life well spent. Few people switch jobs in their lifetime and transient people who do odd jobs to get by offend most Arasconians. They have more respect for the Firsk than they have for gypsies.

Professions by Region

Arascon is split into nine regions. Each regions is geographically separated and has its own common professions and exports. In each region, aside from the larger cities, there are countless small villages, towns and communities. Most of the small villages center around one profession or resource. For example, a small town in the heart of the Sienna Mountains would probably be a mining town where most everyone was a miner or supported the miners in some way.

The regions of Arascon are as illustrated below: