You are employed as a public messenger that announces royal decrees, news, and occasional advertisements. In larger cities you may be part of a large guild that is dispatched daily to different sections of the city, while in more remote places you may be alone in your duties, going to a podium in the center of town to announce nothing more than the date, time, and the lunch special at the local tavern. Regardless of location, you wear a uniform of your office, and announce your presence with the ringing of a brass bell, and the traditional, “Hear ye, hear ye!” as you go about your duties.
- Skill Proficiencies:
Choose two of the following; History, Persuasion, Performance
- Tool Proficiencies:
Brass bell (as musical instrument)
- Languages: Choose any one language. Should be a language widely spoken in your locality. (Ask your DM for details)
- Equipment:
Signet ring, Uniform of office (ceremonial robes with coat-of-arms), Large brass bell, Scroll case with recent news and decrees, map of local region, and a belt pouch containing 10 gp.
You are experienced in communicating with large groups, as such, when you are at any public gathering of creatures that can hear and understand you, you may ring your bell and announce your presence in a manner that will gather a throng of onlookers.
Based on your class, you may be selected to work certain areas of the region, for example Barbarians and Fighters are often sent to announce layoffs at shipyards or dry docks, while Bards or Paladins may be sent to tastefully break bad news to Noblemen and other members of the Upper Class. As a Ranger you may be required to travel to remote corners of a kingdom to deliver your services. Spellcasters may be required for more secretive duties such as delivering coded messages to military leaders or spy networks.
Suggested Characteristics
Town Cryers are known for their extensive traveling, ability to speak loudly but clearly, and most importantly maintaining a schedule. Their personalities reflect this devotion to delivering news to the community. Cryers value information very highly- sometimes on the behalf of the community, sometimes for profit or other goals.
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | Despite my career, I am awkward in social situations. |
| 2 | There is nothing I like more than political intrigue. |
| 3 | I use big words whenever possible to prove my intelligence. |
| 4 | I like being the center of attention. |
| 5 | I look forward to ringing that bell every day. |
| 6 | I am always respectful and practice proper etiquette. |
| 7 | I am tired of serving people who ignore me, I deserve respect. |
| 8 | My location is off limits to other cryers. I have exclusive rights the area. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Inquiry. Nothing should fetter the pursuit of knowledge; so much is possible. Why contain it? (Chaotic) |
| 2 | Fairness. Communication is a way of life, and information can make society worthy of trust. (Good) |
| 3 | Service. I take pride in my work. My devotion to the community gives me purpose. (Lawful) |
| 4 | Aspiration. I am determined to make something respectable of myself in society. (Any) |
| 5 | Power. Knowledge is power. It’s the one thing I wish to control above all else. (Evil) |
| 6 | Logic. Emotions must not cloud our sense of what is right and true. To make wise decision all the facts must be known. (Neutral) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | I owe my community a great debt for forging me into the person I am today. |
| 2 | I need the notoriety to make a very important request from a very powerful and hard to contact individual. |
| 3 | I could not cut it in the army; now this is the only choice I have. |
| 4 | The common folk must see me as a hero of the people. |
| 5 | I learned too much about an organization and now I am caught up in their plots. |
| 6 | Somewhere out there, I have a child who doesn’t know me. I’m making the world better for him or her. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | I am easily distracted by the promise of information. |
| 2 | HEAR ME, HEAR ME !!! (I sure love the sound of my own voice.) |
| 3 | I have become so immersed in propaganda that I know longer know truth when I hear it. |
| 4 | I am slow to trust immigrants that arrive in my community. |
| 5 | People who don't utilize the information I give them get what they deserve. |
| 6 | I secretly fear that everyone is ignoring me. |
Contacts
You also have 2 local contacts from the list below. (Choose or random roll)
| d6 | Contact |
|---|---|
| 1 | A local religious order, gives you daily hymns or inspirational passages to read to promote their temple. |
| 2 | Local marketplace has you announce sales and daily specials for it's merchants. |
| 3 | The magistrate or other ranking constable supplies you with wanted posters to pass out, as well as announcements of any curfews. |
| 4 | Nearby Druids or Tempest Clerics provide with a weather forcasts to farmers or sailors and anyone else concerned about such. |
| 5 | Shipyards and drydocks have you announce mass job openings when available. |
| 6 | Thieve's Guilds or bookies have you announce upcoming sporting events such as horse races or gladiator and jousting tournaments. |
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