Highway Keepers

There are many jobs that are overlooked daily, people have so much on their mind in their daily lives, they often overlook the one thing that allows society to function and civilisations to thrive. People use them every day. Roads. Much like anything, people just assume that they exist. Many often complain that the taxes in their kingdom are being used to fill the coffers of the local lord or king to spend on elaborate feasts where others are left to starve. What they do not realise is that a commission of the money always goes to the Highway Keeper Guild.

Career

Qualifications

Qualifications and knowledge in mathematics, practical skills, stone-masonry, engineering, architecture, cartography & geography.

Career Progression

Trencher - Paver - Gritter & Grifters - Roadworker - Roadmarker - Roadblocker - Road Artist - Traffic Ward - Roadkeeper - Highway Master.

Payment & Reimbursement

Guilds pay road workers and labourers 1-3sp per day of work. Road blockers may be paid 2-4sp for managing roadblocks and repairs. Traffic Wards are paid an average sum of 8sp-12sp per day. Roadkeepers are paid an average sum of 3-5gp a day. Highway Masters get paid 5-15gp per day - a masterful sum, but their work and coordination are always undervalued, and many have to reimburse failed works and projects.

Other Benefits

Knowledge of trade, traffic and those that are in high demand of which road possible - they always know the directions of roads and are well off for this. Otherwise, there is not much credit nor fame in this measure.

Perception

Purpose

Fulfills the role of building, widening and resurfacing roads for trade, transport and migration. Fixing potholes and cracks, laying pavement and kerbs. Maintaining roadside verges and central reservations. Painting road markings and roadsigns. Putting up crash barriers, road signs, traffic markers and street lamps. Dig trenches for sewage and pipe laying. Grit roads and clear snow in winter. Use hand tools, power tools and machinery. Managing traffic and pedestrians close to work.

Social Status

Most consider this job unworthy for the higher or middle classes, and considered a grifter and laborious job - long hours, distant travel and constant beratement from others trading on the roads. Many believe that most of these workers are lazy, ignorant and illiterate nobodies, brutes that only know how to use hammers and shovels. Most believe that they are the reason why there are so many cart accidents on the road, broken wheels and injuries from caravan animals - some think they are making pointless roads and are constantly forgetting where the roads go and lead to. They believe that most that end up in this trade go up to become highwaymen and bandits, using their knowledge of the roads to their advantage and abusing these facts to interrupt trade routes.

Operations

Tools

Pickaxes, shovels, spades, ploughs, chisels, hammers, sledgehammers, crowbars. Most require stone masons tools, a pair of working gloves, strong boots & a drinking canteen or waterskin.

Materials

Crushed stone, grit, rock salt, stone bricks, cobblestone, dry dirt.

Dangers & Hazards

Working in night and fog can reduce visibility for spotting dangers, monsters and predators. Natural wildlife, storms, sun stroke, unseen potholes, hand tool accidents, highway robbery, violence from unruly workers, pedestrians or charging horses. Overexertion, fatigue and exhaustion. Gully or drain cover missing. Large drops on roadsides. Damaged bridges. Rockslides, avalanches, winds.

Alternative Names

Cobblejocks, Crackers, Bumper Boys, Lads and Lasses of the Leagues

Type

Transportation

Demand

Always in high demand, but a staple and underpaid job.

Legality

The profession is a legal practice in many places across the world.