Strasselan

A strasselan or a strassele is a laborer who is assigned the management of a portion of road in areas of dense residency, such as the area in front of a boarding house.  Strasselans are a fixture of any large settlements with established roads and a large population and are known as generally very trustworthy and helpful individuals.  Strasselans are usually lower class or formerly indigent individuals that perform this duty on behalf of a household, landlord, or commune in exchange for lodging and other amenities depending on the specific arrangement. Strasselans will normally supplement their income by performing odd-jobs or offering assistance to residents or passing travelers. It is customary for a strasselan to keep a shovel or broom on hand and a colored towel on their waist matching the door of their place of employment; these identifiers allow travelers to more easily identify them. While strasselans may not ask for payment for tasks such as providing information on the local area, handling animals, and assisting with daily tasks, it is considered an act of charity and good-will to offer them some form of compensation.
A strasselan's normal duties include street sweeping in compliance with any city mandates, upkeep of a stoop or walkway, upkeep of any municipal fixtures with their scope, and public health and security. It is common that strasselans will use their knowledge of local residents and their daily lives to act as an informal safety officer. Strasselans are experienced with protocol of local governments for emergencies such as fires, health emergencies, or crimes, and will often quickly raise an alarm to rally help when required. One of a strasselan's most important duties is the maintenance of an alarm bell within their respective territory, which is used to signal an emergency. Local strasselans will often create coded patterns to indicate the type and the location of emergencies. Experienced strasselans are valued and respected for their knowledge of and ability to initially respond to a crisis when proper authorities may take precious minutes to arrive.