Stringer

While a Bard will happily share songs and stories from all their travels, fact-checking isn't a requirement of their profession. And for most, a good story is more important than boring details. Still, many need to get into the hard facts of events near and far and this is where stringers come into the picture.
There are, generally, three different kinds of stringers. Some are employed by a noble or by the government in order to provide information that will aid them in what to do. In this case, much of it is then disseminated to the masses via town criers or bulletin boards. The second kind is hired by wealthy individuals, for similar purposes, but this news rarely make it to the public, unless that's their employer's entire goal. The third kind of stringer is the most desperate. They hunt any news they can find and then hope to sell it to as many as they can.
There are groups who try to protect stringers as a profession and allow them to seek truth unhindered. One such organisation is the Quill and Pencil, but there are others around the world.

Career

Qualifications

While there is little in the form of formal training for stringers, there are several skills they can not do without. First of which is, obviously, investigation. A proper grasp of the written language is beneficial for delivering news in a way that is clear, concise, and engaging. Other skills depend on exactly what kinds of information the stringer wants to collect. Reporting on wars or dangerous creatures require very different abilities than conveying what happens at court.

Career Progression

Many stringers begin their careers either working alone or hired into a small group adjoined to someone's office. As they learn their trade, they have others to work at their side, both those with similar training and those with other skill sets. For instance, they might be sent on a mission together with a bodyguard. Eventually, they are the ones who pick their companions, and might even have other stringers sent out for figuring our pieces of the puzzle.

Payment & Reimbursement

Regardless of how they're employed, salary is usually not paid to a stringer until after they've given their report. They'll receive a larger sum at that point; how large depends on how impressed the client is. They might get a small sum before a mission in order to cover costs, but this usually only happens if they are very trusted or part of an organisation to begin with.

Perception

Social Status

Most people don't think much about stingers and they are usually simply commoners who have a risky job that often involves travel, but the pay is acceptable. When they are encountered, it is usually by people who have something to hide, people who want to know things, or both. Sometimes they are expected to tell stories as if they're bards, but not all are equipped to do so.

Alternative Names

Truth-seeker
Digger (sometimes derogatory)
Dirtnoses (derogatory)

Type

Intelligence Gathering

Used By

• Quill and Pencil