Coachman (Dwarf, Human, Halfling, Gnome, Tiefling, Vrock)

Many would have thought your job would disappear with the advent of the Sky-Ships and Locomotion being added to river or sea travel as options, but far from it. Many peoples and goods still need transportation between places all about Valerick where those other options are prohibitively expensive, or just not viable. 

Many are the folk who believed the days of Coachmen were numbered once the first trains rode tracks all about the continent, yet this has been far from the case. They've simply adjusted their markets. Nowadays these men and women run such services within city limits, or over shorter day haul treks between towns, less cross country work. This is not to say such work does not still exist, far from it. The other type of course, the bold, brave, more adventurous and generally younger, take on the risky business of expeditionary  coach driving. Be they prospecting missions, pilgrimages to try and break ground for a new settlement, an expedition to uncover old and forgotten places, or for any other means, these are the works where one generally spends their youth in such a career, if they survive. However some cannot get enough of course and continue to do such work for all their working life. Others within the cities and towns face known dangers, but may experience no less excitement, though of a very different flavor. Postilions, basically a driver's assistant and his partner, the one who takes the reins if needed. 

Coachmen excellent drivers of course but the best are Coach Masters, these men and women are highly sought after by those wishing to travel such routes, for they are well known, and generally with an exemplary performance record. Heavily traveled routes or places like cities or the main roads connecting two large towns, will generally inspire collective efforts, and thus a coach company is born and thus a Route Master comes to exist. This is the person whom either fronted the capital, or if its a collective and joint affair, the one who has the confidence of his or her fellows to step into the business side of things and lead them to prosperity and good fortune.

Role: They are useful folk to know, a coachman offers many helpful skills and is a talented ranged combatant, tough as nails, and of course perhaps the most valuable skill they bring to the table, they are top notch drivers and navigators.

Career

Qualifications

Reading a Map
Can drive a coach

Career Progression

CAREER CHARACTERISTIC ADVANCEMENT SCHEME:

WS	BS	Str	T	I	Ag	Dex	Int	WP	Fel
3	1		1	4	2			1

CAREER PATH OUTLINES: 

TIER 1: Postilion: Silver-1
Skills: Animal Care, Charm Animal, Climb, Drive (Coach or Dogsled), Endurance, Perception, Ranged (Entangling), Ride (Any) 
Talents: Animal Affinity, Seasoned Traveler, Trick-Riding, Tenacious
Trappings: Warm Gambeson Overcoat, Warm Gloves, Whip

TIER 2: Coachman: Silver-2
Skills: Consume Alcohol, Gossip, Intuition, Lore (Local), Navigation, Ranged (Smoke-powder)
Talents: Cool-headed, Crack the Whip, Gunner, Strong-Minded
Trappings: Trench Gun with 10 Shots, Coach Horn, Sleeved Gambeson Tunic, Rugged Hat

TIER 3: Coach Master: Silver-3
Skills: Animal Training (Boars, Camels, Dogs, Horses or Ponies), Intimidation, Language (Any), Lore (Routes)
Talents: Accurate Shot, Deal-maker, Fearless (Highwaymen), Nose for Trouble
Trappings: Unriveted Mail Shirt (Sleeveless), Twin Barreled Pistol, 10 shots, Quality Cloak

TIER 4: Route Master: Silver-5
Skills: Charm, Leadership
Talents: Fearless (Bestials), Marksman, Orientation, Rapid Reload
Trappings: Fleet of Coaches or Sleds with full animal teams as appropriate, Maps

Payment & Reimbursement

Being a Coachman can be thankless, but the pay is never really so. They start at Silver-1 and can ascend to Silver-5 through 4 tiers

Other Benefits

Maps, access to them all. Contacts all about your area, and your area is limited solely by your own ambition. You, in most cases are either equal partner or sole entrepreneur of your future.

Perception

Purpose

To transport you or goods you wish from point A to Point B.

Social Status

They are looked upon, and fairly so, as a rough and tumble bunch. To many in cities and larger towns they almost seem a remnant of a bygone era, as if a reminder that not so long ago they were all frontier people. A reminder of that edge of civilization, what lies beyond the walls of the city or town.

Demographics

Again here you will find a distinct lack of elves practicing this craft.

History

This profession is an old one as well, one that has many uses. Many of Valerick's nation-states owe their existence to the brave work of coachmen from bygone eras and ages. With locomotion and aeronautics now poised to rise, they've adapted yet again, as they are so want to do. Realizing that they are outmatched, instead of picking a fight they cannot win, many simply have slightly retooled their services and relocated their places of business to continue to thrive without needing to even attempt to resist or oppose these new technologies. They catch a lot of flak for not being the smartest bunch, but many are smarter than they get credit for.

Operations

Tools

Gloves
Coat
Firearms
Whip
Cart/Wagon/Coach/Carriage
Reins/Harnesses/Tack
Armor

Materials

Maps
Animals (Boar, Camel, Dog, Horse or Pony)
Animal Feed

Workplace

Coachmen are an adaptive bunch and many unique and interesting kinds exist. From the Dogsled/cart teams of Suranth to the camel drawn carriages of the Susma deserts and everything in between, they can be found practicing and plying their craft in one form or another all about Valerick throughout all her environments.

Provided Services

Transportation of Goods or People via roads and trade trails

Dangers & Hazards

Within city/town limits, your hazards are mostly mundane, robbery, hi-jacking, those sorts of things. Out in the wilds however, well all manner of beast and nightmare could await you. It is a dangerous line of work, best keep that trench gun loaded.

Alternative Names

Driver

Type

Transportation

Demand

Moderate

Legality

Most whom ply this craft pay their fair share, seemingly, of taxes and fees. This is the part that governments and the nobility care about the most. As to the nitty and gritty parts of legality, well it is a mixed bag. Many will be quite dutiful in insuring they run a smooth and legal 'up and up' operation, especially in cities. In frontier work, this is less of an issue as the 'rules' of law are more....lax out here, simply due to the lack of dense populations and the abundance of threats. Even in cities and towns, however, there are always a few who will see no issue in taking coin to be a get away driver.