Jugglers

Willem's Wondrous World Carnival came through last week, and it was a sight to behold. The painted wagons rolled in, with the thespians riding on top waving to the crowds. The nobles were most excited by them, although of course they try not to show it.

The animal cages rolled in next, and those are always exciting. They were mostly covered in tarps, but we could hear some of the roars coming from them. I think most of the common folk were most interested in them, and I know that a couple of trappers were waiting for the opportunity to sell a couple of Lobstrosities to them if they could.

The next wave was the one that the kids truly loved, though. While the first set of wagons were painted with scenes for the plays, these were simply painted in bright colors, meant to draw the eye in. This was where the harlequins danced, and the jugglers and the clowns all did tricks for you. There were three wagons rolling in in a triangle formation, and each one had a performer in primary clothes standing on the roof. Even though the rumbled across the roads, they held firm and kept a three way routine going - knives and flaming torches were being thrown from one roof to the next, each expertly caught and redirected. They moved so fast, and seemingly at random. It was hard to follow everything, but that just added to the spectacle.

— Henrey Selwe, hunter
Geton Towne

Career

Qualifications

Jugglers take years of training to truly master their craft. While most people can pick up the fundamentals fairly quickly, there is a large difference between juggling a few objects designed for the purpose and juggling many, especially when involving others.

There are several schools for entertainers throughout Helion, mostly through the Koleran League. Entertainers will apply to the schools, and then go through a series of aptitude tests to determine what they can learn. Those with sharp vision, spatial awareness, and hand eye coordination are often selected to learn to juggle.

An often overlooked skill for jugglers, and one of the key things separating the best from the merely good, is patter. A juggler who just juggles will draw some interest, but will not hold it for long. Those skilled at patter can make their juggling into a much more exciting spectacle. Any juggler that makes a living working alone is certainly going to be highly skilled at patter.

Career Progression

The base level for a new juggler is to work as a street performer. Many jugglers hone their craft while busking, as they look for paying work.

Most jugglers end up part of a traveling show, usually working with a troupe of jugglers and other entertainers. In some of the largest cities, there are venues where a particularly skilled juggling troupe can perform regularly¹. These tend to be people who have made a name for themselves on the road, and because of the increased security and comfort, it is the goal of many performers.

¹Corellum's Golden Way is the most respected destination

Payment & Reimbursement

Street performers earn what they are given by impromptu audiences. Luck is as important as skill in what they earn, but both are inferior to location. There have been fights over choice locations in major cities.

Traveling troupes that are part of larger carnivals are paid wages. They are typically near the bottom of performers in wage potential - animal handlers and thespians make substantially more, as do most musicians. They make similar wages to clowns and harlequins. The actual amount varies depending on the success of the show.

Traveling juggling only troupes generally split the profits, although almost never an even split unless it is among family. This can easily lead to feast and famine, as jobs can be hard to come by but individually more profitable to the performers than part of a carnival.

Long term contracts in set locations are the most lucrative, although still well short of what a thespian can make. The highest paid make as much as one golden suns a day if they perform multiple shows.

Other Benefits

Jugglers, like most performers, thrive as much on fame as on fortune. They rarely become well known, but even the rush of fans that cheer and forget is often a drug they cannot live without.

Perception

Social Status

Jugglers are considered near the bottom strata of performers. Juggling as a skill is valued, but those that only juggle are seen as a minor diversion. They tend to be well liked in rural areas, where any performer is a good change, while not really thought much of in cities.

Operations

Tools

Wooden pins are the most common jugglers implements, and the easiest. Torches are similar in heft, and make for an impressive visual when used.

Bottles made of sugar glass are common tricks, as they can be broken to look like it is adding danger while ultimately not putting the performer at risk. Prop weapons are also used by jugglers who have enough slight of hand skill to swap them out undetected. Very few jugglers are willing to use actual weapons, although some have, occasionally to tragic results.

Alternative Names

Tossers (derogatory, slang)

Type

Entertainment

Demand

Jugglers are typically entertainment meant for, and affordable to, the poorer levels of society.

Legality

While most places welcome jugglers, they have been outlawed in the The Empire of Egrond. This fledgling kingdom is ruled with an iron fist by Egrond the Mad, first of his name. The penalty for practicing juggling in The Empire is summary execution.

Egrond decreed that jugglers are agents of Malignom, and will lead to the end of the world. However, some of his followers were present when Egrond had a juggler performing in his great hall. The juggler was working with three wooden pins, when he grabbed a wine bottle and continued juggling one handed while he pulled the cork with his teeth and drained the contents. He pattered on as he got the bottle in about how it was hard to mix what he was juggling, then 'accidentally' broke the bottle in a collision with a pin. He kept going, but emphasized the danger.

King Egrond did not believe the patter, and decided he would show that anyone can juggle. He took what was at hand - a turkey leg and his knife, and attempted to juggle them. In seconds, the knife was stuck in the table, while the turkey leg bounced off his head, leaving a greasy mess. The final humiliation was when the leg then struck a ladle, sending a spray of thick, brown gravy across the table and the king.

When the juggler could not control his laughter, the king had his revelation about the origin of jugglers, and carried out the prescribed punishment on the spot.