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Thinking about jobs that city-dwellers in Historical / Historicalish Fantasy #TTRPGs could have had. Things that people in our history did, for a living.
This may be a thread I come back to, to add, as I think of or find them.
1) Knocker-Uppers. Human alarm clocks.
This may be a thread I come back to, to add, as I think of or find them.
1) Knocker-Uppers. Human alarm clocks.
You'd pay them, tell them a time you needed to be awake, and then they'd walk rounds like paper boys, either using a long stick to tap on your maybe-third-story window, or using dried peas in a blowgun to make noise.
They'd stop when you opened the window and waved.
They'd stop when you opened the window and waved.
(This may just end up being me making summaries of the Wikipedia category of "Obsolete Professions," we'll see)
2) Any of the *countless* roles in Household Staff.
For instance: The Butler, Housekeeper, and Cook were three roughly contiguous ranks of servant; the Butler generally was the head of the male staff, the Housekeeper the head of the female staff, and the Cook... well, cooked.
For instance: The Butler, Housekeeper, and Cook were three roughly contiguous ranks of servant; the Butler generally was the head of the male staff, the Housekeeper the head of the female staff, and the Cook... well, cooked.
More than that, though, the cook was in charge of the kitchen. The Housekeeper was in charge of the general appearance of the house, and the Butler was in charge of the Dining Room, Wine Cellar and Pantry (or the entire parlour floor).
Then you'd have Man/Maidservants, /
Then you'd have Man/Maidservants, /
many of which would have specific tasks as they relate to the personages they're serving.
If a "Butler" didn't have any staff under him, he wasn't a Butler, he was a Valet (pronounced with a hard T, unlike the person who parks your cars).
And that's just in the English system.
If a "Butler" didn't have any staff under him, he wasn't a Butler, he was a Valet (pronounced with a hard T, unlike the person who parks your cars).
And that's just in the English system.
They could even get recursive, where you'd have someone like a Hall Girl or Hall Boy whose job it was to be the servant to the Servant's Hall (that is, the assembled staff of the house), and who would be under the jurisdiction of Butler, Housekeeper, and Cook alike.
Get a big enough house, and you could be one of the caterers who feeds the caterers who are feeding the actual people in charge.
You could work in a 2nd or 3rd kitchen. It's a fantasy world. Go wild.
You could work in a 2nd or 3rd kitchen. It's a fantasy world. Go wild.
The Butler can even have their own Butler, who may be a Head Footman (so named because they run alongside the carriage of an aristocrat on foot), who gets the title of Underbutler.
Your D&D character could be an Underbutler. And a Necromancer. At the same time.
Your D&D character could be an Underbutler. And a Necromancer. At the same time.
You want to play one of those?
Imagine the Gig Economy reaches its natural end.
You're the person coordinating the UberEats driver, the Lyft driver, the Fiver handymen, the...
Imagine the Gig Economy reaches its natural end.
You're the person coordinating the UberEats driver, the Lyft driver, the Fiver handymen, the...
3) This.
Any of the things a King waves his hand and does?
There's at least one person who's job is pretty much ONLY that thing.
The King certainly isn't going to spend all that time putting heads on pikes HIMSELF, after all. https://twitter.com/EdFitzy31415926/status/1339786483771830272
Any of the things a King waves his hand and does?
There's at least one person who's job is pretty much ONLY that thing.
The King certainly isn't going to spend all that time putting heads on pikes HIMSELF, after all. https://twitter.com/EdFitzy31415926/status/1339786483771830272
4) Measuring Tapes.
Strictly speaking the word was "Bematists." People who had a regular stride, whose entire job was to walk that regular stride over distances to know how long that was.
For instance, from Orienteering in Scouts, I know that I have a reliable 6' pace.
Strictly speaking the word was "Bematists." People who had a regular stride, whose entire job was to walk that regular stride over distances to know how long that was.
For instance, from Orienteering in Scouts, I know that I have a reliable 6' pace.
They're why the rulers of the era knew, within a .4% deviation, that the route from Hecatompylos to Alexandria Areion was 529 English Miles (or 575 Milia Passuum) in Pliny's time.
It's actually about 531 miles.
But fuck, man, they measured BY FOOT.
It's actually about 531 miles.
But fuck, man, they measured BY FOOT.
When all of those Greek mathematicians are calculating (to a relatively high degree of accuracy) the circumference of the Earth?
They can only do that because a motherfucker walked in a straight line between this town and that one, and said how far it was.
Reliably.
They can only do that because a motherfucker walked in a straight line between this town and that one, and said how far it was.
Reliably.
(I'm just saying this isn't a terrible backstory for someone to go adventuring)
5) Uber but for animals
Pretty much any animal team you can think of would have people who were familiar with them. We get this, today, in hiring horses for... say, a wedding carriage? and the driver comes with them.
Well before engines, most motive power was people or animals.
Pretty much any animal team you can think of would have people who were familiar with them. We get this, today, in hiring horses for... say, a wedding carriage? and the driver comes with them.
Well before engines, most motive power was people or animals.
So you gotta get a bigass stump out of your yard?
You call a Bullocker (or Bullwhacker), and they'll bring a bullock (ox) team, and they'll pull the thing.
You call a Bullocker (or Bullwhacker), and they'll bring a bullock (ox) team, and they'll pull the thing.
Likewise the person who handles the goat team who come to clear your weeds, likewise the folks with the trained cats/dogs/badgers/whatever who come and catch rats in your house, likewise, likewise, likewise...
If there's an animal that can do a job, you can be the handler.
If there's an animal that can do a job, you can be the handler.
tl;dr - the flintstones
6) Uber but for animals but you ARE the animals
In Russian they're called Burlaks. They worked like mule teams, pulling barges upriver (against the current).
In Russian they're called Burlaks. They worked like mule teams, pulling barges upriver (against the current).
7) Pick a simple household item.
Let's say a broom.
In order for that to exist, there has to be a chain of workers.
Someone has to assemble them, out of long, sturdy straws or twigs.
And they probably pay someone else to collect those twigs.
That's a supply chain.
Let's say a broom.
In order for that to exist, there has to be a chain of workers.
Someone has to assemble them, out of long, sturdy straws or twigs.
And they probably pay someone else to collect those twigs.
That's a supply chain.
The person assembling the brooms is called a Broomsquire. They might also herd sheep or cattle through the heath, while collecting those twigs - or they might just be working with someone who does.
8) Peddlers
Y'all don't realize how modern supermarkets or malls are. We've still got the cultural baggage of the Milkman - now imagine that, but for ANYTHING.
The bookstore knocks on your door, and it's a guy with a big backpack of books.
Y'all don't realize how modern supermarkets or malls are. We've still got the cultural baggage of the Milkman - now imagine that, but for ANYTHING.
The bookstore knocks on your door, and it's a guy with a big backpack of books.
Your city might have some kind of Market or Bazaar, but that's hardly guaranteed, and space is ALWAYS at a premium, and how much easier is it to just have a wheelbarrow full of flowers and push it around to where people might want to buy them?
Maybe you do the washing. Maybe you do leather repair. Maybe you do shoe shining. Anything, everything - any service where in the modern world we'd drive to a shop?
If the tools are portable, it could just as likely come to you.
If the tools are portable, it could just as likely come to you.
9) Speaking of malls being modern, Shop Runners.
The idea that you would pick something out and bring it to the cashier to pay is not only modern, but nonsense through most of history.
Why would they put it in your hands before you handed over money?
The idea that you would pick something out and bring it to the cashier to pay is not only modern, but nonsense through most of history.
Why would they put it in your hands before you handed over money?
It used to be (not too long ago, really, the first self-service grocery store was Piggly Wiggly, in 1916) that you would walk up to the front counter with your shopping list, and then a runner would get the various things for your order and hand them to you.
Think personal shopper, or warehouse work, but that's just... how it is. How all shopping is. ALL of the merchandise is behind the counter.
Like the general store, from Oregon Trail.
Like the general store, from Oregon Trail.
10) Podcast.
You used to be able to hire a podcast.
You used to be able to hire a podcast.
More specifically, in work houses, in the early industrial age, you'd want to SOMEHOW keep folks entertained.
So you'd find someone who could read, or tell stories, or otherwise speak for hours at a time with a good loud voice,
And you'd put them on a catwalk above the workers.
So you'd find someone who could read, or tell stories, or otherwise speak for hours at a time with a good loud voice,
And you'd put them on a catwalk above the workers.
11) This.
Light doesn't just happen.
Imagine if light bulbs had a 6-hour lifespan. Now imagine streetlights.
A) A lot of your fantasy cities are MUCH DARKER AND QUIETER at night than you're supposing,
B) Someone's gotta fill the oil/change the candle https://twitter.com/lmsstrauss/status/1339787782156288001
Light doesn't just happen.
Imagine if light bulbs had a 6-hour lifespan. Now imagine streetlights.
A) A lot of your fantasy cities are MUCH DARKER AND QUIETER at night than you're supposing,
B) Someone's gotta fill the oil/change the candle https://twitter.com/lmsstrauss/status/1339787782156288001
-Addendum-
In their role as master of the Cellars, of course! Unless there was an Alewife, who for most of English history was the woman whose job was the brew beer. https://twitter.com/ReiverHall/status/1339794050212384769
In their role as master of the Cellars, of course! Unless there was an Alewife, who for most of English history was the woman whose job was the brew beer. https://twitter.com/ReiverHall/status/1339794050212384769
12) Chopchurches.
They traded favors.
That was their whole thing.
In the 1700s, it was specifically church favors, sometimes land grants, sometimes tax exempt status, sometimes stipends.
They traded favors.
That was their whole thing.
In the 1700s, it was specifically church favors, sometimes land grants, sometimes tax exempt status, sometimes stipends.
I just love the idea of the Shadow Broker being, instead of some Liara T'Soni motherfucker with power and intrigue and violence, being an administrative assistant who dealt in fungible Holy assets.
Some tired guy with a book of IOUs from God.
Some tired guy with a book of IOUs from God.
13) Yup! Also Night Soil Men, people who came around to collect the liquid (and semi-liquid) gold that comes out of people!
Farming needs Nitrogen. Nitrogen comes from Waste. Tanning needs Ureic Acid. That comes from Waste. That makes waste VALUABLE. https://twitter.com/AyaOrKai/status/1339795923560382465
Farming needs Nitrogen. Nitrogen comes from Waste. Tanning needs Ureic Acid. That comes from Waste. That makes waste VALUABLE. https://twitter.com/AyaOrKai/status/1339795923560382465
Ragmen, Rag and Bone Men, Ragpickers, Junkmen - they'd come to your house and take your trash off of you. Old clothes that could be repurposed into cloth, or paper, or packing. Bones for carving.
You'd have a pile outside your house. Maybe a burn pile. They'd go through it.
You'd have a pile outside your house. Maybe a burn pile. They'd go through it.
14) Fire Insurance.
It used to be, you didn't have fire departments. You didn't have a municipal service.
Instead, you had private firefighters.
If your house went up, only those firefighters would come put it out.
Sometimes they'd fight each other for territory.
It used to be, you didn't have fire departments. You didn't have a municipal service.
Instead, you had private firefighters.
If your house went up, only those firefighters would come put it out.
Sometimes they'd fight each other for territory.
They'd put a plaque on your house to mark which one you paid, if any. If another company showed up at your house, they could put out the fire and then charge you, because they beat your company there and did the work.
15) Computer
Can you count? Do basic math? Add, subtract, multiply, divide?
In a world before compulsory public education, that is a rare skill. In a world with business, it's a necessary one.
If you were a scientist, you might not even know any math, you just hire a computer.
Can you count? Do basic math? Add, subtract, multiply, divide?
In a world before compulsory public education, that is a rare skill. In a world with business, it's a necessary one.
If you were a scientist, you might not even know any math, you just hire a computer.
It might also be how you get started in the sciences - as the live-in calculator for a scientist. A chemist, or astronomer, or what have you.
Someone who CAN do the math, but doesn't want to be bothered with it.
You know - just how we handle calculators today, but you feed em.
Someone who CAN do the math, but doesn't want to be bothered with it.
You know - just how we handle calculators today, but you feed em.
16) Crossing Sweepers.
Their whole job was to wait at crossings, watch for people about to walk across, and clear the path for them.
The path - remember, this is a horse-powered time before sanitation - is full of poop.
You'd move it out of the way for them to walk.
For tips.
Their whole job was to wait at crossings, watch for people about to walk across, and clear the path for them.
The path - remember, this is a horse-powered time before sanitation - is full of poop.
You'd move it out of the way for them to walk.
For tips.
17) Baby Farmer
Just gonna let that one steep for a minute.
Think of it as ultra-private small-scale foster/adoption service.
In THEORY, a parent who can't care for a child pays a baby farmer a lump sum once (or periodic payments) to care for the kid.
In PRACTICE, Cosette in Les Mis is kind of the best case scenario.
In THEORY, a parent who can't care for a child pays a baby farmer a lump sum once (or periodic payments) to care for the kid.
In PRACTICE, Cosette in Les Mis is kind of the best case scenario.
The Thernardiers, after all, actually did feed her and keep her alive.
Baby Farmers often... didn't.
Oof. This got dark. In your world, how about that isn't the case?
In a world where kids work, and childbirth might kill you, taking on another kid is a low-risk way of adding /
Baby Farmers often... didn't.
Oof. This got dark. In your world, how about that isn't the case?
In a world where kids work, and childbirth might kill you, taking on another kid is a low-risk way of adding /
to your household.
Makes sense on farms or dairies or the like, or for Inn/Tavern keepers.
Also gives a great way for your character to be secretly of some grand parentage, and to eventually quest to find their destiny.
Makes sense on farms or dairies or the like, or for Inn/Tavern keepers.
Also gives a great way for your character to be secretly of some grand parentage, and to eventually quest to find their destiny.
18) Fast food.
Like, seriously. That job is ancient.
Here's a Thermopolium from Herculaneum. Those big holes would be filled with baked cheese, wine, nuts, fish sauce, whatever. You'd buy a meal on your way out of your Insula (apartment), which had no kitchen.
Like, seriously. That job is ancient.
Here's a Thermopolium from Herculaneum. Those big holes would be filled with baked cheese, wine, nuts, fish sauce, whatever. You'd buy a meal on your way out of your Insula (apartment), which had no kitchen.
It doesn't take a huge leap to go from there to something like a modern chafing tray, where batches of food would be kept warm in large bowls above boiling water, which would be heated by the cooking fire.
You could also work in a Popina, which is a no-shit wine bar. They'd have varrying grades of wine, small foods (olives, nuts, bread, shit that kept well) and stools for you to sit and eat and socialize.
That's all ancient.
Also that's where prostitutes would hang out.
That's all ancient.
Also that's where prostitutes would hang out.
19) Garden Hermits.
If y'all don't know about this
y'all
it's still a thing
some places still have paid hermitages.
But essentially, your job was to live in a shack on some rich person's estate, and look mysterious and wise in the way of the woods.
If y'all don't know about this
y'all
it's still a thing
some places still have paid hermitages.
But essentially, your job was to live in a shack on some rich person's estate, and look mysterious and wise in the way of the woods.
Like...
Imagine a big fancy brownstone house in an industrial city, with a little fruit orchard out front of it, and on the 300 square feet of front yard, your druid lives in a hut made of plaster to look like a cave.
Imagine a big fancy brownstone house in an industrial city, with a little fruit orchard out front of it, and on the 300 square feet of front yard, your druid lives in a hut made of plaster to look like a cave.
20) Porters
This is something that's still done today, but with so many machines that replace the workers.
Deal (soft wood) Porters in London would move lumber off of ships, and stack them to be moved later.
In limited space.
So they stacked up.
Six stories high.
This is something that's still done today, but with so many machines that replace the workers.
Deal (soft wood) Porters in London would move lumber off of ships, and stack them to be moved later.
In limited space.
So they stacked up.
Six stories high.
For most of human history, shit got from one place to another because someone put it on their back and took it there.
- Addendum -
Absolutely. It also just makes sense not to replicate work - it's why all the people in your household probably don't cook dinner separately. It's easier just to have one person do a little more labor, and have only one space. https://twitter.com/npdemers/status/1339811993000112128
Absolutely. It also just makes sense not to replicate work - it's why all the people in your household probably don't cook dinner separately. It's easier just to have one person do a little more labor, and have only one space. https://twitter.com/npdemers/status/1339811993000112128
21) Live in a city with stray cats or dogs? Maybe worse fantasy animals?
Want to have a ceremony of some kind that's formal?
You'd better pay someone with a stick to chase feral animals away.
I give you the Dog Whipper. Motherfucker's job was important enough to CARVE.
Want to have a ceremony of some kind that's formal?
You'd better pay someone with a stick to chase feral animals away.
I give you the Dog Whipper. Motherfucker's job was important enough to CARVE.
"Those employed for the position were given a three-foot-long whip and a pair of dog tongs with which to remove the animals. They were given the task of keeping stray animals away from the church and preventing communion bread and priests from being assaulted."
And hey, since you already gave the guy a long stick, you could also employ him to keep an eye out for people falling asleep in the church sermon, and poke him in the head with it.
The "Sluggard Waker."
The "Sluggard Waker."
22) Or how about you could be a Donkey Puncher?
"Steam Donkeys" were the first logging engines that replaced the work that biological Donkeys had been doing.
They were winches, which would pull things over hauling distances. They'd communicated over those distances by whistles (operated by Whistle Punks) in certain codes.
They were winches, which would pull things over hauling distances. They'd communicated over those distances by whistles (operated by Whistle Punks) in certain codes.
These donkeys were, strictly speaking, mobile.
Not that they had wheels or anything, but you'd attach their winch to something stable, and use that to pull the whole engine to where you needed it. The person operating the Steam Donkey was the Donkey Puncher.
Not that they had wheels or anything, but you'd attach their winch to something stable, and use that to pull the whole engine to where you needed it. The person operating the Steam Donkey was the Donkey Puncher.
23) Not just mourners! You could also hire a group of Claques! Their job, for your speech or opera or whatever, was to be spread throughout the crowd, and to clap or laugh or sob when people were supposed to.
https://twitter.com/Technicallyowen/status/1339815360778956801
https://twitter.com/Technicallyowen/status/1339815360778956801
24) You could be a Badger!
A badger is a private and independent food dealer. They'd take food from the farmers directly, or from storehouses, and move them into cities to sell them.
There were complicated rules about how they could do so.
But cities /need/ food.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Badger_(occupation)
There were complicated rules about how they could do so.
But cities /need/ food.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Badger_(occupation)
The idea of the farmer taking his turnips to market himself is maybe less realistic than you think; as early as the 1200s there were "Badgergates" in major English cities.
"NO THIS IS BULLSHIT YOU HAVE TO GO... how far away is Surrey, Thom? Three miles? AT LEAST FOUR MILES TO RESELL THIS." https://twitter.com/Technicallyowen/status/1339818716343767041
25) Have you got a son? Is he a shithead? Are you tired of him?
Send him off somewhere, and hire a Bear-leader for him.
Which is a combination Tutor, Bodyguard, and Chaperone.
Send him off somewhere, and hire a Bear-leader for him.
Which is a combination Tutor, Bodyguard, and Chaperone.
If you're a Bear-leader, you KIND OF work for the person you're guarding, and are their social lesser, and you KIND OF work for the parents, and you have to walk a line to keep both happy.
It's professional escort mission nonsense.
It's professional escort mission nonsense.
26) Gandy Dancer / Navvy.
Cities need infrastructure. Canals, railways, roads - that's done by hand.
Chicago once lifted the entire city on jacks to move it out of the swamp - some people took the opportunity to move their houses to better neighborhoods.
Mostly by hand / mule.
Cities need infrastructure. Canals, railways, roads - that's done by hand.
Chicago once lifted the entire city on jacks to move it out of the swamp - some people took the opportunity to move their houses to better neighborhoods.
Mostly by hand / mule.
If there's no Digger machine, the way you get a new sewer is 150 people with shovels. If there's no piledriver, then folks have to dive into the river to put new pylons in the mud without gear.
Engineers. Sappers. The folks doing the hard work of building the world.
Engineers. Sappers. The folks doing the hard work of building the world.
27) I don't have a funny lead up for this, because... it just is.
Herb Strewers would find things that smelled bad and put flowers or herbs over them.
Just... imagine a noble, who has someone walking half a block ahead of them, making sure there's no whiff of poo.
Herb Strewers would find things that smelled bad and put flowers or herbs over them.
Just... imagine a noble, who has someone walking half a block ahead of them, making sure there's no whiff of poo.
28) Not just wiping arse! Doing literally anything that someone needs in the bathroom. Maintaining that bathroom, guarding them while they're there. https://twitter.com/craftyprimrose/status/1339824888832528384
29) Someone mentioned this earlier, but anything you'd ever need to text someone for?
That's a job.
I'll use this example: Mud Clerks. They were kids who didn't get paid (think intern) but worked boats, were presumably fed and housed, and could learn the trade and be promoted.
That's a job.
I'll use this example: Mud Clerks. They were kids who didn't get paid (think intern) but worked boats, were presumably fed and housed, and could learn the trade and be promoted.
So just... imagine every professional, surrounded by this cloud of intern children.
Ten-year-olds who are ready to hop up and run half a block to tell Jim you need more nails, and to run back with the nails.
Ten-year-olds who are ready to hop up and run half a block to tell Jim you need more nails, and to run back with the nails.
30) Limners.
Door-to-door document illuminators and portrait painters.
"That's a mighty fine charter you have there, but it's a shame it's only text. What if someone drew fancy gold leaf around the edges?"
Door-to-door document illuminators and portrait painters.
"That's a mighty fine charter you have there, but it's a shame it's only text. What if someone drew fancy gold leaf around the edges?"
Expand on that -
Ancient Rome had advertisements /everywhere/.
Every wall would have graffiti on it. Not just product placement ("Platus Secundus says drink Severius's Vinegar, for that fighting spirit in the arena!") but personal political messages, whatever.
It was Twitter.
Ancient Rome had advertisements /everywhere/.
Every wall would have graffiti on it. Not just product placement ("Platus Secundus says drink Severius's Vinegar, for that fighting spirit in the arena!") but personal political messages, whatever.
It was Twitter.
Your fantasy character might be paid to tweet for people. To put the messages they want up on their walls, or on their enemy's walls.
To punch-up their jokes. To write them fancy.
To punch-up their jokes. To write them fancy.
- Addendum -
Absolutely true. When I wrote this, I was thinking of one particular diver operation to shore up/add pylons under an extant building, but you're right, those are older inventions.
Also jobs your folks could do! https://twitter.com/meg_merilees/status/1339827005546766336
Absolutely true. When I wrote this, I was thinking of one particular diver operation to shore up/add pylons under an extant building, but you're right, those are older inventions.
Also jobs your folks could do! https://twitter.com/meg_merilees/status/1339827005546766336
Offered without further commentary: https://twitter.com/craftyprimrose/status/1339829984756686848
31) The Poundmaster
The Pound didn't involve peoples pets; it used to be about livestock.
The Poundmaster was effectively the impound lot manager for loose cows, goats, pigs, whatever that were wayward in a city.
If they could find the owner they'd charge them for the impound.
The Pound didn't involve peoples pets; it used to be about livestock.
The Poundmaster was effectively the impound lot manager for loose cows, goats, pigs, whatever that were wayward in a city.
If they could find the owner they'd charge them for the impound.
32) Thief-taker.
Think bounty hunter, except it's employed by the people who had their shit stolen.
And instead of just dragging the person back for justice, they could negotiate the return of the goods instead, for a fee.
Think bounty hunter, except it's employed by the people who had their shit stolen.
And instead of just dragging the person back for justice, they could negotiate the return of the goods instead, for a fee.
33) Timekeepers.
There's two different ways this is done; the first is one person with an accurate watch going to the main clock in town, setting their watch by it, then going around to people who've bought a subscription so they can make sure their clocks are on time.
There's two different ways this is done; the first is one person with an accurate watch going to the main clock in town, setting their watch by it, then going around to people who've bought a subscription so they can make sure their clocks are on time.
Or, my preferred method.
Keeping the time with Cannons.
Y'all remember Mary Poppins? Admiral Boom? The eccentric old man with the cannon?
HE WAS DOING AN ACTUAL JOB THAT PEOPLE HAD TO DO.
Keeping the time with Cannons.
Y'all remember Mary Poppins? Admiral Boom? The eccentric old man with the cannon?
HE WAS DOING AN ACTUAL JOB THAT PEOPLE HAD TO DO.
The idea is that you fire a canon every day at specific times, and people know (based on their distance from you) what time it is when accounting for the speed of sound.
Including ships at sea. Who are also using it to track tides.
Including ships at sea. Who are also using it to track tides.
Anyway that's the whole list I've got for now, so I'll end on Archimimes and then go to bed.
For all the theater types (looking at you, @FlintlocksDnD crew), you could be hired in Rome as a side gig for funerals.
Pretending to be the deceased. Acting like them. Doing bits.
For all the theater types (looking at you, @FlintlocksDnD crew), you could be hired in Rome as a side gig for funerals.
Pretending to be the deceased. Acting like them. Doing bits.
- Addendum -
Absolutely! Industrialization wasn't a big all-at-once thing.
If you watch any "how its made" video, any machine that moves something? Into a machine, out of a machine, onto a surface?
You'd have a person doing that.
Usually a kid. https://twitter.com/MachineDidact/status/1339868100875923456
Absolutely! Industrialization wasn't a big all-at-once thing.
If you watch any "how its made" video, any machine that moves something? Into a machine, out of a machine, onto a surface?
You'd have a person doing that.
Usually a kid. https://twitter.com/MachineDidact/status/1339868100875923456
"Bobbin Boys," "Breaker Boys," "Doffers," "Mule Scavengers" - there were a bunch of jobs I found that were just "shoved their tiny hands into the machine in mostly the right place a dozen times an hour for 16 hours."
32?) One that pops to mind:
Resurrection Men.
Those big, fancy, educated gentlemen? Who are doing medicine, science, anatomy? Where do the cadavers come from?
WE DON'T ASK QUESTIONS WE JUST PAY MORRIS, HE'S SHIFTY EYED AND SMELLS LIKE GRAVE DIRT AND PLAUSIBLE DENIABILITY
Resurrection Men.
Those big, fancy, educated gentlemen? Who are doing medicine, science, anatomy? Where do the cadavers come from?
WE DON'T ASK QUESTIONS WE JUST PAY MORRIS, HE'S SHIFTY EYED AND SMELLS LIKE GRAVE DIRT AND PLAUSIBLE DENIABILITY
(34, damn) They'd "procure" bodies, either legally (like a recruiter, but finding out when someone's sick and offering money after Gram Gram kicks it) or...
otherwise.
Remember, most towns had a "Potter's Field," where folks who didn't have anyone to claim the body or pay for/
otherwise.
Remember, most towns had a "Potter's Field," where folks who didn't have anyone to claim the body or pay for/
the funeral just got put in a hole.
And, again, remember, cities are darker at night than any of us who live in the age of Electric Lights can imagine.
So you'd just... dig 'em up.
And, again, remember, cities are darker at night than any of us who live in the age of Electric Lights can imagine.
So you'd just... dig 'em up.
And they were necessary! Like, it's awful and blasphemous and disrespectful, but at base the only way that doctors can learn through most of history is by having bodies to cut up.
Do you want someone who understands where your organs are, so they can heal them?
You need these.
Do you want someone who understands where your organs are, so they can heal them?
You need these.
