“Master!”
“Again, slimesides, what now?”
“There is a woman at the door.”
“A woman? But it’s not Thursday.”
“No, no, master, another woman. This one is selling something.”
“Tell her to go away. I tire of interruptions.”
“But master, she claims to be the only black pudding-rearer this side of Glacierland!”
Let’s face it, some people have some pretty unusual jobs, and sometimes it’s hard not to be jealous of someone who seems to have an easy life or who is good at something no one else is. Conversely, it’s hard not to feel sorry that some have achieved their somewhat strange station in life in a job perhaps few would wish for.
Fantasy cities work in exactly the same way; there are people trading there who have few rivals, if any, and some misguided individuals who believe fame and fortune is only just around the corner for their obscure trade. There are also those who do jobs no one else would.
On the back of the earlier YWH One-Hundred Curious Emporiums, here then are One-Hundred Obscure Professionals to use as background color, as NPCs with a tale, or for amusement.
- Lendrip Oswik, the World’s Greatest Aboleth Scholar
- Bid Lechry, Bleacher
- Sidney Ropwell, Carriage Lamp-Fitter
- Sage Gentry Horace Queld Marrimen—Cathedral Architect
- Dwarf Sheggly Mocrund, Master Chitin Crafter
- Lazarus Hulld, Component Sourcer to the Royal Wizardry
- Meg Mimply—Embalmer
- Jacob Strange—Executioner
- Matt the Fuller
- The Great Oldwind, Garden Designer
- Gnome Malldwick Shortsone, Gelatinous Cube Merchant
- Sankl the Glassblower
- Ulwin Beetleslayer, no Infestation too Great
- Archibald Crudd, Royal Glue Merchant
- Sparraw Turtlegraw—Gnome Taunter Extraordinaire!
- Bot the Spade Merchant
- Dot, son of Bot, Shovel Merchant
- Hemlin, Master Sledge Maker
- Freelinquin Ladysgrub, Masterwork Harpsichord Maker
- Torren the Ship Designer
- Mistress Jubb, Griffon Dealer of Countless Continents
- Master Jubb, Hippogriff Trainer Extraordinaire!
- Hazlet the Lime Burner
- Lime the Hazlet Maker
- Juppy Mudlark
- Dabb Clogger
- The Honorary Jacob Garb, the Cheese Monger
- The Great Quondrian, Naga Sage and Master of Snakes
- Mullins, Grubb and Tulin, Paste Gem Makers
- The Enigmatic Gratter, Professional Cloaker Hunter
- Tar the Fearless, Professional Owlbear Tamer
- His Holiness Zeluder Trudge, Pudding-Rearer and Ooze Sage
- Tailor Frin, Rag and Bone Man
- Young Festus, Royal Riding Dog Trainer
- Kalun the Ruff Merchant
- Jagreb the Cony Catcher
- Farrin the Tikka Grinder
- Joob Skinner
- Jacob the Peatcutter
- Lawrin Arkwright, Manufacturer of Masterwork Sealing Wax
- Watwell’s Amazing Wall Shield Mart
- The Amazing Lady Fress, Snake Charmer and Hypnotist
- Barrin the Soap Merchant
- Happy Abe Klepwright, Master Spoon Carver
- J B Griullitt and Son, Torture Chamber Fitter
- Mabb the Woad Dyer
- Physician Altreeb Nector—Leech Collector
- Vof the Gravedigger
- Captain Hubbard Tryst—Vampire Hunter
- Petal the Eel Fisher
- Calwin Cob, Master Cutler
- Chubb the Mousetrap Maker
- Netwin Jon the Distiller
- Jogg Twine, Featherman by Royal Appointment
- Patterdon the Fell Monger
- Twill Bentram, Master Muffin Maker
- Bog Gelder
- Elizbeth the Horner
- Canner’s Clockery and Water Clock Workhouse
- Sadge the Ratcatcher—Wererats a Speciality
- Podge the Jagger
- Tarpull the Knoller
- Tarquin the Ewer
- Hazzard Cavail, Freakshow Exhibit Recruiter
- Brother Mantrim the Beekeeper
- Nadge Natman, the World’s Only Bat Milker
- The Singular Twerb, Silkworm Merchant to Kings and Queens
- Antry Guess, Nailmaker
- Elmin the Spider Gatherer
- Ankrem the Malster
- Tol the Dry Stone Waller
- The Great Puddrin, Sap Merchant
- Barnabus Quart, the Greatest Living Wax Fruit Maker
- Gollin the Cloakseller
- Ned the Ostler
- Nadge Quarryman
- Elis the Rag Cutter
- Zolwin Zolwell, the Legend of Mandolin Making
- Kuppy the Dowser
- Jog Shambler
- Karl the Wabster
- Drebblin Marg, Mole Trapper
- Mellenia Qurade, Lace Merchant
- Toll the Bagman
- Sarf the Shark-meat Pickler
- Jacob Nodge, Nose-flute Carver Extraordinaire!
- Tetchy Festus, the Master of all things of Wire
- Hanris Slopseller
- Anrus Crole the Plowman
- Mistress Pickle, the Pickler who Pickles for Pickle-Loving Royals
- Potwin the Brave, Milker of Centipede Poison
- Jonjus and His Amazingly Curious Fish Mart
- Magg the Helm Chinstrap Making Mistress
- Dolg the Pigment Merchant
- Gubb the Plucker
- Rodgly Rugs
- Jastwin the Masterwork Framemaker
- Olwin Crab, Magnifying Lenses to the World
- Tarquin Fimlake, the Stage Set Painter
- Small Sleds by Thrab
Another great list, and one that I’m going to have to look for what some of these professions actually do!
Pardon me for being so forward, but is there a Mister Pickle?
Definitely a vacancy there Tom:) Ithink there could be some fun with the NPCs assuming that everyone knows what they do by their names.
Rich
Hey this is kind of cool.. I like the emporiums too. Thanks.
Torture Chamber Fitter? You are a bad man Mr. Pett. Deliciously bad. :)
You know I trained for years at university to do that Troy…
Urban adventure hook for the taking:
Has anyone ever actually seen Sadge the Ratcatcher and Twill Bentram at the same time? I sure haven’t. Funny thing. Those muffins, though. So so great. And yes, I have been feeling a little feral lately, since you mention it.
Clever as always!
Which of these have you ever done Rich?
Most of them James, most of them…
“Master Chitin Crafter”
That is an adventure hook right there
Mr. Pett, you sir, are awesome.
I think my Gubb the Plucker may have a rather unfortunate (but amusing) speech impediment and a special talent with pheasants. Puerile I know but then I love Carry On films. Thanks again Master Pett. It is always a pleasure reading your stuff.
Numbers 16 and 17 – really liked these two.
I know what most of these are, but I had to look up a few…
Horner: http://www.pahorner.com/what-is-a-horner/
Wabster: http://www.wordnik.com/words/wabster
Malster: http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070126121058AATyzB4
Knoller: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Knoller
And Hazler Maker. Okay, I give up. What is a hazlet maker? All I can find on that one is a town in New Jersey and a family that used to be lords of the manor in Surry back before 1066. Of course, I suppose Mr. and Mrs. Hazlet *could* be considered Hazlet Makers, but I’d prefer not to hire them for that purpose!