Pigeon

Named for their tendency to gather like a flock of birds in front of businesses, Pigeons are children employed to run messages across the city of Coromare.

Career

Qualifications

In order to be an effective messenger, a Pigeon must be familiar with the city's streets and districts, and the quickest ways to traverse them. While some Pigeons get by running written messages, the best messengers have a sharp memory and can repeat messages verbatim for their employers.

Career Progression

It is not uncommon for Pigeons to apply for the City Watch when they come of age, as their knowledge of the city streets is second to none. Recognizing this, the City Watch makes extensive use of Pigeon services, with Watch Keepers establishing favorites in the hope of bringing especially skilled youths up into their ranks.

Payment & Reimbursement

There is no standard rate of pay for a Pigeon, but it is common to offer a Constellation for short distances, or several for longer ones. More experienced Pigeons learn to negotiate with their employers based on the complexity of the message to be delivered. Skilled Pigeons may earn as much as half a Silver Moon in a day.
The City Watch maintains a budget to pay Pigeons fairly for the many messages Watch Keepers send.

Other Benefits

While a Pigeon's work is hard and not always profitable, the job provides a way out of poverty for many street children. Contact with wealthy or important residents of the city can lead to more steady employment as a house servant, and the City Watch is a natural continuation of a Pigeon's work with better and more consistent pay.

Perception

Social Status

Pigeons rarely come from middle or upper class families. While the job is vital to the city's daily operation, it is not viewed with any measure of prestige. Most Coromarans prefer to see their children apprenticed to reliable trades, enrolled as scholars, or joined to the priesthood. Running messages is viewed as a job for the desperate, who have no other options available to them.

Alternative Names

Runner, Messenger

Type

Public Services

Related Locations

• Coromare