Pastwalker
Overview
The job of a Pastwalker can be described as a career with manifold opportunities. Some call them graverobber, some lonesome people, some hermits, some other too large children with toys; and they are all of this and more.
A Pastwalker digs, researches, claws and hungers for more knowledge which he brings to the places of learning scattered all over Koria. Most of them are the people who discover more and more of times long past. Be it old tomes, tombs, Relics of old, weapons or just the kings favourite spoon.
How to enter
It depends entirely on the institution which one wants to join, but there are some basic things one needs to have like math, reading and writing at least ones own language (preferably that and Common as well for trading). To get into an institution it could be possible that one needs to pass a basic test which also includes a fee. The amount one has to pay varies from institution to institution, so some can be more expensive than others.
If one has passed the test and paid the fee (not necessarily in this order), everything else is mostly provided by the institute. That includes the first set of quills, inkwells, ink, robes, parchment and the first round of books. The rest of the books should be in the library.
If one has passed everything, one is in the state before the Pastwalker. Most of them are called "amateurs", but there is the inofficial title of "Pastwatcher": you only watch, one don't do anything by oneself.
Education
The training for a Pastwalker depends on the institute, ranges from five (intense) years to the more chilled ten years. The education varies a bit, depending on the region the institute is located. One has to learn specific excavation methods, get to know tools, expanded knowledge on languages (Dwarvish, Elvish, the most common clan dialects of the Dragon Sun Empire, the basic Eternal Runes), mathematics, various cultures and customs around Koria, etiquette at court, chemistry and alchemy to cover the basics.
Career opportunities
Most of the Pastwalker stay a Pastwalker their entire life. That is because a gros of them enjoys being abroad, in the wilderness, being alone or in a small team, digging into earth, exploring lost settlements or ruins. Some of them advance into experts in their field of knowledge like Gavín for the capital of the Longardir, the city of Oldrir.
Then it really depends on your skills, the need for a specific career/person and the opportunity. One can choose to be an expert on Old Runic, Relics, Dragons, Dragon Sun Empire, Northern Realms or some niche stuff like how the world was created and how old she is. Some ascend into politics or panels to negotiate fundings, allowances or a release for a specific digsite or interesting areas.
Some Pastwalker choose to teach. They are professors, experts in their fields, consultants for nobility, interested people and sometimes even royality. Some Freelancers (see below) are getting contracted by a family just for their business and thirst for knowledge. Some even found smaller schools to teach or to help their institute (or other institutes) to share the workload. And the payment of course.
Freelancer or Not?
The business of a freelance Pastwalker is a bit different than the business of a contracted Pastwalker by an institute. They have to negotiate on their own (even their rates), negotiate contracts with cities, villages, nations in general. They have to search for possible digsites, search for knowledge on their own and have to rely on others. They also have to contract helping workers if needed and need to look after the payments.
The most important difference in being a freelancer is that one can decide on ones own what to do, what do learn, who to work for if any. Even their own rates if they want to get paid.
A freelance Pastwalker can get contracted by anyone who is willing to pay for their services. Some older families - mostly nobility - hire Pastwalkers to dig into their past to find... stuff. Mostly riches, older names, real estate certificates or whatever they want. That sometimes advances into detective work, but this is covered by the contract.
If one is employed by an institute (like the University of Hulwar) they do not have to think about those small details. They just arrive, get to work, complete their task and move on. Payment, working hours, resources are negotiated by the institute.
But you can't really choose which work you are doing. The institute uses you as resource. If you specialise in a field it can be that you only do work in your field, but that is not often the case. Pastwalkers are rare and good Pastwalkers even more so.
For possible contractors: If you want to contract a Pastwalker you can ask an institute, let them calculate the price. Then you take the same amount and multiply it by at least five for a Freelancer. You can get real experts in every field, sometimes they are worth their price.
Most of the freelance Pastwalkers write one or two books in their life. Try to read one of them and decide if they are worthy to get your gold.
Tools & Tasks
The tools are decided on the task at hand. Normally a Pastwalker has a set of digging tools including small hammers, ropes, coal pen, parchment, cheap paper, a book or scrolls. Some are armed with one or two daggers - because roads are dangerous and you want to cut your bread, cheese or meat - and some with magical scrolls or other fire & forget tools.
Pastwalker Tools in a tent by CrazyEddie via Midjourney
Pastwalker traveltools by CrazyEddie via Midjourney
Tales of Old
*plink... plink... plink... plok...* "ouch..."
"Say what now?"
"I said, when you contract me, you can either pay for my room in the inn or I live with you. I need a desk, a bed sized for me and access to all of your stuff. Gold, relics, library, old maps, family books, heirlooms... whatever is tied to the history of your family. Even the long lost aunt of your sister's cat can be important. If one of your ancestors or even you had an affair which spawned a child. I need everything. Even when you put it on a small note."
"And then you can depict the entire family tree?"
"With a high probability, yes."
"And what if... you find someone who is my successor instead of my firstborn?"
"Then I will tell you."
"No, I meant, what should I do then?"
"That is your choice. I'm a Pastwalker, not a politician."
"That is dark."
"Yep."
"And deep."
"Yep."
"Are you not afraid?"
"Of what?"
"The dark?"
"What? Fear of the Dark? Never."
"... and so, honoured Concuil, I came to the conclusion - and I think you might be with me on this topic - that a joined digsite would not only benefit our three prestige Institutes of Knowledge; no, it would benefit our lands and the future we want to archieve. We could not only learn for ourselves, but for everyone and about ourselves. Who we were, who we are and who we want to be.Be it elves, humans, dwarves, Underlings or Dragonborn and everyone in between. Even Garladans, if they want and let us. So I lay my faith in your capable hands that you might see the benefits - and our possible future - in your concentrated wisdom. Thank you for listening and your time."
-Expert in Family Research
-Experimental Preservation
-Master of a Culture
-Digsite Expert
-Council Member
-Professor of their Expertise
-Freelancer
-History Consultant
Type
Research / Scientific
Calling archeologists pastwalkers, I love it! Great article, especially with those quotes at the end.
Thank you. It was kinda obvious to call them "archeologists", but I thought they literally walk through the past while digging and researching, so why not name them like that?^^ And good that you enjoyed it. :)