The Ambulant Apothecaries of Alven

Old Times

The ambulant apothecaries of Alven have had a bad reputation for centuries. They sold their goods on the streets of the main cities and roads of the country. They tended to the healing needs of the poorer section of Alven society who could not afford to step into the local Apothecaries' shops. It is because their wares are often much cheaper - and of course, often of lesser quality - than their competitors that the ambulant apothecaries had done so well over the centuries.
Fifty years ago, the then Thane decided to ban this type of medics from Alven in a bid to purge the country from the 'charlatans'. This proposal was first suggested by The Archive who wanted to regulate the market and make sure that people were treated in the best possible ways. There were too many reports of folks getting seriously ill after using the traditional potions and remedies sold on the streets.
The recent rationalization of modern medicine meant that, for the first time, the Alvenish could boast of a cure rate equivalent or near equivalent to their neighbours - but only if they went to a trained doctor or medic. The continuing use of the ambulant sellers was impeding the spread of sensible and scientifically proven cures for common ailments such as infections. The Archive judged it imperative that the ambulant sellers and their dubious cures were taken off the streets. This came to pass fifty years ago.

Recent Times

However, one of the unexcepted consequences of the Thane's edict was to push the market for cheap medication underground. The legal apothecaries' goods did not come down in prices (maybe slightly), and many villagers and townsfolk could still not afford much of it. This is why the ambulant sellers started providing their services from behind closed doors - word of mouth was sufficient to maintain a healthy clientele.
You can be sure that in all the cities - and even villages - of Alven there is such a place as a Workshop. You will need to know the passwords and the signs to get access to the Workshop and its goods. What's more, the new generation of apothecaries has now diversified their production and stock of illicit products. The The Ambulant Men will now sell other illegal goods such as magical ingredients, poisons, and recreational drafts made of The Mortal Weed.

Career

Qualifications

What helped make the profession of the Ambulant Apothecaries illegal in Alven, was the fact that the Archive demanded that all apothecaries be trained in their arts, be in possession of a guild charter, and be part of The Guild of Apothecaries. You would have had to follow a minimum of three-year training with a respected medic before being given your charter. This meant that most of the ambulant merchants and medics who in their vast majority could not access the support network of the guild were deemed, illegal traders.

Career Progression

The Sign of the Guild of Ambulant Men

The ambulant sellers soon organized themselves into a guild of their own, albeit an illegal one. Finding the support of like-minded sellers and suppliers was essential at the start of the movement. As the years went by, the organization, known as the Ambulant Men, became hierarchical and is now ran by a tight secret council of seven merchants called The Seven (Men). Not a lot more is known about the guild itself, as all of their transactions and movements are kept very much a secret.

Perception

Social Status

The ambulant apothecaries used to be very low in status in Alven society. They were, in general, not very wealthy and scraped a living from the streets of the most populous neighbourhoods in major cities and towns. The Ambulant Men is now a very rich and influential underground organization with ties to the upper echelons of the Alven clans. The guild's collective knowledge of poisons and general secretiveness has made them very popular when planning shady business of one kind or another.

Operations

Materials

The Ambulant Men still traditionally harness nature's magic and power to produce their goods: be it a cure against the common cold or your everyday love potion. Apothecaries usually take on a young apprentice (or two) to train into the arts of their profession. It is the job of the apprentice to source and prepare the plants and other ingredients his master will need to brew and make the concoctions of the trade.

Workplace

Itinerant apothecaries always had a base or workshop where they would produce their goods for sale. The itinerant salesman would spend a week or so creating his products, then would leave to make his rounds. If he was lucky to have a dependable and well-trained apprentice, the medic would come back to the workshop to check things and stock up before returning to the road.
Workshops are still very important places for the secret guild of Ambulant Men. The workshops are now well hidden from everyone, including the Archive who is always intent on destroying the guild's means of production. It is fair to say that the Archive has had some wins over the year, and has managed to destroy a few of the secret workshops of the guild, but it is losing the war. The Ambulant Men have now the support of powerful people in The Thane's Hall, and it is proving more and more difficult for Archivists to track down the guild's whereabouts.

Dangers & Hazards

There are defintely some hazards to be part of the guild of the Ambulant Men. The Archive is a redoubtable and most powerful organization in Alven with many resources at its disposal. Young archivists are very well trained in their respective professions and are notoriously zealous and ambitious in their endeavors.
The penalty for selling illegal goods and products is severe in Alven. If caught and judged guilty, the prisoners will be jailed for a minimum of twenty years or sent to the road gangs in the West. However, there is not much social mobility in Alven, and many bright boys and girls of the poorer neighbourhoods aspire to join the ranks of the guild apprentices in order to make their fortune.

Alternative Names

The Ambulant Men

Type

Illicit