Water-bearer

Before the days of the aqueduct, fresh water was limited to the immediate vicinities of select rivers and streams than ran through Isturoth. Most cities and towns are situated on these bodies of freshwater, but those who strayed a little further for a more strategic location or to lay claim to an area, they were forced to rely on the trade of water-bearers.
For centuries, these individuals revolutionised the collecting and transport of water, until technology had advanced to a point where diverting streams with the help of channels and aqueducts became a trivial matter. The humble water-bearer was no longer needed to bring water to the more isolated parts of the world, and it became a thing of the past.

Perception

Purpose

Many locations in Isturoth are not particularly easy to get to, due to either altitude, climate, terrain or a combination of factors. Those that sought to build settlements and colonise areas that were not immediately adjacent to freshwater streams or rivers would experience difficulties in replenishing their supplies of fresh water. Wells could be dug at certain places but it was an expensive and time-consuming process for which many lacked the resources.
Individuals experiences in mountain travel were hired to bring large stores of water from known sources and ferry them to the town or city. With multiple water-bearers in rotation, any settlement could remain well-supplied with fresh, drinkable water.

Operations

Tools

The water-bearers of Isturoth have been instrumental in the development of large-scale transport through the mountains. Usually, every bearer had their own system, but most employed the use of barrels carried by wagons and pack-animals. The most common of the latter were Mountain Cows, often up to a dozen that were led together in a convoy. Riding Lizards could also be used as they were more agile and sure-footed than a cow, but could be more unruly when strapped down with heavy barrels of water. They also lacked the muscles to carry any more than the average cow, despite being much larger.
With the evolution of wagons, some made the switch, as the more robust models could hold up to 5 or 6 times the amount that the pack animals could. The downside to these came in the size of wagons, occupying more of the road and being more difficult to maneuver. A cow or group of cows could potentially be navigated through an area that had suffered a landslide, but a wagon would be utterly useless. The fragility of wagons was compounded by the fact that a wheel coming loose or breaking meant that the water-bearer was now stuck with a heavy shipment they had no way to transport.

Provided Services

Once the bearer had reached a settlement, water was usually inspected and then purchased by the barrel, paid for by ruling authority. It was important that civic services maintained control of the flow of water, for distribution enabled them to hold onto control of the populace. However, it was not uncommon for those who paid a bit more to the water-bearer to purchase water for themselves with their own coin.

Dangers & Hazards

Aside from the risk of equipment breakdown, there was the inherent risk faced by any who make their livelihood travelling through the mountain passes. Landslides, avalanches, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are all valid threats to travellers.
In addition to natural geothermal threats, wyrms and other predators also posed severe hazards to traders. Large convoys of pack animals also made very attractive targets for these predators.