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*An excerpt from The Shrike, a work in progress*
In the city of (either: "Bel", "Bease", "Juzzly", "Bugel", "Fresh", "Betty", "Comb", "Clover", "Green", "Amber", "Ember", "Sweet", "Nimp", "Aghar", "Moggle", "Jurz", "Javel", "Mope", "Glubber", "Glimmer", "Silver")(either: "haven", "keep", "home", "stone", "gollum", "ham", "glower", "glomen", "flower", "leaf", "long", "raffin", "kern", "kessel", "castle") there are many occupations that are new to you. For instance, there is such a thing as a (either: "*kurzah*", "*caidove*", "*illianaros*"), who is in some ways a (either: "baker", "blacksmith", "bookbinder", "cleaner", "cleaner", "cook", "coachman", "colporteur", "coppersmith", "corset-maker", "falconer", "fan-maker", "farmer", "fisher", "fishmonger", "forester", "gardener", "gardener", "glassblower", "glazier", "gold miner", "gooseherd", "greengrocer", "groom", "guinea pig", "jester", "laborer", "merchant", "monk", "pauper", "playwright", "poet", "poet", "ratcatcher", "scrivener", "spice merchant", "tailor") but in other respects (either: "an artist", "an athlete", "a banker", "a banker", "a caregiver", "a caregiver", "a carer", "a civil servant", "a civil servant", "a consultant on matters you can't quite fathom", "a detective", "a diplomat", "a designer", "a delegate", "a dreamcatcher", "a dream interpreter", "a facilitator", "an economist", "an engraver", "an energy engineer", "an ecologist", "a gaffer", "a gladiator", "a goldsmith", "a golem-maker", "a golem-master", "a geologist", "a governor of municipal utilities", "a geomancer", "a governor", "a grave watcher", "a gravity-worker", "a grimbibber", "a guardian", "a gem-cutter", "a gallows keeper", "a governess", "a geneticist", "a genomicist", "a gunsmith", "a godbotherer", "a goof, plain and simple", "a grammarian", "a grammaticaster", "an infantryman", "just someone to talk to", "just someone who sort of helps with things", "just someone who's there if you need them", "a justice of the peace", "a justice of the peace", "a knight", "a lawyer", "a lawyer", "a linguist", "a legislator", "a mourner or carouser", "a nurse", "a nanny", "obviously on standby for something obscure", "provides sanctuary and succor to runaways", "a philologist", "a police officer", "a police officer", "a police officer", "a police officer, despite the people professing to have no police", "a persuasion architect", "a painter", "a poisoner", "a pandar", "a restorer", "someone who just remembers things", "someone whose job is simply to play games", "a social worker", "a spokesperson", "a soldier", "a sex worker", "a tax collector", "a sort of vandal"). Then there are the (either: "*yelwraeks*", "*volodars*", "*ievises*"), who appear to be a bit like (either:"accountants", "arbiters", "architects", "assassins", "auditors", "affect callibrators", "auditors of some sort", "advocates", "advocates for animals and even plants", "bankers", "beacon-tenders", "blacksmiths", "bonesetter", "botanists", "caregivers", "courtiers", "criminals", "dispute mediators", "dispute mediators", "dog trainers", "dog walkers", "eel-jugglers", "engineers", "entrepreneurs", "fitness instructors", "gaolors", "gravediggers", "guild administrators", "idle pleasure-seekers", "idlers and wastrels", "idling paupers", "interpreters", "inquisitors", "inspectors of some kind", "inventors", "inventors", "investigating censors", "investors", "invigilators of some kind", "*kurzahs*, whatever those are", "landlords", "lawyers", "lighthouse operators", "machinists", "machinists", "muscle-for-hire", "mercenaries", "morticians", "neighborhood administrators", "nobles", "nobles", "police officers", "private detectives", "property managers", "real estate agents", "revolutionaries", "schoolmasters", "soldiers", "spokespersons for weather systems", "syndicate administrators", "tax collectors", "teachers", "technicians", "terrorists", "town guards", "watchkeepers", "zookeepers"), (either: "but also quite a lot like", "but also do the duties of", "while also acting as the city's") (either: "advocates for children", "alchemists", "alewives", "anchoresses", "anger-reframers", "actuaries", "apothecaries", "arendators", "anthropologists", "armorers", "asylum-keepers", "asylum workers", "auctioneers", "aurifabers", "angels", "astrologers", "bonelace-makers", "bookkeepers", "bounty hunters", "brewers", "builders", "court advisors", "carpenters", "cleaners", "couriers", "couriers", "courtesans", "chroniclers", "crossing sweepers", "diabolists", "environmental modellers", "epidemiologists", "exorcists", "epistemologists", "edict writers", "farmers", "hairdressers", "healers", "hygiene inspectors", "ironmongers", "lamplighters", "locksmiths", "mechanics", "merchants", "messengers", "natural philosophers", "news reporters", "oracles", "outlaws", "plague doctors", "psychologists", "roofers", "sanitary workers", "scientists", "spies", "sewer workers", "shem-scribes", "shepherds", "statisticians", "tavernkeepers", "therapists", "thatchers", "troubadors", "wastewater engineers", "wastewater workers", "witches", "white hat warriors"). Not to mention the (either: "*norlee*", "*themyar*", "*moogoot*"), who is not quite a (either: "baker", "beadmaker", "beard-trimmer", "beekeeper", "beggar", "bricklayer", "burler", "bushelmaker", "barrel-maker", "candlemaker", "canoe pilot", "chandler", "confectioner", "cook", "cobbler", "concierge", "cabbage-farmer", "cotton-picker", "carer", "council member", "counsellor", "crimper", "currier", "farmer", "fruitier", "fire-fighter", "fruit-picker", "glimmerman", "gardener", "gong farmer", "governess", "grave digger", "general laborer", "handyman", "haberdasher", "hermit", "launderer", "leaf dealer", "miller", "mudlark", "mummer", "nanny", "nurse", "rag and bone man", "seamstress", "streetsweeper", "sanitation worker", "plumber", "tragedian", "vintner", "winemaker", "well digger"), and not quite a (either: "bailiff", "barber-surgeon", "bard", "barder", "barkeeper", "bodyguard", "boonmaster", "brewer", "brewster","brightsmith", "brogger", "bursar", "butcher", "censor", "cheesemaker", "claims assessor", "clerk", "clockmaker", "coalhiggler", "coin-minter", "collier", "complicator", "cop", "devil's advocate", "diplomat", "druid", "drag queen", "facilitator", "financier", "foreman", "game designer", "ghostwriter", "ghost", "gamesmith", "gamifier", "glassblower", "glazier", "guesthouse keeper", "hair weaver", "hayward", "historian", "insurer", "jeweller", "keeper of forbidden knowledge", "knocker-upper", "lantern-maker", "lark inspector", "lattener", "lattice-fearer", "law clerk", "leaf-lover", "leech", "lent inspector", "lepidopterist", "leveller", "lexicographer", "librarian", "limits-mender", "lizard-herder", "loan shark", "masseuse", "model", "master of ceremonies", "magistrate", "mathematician", "merchant adventurer", "midwife", "military official", "mortgage inspector", "musician", "neighborhood watch officer", "pickler and jam-maker", "priest-hunter", "psychic", "rhapsode", "rhetorician", "rigger", "risk-assessor", "rivetter", "roofer", "runemaster", "scullery maid", "solar energy collector", "shipwright", "smearmonger", "sociologist", "sorcerer", "student", "surgeon", "syndicate liaison", "theologian", "watchmaker"). And of course the (either: "*ryo*", "*taenran*", "*flintcoat*"), (either: "*oppalman*", "*swaller*", "*grorlim*"), and (either: "*bolgror*", "*grar*", "*rurn*"), whom you would say are three different kinds of (either: "advertiser", "legal advisor", "apothecary", "book-gilder", "brewer", "busker", "butler", "carpenter", "char", "charman", "charwoman", "chimneysweep", "city watchman", "civil servant", "cleaner", "clown", "concierge", "coneycatcher", "counsellor", "crockery dealer", "dancer", "dishwasher", "domestic servant", "farrier", "fewterer", "florist", "furnisher", "gardener", "garlic-seller", "gas stoker", "gendermonger", "gatekeeper", "glazier", "goldsmith", "gambler", "horse-leech", "horseleech, given their undeniable affinities with both leeches and horses", "hospital porter", "hostler", "innkeeper", "juggler", "knocker-upper", "lamplighter, since you have seen persons answering to all three descriptions wandering the streets at dusk with wicks affixed to long staffs, illuminating the city", "launderer", "life coach", "locksmith", "mangle-keeper", "miner", "nurse", "parlormaid", "plumber", "poet", "porter", "psychologist", "shipwright", "spice-seller", "spicer", "stevedore", "stone cutter", "stone mason", "stone mason, given that their work seems to focus on the cutting, preparation, and manipulation of stone", "streetsweeper", "sweeper", "sword-maker, given that they spend all their time making swords", "teacher", "thatcher", "tour guide", "tourism officer", "town crier", "tutor", "veterinarian", "weaver", "well-sinker", "window-cleaner, given their unmistakable tendency to go from window to window removing dirt and grime", "yoga instructor"), except everyone meets that suggestion with puzzlement or peals of laughter. (if: (random: 1,2) is 1) [You find yourself in a tavern with a (either: "*bolgror*", "*grar*", "*rurn*", "*ryo*", "*yelwraek*", "*volodar*") and a (either: "*taenran*", "*flintcoat*", "*norlee*", "*themyar*", "*moogoot*", "*kurzah*", "*caidove*"). (either:"Try to explain to them what *you* do.", "They are as baffled by your words as you are by theirs. Eventually you understand each other. What is it you understand?", "One of them is considering a career change. What's your advice?", "They've both come straight from work and are still in work clothes. You point to a tool and smile politely. 'What's that do?'")] (else:)
[You find yourself in a tavern with a *bolgror* and a (either: "*taenran*", "*flintcoat*", "*norlee*", "*themyar*", "*moogoot*", "*kurzah*", "*caidove*"). (either: "You think you are almost getting it, till the bolgror says, 'Can we not talk about work?'", "The *bolgror* is considering her career options. What's your advice?", "You learn a lot, but then the *bolgror* starts buying shots, and in the morning it's not so clear.", "The *bolgror* is very old, and remembers the time before the revolution, and how it all changed. How did it all change?", "That's when you learn about some of the special properties of the city's system of government, which explain a lot. What do the *bolgror* and her friend teach you?", "Over a couple of flagons of honey mead (the *bolgror* drinks water) and a relaxed game of *dobble*, you learn much about the history of the city. What do you learn?", "You try not to pry, but before long you have learned a lot about the distinctive qualities of the people here, and it all starts making sense. What sense does it make?")]
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