Heralds Copyright (c) 1995 by Thomas Barnes In 12th century Europe a class of entertainers began to organize jousting tournaments on a professional basis. Gradually, as their services became more specialized and sought after they rose in status to become professional diplomats and servants to high nobles and royalty. Their importantance faded considerably after the 16th century though they still exist in some countries even to this day. Early Herald (ca. 1100-1300) St: 10 IQ: 11 Dx: 10 Ht: 10 Wealth: Struggling (-5 points) Advantages Voice +5 Charisma +1 (5 points) Disadvantages Social Stigma (Travelling Performer) -1 (-5) Struggling (see above) Skills Heraldry (European) (Specialized in local nobility)-13 Tournament Law (Jousting)-13 Savior Faire-13 Bard-13 Fast Talk-11 Survival (Woods)-10 Merchant-10 Singing-11 Diplomacy-11 Hiking-11 Area Knowledge (Region of Operation)-13 Optional: Musical Instrument (either Lute, Harp, Drum or Trumpet)-11 Poetry-11 Bardic Recitation (Romances)-11 Early heralds were essentially travelling performers who were periodically hired by nobles to assist in organizing tournaments. They were virtually indistinguishable from other performers such as musicians. In fact this template could also be used for a courtly musician of the same period. In this period a herald was expected to "boast" for his lord, by walking in front of the mounted knight singing or crying his praise. Later Period Herald (1300-1600) ST: 10 IQ: 11 DX: 10 HT: 10 Wealth: Comfortable (+5) Advantages Status: Gentleman +1 (+5 points) Reputation: (Honest messenger and witness, Everyone, All the Time, +1) (+5) Voice (+5) Charisma +1 (+5) Diplomatic Immunity (+10) Patron (Appears on a 6-, Powerful individual) (+5) Literacy (+10) Wealth (see above) Disadvantages Duty (To Patron, Frequently) (-10 points) Herald's Code of Honor (Serve your lord faithfully, accurately report your messages, keep secrets that are told to you or that you see, speak no ill of any gentleman or gentlewoman, preserve the honor of ladies, assist nobles who are impoverished, accurately report feats of honor and battles to your lord, identify and protect the noble dead after a battle.) (-5 points) Skills Heraldry (European)-13 (Specialized in local nobles) Tournament Law (Jousting)-13 Savoir-Faire-15 Diplomacy-13 Fast Talk-11 Bard-13 Area Knowledge (Area of Operation)-13 Merchant-10 Riding (Horse)-12 Literature-10 Medieval Latin-10 Courtly Old High French-11 (if not vernacular) Poetry-10 Musical Instrument (Lute or Harp)-10 Mathematics-10 Administration-10 Survival (Woods)-9 Optional skills: Writing-11 Sword-10 Shield-10 Lance-10 Running-9 Swimming-9 Jumping-9 Bardic Recitation-10 Tactics-11 Artist-11 Other Languages-11 Singing-11 By about 1300 heralds had become part of a noble's household. They were still used as tournament organizers, but their skills were now used in new ways. Heralds in this period were diplomats, staff officers, war correspondents, and messengers between secret lovers. As their stock rose, heralds were drawn not from the class of itinerant musicians, but from the small professional class of "gentlemen" who were the administrators and skilled servants to the nobility. As such, they were expected to have all the knowledge that a gentleman of that period should have - literacy, accomplishment with a musical instrument, and so forth. These skills might also include training as a man-at-arms, hence the optional list of physical and martial skills. They were also expected to have much higher "professional standards". A herald had to serve an apprenticeship, first as a Sergeant at Arms, then as a Pursuivant before he could become a herald. The most important part of his office was his reputation as a "fair witness" and neutral observer. Heralds were expected to keep secret anything that was told to them in confidence. This included military secrets that the herald might have inadvertently seen. They were also expected to keep the peace and smooth relations between warring lords. When they could not do this they acted as go betweens between duellists and warring lords and arranged duels and battle sites. Heralds wore a distinct garment called a tabard which had the arms of the lord that they served on it. This served to identify a herald. While "in uniform" they were given free passage between warring armies. The conventions of warfare and diplomacy prevented them from being attacked or waylaid (hence the Diplomatic Immunity). Any noble or gentleman would respect this. Common brigands might not. Before a battle a herald was expected to take any messages or hold small valuables for a knight who was going into battle. During the battle the heralds from both sides were expected to meet and watch the course of the battle from a safe place. They made notes of the prowess of various nobles (which was easy to do since each noble wore a distinctive surcoat with his arm on it). Then after the battle the collected heralds assembled and reported the result of the battle to the victorious commander. They then made a count of the dead and captured, identified the noble dead, and made funeral arrangements for them. After that they made arrangements with the captured knights to convey messages for them. If they encountered an impoverished knight they had to give what assistance they could to allow him to get home. To emphasize their non-combatant status heralds wore their tabard and carried as small white baton (also useful for winding scrolls around). In battle they carried no weapons (besides possibly a small eating knife) and wore no armor better than a chain mail shirt which was worn beneath their tabard. In peacetime a herald was expected to assist at all ceremonial occasions, to teach junior heralds and the lord's children, and to serve as go-betweens between secret lovers. With the rise of nation states and absolute monarchs the role of the herald declined and they almost completely died out. The conventions of warfare and ceremonial functions changed and the heralds were replaced by permanent ambassadors. Modern Herald (1600-present) St: 10 IQ: 11 Dx: 10 Ht: 10 Wealth: Average Advantages: None Required Disadvantages: None Required Skills Heraldry (European)- 15 Pro Skill: Geneology (Country of Operation)- 13 Research- 12 Savior Faire-13 Writing-11 Administration-10 Merchant-10 History (Specialized in Country of Operation)- 13 Pro Skill: Paleography-11 (Study of old manuscripts) Diplomacy-11 In addition the herald will have whatever skills that you might expect of a middle or upper middle class person of his era. For modern English and Scots heralds you could expect the remnants of a British Public School education and possibly some military or academic skills reflecting service in the military or advanced degrees in history or romance languages. Modern heralds are primarily antiquarian researchers. They make their money by doing geneological research and granting patents of arms for clients and from writing books on heraldry and geneology. In England a formal Royal College of Arms still exists. On very rare occasions the heralds of the college are required to perform some ceremonial function in association with the Royal Family. A modern herald might get involved in a Horror campaign (a strange old manuscript in the College library) or possibly an Espionage campaign (a plot against the royal family).