Runner Craft

Runner Craft: Stations

The Runnercraft, one of the most informal 'crafts' on Pern, was re-established in the South during the Ninth Pass, expanding to prosperity after Threadfall ended. Runners often fell victims to the various plague outbreaks, but their hardier lifestyle and exposure to so many differing people often meant they were more likely to survive than their holdbound counterparts.

Runner Stations tend to be run by one large family, or sometimes a group of families, similar to a trader caravan. While they nominally follow the rank structure of more formal crafts for ease of explanation to those outside the craft, it doesn't have the same rigidity among runners as other crafts. A good Runner has to be healthy, in good physical shape, and of trustworthy reputation.

Runner Craft: Rates

Messages carried by Runners are cheaper than those relayed by dragon or distance writer, and more of an option to the common folk. The integrity of a Runner is unquestionable, and they take great pride in the fact that the contents of their messages are never read nor given into the wrong hands. Pricing on Runner delivered messages varies, depending on urgency and whether the message was delivered to a Runner Station. Barter is not accepted unless the message's sender comes to the Runner Station to negotiate with the Station Master. Only the Station Master can determine if a message should be delivered free of charge.

Same Hold Non-Urgent 1/16 Mark Urgent 1/8 Mark

Another Hold Non-Urgent 1/4 Mark Urgent 1/2 Mark

Runner Craft: Taverns

After the Ninth Pass, when the South was settled more densely, Runner Stations began to supplement their income with a few sidelines. The history archives from Landing(tm) were full of information about taverns and inns. With the threat of Thread thought gone forever, people were more willing and able to travel away from home. Knowing most travellers would rather sleep and eat in comfort for the right price, Station Masters began offering more than just a cot for passing travellers.

Large Runner Stations, usually those nearest a major Hold, tend to have the Station, its living quarters for runners, and a tavern that offers good fare and better drinks. Since most Pernese travellers are those farmholders who brew their own ale and beer at home, they often enjoy the chance to imbibe alcohol of finer quality than their homebrew. Above the tavern is a floor or two with small but comfortable sleeping rooms for weary travellers to stay a night or two while they conduct their business at the main Hold. A small bathing chamber is provided on either end of each corridor, for one person at a time to use.

Ale, beer, wine, and other alcohol isn't always craft-stamped, but the quality will always be good. Prices are generally cheap, as the Station doesn't want to force travellers to move onwards to enjoy the Lord Holder's hospitality. It isn't unusual for a farmholder to use barter, trading fresh vegetables and other foodstuffs for their chance to enjoy a clean bed and comradery for the evening. A night's lodging and a meal will cost one mark, a pair of piglets, or a bushel of common vegetables, just for a few examples. Drinks are extra, with locals having a bit of a running tab that can be paid off in labor for the Station as needed.

In addition to the usual runners and Station Master, the Station's tavern operation will employ three or four other workers at minimum. The Tavern Master is quite often an older woman, usually the wife, widow, or other relative of a runner or Station Master. The tavern will employ at least one cook, a serving drudge, a cleaning drudge, a stablehand, and more prosperous Stations often have a minstrel of sorts to provide entertainment that is usually a little more gritty than the usual harper fare.