Jester

Jesters are a surprisingly important part of any community within the Familiar Lands. They perform and entertain the masses; they are celebrities in their own right, and they are mostly independent as opposed to the Bards, which function under the bard's guild. A jester's worth is judged by the size of their Mockstump partner: an entertaining jester would certainly have a large and bountiful mockstump following them around. Businesses would pay the jester based on this parameter; those with smaller Mockstumps barely get paid any coin, while those with larger stumps are treated like celebrities. Unfunny jesters are often beaten, exiled, or killed; Pippi manages to survive because they feel pity for her.

The most important event for a jester is the annual Crown Slapstick Tournament, in which they compete against each other to have a chance to become the official Court Jester. A jester that performs for the crown would naturally be blessed with nobility and a plethora of other benefits. The tournament is open for every race and every race and walk of life, which is quite rare, as it could be a chance for even a Hellspawn to have a higher status. Many Jesters are employed under a duke, lord, or even a Count, although quite rarely. They sponsor the jesters in hopes of getting them into the King's Court to sway the politics.