"Three days I was stuck in Weissbruck during the storms. Not a single thing came in and out. Then just when I thoguht I'd miss my appointment in Bogenhafen there appeared three coaches coming up the frozen track, all together. Bloody typical! You wait days for a coach and then three come along at once."
- —Stelle Grabbe, Merchant[2a]
Coachman
While the Empire is a mighty nation, its lands are far from safe. Large stretches of it have never been pacified or cultivated. A precarious system of roads connects the villages, towns, and cities, and it is here that the Coachmen earn their pay, working for one of the many Imperially chartered coaching companies. The roads are frequently in ill repair or plagued by Goblins, Beastmen, and brigands. Nonetheless, the Coachmen risk life and limb to bring passengers and cargo safely through the hazards of the Imperial roadways. Each day is a race to reach the next settlement or coaching inn before sunset. No one wants to be on the road in the dark of the night, especially when the Chaos moon is in the sky.[1a]
Not all coachmen work for intercity passenger lines. Some deliver mail or freight, others chauffeur nobles, and still others drive great omnibuses in urban areas.[2a]
Most coachman start as postilions, riding the lead horse of a coach's team. As they become more experienced, they gain valuable skills uncommon to the Empire's population. Thus, coachmen are well-suited for all manner of dangerous, bizarre, or illegal jobs. Coachmen often take time off to take such opportunities. This is most often done in the winter, when demand for overland coach trips slows, but even if a coachman quits his job in the summer, he can expect to find work if he wishes to return to coaching. A good coachman is always in demand.[2a]