- “I've never seen writing like this before. It may be a seldom used form of Archaic Imperial. Perhaps, I can find a clue in one of my books...”
- —Anonymous Scribe[2a]
A scribe of the Old World
A scribe is a person capable of reading and writing one or several languages fluently in the Old World, where illiteracy is rampant. Scribes and scriveners fill a particular niche in Old World society. As most people can't read or write, the Cult of Sigmar prefers that the common people listen and learn rather than read and learn.[3a]
Scribes are employed by wizards, scholars, lawyers, and anyone else who needs copies made of texts, scrolls, or books. Illuminators, those scribes with a bit of artistic flair, cloister themselves away, illustrating holy texts with an intricate level of detail.[3a]
Role[]
Since most citizens of the Empire are illiterate, scribes are very much in demand. Virtually every government, civil, military, or religious institution requires a large number of Scribes for record keeping. There are also public Scribes, who make a living writing and reading letters for the illiterate common folk.[1a]
Scribes are well-educated and many go on to become scholars or lawyers. A few tire of reading about the adventures of others and resolve to have some of their own. With their extensive knowledge of other languages, they make excellent translators for foreign expeditions.[1a]
Translators[]
Most translators begin their careers studying language as scribes in one of the great cities of the Old World. Having no lack of work, as the literacy rate of Old World society is quite low, these men and women have not only mastered the art of writing, but have found they could also learn to communicate with many different cultures. Translators may have served as public scribes, but having little love for the city life, they volunteered their talents for an interesting life in service to a wizard, a great warrior, or even a vain thief whose story demands to be told.[3b]
Translators are expected to accurately translate what's said to them so the other party can understand the language. Translators may also record certain events, writing down important events and the like. They also help to compose letters, translate letters, and a number of other similar tasks.[3b]
Notable Scribes[]
- Anton Hollenberg – Anton Hollenberg is not only a masterful scribe, but also the inventor of a fabulous device -- the pantograph. The pantograph is a mechanical wonder a scribe wears like a glove. The glove is linked by delicate and cleverly jointed arms to another pen that duplicates the writer's every move. Thus Anton has invented a very crude sort of copying device. Whenever Anton performs his duties as a scribe, he always uses the pantograph. This ensures he has not only the copy he submits to the client, but also a copy for his own records.[2a]
- Donato Riozato & Steve Cornette – Donato Riozato and Steve Cornette are two famous scribes who lived during the time of Mordheim's fall in 1999 IC.[4a]