Clara Bellows

Clara Bellows, Bridgeport's town crier, is a familiar figure in the city streets, known for her commanding voice and warm personality. At just 25 years old, she has already become a beloved presence across the districts. With her long, wavy brown hair and a sharp wit to match her strong voice, Clara ensures the city's news is heard far and wide. She lives in a modest flat above Curl Up and Dye in the King's Corner district, with the podium of the open forum right in her backyard.

Her Path to Becoming Town Crier

Born in Bridgeport's lowest class neighbourhood of The Fringes, Clara grew up surrounded by the noise and activity of the nearby docks. Her father worked as a dockhand, and her mother took in laundry to make ends meet. Even as a child, Clara had a natural ability to make herself heard, often calling out across the docks to deliver messages for her father. This talent earned her the nickname "Little Bell" from the locals.

Three years ago, when the position of town crier became available, Clara's neighbours encouraged her to apply. Her audition before the Council of Ten was unforgettable: her voice carried effortlessly across the square, and her quick humour charmed the council. She was unanimously chosen for the role, becoming one of the youngest town criers Bridgeport has ever seen.

Apparel: Recognisable on the Streets and at Home

In her official capacity, Clara wears a distinctive blue uniform, complete with brass epaulettes that reflect the sunlight, and a matching wide-brimmed hat. The uniform is both ceremonial and practical, designed to ensure she stands out as she makes her rounds. Over her shoulder, she carries a scroll case containing the day's announcements, and she keeps a small handbell to gather attention when needed.

When off-duty, Clara prefers simpler clothing like comfortable blouses paired with sturdy trousers and a long coat to protect against Bridgeport's often unpredictable weather. Her hat is replaced by a scarf or headband, and she always carries a satchel, where she keeps notes and trinkets gathered during her rounds.

Clara Bellows by Tillerz using SD

Current Location

Bridgeport

Species

Human

Age

25

Aligned Organization

Guild of Cartographers, Mapmakers and Scribes

Clara Bellows by Tillerz using SD

Habits and Quirks

Clara is known for her quick wit and friendly nature. During her rounds, she doesn't just recite announcements; she interacts with the crowd. If someone asks her a silly question - like “What's the price of fresh air today?” - she shouts a playful answer loud enough for everyone to hear, much to the delight of the gathered crowd.

She has a habit of collecting small mementos from the districts she visits, such as pebbles, buttons, or other small trinkets, which she keeps in a little display on her flat's windowsill. Clara also enjoys engaging with children during her rounds, often answering their curious questions with dramatic flair, turning mundane answers into entertainment.

Goals and Wishes

Clara takes great pride in her role, but she dreams of expanding her horizons. One of her greatest ambitions is to write a book about Bridgeport, capturing the essence of its districts and the people who bring it to life. She spends her spare moments jotting down anecdotes and sketches, hoping one day to weave them into a full narrative.

Another of her goals is to improve communication within the city. She envisions a network of criers and messengers who could streamline the flow of information, ensuring that even the furthest districts feel connected to the city's centre. Clara hopes her work will inspire changes that strengthen the bonds within Bridgeport.

Duties of the town crier in Bridgeport

Public notice delivery

• Publishes proclamations from the Council of Ten, the courts, the harbour offices, and other authorised authorities.
• Reads official notices in full, repeats key lines, and states dates, places, and penalties without alteration.
• Posts a matching written copy at recognised notice boards when a record must remain visible.

Harbour and market updates

• Announces ship arrivals, quarantine flags, dock closures, tide warnings, and changes to customs procedures.
• Calls market rules at set hours in the busiest lanes, with emphasis on banned weights, false measures, and inspected stalls.
• Declares price edicts for staples when the city sets them, commonly bread, lamp oil, salt, and river fish.

Law and order announcements

• Delivers curfews, patrol changes, wanted notices, and new fines as directed by authorised offices.
• Announces court days and sentencing when the court orders a public reading.
• Issues warnings about immediate dangers, including fires, building failures, loose animals, armed disputes, and street gang activity.

Civic scheduling

• Announces public meetings, levy days, funerals of note, religious processions, and festival rules.
• Coordinates timing with guilds and ward captains to prevent schedule clashes and crowd conflict.
• Declares changes to public service hours, including gate closures, ferry schedules, water cart routes, and night watch rotations.

Fees and permitted private cries

• Receives wage and protection through official proclamation work.
• May accept paid private notices only under city rules, commonly for lost property, apprenticeships, ship departures, and reward offers.

Emergency signalling

• Uses bell patterns as a rapid warning system when ink and runners are not fast enough.
• Employs a fast, hard ring for nearby hazards such as fire, riot, collapse, or armed pursuit.
• Employs a slow, spaced ring for citywide instruction, including quay evacuation, street closure, or muster orders.
• Shifts to short, directive phrasing after the first warning to reduce confusion and limit panic.

Dispute handling and enforcement support

• Answers challenges once, then directs complainants to the issuing office rather than debating in the street.
• Stops readings when drowned out or threatened, rings for the nearest watch patrol, and resumes only when order returns.
• Documents harassment and interference so the courts can treat repeat disruption as obstruction of civic duty.

Recent News

Council Notice, Fishmarket Measures: Hear this. By order of the Council of Ten. All fishmongers at Dockside and King’s Corner shall present scales for inspection at first bell tomorrow. Any stall found with false weights pays a fine of five silver and loses trade for a day. Mark the hook weights. Mark the stone weights. No exceptions.

Harbour Notice, Quarantine Pier: Hear this. Harbour office declares the east pier closed until further word. A sloop flying yellow flag lies moored under watch. No boat ties alongside. No cargo moves. Any stevedore who breaks cordon faces arrest and a month’s dock ban.

Court Notice, Sentencing Day: Hear this. The city court sits at midday. Three cases for theft. One for assault with a blade. Sentencing shall be read on the steps after the final hearing. Witnesses named in the docket shall attend or pay the penalty set by the bench.

Ward Warning, Cornmarket Roof Collapse: Hear this. Peeping Tom Walk behind the baker’s row is closed. A roof fell in. Timbers hang loose. Keep clear of the alley and the back doors. Carters, turn back. Children, off the rubble.

Gate Notice, South Gate Closure: Hear this. South gate closes at second dusk bell for repairs. No carts pass after closing. Late arrivals queue at West gate or wait until dawn. Watch will not open for pleas.

Fire Warning, Pigtown Smoke: Hear this. Smoke in Pigtown. Bucket line forms at the old well. Clear the street for runners and water carts. Any looter will be taken hard and fast.

Council Reminder, Levy Day: Hear this. Levy day is in three days. Householders and shopkeepers report by ward to the tally tables. Bring your papers. Bring your coin. Those who do not report shall be listed by name at the next cry.

Harbour Notice, Tides and Mooring: Hear this. High tide runs late today. Mooring lines must be doubled on the outer quay. Small craft keep to the inner slips. Any vessel that breaks free answers to the harbour master.

Public Health Notice, River Water: Hear this. Do not draw drinking water from the river within the city walls until further word. Water carts will run at noon and at dusk. Boil what is drawn. Any alehouse watering drink will be fined.

Festival Notice, Street Order: Hear this. On the eve of the Lantern Walk, no open flame in awnings. No fireworks in lanes. No masks after midnight bell. Ward captains will clear the streets. Keep the route open or be removed.

Reward Notice, Missing Apprentice: Hear this. A reward of two gold for the return of Lerrin Voss, apprentice cooper, last seen near the ropewalks. Brown coat, patched elbow, missing front tooth. Bring word to the cooper’s guildhall. Do not hide him. Do not move him out of ward.

Watch Notice, Wanted for Fraud: Hear this. Wanted for fraud. One calling himself Doctor Pell. Tall, thin, grey hat, black gloves, sells cure vials and paper charms. Any who sees him calls the watch. Any who shelters him shares his charge.

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