A is for Agitator:

Let's start at the beginning of the book, with the first career. I'm certain many people have glossed over this career and settled in for something more immediately gratifying, such as the Troll Slayer perhaps?

Nonetheless this career is one of those wonderful careers whose very presence in the rulebook invokes a feeling of the Old World. By examining this career more closely it may be apparent that role playing this career can be as satisfying as any of the other careers in the book.

Why an Agitator?

Why would anyone choose to be an agitator as their calling in life. Its important to note that people may not necessarily choose their careers in the Old World, sometimes their careers choose them instead. So you've rolled 03 on the Rogue Table and you were hoping for that Footpad career. Let's look at what kind of traits would attract people to this sort of profession, their motivation for pursuing this profession for at least some phase of their life. The following are by no means an exhaustive list, but merely a few ideas to get you thinking of other motivations.

Attention

Some people in life simply want the attention of others. Maybe they were neglected by their mother or father, or were the middle child of three. Regardless of the possible psychobabble explanation, the fact is some people crave being the centre of attention, simply like to be heard and seen by others. Granted, there are many other careers that will fulfil this craving, but this career allows the potential rabble-rouser to feel as if they have some credible reason for standing on street corners and accosting passers by and clamouring for social change.

Axe to Grind

When your bitter and penniless and all you have is your voice, you'll be surprised at how effective a tool, or weapon, it can be. Is your family impoverished by suspected shady dealings of a merchant? - crow to the world about the injustices. Family forced off their tenant farmland by a noble? - advocate for the violent uprising of the poor against the nobles. A person with an axe to grind has some perceived injustice in their past and use their role as an agitator to right the suspected wrong. However should they ever achieve their goal, many eventually tire of agitating and seek out some other goal in life. Others become inured to a life of outrage and discover other causes to champion.

Busy Bodies

There are always those who can never leave well enough alone. Petty, controlling, demanding: these are the traits of a busy body and ideal for those who become agitators. These sorts of agitators are motivated by their need to interfere in everyone's life and tell them how they should live. Their desire is not necessarily driven by the belief that they are particularly right, but by the belief that others simply wouldn't be able to function without them.
Some of the bigots are outspoken and constantly promote the incarceration of those with humble mental faculties, asserting of new laws on female behaviour, or the exile of all non humans (and Bretonnians) from the Empire. It is possible for a brave agitator to speak out on the bigotry of others.

Betterment

It is said that a if you can change society for the better, all will benefit. It is a worthy cause to better the lives of others, usually advocating for changes in the internal structure of local society. Tasks like reducing tax burdens, construction of new wells or aqueducts, employment of rat catchers, repairing of roads and buildings, new legislation for civic upkeep, and new policies to deal with crime.

Class Issues

There is little doubt that the Old World has a class society - there are the people of rule, the people of books, the people of faith, the people of trade, and the people of labour. Sadly the lot of some are better than the lot of others and there is considerable resentment particularly between the poor and the rich. Those who speak out on these issues tend to do so in a volatile manner and this is one of the most dangerous issues to speak out on.

Enfranchisement

In a few parts of the Old World the power resides not in the nobility but in local associations of professionals entitled to vote for their members to represent them. Not everyone is entitled to vote however; this right to vote is exclusive to a small select group, usually members of guilds or prominent merchant houses. Countless others are denied the right to play a part in this electoral process. Those guilds denied the right to vote and those merchant families outside this consortium often agitate to be allowed in. It is not unknown for some even more radical agitators to argue for the enfranchisement of all property owners, and some extremists call for the right of every adult male to vote. Cynics claim that the next step is for some lunatic to argue that women, children, and dogs should deserve to be enfranchised!

Ethnic Strife

Some agitators will seek to improve relations between peoples, others take advantage of existing tensions. There are a number of associations in the Old World who have a mission of promoting understanding between peoples and they often educate the public as to the contributions of those that they represent. On the other hand others seek to capitalize on difference and long simmering resentments as a means of scapegoating others or spreading their own virulent brand of racism or bigotry.

Popular Causes

Whether a deficiency in character, a need to remain topical, or a lack of conviction for greater issues, some agitators immerse themselves in only the most popular causes likely to guarantee an audience. These popular causes are short term temporary issues that capture the public's imagination and usually involve some sort of crime or gossip. Agitators will seize upon these things to fund raise or try and propel themselves to the limelight or a position of power. These agitators rarely argue for any real change, but merely ride the crest of public opinion. These issues can be the capture or execution of a feared murderer, the removal of a hated official, the prosecution of overly aggressive watchmen, or the public pillowing of public figures suspected of doing wrong. These opportunists are often the ones most responsible for Agitators giving agitators a bad name.