The Speakers

Rajel

The Speakers are a highly educated, nomadic group of scholars that memorize oral histories, traditions, genealogies, and events in Westeros. The first tribe formed after the Long Night 8,000 BC when humanity, faced with certain doom, set fire to castles and keeps along with the libraries therein. It would be the Speakers that would maintainability a oral history.

There are many Speaker caravans that are spread out across the nation, although they are more common in Dorne. Though never stated, it is likely that the Speakers are nomadic so that they may witness history everywhere and exchange knowledge with other Speaker tribes.

Speakers are all too happy to share their knowledge with citizens. While traveling, they will take precautions to protect tribal members. It is for this reason that all Speakers, male and female, have similar haircuts and wear the same robes; so as to protect the female members. In general, their clothing is similar to that of monks: they wear long robes with hoods and open-toed sandals, even in winter. 

Additionally, Speakers respect the nature of magic and even known to have practitioners as members. Befittingly, they study magic and would never use magic in the service of evil, or for acquiring power. They are also aware that some of the histories and legends they have learned are, in fact, genuine prophecies of the future. They are vehemently persecuted by the Faith, who sees them as wicked sorcerers and witches.

Along with keeping the history of Westeros, Speakers are altruistic idealists and believe in improving the lives of their fellow man. It seems to be universally accepted by all of them that Speakers must always help those in need, no matter the danger it poses to them. If those in need are suffering a full-blown community crisis, Speakers will temporarily settle in the region and stay until the need has passed. Their aid will often take the form of medical assistance, sharing resources, and being of use however they can. Beyond merely offering aid, they are dedicated to upholding decency in where ever they go.

Speakers are almost completely pacifistic, even in the face of death. While all of them believe in non-violence, individual Speakers may hold their own interpretation on the virtue. The Speaker Elder accepts that violence can be used for good, although he would never commit violence himself and calls it "unnecessary". Other Speakers believe that violence is never justified and dislike those who would commit it. While others will not willingly hurt an individual and only raise a hand defensively around them, but will kill elementals, vermin, and other monsters in defense of humans.

Speakers are very defensive toward their practice of orally reciting history. They despise the idea of writing history on paper, explained in the words of the Elder: "History is a living thing, paper is dead."