Mitheral
"Growf!"
1905
An estate manager is in charge of the upkeep and day-to-day running of a private estate. They should oversee maintenance, supervise staff members, and manage budgets and events. Typically their work is focused outside of the primary home. This is because land management is a vital part of the role.
Private household managers are responsible for overseeing the general operations of a home. ... Scheduling home maintenance and repair work, and supervising the project. Handling household bills and administrative duties. Running errands and performing necessary tasks.
A butler is a domestic worker in a large household. In great houses, the household is sometimes divided into departments with the butler in charge of the dining room, wine cellar, and pantry. Some also have charge of the entire parlour floor, and housekeepers caring for the entire house and its appearance.
Note: There is a point to boring you with these definitions. See the section The Professor.
The Ad
Help Wanted:
Professor of Rhand Islands seeks live-in help with housekeeping, cooking, cleaning, public relations, and other miracles as required. Must speak English. Resume required with photo. Include letters of recommendation, certificates of education and family lineage. Salary negotiable.
Selected candidates must apply in person. Travel arrangements and costs will be provided by the Professor, including round trip expenses if employment declined.
Setting
The Rhand Islands are a (fictional) small group of islands halfway between Hawaii and Midway. They were settled by a man named Jonathan Rhand. Politically the islands are neutral, self-governed. Few have really heard of the islands as they have only recently begun attracting colonists. The one requirement to work there is a knowledge of the English language. Business owners are required to have a translator present if they do not speak English themselves.
The Professor
The one thing the Ad doesn’t mention is that the Professor IS Jonathan Rhand. He owns the islands. Unknown to all, Jonathan Rhand is a man with a knowledge of science that transcends the world around him. Of course, you won’t SEE any of this science. It is well hidden. The inhabitants of his islands (population about 3500) merely see him as a man of vision.
Note: The Professor is NOT the one who placed the ad. He won't even be expecting you. But you are being selected with the expectation that you will be able to fill ALL of the roles mentioned in the section where I bored you with a bunch of definitions.
A Little World Background
The timeline is NOT perfectly historical. Events surrounding the Russo-Japanese conflicts have happened a bit differently.
The location of the Rhand Islands makes them an ideal port as far as various foreign powers are concerned. However, Rhand has remained neutral and will not accept the establishment of any military bases. Likewise he limits ships within his waters, ordering them to wait. Eventually one of the more belligerent of the foreign powers is going to try to coerce him. Which will it be? Japan? Britain? America? Each of these nations sees itself as having rights to the Pacific. And the population of Rhand is only 3500. It is ripe for annexation and development into a strategic port.
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