Speaker of Stone
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- Posted: Wed, 25 Apr 2012 14:48:12 +0000
Social Classes
The Speaker of Stone
The Ruler of Llywdbeinn, called the Speaker of Stone, always wears a mask; some say that it is to hide scars that were given to him by one of the Touched long ago, in his youth. Others say it is to hide how close or far he is from the end of his years, as the highest of the Nobles live for generations beyond the common classes. Some even whisper that he is immortal, Touched by the elder gods without becoming one of the Touched himself. Whatever the case, he has ruled the city for as long as anyone can remember. A wise man and a benevolent leader, protecting the city from the twisted creatures who live in the great beyond from behind the purity of an ivory mask.
Noble class
While there are many ranks of noble from the unmasked lower lords to the high lords from old and ancestral families who wear masks to denote their status, they all share one thing in common: wealth.
Lower nobles are often property owners, employing the middle and lower classes, providing shelter, houses, and shops. They sometimes teach their children the higher arts such as instruments, or even illuminated writing. While these are trades of luxury they are still an important part of furthering the society. Written histories and oral traditions are most strongly rooted in the noble classes, Far less fluid by nature than the folk songs they will put on yearly shows of 'high art' plays to tell the history of the city, the king, and even the great hunts to warn people of the dangers of the forest.
Mask wearing nobles come from the oldest houses. They live some of the longest lives in the city and are the boldest about chasing after The Marwyn in the Blackwood. It's their bravery that keeps the enormous cat-like-beasts from taking to the city for easier prey.
The Swords
The Swords are peacekeepers, those who have proven their worth in tourneys or acts of valor [or, sometimes, through coin] and have been chosen to serve. Their job is to keep the peace in Llywdbeinn -- both to handle those who have committed crimes and to prevent their occurrence. Sometimes they are called upon to settle debates between young nobles, or the common people. They are judge and jury when it comes to determining sentencing, answerable only to the Speaker -- and the Blackwood.
This is one of the few occupations in which women are equal to men, and there is little or no bias against them. If she is capable with sword or bow, can hold her own in a fight, and proves to have intelligence, a woman will be easily accepted into the ranks of the Swords.
Hunters
Hunters are a strange combination -- both revered, respected, but also considered outsiders and shunned. These are the people who dare the forest, skirting close to the edge, and sometimes even within the darkest parts where spirits are said to live. They bring back that which cannot be tamed -- wild animals, meat and pelts and furs, strange plants that can’t be found in the caves. Frequently, their regular exposure to the unnatural marks them in subtle ways. Marks appear on their skin, or their eyes lighten and change. They are gladly given shelter, but people cross their fingers hoping that the Hunters won’t stay too long.
Here, as with Swords, women are more than welcome...as are the Touched, those who have been possessed by the spirits, because where else are they to go?
Artisan class
The “artisan” class is made up of people who make things -- useful things. It includes blacksmiths and weaponsmiths, stone masons and carpenters, clothiers and chefs. It also includes some people run businesses: pubs, shops, restaurants, brothels. These are people below the noble class, as nobles would never deign to actually work, unless you count their learning and politics, but still wealthy enough to have leisure time and fine things.
Working class
The working class holds a wide range of peoples, marked usually by one thing -- they work hard, all day, most days. This means farmers and ranchers, largely, people who tend crops in the caves or deal with those animals that can be domesticated. It also means people who work for others, like shopgirls or pub workers, street cleaners. The small jobs that require a lot of grit, and that few want to do.
Indentured Servants
Indentured servants most frequently belong to the noble households, working in the great stone houses as cooks and cleaners, valets and maids. As you can sell someone’s servitude away, those who have been convicted of lesser crimes almost always end up under a noble’s care, and the entire servant class is made up of indentured servants.
The Touched
Those who have been taken over by spirits and changed, left with glowing eyes and strange powers, are called the Touched -- and are universally ostracized, sometimes even being driven into the forest. As such, most of the Touched do all they can to keep their abilities secret, to hide their strange deformities, and to live normal lives.
Those who can’t hide have very few options. The luckiest are those who get sponsored by a family member, a mentor, or a craftsman who then becomes their keeper, allowing them to continue working as a ‘lesser’, unable to own property, marry, or have children. Some join the ranks of the Hunters, no longer as afraid of the forest as they once were. Many end up begging in the streets until they are driven to madness or into the trees.
It’s said, in whispers, that there is also a hidden civilization in the woods, where only the Touched can find their way. But it’s never been confirmed...
The Speaker of Stone
The Ruler of Llywdbeinn, called the Speaker of Stone, always wears a mask; some say that it is to hide scars that were given to him by one of the Touched long ago, in his youth. Others say it is to hide how close or far he is from the end of his years, as the highest of the Nobles live for generations beyond the common classes. Some even whisper that he is immortal, Touched by the elder gods without becoming one of the Touched himself. Whatever the case, he has ruled the city for as long as anyone can remember. A wise man and a benevolent leader, protecting the city from the twisted creatures who live in the great beyond from behind the purity of an ivory mask.
Noble class
While there are many ranks of noble from the unmasked lower lords to the high lords from old and ancestral families who wear masks to denote their status, they all share one thing in common: wealth.
Lower nobles are often property owners, employing the middle and lower classes, providing shelter, houses, and shops. They sometimes teach their children the higher arts such as instruments, or even illuminated writing. While these are trades of luxury they are still an important part of furthering the society. Written histories and oral traditions are most strongly rooted in the noble classes, Far less fluid by nature than the folk songs they will put on yearly shows of 'high art' plays to tell the history of the city, the king, and even the great hunts to warn people of the dangers of the forest.
Mask wearing nobles come from the oldest houses. They live some of the longest lives in the city and are the boldest about chasing after The Marwyn in the Blackwood. It's their bravery that keeps the enormous cat-like-beasts from taking to the city for easier prey.
The Swords
The Swords are peacekeepers, those who have proven their worth in tourneys or acts of valor [or, sometimes, through coin] and have been chosen to serve. Their job is to keep the peace in Llywdbeinn -- both to handle those who have committed crimes and to prevent their occurrence. Sometimes they are called upon to settle debates between young nobles, or the common people. They are judge and jury when it comes to determining sentencing, answerable only to the Speaker -- and the Blackwood.
This is one of the few occupations in which women are equal to men, and there is little or no bias against them. If she is capable with sword or bow, can hold her own in a fight, and proves to have intelligence, a woman will be easily accepted into the ranks of the Swords.
Hunters
Hunters are a strange combination -- both revered, respected, but also considered outsiders and shunned. These are the people who dare the forest, skirting close to the edge, and sometimes even within the darkest parts where spirits are said to live. They bring back that which cannot be tamed -- wild animals, meat and pelts and furs, strange plants that can’t be found in the caves. Frequently, their regular exposure to the unnatural marks them in subtle ways. Marks appear on their skin, or their eyes lighten and change. They are gladly given shelter, but people cross their fingers hoping that the Hunters won’t stay too long.
Here, as with Swords, women are more than welcome...as are the Touched, those who have been possessed by the spirits, because where else are they to go?
Artisan class
The “artisan” class is made up of people who make things -- useful things. It includes blacksmiths and weaponsmiths, stone masons and carpenters, clothiers and chefs. It also includes some people run businesses: pubs, shops, restaurants, brothels. These are people below the noble class, as nobles would never deign to actually work, unless you count their learning and politics, but still wealthy enough to have leisure time and fine things.
Working class
The working class holds a wide range of peoples, marked usually by one thing -- they work hard, all day, most days. This means farmers and ranchers, largely, people who tend crops in the caves or deal with those animals that can be domesticated. It also means people who work for others, like shopgirls or pub workers, street cleaners. The small jobs that require a lot of grit, and that few want to do.
Indentured Servants
Indentured servants most frequently belong to the noble households, working in the great stone houses as cooks and cleaners, valets and maids. As you can sell someone’s servitude away, those who have been convicted of lesser crimes almost always end up under a noble’s care, and the entire servant class is made up of indentured servants.
The Touched
Those who have been taken over by spirits and changed, left with glowing eyes and strange powers, are called the Touched -- and are universally ostracized, sometimes even being driven into the forest. As such, most of the Touched do all they can to keep their abilities secret, to hide their strange deformities, and to live normal lives.
Those who can’t hide have very few options. The luckiest are those who get sponsored by a family member, a mentor, or a craftsman who then becomes their keeper, allowing them to continue working as a ‘lesser’, unable to own property, marry, or have children. Some join the ranks of the Hunters, no longer as afraid of the forest as they once were. Many end up begging in the streets until they are driven to madness or into the trees.
It’s said, in whispers, that there is also a hidden civilization in the woods, where only the Touched can find their way. But it’s never been confirmed...
