|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 5:55 pm
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.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 5:57 pm
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.
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.
Noble Rankings
Masked Nobles
The oldest and the most pure, the Masked Nobles are said to be closely related to the Speaker, their blood unsullied by the peasantry. They have held their names and their rankings for hundreds of years, never mixing, and rarely even consorting with anyone but their peers. When they step out in public, they always wear masks. Similar to the Speaker’s, these are frequently made out of smooth, solid metal, elaborately carved wood, or delicate ivory, even their eyes mostly obscured. This is to keep them as pure as possible, to keep out the encroaching Spirits and protect them from the rabble around them.
Half-Masked Nobles
Unlike their fully-masked brethren, these nobles don’t have the legacy or the long-standing blood -- instead they are more recently brought up from the rank of artisan and given standing. The first of them were promoted about 80 years ago, when a fire took out a large chunk of the city. Wealthy artisans, they donated money, goods, and services to the reconstruction, and were rewarded with titles. Since then, others have been rewarded similarly, for some kind of outstanding service to the crown, or from their children advancing through the ranks of the Swords.
Their masks aren’t the featureless creations of the fully masked. Instead, they cover only the top half of the face, the eyes, and are more elaborately decked out, carved or cast with symbols of the family name or the great deeds they’ve done. The Masked nobles find these tacky, usually, and mutter under their breath about the ‘new blood’.
Nobles
Over the years, various noble families have run low on funds and decided to dilute their bloodlines for the sake of something many find more important: coin. They marry off their younger sons or daughter into Artisan families, thereby sullying their bloodlines. Still, these marriages result in nobles who can come into the Speaker’s keep, who have titles and frequently fancy family homes. Most of the noble class is made up of these mixed blood, more noble than Artisan and accepted by the old families. However, they’re not high ranking enough to enter the Speaker’s most private councils and sport masks.
Minor Nobles
Sometimes, the marrying into the Artisan class is great enough that the blood is too diluted. These are the minor nobles -- still acknowledged by their families, but unwelcome at court, mostly living among the Artisans. They still have their names, though, still are related [however distantly] to the Speaker, and as such are viewed with suspicion or awe by the lower classes.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 5:59 pm
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.
Sword Rankings
First Sword
The uniform for First Swords is a pale grey cloak, frequently embroidered in shades of grey and lined with pale/silver fur. It is clasped at one shoulder with a pin designed to look like a ring with a sword through it. Cloak designs and pin designs vary by officer.
The highest ranking of the Swords, there are only a handful of First Swords in the city. Each of these leads a group of lower-ranking Swords in their peacekeeping, diplomatic, and rescue efforts. Each First Sword has a district that makes up approximately a tenth of Llywdbein, including the area between the walls and the forest.
These are coveted positions, and while sometimes they go to people who have well and truly proven their worth, more often they go to young nobles whose parents want them out of the house, or other problem children. The hope is that this will instill in them a sense of duty. Sometimes it even works.
Second Sword
The uniform for Second Swords is a rich purple cloak, plain, lined with tan/golden. It is clasped at one shoulder with a pin designed to look like a ring with a sword through it. Cloak designs and pin designs vary by officer.
The next highest rank, Second Swords are effectively Office positions -- directing particular missions, dealing with the more official aspects of their work, training new recruits, and dealing with some of the more sensitive diplomatic efforts. This is also a highly desirable position, especially for the low-born out there. It’s also one of very few ways for artisans, or even peasants, to better their social standing.
Sword
The uniform for regular Swords is a bright red cloak, lined with red/copper fur. It is clasped at one shoulder with a pin designed to look like a ring with a sword through it. Cloak designs and pin designs vary by officer.
The ‘regular’ Swords are mostly daily peacekeepers. They deal with any criminals found in the city, help out in the case of a fire, settle disputes among minor nobles, sometimes rescue people in the outskirts, and otherwise keep the citizens of Llywdbeinn alive. Anyone could, theoretically, become a Sword -- assuming that they know their way around a weapon of choice, whether it be sword or bow or axe or even, on occasion, the charisma to settle disputes without bloodshed. They are the law, in Llywdbeinn, and once they’ve made their decision, there’s no arguing with the judgment they mete out.
Specialty Sword
The uniform for Specialty Swords is a charcoal grey, lined with black fur. It is clasped at one shoulder with a pin designed to look like a ring with a sword through it. Cloak designs and pin designs vary by officer.
Rarely spoken of, the Specialty Swords are frequently closely associated with the Hunters, and are less engaged in day to day life. These are those who have chosen to serve the city with a willingness to venture into the Blackwood -- whether it be to hunt down a missing person, to investigate rumors of strange happenings, or to kill horrible creatures that creep their way to where civilization begins. They also often wander into the depths of the weirdest caves when someone goes missing, even if that mostly just means recovering a body
They also keep to themselves more than the other Swords; they’re not public figures the way most are, instead keeping to their duties and keeping their hoods down.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 6:01 pm
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?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 6:02 pm
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 6:03 pm
Peasants
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 6:06 pm
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 6:08 pm
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...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
