Sybarus Village on Bazaar Island
There is a caste-system of sorts in the Village, with all races represented
except elves. This document is indicative of the caste-system of Sybarus as
a whole, save for that of the Shadow Elves, which is documented elsewhere.
Half-elves
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Half-elves residing here are usually in disgrace, since they normally are
allowed to reside in the Forbidden City. They are not included as part of
the Village caste system, but were they, they would be at the top.
Humans
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The Humans are generally considered to be at the top of the caste system,
mainly because they (to the Shadow Elves) are the least-offensive smelling
of the races, and the only ones who come into close contact with Elves. The
Humans are divided into sub-castes, and each sub-caste has its own ranking
system. They are Servants, Entertainers, Craftsmen, Scribes and Clerics, in
order of rank from lowest to highest. Scribes and clerics tend to live in or
near the temples. The rest live in the Village in small rank-clusters.
-As Servants, they are often employed by the Shadow Elves to run errands
between the Forbidden City and Bazaar, or trade on behalf of the Shadow
Elves with Outlanders.
-The Entertainers are everything from story-tellers to jesters, musicians,
and dancers. They perform both for the Shadow Elves and for the Gods in
their temples.
-The craftsmen are not-quite-artists, since only Shadow Elves have the
talent, taste, sense of beauty, and 'free' time to create true art for arts'
sake, without concerns for earning a living. Craftsmen make things for
practical use, like cloth, leather, food products, and do engraving of wood,
stone, and the cutting of gems. They also make the icons and symbols of the
various Gods for the priests/clerics.
-Scribes are essentially enslaved by the priests/clerics of the Gods.
They write scrolls and make fine drawings for dissemination of information/
propaganda. Despite their 'enslaved' state, these amanuenses are but two-
steps away from the Gods, and so are very high in the Village caste-system.
-Clerics are the priests and priestesses who dedicate their lives to
service of the Gods. The most notorious of these are the Seers, the servants
of Schlachlil, the most powerful of all Gods. The notoriety of the Schlacite
priests (Seers) revolves around the insanity which inevitably overtakes them.
Gnomes
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Gnomes are primarily merchants in this society, and when they don't live in
the same buildings as their shops, they tend to live in large communal
residences. They are second in the Village caste-system. Gnomes, as merchants,
became explorers simply out of greed. The gnome system of rank is determined
by Wealth and Faithfulness. Generally, those who explore and develop trade
routes with Outlanders, bringing wealth to Sybarus, have the highest rank.
However, those who trade with Outlanders are at high risk of becoming
renegade Infidels. Those who become Infidel are stripped of rank and wealth
if captured, and they and their relations are enslaved for three generations.
Peddlars are the lowest in the gnome caste.
Dwarves
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Dwarves are commonly guards, mercenaries, and physical trainers. They are
employed by the Elves to keep the peace and by gnomes to guard shops, as
well as by Outlander traders for protection. They live in small isolated
pockets, usually near their places of employment, and are third in the
caste-system. There is no sub-caste system among dwarves. They treat each
other with equal ill-humour, regardless of employment, wealth, or other
associations. They are used as guards both for their constitution as well as
uncorruptibility: a dwarven guard cannot be bribed. Though capable of
incredible cruelty, they have a strict sense of honour, and their
loyalty--once purchased/given--will not be renounced this side of Death.
Goblins
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Goblins are the manual laborers of Sybarus. They are the lowest in the caste
system, and the ones most deeply satisfied with their lot. They haven't the
intelligence for many of the tasks assigned to slaves, and so they are left
the most repetitive and brutish of jobs. They are the cobble-pounders, the
rock-breakers, the sewage- and muck- shovellers. Due mostly to their poor
hygienic practices, goblins live a single, isolated housing complex, far
from everyone else.
Slaves
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Slaves are of all races save Elves. There are, on rare occasions, half-elf
slaves. These are the most comely and are used as body-servants and sexual
toys by the Shadow Elves, and so are never seen in the Village. Any elf or
half-elf who violates the rules of Elven societey is simply killed, or set
loose upon the Holm of the Icondit, to be food for monsters or part of the
Hunt. Slaves are usually bought and sold in the Village. They are the ones
who tend the gardens and do most menial work.
Note:
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Though the caste-system within the races is rather strictly observed as
far as occupations go, anyone of any race may apply him- or her- self to
whatever s/he chooses. That most do not is mainly a matter of inconvenience.
For example, a human trying to be a merchant will not have the family and
racial connections that his gnome competitors do. His family name and honour
in the business will not be known to his prospective clientele, who, in
addition, may not be comfortable trading with a human instead of the usual
gnome. Additionally, he will have to take much time to establish trust with
his peers--for they can make it difficult to conduct business if they do not.
All these tend to make it that much more difficult to succeed at his chosen
vocation, and so all but the most amibitious and adventuresome choose to
follow the racial and family traditions of occupation.
