> In the Old Hrestoli church everyone begins in his father's caste
> and may become a knight, and have the right to lead men, to do some
> high magic, to fight with weapons and to do some manual work.
My description of life along the Castle Coast (the only sizeable "Old Hrestoli" population I'm aware of) would be rather different. There, "caste mobility" is unheard of. But anyone, of no matter what caste, can aspire to join the Noble and Chivalrous Order of Knighthood. All you need is a sponsor from *each* of the four castes willing to testify that you have demonstrated mastery of the essence of that caste and are ready for entry into the caste-transcending state of Knighthood.
I don't know (in RuneQuest mechanical terms) what would be required.
I suspect that you'd need first to acquire a "sponsor" from your own caste (saying you were a good Farmer, or Soldier, or Wizard, or Lord), who would then "fix you up" with one of his cronies in another caste. That worthy would then oversee your further training and initiation, until he in turn was satisfied with your progress and nominated you for yet further experience. There need be no set order to this, as it is in no way "progression" -- as far as Malkioni religious law is concerned, you remain in your birth-caste until you have successfully mastered the arts of all four castes. You're in an interim stage: I suggest borrowing the Latin term "candidate" for the aspiring Knights (it has interesting connotations with purity, aspiration, wearing of white cloth, seeking approbation, and the like). "Failing" one of your masters would be a real black mark for the would-be knight: not only must he succeed with some other master, but he must also clear his name of past failures. (Killing your quondam boss is not an option). OTOH, anyone recommended by a notoriously "tough" maaster will raise eyebrows (and expectations) commensurately.
The potential for nepotism is obvious. However, one counterbalance is that *any* recognised master of his caste's skills (a village elder, sergeant-at-arms, village priest or minor lordling) can sponsor any candidate. Thus, if "anti-establishment" figures can get their act together, they can strive to elevate "one of them" to the caste which (for most practical purposes) runs the Castle Coast.
(In a literary parallel, this would be like one of the "Fair Unknowns" or "Peasant Knights" of Arthurian literature arriving at court, to the general scorn and merriment of the assembled worthies. Women would have a similar route "in" -- I doubt the founders of the system expected to allow this, but I'm sure devotees of Saint Elleish will have had a fine old time prising open the glass ceiling...)
In gaming, I think it offers an interesting progression for player characters: rather than "kill the monster, take the treasure" style adventures, they'll need a more inventive approach to life, finding ways to impress Wizards with their spiritual outlook, Peasants with their down-to-earth folksiness, Lords with their broader perspective, and Soldiers with their military common sense. (And *not* their raw fighting ability -- remember, each caste-member hopes to select the kind of person they *want* to have in charge of them. I think a good Soldier would rather be led by someone with an understanding of the exigiencies of military life than by some gung-ho martial-arts freak or bodybuilder.)
They aren't necessarily learning other castes' skills during this process, either -- or at least, not the "special" skills of their master, save those he is ready and willing to teach. What they are learning is more the outlook, perspective, attitude of the caste. Only when they have understood *everything*, and demonstrated this understanding (in tests and in practice) will they be admitted to the Order of Knighthood.
Knights, of course, couple military service (Soldier) with leadership (Lord), land-tenancy (Peasant) and spiritual duties (Wizard). They are expected to master the High Skills of all these arts: chivalrous jousting, wise rule, benevolent stewardship and a religious outlook. A new-made Knight hopes to gain the tutelage of an older and wiser member of the Order, who can convey the necessaries of these Arts to him, through instruction and example. (You aren't made a Knight when you've already mastered all the skills of knighthood: you're made one because they think you stand a chance of doing so).
That's how I see life on the Castle Coast, anyway. NB: being a failed candidate is probably a black mark with superiors in your birth-caste, too -- though all would deny it, showing that you'd attempted (and conspicuously failed) to strive for something better would probably rankle among your less-ambitious peers. So the leaders of the Four Castes are unlikely to display over-much sympathy with wannabe Knights: they can afford to take a more caste-serving, detached view: "Is this really the kind of person who should be elevated to prominence in our land? I have many dutiful (Peasants, Soldiers, Wizards, Lords) under me: what makes this upstart think he can transcend the boundaries of Malkion's Law?" There are probably only a couple of hundred Knights in the whole Castle Coast (total pop. 50,000 per Genertela Book): caste masters can afford to be selective in promoting their charges.
Does this make sense to anyone?
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Nick
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