I like the idea of different names in diferent sects. For example the hidebound Brithini could still use Talar, Zzaburi, Horali and Dronari (like they did way back in Genertela Crucible of the Hero Wars), but others wouldn't. Would "Knights" still be allowed amongst the Loskalmi, but not anywhere else?
In my Valeki Baronies campaign (where most peasants were non-Malkioni), Malkioni in the workers' caste were called "yeomen" if they were farmers, and "burgesses" if they were townsmen (though they were in the same caste, and money and status determined who outranked whom within the caste). If a name was needed for the caste of yeomen and burgesses, it was "commoners".
Notwithstanding its associations with a woolly liberal English newspaper (in)famous for its misprints, I like Peter's suggestion of 'guardians' -- but would it be better for the Rokari or the Hrestoli?
Finally how come the four castes are so uncannily closely aligned the to the regular four stages of Dragonewt existence? I don't remember there being many Dragonewts in the Far West (though Ryzel and Ormsland are on the eastern frontiers of Malkionism), but maybe the party of Dragonewts leaving Dragon Pass on an epic journey/pilgrimage to Sog City (in Elder Secrets of Glorantha) were onto something?
Richard Hayes
--- On Wed, 16/2/11, Peter Metcalfe <metcalph_at_GuVGgL0FlNXTXrpyc-h3tnCHIb89BH8ehNJ1v02MobvsnlbxPEpd44ppn-Au7RJiuxvOc7jXA2q5JOdqYIDq8c_iU7YN.yahoo.invalid> wrote:
From: Peter Metcalfe <metcalph_at_GuVGgL0FlNXTXrpyc-h3tnCHIb89BH8ehNJ1v02MobvsnlbxPEpd44ppn-Au7RJiuxvOc7jXA2q5JOdqYIDq8c_iU7YN.yahoo.invalid>
Subject: Re: The Importance of Caste (or Why Wizards Don't Rule)
To: WorldofGlorantha_at_yahoogroups.com
Date: Wednesday, 16 February, 2011, 8:06
On the subject of caste names, I think we should be devising name lists
for specific countries rather than devising a pan-malkionism list. Thus
the english caste names for the Rokari would be different from the
Loskalmi and vice versa.
A Rokari alternative to the Workers might be Plebs which has the
advantage of being ancient sounding and derogatory at the same time.
Soldiers sounds too professional for my ear and knights is theologically
taboo. Gentry is a good fit socially but it doesn't convey the meaning
of fighting. Milita gives the impression of ragtag forces, the military
makes it sound too sophisticated and Miles is now a personal name.
Guardians is a good fit in that it conveys one who uses force both
against foreigners and also polices internal dissent - it's also
slightly platonic in air.
--Peter Metcalfe
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