I am working on a campaign which will be set in Fronela, with the characters
starting life as Loskalmi. Since there is little published information on
the campaign area, I've been piecing together what has been published, what
I've been able to glean from the various list archives (I've downloaded them
all and put them into a database file; with nearly fifteen thousand articles
it'll take a bit of time to glean what I want), and my own random thoughts.
It's these random thoughts I would like to run past the luminaries of this
list for comments, criticism, etc.
Generally, I use Medieval Europe as a guide, but with some major
differences.
A Farmer's Lot in Life
This is one of the main differences between Loskalm and Medieval Europe. A
Loskalmi Farmer is not heavily taxed, and the taxes are not used (for the
most part) to support an obscenely sumptuous lifestyle for the upper castes
(more on this later). Part of the taxes paid are set aside for lean years,
to account for a lower taxation rate. In exceptionally lean years, this
set-aside portion (especially the set-aside grain tax) is distributed to the
people. The specifics vary from province to province, and are under the
control of the Princes.
The Farmer knows that he can rely upon the Knights for protection. (From my
admittedly limited understanding of Medieval Europe, the peasantry often had
cause to wish for protection FROM the knights). Likewise, he knows he can
rely on the Wizards for spiritual (and moral) guidance, healing, plow
blessings, etc.
Why Are the Farmers So Well Teated?
Every Loskalmi king since the adoption of Hrestoli Idealism has risen from
peasant parentage. Additionally, many of the lesser Nobility, Wizard, and
Knights, will also have risen from similar parentage. Not all of their
children will rise as well. How heavily will they tax, and how poorly will
the treat, their own kin? Of course, there are members of the upper castes
who are moved only by self-interest. They are only human, after all. For
them, there is always the question of...
Why Aren't Farmers Lining Up at the WatchDog Committees Doorways, Looking to
Flood the Upper Castes, and
Drain the Lower?
After all, doesn't Hrestoli Idealism encourage this sort of social climbing?
Many of the answers to that question have been given above. To reiterate:
good treatment, fair taxes, and the fact that while the upper castes do live
better lives (naturally!), they are not (in general) nearly as sumptuous as,
say, the lives of Seshnegi upper castes. A Loskalmi noble wearing
Kralorelan silks, woven with gold thread, and adorned with precious stones
and Palmatelan ostrich feathers is a rare sight.
Additionally, one cannot rise directly to the Wizard or Noble castes. One
must first rise to the Knightly caste. Members of this caste are fully
expected to fight and to lay down their lives to defend the Kingdom.
Advancement past this caste involves becoming a weapons master, as well as
a master of other battle skills. This usually means actual combat
experience. The risks to life and limb presented by this caste keep many
Farmers on their farms.
The Knight Caste
Rising from the Farmer Caste, into the Knight Caste, does not make one an
actual Knight. Instead, one is a soldier. Becoming a Knight is not
strictly a matter of having a certain level of skill. One becomes a Knight
through deeds, piety, and yes, politics.
Fashion
There are no sumptuary laws restricting what a member of the upper castes
can wear. However...
1) As stated above (or at least implied), the upper castes do not get rich
off taxes/tithes/etc. Which is not to say the wealthy don't exist. Some
Loskalmi mercantile families are doing quite will with the new trade boom.
2) Farmers wear what they can afford (and with stickpickers and merchants in
the same caste, this can vary quite a bit). Those with the funds, will
sometimes try to "ape their betters." Knights tend to live a lifestyle
which is little better (and is sometimes worse) than the one they left
behind. Hence, they will wear much the same clothing they wore before. A
Wizard's clothing varies depending on their duties and rank within the
Church and their attainment as Sorcerer's. Noble's tend towards understated
displays of station, following the example set by King Gundreken. Except
when in the company of dignitaries of other lands, he typically wears plain,
unadorned doe-skin tunic and trousers, with perhaps a linen cloak. (Need I
mention he always wears his crown? He wouldn't even go boar-hunting without
it).
That's about all I have time to type today. I'll post some more in the new
year. And as I stated above, and comments/criticism/complaints are welcome.
Paul