LOSKALM: Everybody starts off as farmers. People can rise from this rank to become Soldiers. Valiant soldiers are often made knights. Elevation to the Wizardly and Lordly Castes is possible only through knighthood.
CASTLE COAST: People have castes and are born into them (even the Wizards which is seen as perverse by Tanisor). Caste movement is possible only in the process of becoming a knight and requires a sponsor from each of the other castes.
PASOS AND PITHDAROS: Pasos is known for knights and a rejection of Jrusteli ways after the destruction of the God Learners (Uz Lore). The Ship of Life Church doesn't take off until Dormal arrives. I'm not keen to make Pasos another copy of the Castle Coast. I'm inclined to interpret the Jrusteli ways as a rejection of the Abiding Book rather than just Malkoneranism as the Seshnegi were purging Malkoneranists before they were destroyed. My impression is thus they would adopt the traditions of the Pithdarans (as would Nolos until Bailifies conquers it).
I'm thinking the Pithdarans would use Agimori kinship as the basis of their advancement. Thus Caste is dependent on the caste of the wife's father and important offices are passed down through the female line (the Pithdarans can plausibly claim that Gerlant became King through a similar custom). It's meritocratic in the sense of what's good for the missus is good enough for all of us. The potential for skipping caste is limited in the sense that taking a new caste means taking a new wife and divorcing the old one, thereby pissing her and her relatives off no end. The Pasos (and Pithdaran) knights would not be knights in the sense of combiningg castes but more like Holy Men stricken mad with Joy.
When Bailifes comes, he conquers Nolos putting an end to the "Pamaltelan Foolishness" there. Pasos and Pithdaros likewise submit to his rule but they are too difficult to reach to enforce caste rules. However Nolos's wealth means that many places are falling under its influence and adopting patrilineal succession.
NOLOS: I have felt that the Rokari creed holds sway here but the locals have a custom of paying for their sins (and also a toleration of knights due to the influence of Pasos). Thus you can purchase a castely office. To purchase a warrior rank requires purchase of a ceremonial sword from the Ducal armory (recruiters often give the wannabe warriors a loan to buy the sword and take the sword back as payment for the loan before returning it to the armory. To purchase a wizardly or churchly rank requires giving all your worldly possessions to the church (the sum of what you gave indicates your likely posting). The sale of knightly, mercantile and military leadership ranks is an excuse for moneymaking by the Ducal treasury.
SAFELSTER: Safelster has caste primarily because they were imposed by the God Learners and Bailifes and they haven't yet agreed on an alternative. Caste mobility is dependent on the assent of the local authorities which means it is easy for those in power and difficult for those who are not.
> If a sailor is a member of the Dromal caste, a marine is a Horali and the helmsman a Talar, who can fight off the Ygg Island Pirates when they are boarded? Who can work their passage home aboard a merchant ship?
I presume all can fight. The helmsman fights as a duelist would. Since
none of the people fighting him are Malkioni Soldiers, he has no
restrictions on combat although because of his own training, he is near
useless when attacked by many people. The marine can fight anyone
because they are not Malkioni. The Sailor can fight using daggers, axes
and grappling hooks because those are the tools of his caste.
All can work their passage so long as there is sufficient caste-acceptable work for them.
--Peter Metcalfe
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