Social Status
Social Status is a highly influential factor in determining the course of a character's life in the world of Thyslann. While the emergence of the Labyrinth stands poised to change a great many lives, it also drags people from all walks of life to the isle of Kythara. Torn from their ordinary communities, social status will be a leading factor in governing the interactions between characters.
All player and non-player characters have a social status rank from one to seven, with one being the lowest rank — generally belonging to peasants — and seven being the highest, belonging ordinarily to the monarchs of nations. At character creation, players may freely choose any rank from one to five.
While characters with a higher rank are more influential, the closer one grows to absolute power the greater the array of pressures and responsibilities one will find that they must contend with. Peasants need to keep themselves fed, but are otherwise free. Characters known by their local communities or even lording over portions of their state are likely able to command greater resources, but are subject to far greater scrutiny and may lose all that power if they go rogue.
The below table displays the seven ranks. Equivalent positions can be found on the respective pages of each state, with various regional variations in responsibilities and powers.
| Rank | Comments |
|---|---|
| 1 | The lowest rank. No power, but little responsibility. |
| 2 | A step from the bottom. A little status demands little, but elevates a life greatly above the throng. A figure who a family or small community may rely on, but would be willing to help in turn. |
| 3 | Local notables. Afforded some power within the state through talent, bribery, or nepotism. However, with a real superior in sight, the consequences for failure grow. |
| 4 | The aristocracy. Invested with some hereditary, caste, or state power, with some latitude to govern over others. Lead lives almost unrecognisable from the bottom — and, often enough, from the top. |
| 5 | Great magnates. Able to sway politics within their state, and perhaps exhibit some name recognition outside of it. May have their entire lives written for them. |
| 6 | (Not available at game start) The shapers of their realm's operation. Given the power of forces and significant instruments belonging to the state. Entrusted with matters of triumph or ruin. |
| 7 | (Not available at game start) The apex of the world. A ruler through divine right, democracy, or sheer force. Yet despite this overwhelming power, it would not be impossible for one's subordinates to choose another to rule instead… |
Relationships
A character's social status should define their relationships to any backstory NPCs they might have, as well as how they will relate at the start of the game to other characters. Ranks have fairly consistent responsibilities and standards of living between nations, but status ranks are typically only respected within that region. Members of the Great Houses of the Southern Empire certainly think themselves superior to Ezu martial artists, or Dolom city patrons. Conversely, tribe members in the Land of Endless Sky may recognise that a councillor in the Northern Empire has power, but won't follow their instructions unless actively coerced.
Characters may display mixed feelings about those with higher and lower ranks than them in their region. Low status characters may think the high status characters to be out of touch: indulgent aristocrats with no grounding in reality. However, they may feign or show genuine politeness, knowing the potential power the high-ranking individual may have over them. On the other side, high status characters may think of low status characters as little more than assets: a resource to be commanded by the state. Nevertheless, they may display generosity or reward, depending on how much they need to keep the low-ranking characters in line.
Characters are more likely to have heard of each other the higher their rank. A king knows all the members of his ruling council by name, while characters at rank 1 and 2 usually have little interaction with one another. In general, characters of rank 3 or above should have some knowledge of characters of the rank above them, while characters rank 4 and above likely have a direct superior with whom they have a personal relationship — and who is liable to give them orders. For character creation, this does not mean you have to create a full roster of NPCs who you report to, but you should consider what your relationship looks like. Do you get on well with each other? Do you frequently neglect orders? Do you resent your position in the chain of command?