Many members of the lower and lowest class are not only illiterate, but also Uneducated. In addition to the reaction penalty (-1) and limitations (no M/H or M/VH skills) given in Compendium I, these characters cannot learn any Knowledge skills except Area Knowledge, nor any additional Languages, nor any Scientific skills except Agronomy.
Ymirean society is rigidly stratified. To climb socially is an ardorous process, and stripping someone of their status is considered a more cruel and unusual punishment than execution.
In light of the rigid stratification of society, the vast differences in legal rights, and the revised rules for wealth used in the campaign, Status costs 10 points per level, rather than 5, as given in the GURPS rules.
The only human in the known world who holds Status 8 is the Cargan Primarch-Patriarch (emperor). The Primarch has no secular authority west of the White Mountains, but he is still aknowledged as the high Patriarch of the Cult of Jupiter.
This is the level of kings and queens, dauphins (heirs-apparent), archdukes
and archduchesses (siblings of kings, ruling duchies). Royalty can only be
judged by a parliament of peers, and usually, this takes a civil war. Legal
Immunity (15 points), Claim to Hospitality (10 pts), outrageous levels of
Wealth and Fixed Property.
This group compromises the true nobles, the leaders of the land. In addition to Status, a member of the peerage has Legal Immunity (10 points), in that he or she can only be held and tried by a peer of greater status. The peerage will usually have significant Wealth, and have Claim to Hospitality (10 points) to other peers and among the gentry.
A ruling noble (Baron, Viscount, etc.) will have Legal Enforcement Powers
at a 10-points level (in his fief he can perform searches, conduct trials
and sentence people).
The peerage will always hold Wealthy jobs, if they work at all.
The gentry are the poor cousins of the peers, and rising commoners. The gentry have Claim to Hospitality (10 points) to other gentlefolk and to the peers. Their Legal Immunity is worth 5 points.
The gentry will typically hold Wealthy jobs. Gentry form the bulk of the cavalrists and higher officers in Ymirean armies.
The middle class is subject to the whims of the peers and gentry, but have some resources of their own. The rural middle class includes well-to-do farmers, minor landowners, millers and other enterpeneurs, as well as clergymen and mayors. In the cities they typically include lesser officers, lower clergymen, merchants, savants, master artisans, succesful soldiers and mercenaries, guildmasters and mayors.
The middle class typically hold Comfortable jobs, though some may hold Wealthy jobs or Average jobs.
Urban areas have a far greater concentration of middle class people than do the rural areas. Many of the middle class people in urban areas will be members of guilds or similar organizations, granting them a Patron.
The lower class do very much of the actual, physical work in society. While the middle class reap the profits, and the noble tax them and use them at whim. the lower class still has certain resources and rights.
Members of the lower class includes tradesmen, artisans, sailors and common soldiers (status 0), as well as bondsmen, skilled wage-earners and apprentices (status -1). It also includes busker (actors, acrobats, jongleurs, etc.) (status -1). Whores also belong to this class, and are regarded as artisans, as good as any other.
People of this status level can typically work struggling (status -1) or average jobs (status 0).
Urban artisans, shopkeepers and so forth will usually be guild members, and have an appropriate Patron. However, this Patron tends to be less accessible and amiable to them than their middle class superiors.
The true, unwashed masses, the lowest class has neither property, skills nor rights. The lowest class face an every-day fight for survival. Some of them earn wages, others no more than room and board. Part of the lowest class do no conventional work at all, rather subsisting as criminals or beggars. They are easily replaceable and few will miss them, and both they and their superiors know this. The lowest class (status -2) includes labourers, peasants, and beggars and criminals.
The lowest of the low, serfs and slaves (status -3), lack every right except for the expectation that they will not be put to death without due cause. The main hindrance to killing them is having to pay blood money to their owners. While they have no freedom to speak of, their lives may actually be better than their superiors, as they are fairly valuable property to their owners.
Serfs and slaves are not usually found in the Frankish countries, but make up a major part of the populations of Clemencia, the Cargan Empire, and the Shahdoms of Haram.
Lowest class people are often undernourished. As a result, they may have a reduced level of Health, or Reduced Fatigue.This may improve if they are fed properly.
Lowest class people can only hold Poor jobs.
An outlaw has no legal rights. Like a wild predator, anybody is free to kill him, and will be commended, rather than punished, for the deed. He has no right to hold property, his possessions belong to whoever kills him.
Outlaws cannot work, save as brigands, poachers and suchlike.
A duke may wear a crown with eight strawberry leaves
A count may wear a crown with eight strawberry leaves alternating with eight
spikes with small pearls on them.
A baron or viscount may wear a crown with eight large pearls
Poverty and Ill Health
All of status -2 or lower have -1 to resist diseases due to poor nutrition.
Common disadvantages include Poor Appearance; Unfit, Very Unfit (due to smoke inhalation); Hunchback or Bad Back (due to rheumatism). Cancers are also quite common.
A common advantage is Disease-Resistant.