Like any feudal system, there is a hierarchy in Kurshyk Kingdom.

The Citizen hierarchy is:

    King
    Clan Nobles and Kingdom Generals
    Clerics and Adepts of Gruumsh
    Military (by rank)
    Citizen
    Reformed Criminal
    Convict

(Particular clans may have their own interior caste system.)

All Citizens rank higher in caste than the Serfs, who are members of the occupied territories now called Kurshyk.  See Orc Decrees and Laws for more information.

The Serf hierarchy is:

    Clerics and Adepts of Gruumsh
    Merchants and Farmers
    Laborers
    Non-Citizens
    Slaves
    Outcasts and Fugitives

This message was last edited by the GM at 18:18, Fri 22 Sept 2006.

More details about the castes:

Merchants and Farmers:  The orcs recognize that food and supplies are critical, particularly in an occupied territory.  Therefore, this class gets taxed less and gets less "supervision" by orc militia.  Even orcs taking advantage of merchant and farmer serfs will be punished.  Only militiamen and orc nobles can freely tax, get quartered, and otherwise order around this class of non-Citizens.

Laborers:  Laborers do the work for the orcs.  Because they are helping the orcs, they are ranked higher than most other non-citizens, but they are still regularly abused by the orcs.  They may be used however desired by their employers and the orc militia.  Although they may own property, most are paid very little, and most continue to work because supplies have been scarce since the war, and orc money is the best around.  Many non-Citizens consider Laborers to be sell outs or even traitors to their own kind, yet laborers enjoy some protections under orc laws.

Non-Citizens:  This class are those non-orcs who are working for themselves or their own designs, and not for the orcs.  They are only a step above a slave.  They are not property but can be freely detained, questioned, ordered around by, and "interrogated" by the orc nobles or militia without question.

Slaves:  Slaves can be treated like animals, sometimes even worse.  But as with any property, it cannot be abused except by the property's master.  Killing a slave is considered conversion of property and subject to fines and replacement with a new slave.

Outcasts and Fugitives:  These are non-Citizen outlaws, rebels, and others wanted by the Kurshyk Kingdom.  They can be captured or killed on sight, no questions asked.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:46, Thu 03 Aug 2006.