See Part 1 here, Overview and Geography (Plus the map of Rhentair!)

See part 2 here, Culture and Clothes

See part 3 here, Leisure, Cuisine and Travel

Context: This is a world gazette article for a videogame in production by my studio called FromLight. I also intend to package up this lore and setting as a TTRPG setting.

Social Mobility

There are two primary drivers to social mobility in Rhentair, the variety of Guilds,  and service in the Rhentairi military. 

The guilds themselves exist as entities tacitly owing allegiance to the Rhentairi throne, but often times scheming for their own benefit and gain amongst the politics of the day. A notable recent example was during the Stewards Rebellion, where the Steward Abelard Ap Dhaelle was supported heavily by the Weavers Guild, which was looking to place their own puppet on the throne. Their subsequent failure however resulted in the dissolution of the Guild, and that space has been taken up by the Seamstresses Guild (which, since its ascendance has been fighting rumors of prostitution, likely pushed by remaining disgruntled members of the former Weavers Guild). 

The takeaway for the guilds was not to behave or stop trying to gain power, just that outright rebellion was not the preferred method of doing so. 

Classes

Rhentair's social classes tend towards a few generalized buckets, the aristocracy, guilded gentry, the middle class (comprising merchants, guilders, the military and the academic members of the Rhentair College, laborers, and finally serfs. These distinctions however are only the most stratified in Rhentair's largest cities. The closer one gets to the frontiers, the most limited in scope the changes are, to the point of frontier hearthsteads being very egalitarian in nature. 

This egalitarian nature is a nature draw for those for whom living in the civic cores of Rhentair means they will not have any chance for upward mobility. 

In Rhentair, a specific idiosyncrasy is that the guilds provide specific mobility (within reason) but also that guilded gentry oftentimes will assert equal privilege with members of the aristocracy, often due to the vast political power they can muster. In recent times, this rule has held with the sole exception of the royal family. 

Notable Stereotypes

The Rhentairi people are known to be generally generous and welcoming to outsiders, but can be somewhat superstitious. Higher ranking guild members are typically above this depiction, but they run into the stereotype that has Rhentair's guilds as simultaneously stifling the nation and being at each others throats. A common refrain in Aubregeon is that the First Lord (Aubregeon's ruler) needn't worry himself with trying to destroy Rhentair, as the guilds will accomplish that for him shortly, nevermind that they've been waiting on that for the last five hundred years. 

Religion

The primary religion adhered to in Rhentair is the Temple of the Monarchs. This worship is a small, tight-knit (albeit not exclusive) pantheon of the Lord, the Lady, the Maiden,  and the Scholar. This religion has a lesser worshipped deity called the Fool. Additionally, there is a Cult that is occasionally worshipped by assassins, psychopaths, or beseeched by people planning to commit crimes, and that is the Pariah. Moreso, the Pariah (considered the Exiled One), is referenced as the pantheon's antagonist by most people but few actually worship the Pariah. 

The Lord: Considered to be the embodiment of power, valor, and war. Elementally, the Lord is aligned with Lightning, Fire. Adherents to the Lord tend to wear gold and black, with red trim. Shrines to the lord tend to take the primary space in the Temple of the Monarchs. 

 

The Lady: Considered to be the embodiment of home, hearth, defense, and vengeance. Elementally, the Lady is aligned with Light, Defense, and Ice. Adherents to the Lady tend to wear blue and white with gold trim. Shrines to the lady are typically immediately to the right of the Lord's Shrine in the Temple of the Monarchs. If it is a Matron's temple, the Lady will have the primary spot. 

The Maiden: Considered to be the embodiment of growth, love, freedom. Elementally, Maiden is aligned with with Life, Air. Adherents to the Maiden tend to wear white, sky blue, and silver trim. Shrines to the Maiden are the left entrance alcove to the Temple of the Monarchs. If the temple is very austere, this shrine will be not much more than a table and a candle. For marriage ceremonies, the bride-to-be is escorted from the Shrine of the Maiden, to pay obeisance to her husband to be at the Shrine to the Lord, who then carries her to her new position at the Shrine of the Lady. Once this is complete, the marriage ceremony is considered complete.  

The Scholar: Considered to be the embodiment of learning and magic. Elementally, the Scholar is aligned with Knowledge. Adherents to the Scholar  tend to wear gray and blue, with silver trim. Shrines to the Scholar are the right entrance alcove to the Temple of the Monarchs, and often, if the Temple has a library, the entrance to that is that right alcove and the Scholar's shrine is central to that library. 

The Fool: Considered to be the epitome of chaos, trickery, and misfortune. Elementally, the Fool is aligned with Life,  and Dark. Adherents to the Fool (extremely rare) wear yellow and green, with silver trim. Shrines to the Fool aren't typically found in Temples, but rather a three part carved stone motif of the Fool is found outside to the left of the Temple entrance. With the lower panel depicting the Fool's body, often dancing and holding a knife and a poisonous plant, a small patterned panel separating the body panel from the head panel, and a head panel depicting a bald man laughing with hair ticking out in two points on either side of his head. The Fool's eyes, traditionally must always look up, and the Fool's feet should always be pointed away from the Temple entrance. 

The Pariah: Considered to be the embodiment of Evil, selfishness, and hatred. Elementally, the Pariah is aligned with Dark, Death, and Ice. Adherents to the Pariah do not wear anything typically to signify their allegiance, though some local assassins guilds might adopt a local insignia that is worn as an easily concealable pendant. In a similar manner, if a Shrine is found, it is typically in a hidden safehouse.  

Relationship to Magic

Most organizations in Rhentair are generally suspicious of magic and magic users. Guilds shun magic users and try to avoid public users of magic as members. King Morgren Ap Larin in 3017 FRE exhibited the power of being a source, and as such, issued a number of decrees officially de-villainize magic users. However, while legal, many communities will castigate practitioners, a practice made worse by the proddings of the Order of the Sun Knights. 

In 3161 TE, continued incitement by the Brotherhood in Rhentair (and indeed, in Eastern Abbernoch, excepting in Erderrni and Halle where the Order of the Sun Knights are forbidden to operate) started a number of aggressive protests and revolts from the serfs. These protests and revolts gradually become worst over the course of a generation, and finally culminate in a boiling point where the Rhentairi crown is forced to change their official stance towards magic users to one of indifference. 

As a result, this indifference creates situations where Order of the Sun Knights foment "Witch Hunts" for magic users, particularly in frontier areas. Many innocents are killed. 

Due to this, a secret organization was formed called the Sisterhood of the Shade that helps protect, hide, and transport away magic users, particularly women, from situations where witch hunts and inquisitions threaten their lives. 

Two organizations in Rhentair that have maintained their steadfast support for magic users are the Rhentairi Military, particularly some of the less conventional units, and the Rhentairi College, which provides said magic users a safe environment to study, grow, and often take part on field archeological expeditions.