Social status is often difficult to determine, particularly when comparing unrelated groups. The following table attempts to lay out some basic guidelines for social status. Social status should not be confused with military power or wealth, although those may have an influence upon one's social status. What does it mean to have social status?

• The person with the highest social status is the person that other people will defer to - think of it as the person who, when entering a room in a group, would get bowed to first.
• The person with the highest social status is the one whose story gets believed or credited the most highly - in a dispute, they are the one who would get listened to by the Templarate first.
• The person with the highest social status is the one who bestows the most prestige to be seen with, or whose employees enjoy the most secondary power.

These categories have nuances within them. Other factors come into play: having powerful friends and alliances (or enemies), one's degree of personal wealth, past deeds, age, experience, personal charisma, etc. Accordingly, these are broad guidelines, and intended only to be used as such, not as definitive rules.

Templarate	Nobility	Merchant House
Black-Robe
	Senator, House Head, Upper House (1)
	Senator, House Head, Middle House (2)
	Senator, House Head, Lower House (3)
Red-Robe	Senior Family Member, Upper House
	Senior Family Member, Middle House
	Senior Family Member, Lower House
Blue Robe (4)	Family Member, Upper House
	Family Member, Middle House
	Family Member, Lower House	House Head
Militia Commander	Bastard Noble (5)	Senior Merchant (6)
Militia Captain	Senior Aide, Guard Captain, Concubine	Senior Merchant (7)
Militia Lieutenant
Militia Corporal	Aide	Guard Captain
Militia Sergeant	Junior Aide, Senior Guard	Merchant
Militia Member	House Guard	Junior Merchant
Slave of the Templarate	House Servant	Guard
Commoner	House Slave	Employee

(1) The Upper Houses are Borsail, Valika, and Oash.

(2) The Middle Houses are Fale, Tor, and Kasix.

(3) The Lower Houses are Jal, Sath and Rennik.

(4) While the Red Robes can be assumed to be on the same level, there are fine and often bitterly contested nuances among the Blue Robes. Things that may add or detract from a Blue Robe's social status include: assigned duties, noble house of origin, and recognition from Red Robes.

(5) Any child of a commoner and a noble falls into this definition. Bastard nobles are not nobles per se; however, they often rise to positions of prominence within a noble house's servants.

(6) Senior Merchants at this level are assumed to be limited to one or two per House location.

(7) Senior Merchants at this level are unlimited, but generally are fewer than a dozen per House location.

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Submitted by Sanvean
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