Melhed/Patrician
Contents
Patrician Overview
The Patrician's lot in life has not much changed down through the Ages. Tracing their ancestry from the great chieftains of old, those with the noble blood have always taken roles of prominence, great heroes or terrible villains to the man. In the Age of Blood their lines fought wars against man and beast taming the frontier with wit and will. Songs and legends speak of these fabled ancestors just as mythic tales are told of their origins. These children of legendary warriors, protectors and heroes of old, have much to live up to and are ready for the challenge.
It is the Patrician's privilege to be superior, and it is their burden to protect those who are not so blessed. The noblest of them suffer this greatness magnanimously, offering aid to the unfortunate and bending themselves to one task after another, honing their blessed abilities to new heights. The black hearted delight in their advantage, lording over their lessers, even if they too are of noble blood, and enacting cruelty through disinterest.
The conflict between such apotheoses has stained the world red in the strife filled age, causing endless conflict and suffering on the masses of humanity with no end in sight, save in the lands of the Republic. It is here and here alone where a balance has been reached where the nobility can turn their attention to new ways of exploring the edge of human excellence which miraculously don't involve killing each other. Skill at arms and craft are valued still, but now the pursuit of learning, faith and governance also mingle with the ancient ways. Able to slay a beast with one hand and compose a song of the exploit with the other, the Patricians are proud of their ability and accomplishments, as well they should.
At least that is how the story goes. For those who aren't part of the exalted lines it seems the noble houses are just as petty, foolish and short sighted as the rest of humanity; though the occasional one will try to be something better. Blessed blood, divine heritage, it's hard to say, if it's really true. There are some, differences, between the Patricians and the lowborn, but that could surely just be caused by better education and standards of living... right?
Whether or not the old legends are true it's hard to ignore the noble houses, nor the effect they have on the world. Many would like to try of course, and though Melhed has never had such internal troubles it is a common problem in other lands.
Members
The Patricians are of the noble lines that extend into the mists of time and myth. Their blood is divine, they claim, and their abilities surpassing those of normal men. If you believe what they say, not a single member has a drop of lowborn blood in their veins, despite the centuries. In a more practical sense membership into the aristocratic strata was not difficult to acquire a century back. Colonizing the frontier was hard on the settlers, and any with the ability to lead found themselves catapulted into an uneasy rank. These days it is more of a rarity; significant wealth and a large number of reputable supporters to swear for your divine heritage allow the possibility of entering the strata. There are tales of lowborns displaying such amazing skill that they must indeed be long lost members or lines that have faded from memory, gaining immediate elevation, but such occurrences are themselves legendary.
Despite this apparent barrier to entry the Patricians aren't quite as closed circle as one might expect, for one fundamental reason, marriage. Divine blood or no, there just aren't enough women in the Republic lands for everyone and through shrewd efforts the female citizens have capitalized on this. Marrying up is surprisingly easy, and even women already with child, through whatever means, aren't ignored. This ease is kept somewhat in check by those highborn women who don't want their status to diminish, but all in all the Patricians put on far more show of their blessed heritage then anything else.
Strata Philosophy
The Patricians hold a mythic heritage, with divine blood and excellence of form. Not being an organization exactly, but instead a level of people with similar values, they don't quite have the philosophic basis as the Senate, but they still have their Noblesse Oblige.
Ad augusta per angusta - Divine Blood
The Patricians are the paragons, they are the best, the brightest, just as they are the worst and the darkest. Whatever they do they do completely and shape the world by that choice. Patricians push themselves and each other, always in competition of some form. The Republic has allowed them to channel this passion into something more productive, but even then it is their nature.
Parva sub ingenti - Privileges of Blood
Patricians have divine blood in their veins, they expect a certain amount of cooperation from the lowborn and, for the most part, get it. Almost nothing will upset them more then a lowborn denying their blood right.
Bellum omnium contra omnes - Rivalries of Blood
Patricians quarrel with each other a fair amount. Perhaps something in their mythic past draws them to conflict, perhaps they just have little else to do, but inevitably if there are two coins and two Patricians it is not a safe bet that they will agree to share.
Common Personal Beliefs
As the leisurely and skilled members of the Republic, the Patricians often invent new rituals even as they recover ancient practises. Studying the history of their inspiring ancestors is one of the things they enjoy doing.
Cursus Honorum
Every Patrician knows that they are the great paragon of the human condition, unfortunately other Patricians erroneously believe this of themselves. Thus Patricians often end up in conflict with each other, a struggle for superiority that has stained the world red. Within the Republic direct conflict to settle this instinctual drive is considered barbaric, a subtle indication that the Patrician is no better than a foreigner. Thus while Patricians seek to opportunities to display their superior abilities to their peers they must be circumspect. The greatest among them rise to the heights of the Senate.
Senate
Composed of the greatest Patricians, the Senate of Melhed is the absolute governing body of the Republic. All Patricians strive to reach the high offices which are the greatest testament to their superiority. The domain of the Republic is divided into regions, each in the care of an individual Senator, who rules the lowborn as would a king save the bounds of the law. Explained in more detail in the Structure of the Republic.
Estates
Every Patrician holds an estate somewhere within the domain, a vast stretch of land capable of some industry producing wealth for the holder. These estates are staffed by servants and workers, paid for out of the holdings and taxes collected from the local Plebeians. The Senators collect taxes from the various Patrician estates, and are responsible for the good governance to a point. The complexity of the matter increases when a Patrician rises to the Senate, holding both the personal estate and the regional estate which maybe in differing regions.
Divine Mandate
It is the Patrician's privilege to be superior, and it is their burden to protect those who are not so blessed. The members of the strata gain their authority from their divine heritage but are validated by their ability to complete their sacred duty. Should the low born suffer a patrician must rise up. Should the low reach beyond their place they must be put down. The exact meaning of the mandate differs from patrician to patrician, hence the conflicts of the age.
Jus ad bellum
When another patrician's interpretation of the Mandate can no longer be tolerated Patricians may square off in the sacred dual pitting the two paragons against each other in a test to see who's blood is strongest. In the ancient days such challenges revolved around combat, but the Republic has provided alternate avenues, so any skill or strength is on display. Refusing to meet the challenge is paramount to declaring one's self a lowborn pretender. Defeat carries far less of a sting as the vanquished claim the unworthy victor employed questionable tactics, which is easy to agree with. Technically the defeated is proven false by the dual, in practice the matter is rarely settled and once the conflict tilts in favour of the vanquished history repeats.
Mos Maiorum
The belief that the ways of the ancestors holds divine wisdom. When a patrician is out of ideas they often look to their mythic family tree for the answer.
Common Professions
Patricians have only one profession, being a Patrician. It's a full time job with many facets which make it a challenge to master the entire scope. Expected to be competent orators, statesmen, scholars, generals and warriors to the man, each Patrician has their own approach to this role, named based on their focus.
- A Courtier has shifted away from combat to manage their estates in more detail, and hone their skills at oration and law.
- A Cavalier has sworn to defend the land and vanquish enemies in personal combat.
- A Knight leads soldiers of the Legion into battle, coordinating regiments and organizing militias.
- A Scholar swears off battle and public conflict in favour of learning and study.
Stereotypes of the Strata
- Senate: One day I too will have that power, one day.
- Patricians: I am the best, despite what the others might think.
- Equites: Oh them? Yes always about keeping things running, thanks to my guidance of course.
- Plebeians: Look upon my works!
- Foederati: They solve slightly more trouble than they cause so for now we tolerate them.
- Foreigners: They try to be as good as I, but really, they can't cut it.
