Life in Melhed

Life in the republic is heavily coloured by the opposing ideals of the nation itself. Though the people maybe ordered in five social rankings, the interplay between those ranks is both savage and enlightened. Like many things in the republic, it is unwise to use first impressions, there is always a deeper layer for the observant. On first glance the stratification of society keeps the masses under the thumb of the oligarchy of the upper classes. The laws are written in favour of wealth, and office is barred to the lower ranks. However though officially brutal justice is enforced, magnanimous justice is practised. The wealth of the senate class flows not from the patricians, but from the equites, the plebeians, and even the proletarii. Thus to protect their interests the senate keeps close tabs on any interference in their provinces. Justice is maintained for good social order and efficiency, and for the coldest of hearts it is motivated by wealth.

Indeed, while interactions between the social strata are complex affairs of expectations, culture and law, matters with one's peers is relatively free. The state remains uninvolved in personal disputes as much as possible, whether rich or poor. Laws outline expected procedures for settling issues, and if things completely break down into vendettas there are various people in positions of authority (Praetor for the senate and patricians, Senators for the equites, and plebieans, and the Tribune for the proletarii) who can put things to final rest. Much of life is live and let live, personal consequences for one's actions is the main word of the day, and thus little is expressly forbidden. Conversely if someone manages to anger a lot of people they have nothing to fall back on.

-work in progress-

Social Ranks

Senate

The highest ranking members of the realm, the governing elite, the privileged. Wealth, power and the leisure to spend it are all yours. The republic moves by your will, the armies are your arm, the people your workers. Along with those perks comes responsibility to rule your lessers, thus much of your time is spent on the senate floor in debate and study.
Common Activities: Studying the flow of politics across the continent, skirmishes with barbarians and inhumans, research, matters of faith, debates in halls of the senate and forum, parties with foreign and local elite, supreme ruling of the lands of the Republic.
Standard Name: Regional Lords

Patrician

The next highest ranking members of the realm, you are still privileged, have much wealth, power beyond the wildest dreams of most and even more leisure to spend it are all. It's true you're life isn't as grand as the senate, but that also means you have less responsibilities.
Common Activities: Seeking political advancement to the senate or Tribune, Aeldie, Augur, Centurion, and Legetus, not to mention serving select senators for power, skirmishes with barbarians and inhumans, leading armies, matters of faith as priests, debates in court and lesser meetings, parties with foreign and local elite.
Standard Name: Nobles

Equites

The wealthiest strata of the republic that remains apart from the aristocratic classes, the eques hold an odd place. They are barred from entry into the political games of the patricians and senate, technically, but end up serving as nearly all the administrators, military officers and other required offices to keep things running smoothly. Indeed between their great deal of wealth from trade, fine crafts, and merchant activities, jobs seen as unfitting for patricians, and their pervasiveness in office, one might even say the equites were the real power in the land.
Common Activities: Research and study of unusual things, administering, shuffling papers, leading soldiers, organizing trade, making fine goods, tricking Patricians.
Standard Name: NPCs who follow nobles around

Plebeian

The common working man/woman, of the republic. Comes in a wide range of styles and levels of poverty. You have little rights when confronted by your betters, but all in all life could be much worse. Justice between plebeians is fair and even handed out by senators, work is hard, but rewards are yours, minus taxes. The only responsibility you have is to fight when ordered, bow when approached and generally make sure not to upset anyone with more money and goons then you.
Common Activities: Crafts, farming, trade, fighting pointless wars for ungrateful... are they looking?, being in the military/militia, religion as followers, paying taxes, relaxing, being attacked by bandits and inhumans, being beaten around by all other classes above
Standard Name: Region Population

Proletarii

The poorest of the poor, considered expendable by even the Plebeians. Thus the most common form of this class is the wandering adventurer. Tired of just staying home, adventurers explore brave new frontiers, best the darkness and return with shining treasures, which are usually stolen quickly. Comes in a narrower range of styles and levels of poverty, all of them mobile and battle scarred. You have little rights, less then most in some areas since you wander around so much (PS: Get to know the Tribune). However you have the freedom of the open road (minus tolls, questioning militia, and beatings by bored nobles) allowing you to explore all the wonders of the land (theft by bandits, questions by priests, beatings by bored inhumans) The only responsibility you have is to try not to anger anyone enough that they haul you in front of the Tribune or Senators, or get killed by the inhumans.
Common Activities: Adventuring, being beaten, finding strange treasures, being beaten, saving fellow plebeians from certain doom (while being beaten) stumbling into mysterious sages with magical lore, having magical lore stolen by patricians (with beatings), repairing magical items on demand by patricians, being pawns in the political games of patricians, paying tolls, getting in jail, saving damsels and lads from certain death, not getting paid nearly enough (except in beatings)
Standard Name: Adventurer, or cannon fodder soldiers.