The Draft
The draft stated that every year, each race would send a thousand of their greatest warriors to fight on the small island until the minions of hell were driven back to the pits from whence they came. A draft lasts for one year. Anyone who lives through three hundred and sixty five days on Branya has completed their term. Any time spent on the island after that is considered volunteer work.
This was originally intended to take
the best and send them to the war. But as is typical of the rich
and powerfull they found a way for others to go instead. Any time
a Noble's son is drafted a special type of slave is purchased to
go in his place. This trickled down to the Merchant class who
send peasants instead. A knight will send a serfs instead their
own son. The only one's left who actually go to Branya when
drafted are commoners. The result of all this is the status of
draftees is usually very low.
Another result of this is the freeing of
all slaves sent to Branya. This has grown into quite a tradition.
Anyone who completes their term of three hundred sixty five
consecutive days on Branya is promoted to the next rung on the
social ladder. The ladder, the name of its rungs, and their
powers is listed below. To determine the social status of a new
draftee just roll one dice.
The single most important restriction on
a given social status is the type of money they may use. For
instance only royalty may use mithril. There are also some
restrictions on head gear.
| ROLL | STATUS | CURRENCY | POWERS |
| Emperor/ Empress |
Mithril | May execute kings | |
| Royal | |||
| King/Queen | Mithril | May appoint Dukes, may hold fief (kingdom) from lord, may wear mithrill. | |
| Prince/ Princess |
Mithril | May speak law, may wear mithril except on head. | |
| Noble | |||
| Duke/ Duches |
Gold | May appoint Oerls, may hold fief (duchy) from lord, may wear gold on head. | |
| Marquies/ Marchioness |
Gold | May appoint Viscounts, may hold fief (march) from lord. | |
| Oerl/ Countess |
Gold | May appoint Barrons, may hold fief (county) from lord, may enact high justice. | |
| Viscount/ Vicountess |
Gold | Stand in or temporary replacement for the Oerl. When the Oerl is absent the Viscount has the power. | |
| Baron/ Baroness |
Gold | May knight, may hold fief (barony) from lord, may own magical gates for trade, and may wear gold around kneck. | |
| Gentry | |||
| Baronet/ Lady |
Gold | If your Father and Grandfather served in the wars, and you have an annual income of 1,000 peices of gold, then this title can be yours for the price of 1,095 peices of gold. May wear gold at waist. | |
| Knight/ Lady |
Gold | May create squires. May own serfs, may hold fief (manor) from lord, may wear gold spurs. | |
6 |
Squire/ Lady |
Gold | May wear coif on head (stops 1 point of damage). May build military instillation, buy slaves, hold land (fort) from lord, have personal possessions, and own any of these in absentee through a slave or serf. |
Commoners |
|||
5 |
Freeman/ Freewoman |
Silver | May wear a cap or hat if desired. May own slaves, land, personal possessions, and may own land (shop) or in absentee through a slave. |
4 |
Peasant | Copper | Must braid hair. May own a building and personal possessions and accumulate either as wealth. |
2-3 |
Serf | Barter | Must braid hair and shave face. May own personal possessions, and accumulate them as wealth. |
1 |
Slave | None | Must shave entire head and face. One can always tell a freed slave in Branya by how new the hair growth on their head is. No one asks for a crew cut. |