High Owner Status Silver spoon? Try a silver MINE. |
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High Owners For the first time, adding all those Slaves up could really amount to
something! Huge tracts of land being tended by hundreds of Slaves Owned
by four or five High Owners has become commonplace, and in fact had been
necessary for a while before. There was a legal grace period while each
Land made up its laws regarding High Ownership, mainly because there were
so many Owners who were keeping far too many Slaves and not reporting
them (they didn't want that dreary High Holder title, did they?) so that
is one less worry they have. As far as social acceptance goes, this Status is just great according
to Owners, and most Suzerain, and also surprisingly to many Slaves, particularly
those found for several generations in one Ownership. High Holders readily
acknowledge the need for the Status, but also complain that this only
encourages the Owners to act like the social misfits they really are.
High Owners are referred to as HighLord or HighLady. Many of them run
racing or hunting facilities, using the best in Animal Masters - many
of whom will tolerate the activities of High Owners because they do pay
so well. More High Owners than Owners are Bred, considerably so since
they suddenly feel it's "hip" to have tails or stripes, or whatever
is in vogue at High Owner's parties. It is extremely rare to find even
one Membayar at any of these new Party sets. Since High Ownership is a relatively new Status (or hopelessly in the
future if playing in a past-era game) there is some concern about where
to place the "level" of status. Most High Owners consider themselves
at least equal to High Holders - but since their Status is so new, they
do allow the High Holders to claim their top-rank position. Many other
people claim that it is closer to Suzerain, less than Breeder and Animal
Master but above Suzerain. Clearly above Owner. These nebulous ranks have
some people in a tizzy - not High Owners, naturally. They know they're
on top, no matter whose Status is shown first... High Owners have their own symbol, of course, that of their "Slave cluster" atop a pillar, roughly combining the High Holder and Owner symbols. High Owners are considered higher Status than Suzerain, but lower than Animal Masters. Utterly idle rich and plantation owners, oil magnates and energy/transportation, sports celebrities, and really rich drug lords on earth might be considered High Owners (no pun intended...).
High Owners did not exist until after 10450, therefore the possibility
of having a child be born under that Status hadn't occurred until slightly
after then. The first group of High Lords and High Ladies are among the
richest people in the world, rivaling most High Holders. High Owners exist
because the lands they Hold are huge, and require far more than the normal
compliment of Slaves to take care of. Unreported births of Slaves and
hidden masses of Holdings finally came out of the collective closet once
the laws regarding High Ownership passed. Those born into it are more highly Bred than other children, and often
reflect a strange heritage to begin with. They are rarely put into schools
with other children of anything less than Suzerain Status. More often
than not, they are with Breeders and Animal Masters' offspring or tutored
privately by family members. It is rare to see a High Owner child interacting
with the rest of the world until they are at least 10 years old, unless
they are quite highly Bred and worth showing off. The exam for High Ownership
is rigorous and demanding, and most little HighLords pass it with flying
colors. Bred for this kind of thing, the world of High Ownership isn't
for the weak of heart - or lame of style. Early on, the children of High Lords are instilled with a sense of, well,
egotism, which isn't matched anywhere. They command their Slaves with
an ease that even High Holders cannot, and that Owners strive for. They
control their Bayaran in a similar manner, and insist on the best of either
kind, something also driven in at an early age. They know they deserve
what they have, but they are also taught early on that they must work
for it, to keep it up, that this Status is a demanding one as well as
being very rewarding. It is extremely rare for a High Lord to have a relationship with anyone
outside their peer group, however, introductions through Breeders networks
are important to them, more than any other Status. High Owners, like their
lower Status counterparts, have extremely gregarious lifestyles, but only
on their own turf. If they are found anywhere other than with each other,
it is in their private homes being attended to by their Slaves. High Owners are seen purely as driven, intense and passionate people;
often this is what it takes to get where they are. This universal perception
is correct, they have a well-deserved reputation as elitists. They keep
mostly to themselves but when they arrive at a party they had damn well
better get the attention they deserve. They are commonly found with massive Inheritances from older relatives
(pre-dating the High Owner laws, in the early days) and build themselves
up by moving onto the lands nearest their larger Holds. In this manner,
even High Master Avlen Kstet's huge estates are rivaled by High Lords.
They are active in politics from an early age, some of the few Owners
who have learned from the benefits of listening to Membayar turn to High
Ownership sooner or later. Betting is secondary to High Owners, their
main love is land and its many uses, and it is rare indeed that working
betting booths can reward someone with the huge amount they would need
to keep up that kind of fortune. Many High Lords are as decadent as they can be, but some have already
shown they have the best interests of their Slaves and the world in general
on their minds. By having larger fields, they also have larger investments
in that land, and its well being. If even a small portion of a plot goes
down, so does their worth. Time was, you didn't want to mess with a High Master or Suzerain in a
business deal. Now the High Lord is giving them both a run for their money.
They are in the politics similar to the High Holder, due to their land
Holds, and those who see fit to run for office are finding that office
suits them quite well. They like the penthouse. The High Owner who dies a natural death is rare, and every death of one
of their ranks is investigated by one or more of their own. They believe
(and rightfully so) that there are still people who would contest their
Holdings and Status, and they all intend to keep it. At any cost. High Owners Game Information High Owners became officially recognized as a Status in 450/Tana; 465/Zerin;
480/Kiran, Curra. Thousands of Owners jumped on this chance to double
their LandHoldings, virtually quadruple their Ownership, and continue
living in style the way they ought to have been all along. They simply
use Ownership and the Stock they trade the same way as High Holders do
Bayaran and business. Many High Owners are into Racing and Steeds in general,
some with both huge farms for feeding them and huge arenas to race them. Many of them have been Bred much more strongly than their previous
Owner parentage. "Shy, you're taking all the adventure out of blackmail." Lands Held Rates Bond Own
High Lord Saxxon - an immortal. He's never once denied that he has lived almost 5 thousand years. Why would you care? Would you like to see the place? It's immaculately maintained by the Slaves and Bayaran he holds. Of course. He would not bother getting his hands dirty. Not that he could touch many people - his skin is toxic. And yes, he has children. And yes, he's one of Veh's ancestors. Meaning? Yes, he's one of the most important Bred individuals in history. Do not mess with him. He'll give you a caress that leaves a scar... |
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