Please note that this character chart does not
include Dragon Master, Dragon Breeder or Rogue status. For those please
go to the Dragonmasters
of Zekira website. The information there may conflict slightly with
this normal timeline.
Skills listed on the following charts are arranged in order of use
and commonality.
Status Skills
These skills are often used by everyone, to some extent. Each Status has
its own cost for the levels of them, also each has a different style of
using them. All basic Status Skills (those listed on the character sheet
automatically) are considered Everyday skills.
Area Knowledge - Stripped down Geography skills. Able to find their way
around from one block to the next, or broader areas (city to city, Area
to Area), knowledge of who is likely to live in what kinds of places,
within in Area. This can be specialized and usually is, particularly by
travel agents and curriers.
Literacy - The ability to read and write.
Mathematics - Basic skills in addition and subtraction, division and
multiplication, and basic algebra for higher Status than Slave and Bond.
Obeyance - Used by Slaves only, this skill is included in the Slave Status
group. With it, the Slave can temper their reactions to requests. (A command
is issued that a Slave must strip naked and dance with teacups before
an audience of the Owner's finest statues. With a Social Skill of only
20, this Slave's Obeyance Skill of 10 is added and she decides that while
embarrassing, it isn't out of the question and she won't simply slap him
and run away. Alternately, if she'd been requested to do the same dance
before an audience of live Owners and High Holders, she'd be begging for
respite, using the same score.) It does enable the Slave in question to
argue against obviously silly or inappropriate requests. Bayaran must
obey to the extent that their job and livelihood depends on pleasing their
Master - but they do not actually have to do anything.
Personal - Caring for yourself, able to bathe and clothe, eat and fix
food for yourself only. Where to buy food, how to cook it, and when to
wash the clothing you've been wearing for the last three days...
Higher Status Skills
These Skills may only be purchased by Membayar and above, with some exceptions
that FreeLand Holders may.
Command - Used by Owners, Suzerain, Animal Masters, Breeders and High
Holders (and High Owners of course, if of that time line). This skill
is actually taught as part of the Owner's Status testing. Because it is
very easy to abuse the right of Ownership, Born Owners are taught specific
means to request things, what never to request (as if), and what to do
when their requests are either snubbed or refused. This skill does not
conflict with the Obeyance skill that Slaves must have, in fact they are
complimentary: the right Command followed by the right Obeyance means
no one gets angry, no one gets hurt. This skill separately costs 5 points.
It directly adds to the Social Skill score, and can be raised. Considered
a Tough skill.
Law - Generally, there are lots of laws to pay attention to. Specifically,
it is not necessary to have all the characters in the game be experts
at any law skills other than those which come with their Status. For the
general Status version of any Law Skill the cost is 5 points, allows a
knowledge but not use. (See Also the Stock law section). All Law Skills
are Intelligence + 1/5 Social Skill. All Law is considered Impossible
level.
Breeding - Taken by Breeder-Bonders mostly, these laws cover everything
regarding the contracts, expectations and disputes of Breeders. For 10
points the character can usually set up whatever contracts they need,
or settle other people's needs. This can be raised, but is already specific.
Crime/Business - Lawyers who specialize in Business law are able to do
corporate tricks, on a grand scale. Dealing only with problems on this
scale, companies often have at least one good Membayar on staff who is
an expert in this level. This costs 15 points and can be raised and specialized
further (computer breakins, copyright infringement, etc). Business Law
on Earth is about the same.
Crime/Physical - Breaking and entering, accidents, most normal Earthly
crimes on the street are covered here. These lawyers represent either
side in an argument. This costs 5 points, and can be raised, and specialized
to a particular kind of crime.
Crime/Social - Most other crimes not covered by Physical or Business.
Stalking, blackmail, neighborhood disputes. This costs 10 points and is
rare.
Crime/Stock, Hard - Crimes committed either by or against Slaves is covered
here. Yes, it's repetitive because most of those crimes are specifically
Physical and rarely Social, but it's handled quite differently when a
Slave is involved. Remember, they have few if any rights! The cost to
learn and specialize in Hard Stock Crimes is 10 points.
Hard Stock - The buying and selling of Slaves, disputes regarding who
Owns whom, and who can and cannot retitle up to Bayaran or FreeWorker,
or be dropped from Bayaran into Slavery. This costs 10 points, and can
include Sales Only, Retitling, etc as specialties. Though this covers
Owner's interests, mainly Membayar do all the work.
Judging - Any sort of officiating over other lawyers. This ability is
usually in the hands of Membayar, Suzerain or (when they're good enough)
High Holders. The skill costs 10 points and allows the user to become
a professional by learning it. (In other words, don't bother taking this
skill if you don't want the character to be a judge!)
Land - All things to do with buying it, selling it, divesting or Inheriting
it, (this skill, combined with Stock Law is also called Inheritance Law)
covered by a 10 point skill. The catch is that the character must know
a bit about the Land they're in or working with, Geography or Area Knowledge
is appropriate.
Other - Anything which doesn't qualify under the stated laws... Countersuits
of any type, data theft, etc.
Stock - This is all other stock than Slaves. Steeds, animals, stuff you
own. If someone steals it it's Physical Crime. If someone breaks it or
it is defective, this is the court to go to. Inheritance court is mainly
Stock court. For 5 points anyone can do this, it can be raised and used
as a profession, and this is the most common Law bought for Status.
Legal Theory - With this skill the character can do all the research they
can stomach, run a law library, and pretty much be a gopher for the big
guys. Consultation firms, whose job it is to recommend the right kinds
of lawyers to go to, are the main users of Theory. The cost to use this
skill is 10 points, it can be bought by FreeLandHolders.
Politics - Used by people who are of sufficient Status and direction.
If your character has a very high Social Skill or Charisma (use the best,
most often), they will likely be very good at these skills. If the character,
too, has a lot of Land, they may be forced into a political arena! All
but Sense can be used by FreeLandHolders and up. All politics except Office
are considered Impossible level skills.
Office - The use of simple office politics, such as watercooler talk,
socialization and being seen by the right people. This does not indicate
the ability to avoid them, just the general understanding that they exist,
how to recognize when you're a part of them, and who to tattle on when
you've spied on others. Skill costs 5 points, anyone working in a business
or with high-level security should consider this skill. Though offices
are terrible places for Owners to be, they'd be best at this and its Practice
skill.
Political Sense - This skill is that used by Area Presidents, and anyone
actually in politics being voted upon. For 10 points the character can
withstand being elected to a post if they're not quite otherwise ready,
but they'll do a good job. For 15 points they could be a politician on
Earth, running regardless of their actual abilities. While it is fun for
Owners to be politicians, the best are Membayar.
Practice - This is the complimentary skill to Office politics, it confers
a good amount of skill in the actual use of spying, listening in, dropping
names, holding the right meetings, and all. For 10 points this skill can
be used in any social situation (even parties... Hell, especially parties!).
It can be specialized (parties, offices, particular Status people, racing,
etc). Owners run circles around Membayar using this skill, most times.
Political Theory - Political theorists on Earth are about the same as
those on Zekira. Good Theorists may also be experts in other fields, or
be teachers. For 10 points the theorist can select a political figure
or era and analyze the potential, or spot the errors in their plans. Many
very good theorists are in television broadcasting as well as being consultants
to the very same politicians they're observing. This skill does not convey
the ability to run themselves, but often they'd be perfectly suited.
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