Create a Zekiran

Skills - Status and High Status Skills

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.