The Ten Castes of Thundull

Renkyl Caste System

Renkyl society is shaped by ten castes that cumulatively govern every aspect of dwarven life. Each caste is comprised of five houses. The Primary House is the family that leads a caste. The Secondary House and Tertiary House are the families with the second and third most influence and status within the caste. The Minor House is the family that serves as the buffer between the nobility of the top three houses, and the rabble of normal society. The Common House is by far the largest in any caste for it is comprised of the working class and those that serve the higher houses.

General:

1. Neither the Patriarch or Matriarch can be Stricken.

2. No one in the Patriarch's or Matriarch's immediate or extended family can be Stricken.

3. If the lowest ranked Blessing between the Matriarch and Patriarch is Lowborn then House can only rise to Minor House status.

4. If the lowest ranked Blessing between the Matriarch and Patriarch is Highborn then House can only rise to Tertiary House status.

5. If both Matriarch and Patriarch are Touched then House can only rise to Secondary House status.

6. Any Secondary, Tertiary, Minor or Common House can be promoted or demoted.

7. The Primary House cannot be demoted.

8. In the case where there is no Primary House, the Primary Houses of the other Castes will choose a new Primary House.

Warrior Caste (onyx):

1. Patriarch must have at least one recorded feat of distinguished valor.

2. Matriarch must demonstrate adequate fertility by having birthed at least five children (none of whom are Stricken).

3. Every male born into the House is consigned to military service for life.

4. If a male child refutes military service the House will be subject for review. 

5. Every female born into the House must be married to another House within the Warrior Caste at age 15, and must bear at least one non-Stricken offspring by age 18.

6. If a female born of the House does not bear a non-Stricken offspring by age 19 the House will be subject for review.

7. If at least one new feat of distinguished valor is not recorded for the House every five years, the House comes under review.

Geomancy Caste (diamond):

1. Patriarch must have at least one recorded feat of distinguished magic.

2. Matriarch must demonstrate adequate fertility by having birthed at least five children (none of whom are Stricken).

3. Every child born into the House must attend the Academy.

4. At least one child of each generation must be accepted into the University.

5. If any child of the House fails a single course at either the Academy or University the House will be put under review.

6. If any child of the House drops out or is kicked out of either the Academy or University the House will be demoted.

7. If any child born to the House is Stricken, the House will be demoted.

8. If at least one new feat of distinguished valor is not recorded for the House every five years, the House comes under review.

Masonry Caste (sapphire):

1. Patriarch and Matriarch must each have at least one recorded build of distinguished masonry.

2. Matriarch must birth no more than two Stricken offspring.

3. Every child born into the House must work in the masonry industry.

4. At least one child of each generation must record a build of distinguished masonry.

5. If any child of the House does not work in the masonry industry the House will be put under review.

Metallurgy Caste (gold):

1. Patriarch and Matriarch must have at least one recorded build of distinguished metallurgy.

2. Matriarch must birth no more than two Stricken offspring.

3. Every child born into the House must work in the metallurgy industry.

4. At least one child of each generation must record a build of distinguished metallurgy.

5. If any child of the House does not work in the metallurgy industry the House will be put under review.

Domestic Merchant Caste (emerald):

1. Patriarch must be the owner and founder of at least one business of pronounced value.

2. Matricarch must have an immediate or extended blood relation to someone who owns or founded at least one business of pronounced value.

3. Every child born into the House must work in the Patriarch's business of pronounced value from the ages of 5-15.

4. At least one child of each generation must either expand the Patriarch's business of pronounced value into a new branch that is also of pronounced value or start their own business of pronounced value.

5. If the Patriarch's business of pronounced value does not expand each generation, the House will be put under review.

6. If a business of pronounced value owned by the House fails, the House will be demoted.

7. If the original business of pronounced value fails, the House will be removed from the caste.

Foreign Merchant Caste (ruby):

1. Patriarch must be the owner and founder of at least one international business of pronounced value.

2. Matricarch must have an immediate or extended blood relation to someone who owns or founded at least one international business of pronounced value.

3. The main branch of the international business of pronounced value owned and founded by the Patriarch must always be located within the Thundull Mountains.

3. Every child born into the House must work in the Patriarch's international business of pronounced value from the ages of 5-15.

4. At least one child of each generation must either expand the Patriarch's business of pronounced value into a new international branch that is also of pronounced value or start their own international business of pronounced value.

5. If the Patriarch's international business of pronounced value does not expand each generation, the House will be put under review.

6. If an international business of pronounced value owned by the House fails, the House will be demoted.

7. If the original international business of pronounced value fails, the House will be removed from the caste.

Ancestral Caste (pearl):

1. Patriarch and Matriarch must be blood relatives to at least five generations of members of the caste.

2. Matricarch must demonstrate adequate fertility by having birthed at least five children.

3. Matriarch must continue to bear children once every two years for the duration of her fertility.

4. No child borne of the Matriarch and Patriarch can be Stricken.

5. Both Matriarch and Patriarch must demonstrate an understanding of at least the last 500 years of renkyl history.

6. Every child born to the House must demonstrate the same understanding by age 16.

7. Any vote cast by the House that goes against historical tradition and precedent will see the House demoted.

8. Any action by any member of the House that defames historical tradition and precedent will see the House come under review.

Titanism Caste (amethyst):

1. Patriarch and Matriarch must currently hold the rank of priest or higher within the clergy.

2. The highest attainable rank the Patriarch can achieve determines the highest potential standing of the House.

3. Matriarch and Patriarch must hold their positions with good standing.

4. Any promotion/demotion the Patriarch receives is reflected on their House.

5. Every child born into the House must be raised following the Titanic Doctrine.

6. At least one child of each generation must reach the rank befitting the status of their House.

7. If any child of the House defects from Titanism the House will be put under review.

8. If any child of the House is disowned by the church the House will be removed from the Caste.

Progressive Caste (topaz):

1. Patriarch and Matriarch must be blood relatives to at least three generations of members of the caste.

2. Matricarch must demonstrate adequate fertility by having birthed at least two children.

3. Matriarch must continue to bear children once every five years for the duration of her fertility.

4. Both Matriarch and Patriarch must demonstrate an understanding of at least the last 100 years of world history.

5. Every child born to the House must demonstrate the same understanding by age 16.

6. Any vote cast by the House that goes against furthering international relations will see the House demoted.

7. Any action by any member of the House that hinders international relations will see the House come under review.

Paragon Caste (opal):

1. Patriarch must have at least one recorded feat of renowned altruism.

2. Matriarch must have at least one recorded feat of renowned altruism not associated with the Patriarch's feat of renowned altruism.

3. Matriarch must give birth to at least one son and one daughter within the first five years of their House reaching Nobility status.

4. One child must be married into another House of the same Caste while the other is married to a House of another Caste.

5. The child that marries into another House of the Paragon Caste must elevate either of their parent's feat of renowned altruism into a feat of revered altruism by age 25, either of their spouse's parent's feat of renowned altruism into a feat of revered altruism by age 30 and obtain at least one feat of revered altruism of their own by age 35. 

6. The child that marries into a House of a different caste must obtain at least one feat of renowned altruism in the name of their spouse's House by age 25, elevate either of their parent's feats of renowned altruism into a feat of revered altruism by age 30, and elevate the feat of renowned altruism credited to their spouse's House to a feat of revered altruism by age 35.