Social Class

01-05 Urban Gentry Male

You are the younger child of an urban-based, unlanded knight. Your father has an honorable military career and has served the local lord for years. He keeps a modest but well-tended townhouse in town. You have served as a squire in the household of one of your father’s knightly friends. If you remain a squire until age 21, and don’t run away or squander your good reputation, you may be knighted. Once knighted, you dream of being rewarded with a feoff or barony, thereby becoming a banneret knight. You have learned basic literacy, so you may read, do a little ciphering, and recite poetry. It is possible (about 50%) you belong to a landed or unlanded cadet house, as rolled on the Dynastic Chart under your home country. You own 3-4 fine suits of clothing, shoes, and hats, plus a dagger, a hand-to-hand weapon, and a padded aketon. Your starting money is multiplied by five. Having grown up in a good house, your manners are refined, and you are able to deal with people of all social classes. Your father’s good name carries weight in the region.  

06-20 Urban Minor Gentry Male

While not a knight, your father is a gentleman, and you are one of his younger children. He has a good military career, and when not at war he serves in the town guard. Your childhood is done, your military training is over, and it’s time for you to find a position and earn a living. You have to make your own way in the world, perhaps becoming a mercenary, or a vavasor. If you opt for a religious career, you might become a priest and perhaps earn a good sinecure, or you might become a monk or friar. You have learned basic literacy, so you may read and do a little ciphering. It is possible (about 20%) you belong to an unlanded cadet house, as rolled on the Dynastic Chart under your home country. You own 3-4 presentable suits of clothing, shoes, and hats, plus a dagger, a hand-to-hand weapon, and a padded aketon. Your beginning money is multiplied by two. You have learned good manners and may freely mix with most people. Regionally, your father’s good name carries weight in the region.  

21-25 Urban Merchant Prince Male

Your father is a wealthy merchant prince. He is quite wealthy, has traveled far and wide across the Known Worlde, and he is used to dealing with royals, nobles, bishops, and elite people. You have grown up assisting your father, travelling with him, and learning as you did so. You are a younger child, and not set to inherit much property or money, but you might finish your apprenticeship and become a merchant journeyman. Alternately, you may wish to attend university, or the Inns of Court. You have had the benefit of a good education at the local chapel school. Due to marriage alliances, it is possible (about 10%) that you belong to a landed or unlanded cadet house, as rolled on the Dynastic Chart under your home country. You are used to living in comfort. You have 4-6 sets of good quality, stylish clothing, boots, and hats. You also own a good sword (likely a messer) and matching dagger. Your beginning money is multiplied by seven. You are worldly enough that your manners are quite good. Your family name carries good cache. Determine your fathers profession on the Merchant Guild Professions Chart.  

26-40 Urban Merchant Male

Your father is a merchant, and he has followed the trade fairs throughout the empire. He is used to hobnobbing with city elite, knights, bishops, and barons. You grew up accompanying your father on his travels and learning the business. You are a younger child, and not set to inherit, but you might finish your apprenticeship and become a merchant journeyman in your father’s guild. If you rise high in the guild, you might opt to go into local politics. Also, you might consider attending university and eventually earning your doctorate, or study in the Inns of Court and become an attorney. you have had the benefit of a good education at the local chapel school. You have 3-4 sets of good quality clothing, boots, and hats, and you also own a sword (likely a messer) and a dagger. Your beginning money is multiplied by four. You are worldly enough that your manners are quite good. Your name carries some cache in town. Determine your fathers profession on the Merchant Guild Professions Chart.  

41-50 Urban Master Guildsman Male

Your father is a guild master and independent craftsman, and you are one of his younger sons, and you apprenticed to one of your father’s fellow tradesmen in the same craft. Your father is a master guildsman, running his own shop and employing journeymen guildsmen. You grew up as an apprentice in the same business, but to another master guildsman. If you remain, you will eventually become a journeyman guildsman yourself. Your future looks well in hand, yet your dream of attending university or studying law at the Inns of Court, while both farfetched and expensive, lingers. You learned your letters at the local chapel or grammar school, but you weren’t able to finish because of your apprentice responsibilities. Your parents and master have made sure you have 2-3 sets of serviceable clothes, shoes, and hats. Your beginning money is multiplied by one. Your manners are good, although you can be rude when it’s called for. Your father is well thought of in town, so his name carries plenty of local cache. Find your father's exact profession on the Craft Guild Proffessions chart.  

51-75 Urban Guildsman Male

Your father is a journeyman craftsman who is employed by a master craftsman, and you are one of his younger sons, and you apprenticed to one of your father’s fellow journeymen in the same craft. If you remain, you will eventually become a journeyman yourself. The dream of attending university or studying law at the Inns of Court, while both farfetched and expensive, lingers on. You gained a level of literacy at the local chapel school. Your parents have made sure you have 1-2 sets of serviceable clothes, shoes, and hats, because it’s important that you look presentable, and your beginning money is multiplied by half. Since you deal with the public and people of all classes, you have good manners. Those few who know your father respect him, so your name has some local cache. Find your father's exact profession on the Craft Guild Proffessions chart.  

76-90 Urban Pauper Male

Your father is proud but poor unskilled laborer, and there is nothing to inherit from him but a solid work ethic. You’ve been working hard since you were ten years old, and your life has never been one of comfort. Your prospects are poor, and if you live long enough, you will probably become a beggar. You’ve tried to live by the law, but you know poverty might force you into a life of thievery or banditry. You never learned your letters, and you cannot read, write, or cipher. All you own in the world are your well-used, ratty clothes, shoes, and hood, and you have no beginning money. You don’t know how to handle money effectively, your manners are basic at best, and your family name bears no cache.  

91-100 Urban Day Laborer Male

You’re not sure who your father was, and you doubt your mother knows for sure. You’ve been working as an unskilled laborer for as long as you can remember. Your options for a better life or advancement are slim to none. You hope for something better, but you are not even sure what that would be. Maybe become a thief or a beggar. You are illiterate. You’ve never owned much more than the well-used, ratty clothes you wear. You don’t own shoes or a hat. You don’t have any starting money, and you lose it as quick as you get it. Your manners are blunt, and your social skills limited. Your family name, if you had one, probably wouldn’t carry any social cache.

01-05 Urban Gentry Female

You are the younger child of an urban-based, unlanded knight. Your father has an honorable military career and has served the local lord for years. He keeps a modest but well-tended townhouse in town. You have served as a lady-in-waiting in the household of one your aunts. Your marriage prospects are good, because your father can afford a modest dowry for you. If you don’t find an agreeable man to marry, you may wish to become a nun, or remain a lady-in-waiting. You have learned basic literacy, so you may read, do a little ciphering, and recite poetry. It is possible (about 50%) you belong to a landed or unlanded cadet house, as rolled on the Dynastic Chart under your home country. You own 3-4 fine suits of clothing, shoes, and hats, plus a knife. Your beginning money is multiplied by five. Having grown up in a good house, your manners are refined, and you are able to deal with people of all social classes. Your father’s good name carries weight in the region.  

06-20 Urban Minor Gentry Female

While not a knight, your father is a gentleman, and you are one of his younger children. He has had a good military career, and when not at war he serves in the town guard. As one of his younger daughters, you are a maid of honor. You have served as a lady-in-waiting in the household of one your aunts. Your dearest hope is to find a well-to-do gentleman or knight to marry, although your father doesn’t have much money or any property to make a dowry for you. If not marriage, perhaps you might become a nun, or establish a business of your own. You have learned basic literacy, so you can read and do a little ciphering. It is possible (about 20%) you belong to an unlanded cadet house, as rolled on the Dynastic Chart under your home country. You own 3-4 presentable suits of clothing, shoes, and hats, plus a knife. Your beginning money is multiplied by two. You have learned good manners and may freely mix with most people. Regionally, your father’s good name carries weight in the region.  

21-25 Urban Merchant Prince Female

Your father is a wealthy merchant prince. He is quite wealthy, has traveled far and wide across the Known Worlde, and he is used to dealing with royals, nobles, bishops, and elite people. Working in the household for your mother. you were raised to run a household by your mother, and your best option is to find a well-to-do husband among the city elite. Luckily, your father can afford you a rich dowry, and you might even marry up into the gentry or minor nobility. Alternately, you might inherit enough money and property to start your own business. The church and life as a nun are always an option. Women don’t attend university, but you have had excellent private tutoring. Due to marriage alliances, it is possible (about 10%) that you belong to a landed or unlanded cadet house, as rolled on the Dynastic Chart under your home country. You are used to living in comfort. You have 4-6 sets of good quality, stylish clothing, boots, and hats. You also own a good dagger. Your beginning money is multiplied by seven. You are worldly enough that your manners are quite good. Your name carries good cache. Determine your fathers profession on the Merchant Guild Professions Chart.  

26-40 Urban Merchant Female

Your father is a merchant, and he has followed the trade fairs throughout the empire. He is used to dealing with city elite, knights, bishops, and barons. You were raised to run a household by your mother. Your best option is to find a well-to-do husband among the city burgesses. This is possible, because your father can afford a reasonable dowry and perhaps a bit of property to attract a husband for you. Alternately, you might inherit enough money and property to start your own business. You might decide to enter a guild that is open to women, become a guildswoman in your husband’s guild, or enter the Church and become a nun. You received a good education via private tutoring. You have 3-4 sets of good quality clothing, boots, and hats. You also own a good dagger. Your beginning money is multiplied by four. You are worldly enough that your manners are quite good. Your name carries some cache in town. Determine your fathers profession on the Merchant Guild Professions Chart.  

41-50 Urban Master Guildsman Female

Your father is a guild master and independent craftsman, and you are one of his daughters. You were raised to by your mother to run a household. Your best option is to find a well-to-do husband among the city burgesses. Your dowry is generous enough that your chance of attracting a husband is good. Alternately, you might inherit enough money and property to start your own business. Your mother tutored you in reading and ciphering, so your literacy rate is good. Your parents have made sure you have 2-3 sets of serviceable clothes, shoes, and hats, because it’s important that you look presentable. Your beginning money is multiplied by one. Your manners are good. Your father is well thought of in town, so his name carries some local cache. Find your father's exact profession on the Craft Guild Proffessions chart.  

51-75 Urban Guildsman Female

Your father is a journeyman craftsman who is employed by a master craftsman, and you are one of his daughters. Your mother raised you to run a household. Your best option is to find a well-to-do husband among the city craftsmen. Your parents don’t have much money, and no land for a dowry, so you might as well marry for love. The call of the cloister remains open, and you might decide to become a nun. Unfortunately, your parents didn’t invest in chapel school for you, so you are unlettered. Your parents have made sure you have 1-2 sets of usable clothes, shoes, and hats, because it’s important that you look presentable. Your beginning money is multiplied by half. Your mother made sure you have decent manners. Those few who know your father respect him, so your name has some local cache. Find your father's exact profession on the Craft Guild Proffessions chart.  

76-90 Urban Pauper Female

You knew your mother, father, and siblings, but you lost them to some sickness. Beyond this, you don’t know any of your family. You’ve managed to make a little money by doing outwork spinning. You dream of finding a husband, or becoming a nun. You have no dowry, so a good husband is unlikely, and the convent is looking better and better. You consider yourself a good girl, but you know poverty might force you into prostitution. You never learned your letters, and you cannot read, write, or cipher. All you own in the world are your well-used, ratty clothes, and your shoes and bonnet are equally distressed. You don’t begin with any money, and you lose it as quickly as you get it. Your manners are basic at best, and your family name bears no social cache.  

91-100 Urban Day Laborer Female

Life is hard. Your mother passed away some time back, and you don’t know who your father was. You’ve always worked as a char-woman, foot messenger, or even a prostitute. You dream of finding a husband, but your prospects seem dim. Men have come and gone, but none of them have been worth a damn. Your only hope for a dowry and thus a good husband is if the local Church offers to sponsor you. These sponsorships are usually given to prostitutes who age out or wish to escape that life. You are illiterate, and you only own the ratty, used clothes that you wear, and they are washed out and falling apart. You don’t own shoes, and you have no beginning money. Your manners are rude, inappropriate, and uninformed. Your family name, if you had one, probably wouldn’t carry any cache.

 

01-05 Gentry Male

You are the younger child of an unlanded country knight, and you have served as a squire in the household of one of your father’s knightly friends. If you remain a squire until age 21, and if you don’t ruin your reputation in the meantime, you will be knighted at that age. Once you are granted the accolade, you dream of being rewarded a feoff or barony and becoming a banneret knight. You learned your letters from the local parish school or from a household chaplain. Due to marriage alliances, it is possible (about 50%) that you belong to a landed or unlanded cadet house, as rolled on the Dynastic Chart under your home country. You own 2-3 fine suits of clothing, shoes, and hats, plus a dagger, a hand-to-hand weapon, and a padded aketon. Your starting money is multiplied by four. Having grown up in a good, country house, your manners are good, if a bit direct, and you are able to deal with people of all social classes. Your father’s good name carries weight in the community.  

06-20 Minor Gentry Male

While not a knight, your father is a country gentleman, and you are one of his younger sons. You are expected to make your own way, perhaps becoming a mercenary, or a vavasseur. If you opt for the Church, you may become a priest and perhaps earn a good sinecure, or you might become a monk, or even a knight in one of the fighting clerical orders. You learned your letters from the local parish school. Due to marriage alliances, it is possible (about 20%) that you belong to an unlanded cadet house, as rolled on the Dynastic Chart under your home country. You own 2-3 fine suits of clothing, shoes, hats, knife, a sword of some kind, and a padded gambeson. Your starting money is multiplied by three. Having grown up in a good house, your manners are good, and you are able to deal with people from most social classes, and your father’s good name carries some weight in the community.  

21-35 Yeoman Male

Your father is a successful farmer who manages his own properties. He saw military action as an archer for his lord many times, and the same is expected of you. You are a younger son, and set to inherit enough land for a humble household of your own. It is your hope, through a good marriage alliance, or as an archer, that you will become a yeoman yourself. You learned your letters from the local parish school, and you have considered going on to university or the Inns of Court in the city to pursue a career as lecturer or attorney. You dress well, and practice arms as befits an archer. As such, you have 2-4 good sets of clothing, including footwear and hats, and longbow, messer, dagger, padded gambeson, and your starting money is doubled. Your manners are good, because your father taught you to be polite and respectful to both those above and below your class. Your family name carries a good cache in the region you come from.  

36-55 Peasant/Franklin Male

Your father is a farmer who manages his own properties. He’s not rich, and he works hard, but he’s a free man, as are you. He saw military action as an archer for his lord many times, so you also practice arms as befits an archer. As a younger son, you’re not expected to inherit much, and unless you are driven for success then you are likely to follow in father’s career. Dreams of attending university or the Inns of court to become a lecturer or attorney are far-fetched at best. You learned the basics at the parish school, but you are literate at best; you know enough to run a homestead, but you are no scholar. You have 1-2 sets of clothing, as well as footwear, hats, a cloak, a good work knife and a longbow. Your beginning money is standard. Your manners are pretty good, and you know when to be respectful and show deference to those above you. Your father’s good name puts you in good stead in the community.  

56-75 Serf Male

You father is a poor share cropper, renting land from the local yeoman or lord, and you’ve helped in the fields for as long as you remember. You’ll have to make your own way in the world, because there is nothing to inherit, and at best you might become a sharecropper in your own right. The only other way out is to become a lay brother in a monastery, a friar, a bandit, or a thief. You never had the opportunity to study at the parish school, so you are illiterate. The clothes you wear are what you own, and there is a 50% likelihood of owning shoes. Winters are hard, but you don’t own a cloak. Your beginning money is limited to the 3-6 silver coins you’ve been able to save. Your manners are rough, but you’ve learned to pay deference to those better off than you. Sadly, your father’s name brings you no social benefit.  

76-90 Rural Day Laborer Male

Your father is a poverty-stricken, unskilled laborer, and you have been the same for as long as you can remember, doing odd jobs and day work to help support your family. Your options seem limited. You never got the chance to go to school, you own nothing but the stained clothes you wear, and your beginning money is 1-2 silver coins. You never learned good manners, and your father’s name brings little to no cache.  

91-100 Below Social Class Male

Your father was a beggar, outlaw, or a wandering, masterless man, and you’ve never met him. Your mother barely remembers him. You have no home, no roots, and you seemed destined to follow in your sire’s career path. Staying clear of the law is your highest aspiration, because you don’t need your ear clipped, nose clipped or cut off, or tattooed as an outlaw. Outside doing odd jobs, becoming a bandit or thief, your prospects are very limited. You are illiterate, and own nothing but the ragged clothes you wear. You have no starting money, your manners are crude, and you know nothing of the fine ways of society. Even if you knew who your father was, his name likely would bring condemnation.  

 

01-05 Gentry Female

You are a daughter of an unlanded country knight, and you have served as a lady-in-waiting in one of your aunt’s households. Your father can provide a small dowry, so finding a good marriage match is a possibility. If you don’t find an agreeable spouse, you may wish to become a nun. You were tutored in your letters by the household chaplain; his education was more than passing, and he happily passed his knowledge onto you. Due to old marriage alliances, it is possible (about 50%) that you belong to an unlanded cadet house, as rolled on the Dynastic Chart under your home country. Currently, you own 3-4 fine suits of clothing, shoes, and hats, plus a small knife, and your starting money is multiplied by four. Having grown up in a good house, your manners are refined, and you are able to deal with people of all social classes. Your father’s good name carries weight in the community.  

06-20 Minor Gentry Female

While not a knight, your father is a country gentleman, and you are one of his daughters, a so-called maid of honor. Your dearest hope is to find a well-to-do gentleman or knight to marry, but your father doesn’t have much money or any property to make a dowry for you. If not marriage, perhaps you might become a nun. You were allowed to attend the parish school when you were young, and your mother has tutored you ever since, so your literacy is good. Due to old marriage alliances, it is possible (about 20%) that you belong to an unlanded cadet house, as rolled on the Dynastic Chart under your home country. You own 2-3 presentable suits of clothing, shoes, and hats, plus a small knife, and your starting money is multiplied by three. You have learned good manners and may freely mix with most people. Regionally, your father’s good name carries weight in the community.  

21-35 Yeoman Female

Your father is a successful farmer who manages his own properties. He saw military action as an archer for his lord many times. Your father can afford a reasonable dowry in land and money, so you hope to find a well-matched husband, hopefully a yeoman or better. Becoming a nun remains an attractive option, but not yet. The idea of marriage and becoming the lady of your own house seems much more appealing than the cloister. You were able to learn your letters at the parish grammar school, and you pride yourself in your literacy. You have 2-4 good sets of clothing, including footwear and hats, and a small knife, and your starting money is doubled. Your manners are good, because you mother impressed upon you the need for civility to those above and below your station, and your family name carries a good cache in your home community.  

36-55 Peasant/Franklin Female

Your father is a farmer who manages his own properties. He’s not rich, and he works hard, but he’s a free man, and he saw military action as an archer for his lord many times. You are one of his daughters, and you grew up in relative comfort. You hope your father can arrange a good marriage match for you, because your father can afford a small dowry. If you don’t find a husband, or a convent willing to take you in, you hope to care for your parents in their old age. You grew up helping your mother with the house, and while you never got to attend parish school, she did teach you some ciphering so you can manage the family books when she is too old or blind to do so anymore. You have 1-2 sets of clothing, as well as footwear, hats, and a cloak, plus a good work knife, and beginning money is standard. Your manners are pretty good, and you know when to be respectful and show deference to those above your station. Your father’s good name puts you in good stead in the community.  

56-75 Serf Female

You father is a poor share cropper, renting land from the local yeoman or lord, and you’ve helped in the fields for as long as you can remember. Your great hope is to find a husband, but you are poor and without dowry, so that’s an iffy proposition. If nothing else, you hope to be able to care for your parents when they are too old to work anymore. You never had the opportunity to study at the parish school, so you are illiterate. The clothes you wear are what you own, but there is a 50% likelihood of owning shoes. Winters are hard, but you don’t own a cloak. Your beginning funds are limited to the 3-6 silver coins you’ve been able to scrimp and save. Your manners are rough, but you’ve learned to pay deference to those better off than you, and your father’s name brings you no benefit.  

76-90 Rural Day Laborer Female

Your father is a poverty-stricken unskilled laborer, and you also have been the same for as long as you can remember. You’ve worked as a charwoman, sweeper, and kitchen worker, and your options seem limited. You are illiterate, you own nothing but the stained clothes you wear, and your beginning money is 1-2 silver coins. Your manners are lacking, and your father’s name brings little to no cache.  

91-100 Below Social Class Female

You’ve scrambled to find enough to eat for as long as you can remember. You’ve been a pure-finder, a rag-and-bone collector, part-time prostitute, and a field worker. Your prospects are limited, and you’ve yet to see a way out of this life. Staying clear of the law is your highest aspiration, because you don’t need your ear clipped, nose clipped or cut off, tattooed, or any of the other gruesome punishments they reserve for criminals. You are illiterate, you own nothing but the ragged clothes you wear, and you have no starting money. Your manners are crude, and you know nothing of the fine ways of society. Even if you knew who your father was, his name likely likely would bring social condemnation.