There are three distinct classes of Zhodani society; Noble, Intendant and Prole.
Nobles - Nobles are psionicists. It is not possible to become a noble without being a psionicist. By imperial standards, a noble is a class A or B mutant with mental abilities. Nobles associate primarily with other psionicists on a professional level, though they also associate with intendants and even proles. The concept of marriage does not exist for nobles. If it did, then they could only marry another noble and, if their offspring did not exhibit psionic ability, they would have to be sent to be raised by proles. Within the noble class, there are 5 distinct "ranks" (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th ranks). Nobles of the 5th rank are extremely rare and consist of the "council of elders" of zho society. In imperial terms, 5th rank nobles rule sectors. Subsectors and highly populated worlds are generally ruled by 4th rank nobles while lesser worlds are ruled by 3rd rank or lower nobles. All thought police are intendants with a psionic ability (Class C mutants by imperial standards) or higher. Each world of any size will generally have a rank 2 noble in charge of the thought police for that world. On Zeycude, that person in Lkvastebr.
Intendants - Intendants are those who have some minor psionic ability. This does not only mean a class C mutant with psionic ability, or a weak class A or B mutant. It also means those with above average intelligence, ego or decision-making/leadership abilities. Intendants generally associate primarily with other intendants and act as supervisors for proles. Marriage is allowed and common but, those who get married are those who know that they will never advance to the noble class.
Proles - Proles are the worker class. They are trained in a small subset of a skill and live most of their lives performing only that skill.
In addition to these three classes, there are two sub-classes.
Aspiring Intendant - An aspiring intendant is a prole who believe he or she has what it takes to become an intendant. They are able to meet with intendants and even a lesser noble (last step in the confirmation process) to prove their abilities in a series of test. It generally takes a minimum of a year (and usually closer to 5 years) before an aspiring intendant, who has real ability (usually not psionic so much as good intelligence, ego and/or decision-making/leadership skills) to be confirmed into their new class. How long it takes is determined by the level of ability. For example, a prole with a 15 INT, 10 EGO and 10 PRE would take five years to be confirmed if they even succeeded in convincing someone that they should be an intendant. Whereas someone with a 20 INT, 20 EGO and 20 PRE, or a class C mutant with telepathy, would be confirmed in the minimum time of a year.
Aspiring Noble - An aspiring noble is an intendant who believes he or she has what it takes to be a noble. To be a noble you must be a class A or B mutant with psionic ability. Period. A class C mutant with psionic ability will never be a noble (except in very rare cases). The confirmation period for becoming a noble is roughly twice as long as the confirmation period for becoming an intendant. They meet first with rank 1 nobles and, eventually a noble of the 3rd rank for the final confirmation. |