Something that's been bugging my brain for a while is the Caste system of Zandalar and the tomes/books that drop from the Zandalari mobs of Pandaria and her associated dungeons and raids. More importantly, that there doesn't seem to be the traditional family structures we've seen in most races/societies in WoW, be they monogamy, bigamy or other, stranger combinations, but something strikes me as strange about the Zandalari, and strange in a good way.
For example, the only parent-child relationship we see is Talanji and her father, Rastakhan. Now, this doesn't seem odd, but remember that the Zandalari are strictly ordered into Caste systems, with the Priests of the Loa standing atop the social structure, with the Warrior caste then under them, and anyone who cannot connect with the Loa or fails to be blessed by their ancestors as a warrior ends up in a very large, very socially-crippled group that serves as farmers, labourers, fishers and the like.
I'm assuming, judging from the way they act, the 'Warrior' caste is rather large as well and governs the Zandalari we find in the Beast Ward/Kraal, the sailors of Zandalar's navy and other armed, trained individuals.
And atop the Priest Caste is a rather specialized and unique sub-caste, the King/Queen Caste ...
There's a daily where you have to round up Casteless children to be tested for an affinity to the Loa, where they will either pass and begin training to become Priest of the Loa, Warriors of Zandalar or be condemned to a life of drudgery.
Yet obviously that can't apply to the children of the Queen/King, as this group must be, by necessity, a rather small and exclusive 'Caste' all on it's own, and that's where I noticed this odd quirk.
As there can only be one ruler, and they must naturally impart the necessary skills to lead a nation of fractious Trolls in a hostile world to their successors, that would make the King/Queen and their progeny and potential spouses the only real 'family' within Zandalar. For every other Zandalari, they may have parents, but their family is the other children in their creches, the tutors and priests who test and train them and the older trainees. They may squabble and bicker and powerful individuals may even move openly against one another for the favour of the Loa or to hold positions of great esteem and influence, but that bond instilled in them from a young age keeps the bulk of their people bound together in relative harmony and common purpose.
The concept of the 'nuclear' family simply doesn't seem to exist in Zandalar as the base-standard for these people. At first glance this seems odd, but when you then consider that it instills a very powerful sense of belonging amongst the Zandalari, that the warriors at their side isn't just a comrade, but a sibling or cousin, that the other spellcasters they join together with in rituals are nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles. For the Zandalari, their caste are their family, their home, and the 'nuclear' family that many races of both the Horde and Alliance enjoy is the domain, the privilege, of the Royal Family, and only that rarified Caste that stands atop all of their society and guides them through a turbulent world.
Has anyone else noticed this, or is it just me?
I like this theory. It digs deeper into Zandalari culture and touches on some details that most races should have, in my opinion, but don't.
The only kink in the chain here is that if you go inside some of the buildings around Draza'alor and the port, you can see the traditional families. Mother, father and a kid or two. I believe there's one near the Jani quest where either the mother or father was killed (I don't remember which one) and the parent is telling their child about it.
But I can see the different caste system, from King to priesthood to warriors to serfs and then, likely, a casteless category for the truly unwanted.
Overall I like it and wish Blizz would put that level of detail into the finer points of each culture regarding family and day to day life.
The only kink in the chain here is that if you go inside some of the buildings around Draza'alor and the port, you can see the traditional families. Mother, father and a kid or two. I believe there's one near the Jani quest where either the mother or father was killed (I don't remember which one) and the parent is telling their child about it.
But I can see the different caste system, from King to priesthood to warriors to serfs and then, likely, a casteless category for the truly unwanted.
Overall I like it and wish Blizz would put that level of detail into the finer points of each culture regarding family and day to day life.
I suspect the reason there's a lot of Casteless children as well (at the time) is the abundance of reasons to be exiled to Vol'dun. Upset the wrong person? Vol'dun. Speak out of line? Vol'dun. Commit an actual crime? Well yeah, Vol'dun.
Leaves a lot of offspring just wandering around without a stable family.
Leaves a lot of offspring just wandering around without a stable family.
Trolls reproduce by budding.
I'm going to be stealing this idea for a future DnD campaign.
11/03/2018 08:28 PMPosted by MelleeI'm going to be stealing this idea for a future DnD campaign.
Go for your life.
If you're looking for more non-traditional societies to plunder for your campaign, remember to hit up the Roman empire as a good 'framework' for a powerful empire in a sword-and-sorcery campaign, especially since magic and flying mounts make keeping a massive empire from fragmenting due to information decay a non-issue, and a lot of the pre-crusade empires and kingdoms of the mediterranean and middle east regions can offer surprising ideas. Try to meld a couple of kingdoms together to make an idealized one for each of your kingdom and don't be afraid to step back and consider how these societies will interact with each other in the world you're crafting.
I've been plundering history for about twenty years to make unique nations, societies and the like for a racially diverse tables and I'll say right now it never hurts to ask your players for their opinions on 'unfinished' campaign ideas (in the roughest, most ambiguous way you can of course, no meta-knowledge for them to abuse in the campaign!) just to make sure you're not crafting for yourself a perfect storm at your table.
One thing though? Get your information on these long-dead or ancient societies and nations through the countries themselves, or rather their historical departments that occupy the region these vanished kingdoms once held, rather than governmental and/or religious departments or groups. There's ... a disturbing amount of drift in the information you'll get when you compare the two.
I really like this idea. Speaking of campaign ideas, it made alter one society in a homebrew world of mine where arcane users are at the top with priests below them before settling to commoners. Now, children are tested for arcane or divine aptitude before being shuttled off to be raised within a temple or mage enclave.
11/03/2018 05:27 AMPosted by VurakaThe only kink in the chain here is that if you go inside some of the buildings around Draza'alor and the port, you can see the traditional families. Mother, father and a kid or two. I believe there's one near the Jani quest where either the mother or father was killed (I don't remember which one) and the parent is telling their child about it.
A possible counterargument is that the casteless don't have the cohesion of the higher ranks. One, they lack the central structure of teachers and elders to gather around. Two, society is probably more stable if they're atomized, because having all of your farmers and laborers upset to the point of revolt would be a crisis.
I feel like OP may be overanalyzing a bit. I think this "caste-sorting" thing is basically just the Zandalari equivalent of school. Kids get out of bed, catch the school direhorn, learn their ABCs, 123s, and how to worship Rezan, and then they go home at 2pm.
...And now I'm imagining a teenage Zandalari all like "Oh crap! I'm late for Loa School!" And rushes out of her house with a steak in her mouth.
...And now I'm imagining a teenage Zandalari all like "Oh crap! I'm late for Loa School!" And rushes out of her house with a steak in her mouth.
Casteless don't seem to actually have it so bad in Zandalar. Yeah, there are poor people in the city and not being a member of the priest/warrior/leadership power structure is likely a large contributing factor. There are poor people in every Horde/Alliance city for the same reasons.
I don't think a Zandalari farmer or fisherman necessarily has it any worse than your average Horde or Alliance farmer. Exile doesn't seem reserved for Casteless either. If anything, it seems like a way of doing away with troublemakers or political opponents among the castes.
Also, outside of the ruling family, the castes don't seem like it's hereditary. The creches are made up of a bunch of kids- including orphans. If a child in the Empire shows the talent, they get put into the appropriate caste.
I think a better comparison- to use a pop culture reference- would be the Prequel Jedi.
Not being a Jedi isn't a bad thing in and of itself. Being a Jedi is kind of a thing everyone wants for their children, though. If you have a kid and they shows a real strong affinity for the Force (Loa) then the Republic/Jedi (Zandalari Empire)recruits them and places them into the Order (a caste) where they serve as Jedi (priests/warriors/sages/advisors). Jedi (caste members) have a lot of privileges and leeway when dealing with others. At the same time, they're servants of the force (the loa) and the Republic (Empire) as opposed to rulers. Actual legislation and rule is still left up to the hereditary families.
Now, in our own world's history, priesthoods have usually been able to maintain independent power by being the sole interpreters/executioners of the will of supernatural. However, this is less of an issue with the Zandalari because their deities are present in the corporeal world and can interact with/empower select mortals and speak for themselves. Harder to get away with stuff when the boss is looking over your shoulder and speaking for themselves. This can rob individual members of the priesthoods of much of their potential influence.
I don't think a Zandalari farmer or fisherman necessarily has it any worse than your average Horde or Alliance farmer. Exile doesn't seem reserved for Casteless either. If anything, it seems like a way of doing away with troublemakers or political opponents among the castes.
Also, outside of the ruling family, the castes don't seem like it's hereditary. The creches are made up of a bunch of kids- including orphans. If a child in the Empire shows the talent, they get put into the appropriate caste.
I think a better comparison- to use a pop culture reference- would be the Prequel Jedi.
Not being a Jedi isn't a bad thing in and of itself. Being a Jedi is kind of a thing everyone wants for their children, though. If you have a kid and they shows a real strong affinity for the Force (Loa) then the Republic/Jedi (Zandalari Empire)recruits them and places them into the Order (a caste) where they serve as Jedi (priests/warriors/sages/advisors). Jedi (caste members) have a lot of privileges and leeway when dealing with others. At the same time, they're servants of the force (the loa) and the Republic (Empire) as opposed to rulers. Actual legislation and rule is still left up to the hereditary families.
Now, in our own world's history, priesthoods have usually been able to maintain independent power by being the sole interpreters/executioners of the will of supernatural. However, this is less of an issue with the Zandalari because their deities are present in the corporeal world and can interact with/empower select mortals and speak for themselves. Harder to get away with stuff when the boss is looking over your shoulder and speaking for themselves. This can rob individual members of the priesthoods of much of their potential influence.
11/05/2018 10:32 AMPosted by Jakkø
...And now I'm imagining a teenage Zandalari all like "Oh crap! I'm late for Loa School!" And rushes out of her house with a steak in her mouth.
Better not bump into anyone. Or maybe that's how Zandalari marriages are arranged.
11/03/2018 08:34 AMPosted by OpherialI suspect the reason there's a lot of Casteless children as well (at the time) is the abundance of reasons to be exiled to Vol'dun. Upset the wrong person? Vol'dun. Speak out of line? Vol'dun. Commit an actual crime? Well yeah, Vol'dun.
Leaves a lot of offspring just wandering around without a stable family.
I'm wondering if you mean, here, that if a child's parents didn't get exiled to Vol'dun, the child would automatically end up in whatever caste their parents belong to, thus remaining with their biological family.
I don't know if that would be the most "efficient" way, for lack of a better word, that the Zandalari could set this up -- since it would overlook children in the drudge cast who have an affinity for the Loa, or in the priest caste who would be more talented warriors -- but I could see it happening anyway, with being orphaned (either by the death or exile of the parents) being seen by the society as having been "broken off" from your line and in need of being assigned to one.