Castes of the Varang People

Favored of the Maiden of Journeys

Months of Air
Most of those born during the months of Air, the Favored of the Maiden of Journeys, have a fated caste associated with travel or communication in some way. These castes are given "sky burials," their corpses left on tall platforms in the open sky for carrion-eaters and the weather to see to. Some examples include:

• Sudanta (The Musician): The Sudanta, whose caste name means "Mask-Wearers," are actors every one, from simple street performers and puppeteers to the most highly-lauded heroes of the stages of the highly-cultured Varang City-States. A few rakish sorts among the Sudanta are also successful con-men and -women, giving members of this caste a slightly dangerous air - one which only adds to their romantic mystique, rather than detracting from it.
• Balekana (The Peacock): The "Fine-Fingers" are craftsmen of fine, detailed materials. Jewelers, embroiderers, calligraphers and many others whose handiworks require attention to detail and fine dexterity to accomplish the task hail from the Balekana. The Balekana organize themselves into "families" of specialty who are fierce rivals with other Balekana clans who produce the same crafts as they do.
• Thara (The Mask): These are the spy caste of the Varang, and their lot is a strange one. From childhood, it is accepted that a Thara child may simply be stolen away at some point by others of his caste - most of those who do the kidnapping are at least considerate enough to leave a sign on the parents' doors to let them know that they have gone to fulfill their destiny. The Thara are tattooed with caste marks capable of shifting to any other marking. Most of the brotherhoods of Thara work for the Pandits, although some of them have gone rogue and work for any capable of hiring them, or simply spy for themselves and sell the information they acquire to the highest bidders.
• Pazuveda (The Corpse): This caste of healers, whose name means "Wandering Healers," are exactly that - nomads who wander from place to place, favoring locations that rarely see other kinds of healers in their midst. Slave encampments, ranches and farms and similar locations all welcome those who bear the Pazuveda mark with open arms, exchanging goods and sometimes money for the healing arts the wanderer brings with him.
• Cayati (The Sword): When a child is born while Mercury alights in the constellation of the Sword, she is one of the "Loud-Weepers." Though they have well-earned reputations as professional mourners, many of them are also messengers, bringing news of deaths. As such, they are culturally off-limits to bandits and the like out of simple respect: the day may come when the Cayati bears news of someone even the bandit may care for. Additionally, the Cayati are also well-known as fiercesome martial artists, practicing their skills to keep from being hindered in their work. Some are employed by the city-states to publicly announce rosters of deaths on a daily basis, or deliver grim news, while others do work for hire.

Favored of the Maiden of Serenity

Months of Wood
Most of those born during the months of Wood, the Favored of the Maiden of Serenity, have a fated caste associated with caretaking, nurturing and socialization in some way. These castes are set within the roots of trees and allowed to decompose and be eaten by carrion-eaters, fertilizing the plantlife around them. Some examples include:

• Vanika (The Gull): Though their name, "Shakers of Bowls" implies a caste of beggars, many of the Vanika have found new ways to innovate on their caste's traditional role of being given money without truly working. These Vanika act as financiers, finding promising new projects that require funding, and then locating investors looking for something promising to invest in - the grateful parties of course make sure to provide the Vanika with suitable compensation, which must traditionally be taken in a bowl.
• Ilava (The Mast): The farmers and gardeners, the Ilava - whose name means "Soil-Tillers" - specialize in growing food. In the upper echelons of society, this means often running or even owning massive farming operations (such farms are not run solely by those of this caste, however - there are several other castes who find work in such places). But even the poor Ilava can find a patch of unwanted land somewhere and make it grow. They are renowned for their toughness and green thumbs.
• Gosvamin (The Messenger): "Hoof-Watchers" are ranchers, cattlemen and breeders. They specialize in raising animals in a contained environment, be it a ranch, a single barn or even a makeshift kennel. Even the poorest of the Gosvamin can find a way to set up a chicken coop somewhere, even if it's on someone else's land in return for half the eggs produced, for instance.
• Ajapa (The Ship's Wheel): Unlike the Gosvamin, the "Goat-Keepers" do not use buildings and single places to raise and tend their animals. They are herdsmen at heart - sometimes based out of a single (often rural) area and ranging around it, or sometimes even gathering into small packs of Ajapa and wandering the wilderness with their combined herds. They have reputations as savages and wildmen, and children who are of apprenticing age marked with the symbol of the Ajapa can be claimed by any Ajapa who sees the youngster.
• Zhulaa (The Lovers): The "Pleasure-Merchants" are prostitutes. Once a year, when the Maiden of Serenity first enters the sign of the Lovers, the Zhulaa Houses of a city-state hold a great festival-fair. Young Zhulaa of apprenticing age are the guests of this fair, and they work very hard to impress the different Houses. Those who are deemed hopeless by all the Houses are often in for a difficult life, working the streets and often falling under the control of rough men.
• Ajukaa (The Musician): Called the "Courtly Flowers," the Ajukaa are known as "artful people." They specialize in artistic endeavors, intended to entertain and titillate. They are explicitly not prostitutes, though they often become the chosen mistresses or concubines of the very rich who can afford to keep them in the style they have earned. The eldest and most talented women of the Ajukaa are called "Matron," and usually named for a flower. The Ajukaa they gather around themselves, training them in their techniques, are collectively their "Gardens." Thus, in polite society, one might speak of the gathering of Ajukaa who specialize in perfumery and flowing silken dances as the "Garden of Roses," allowing everyone to know what you are talking about without being obvious about it. Hopeless Ajukaa, or those who do not have the connections to meet a Matron often spend their lives as cheap, bawdy entertainers in pleasure-houses and caravanserais.
• Suuda (The Peacock): These "Renderers of Flesh" are craftsmen and makers who specialize in working with animals. Though the obvious arts, such as tanning and leatherworking, come immediately to mind, other professions are considered Suuda, such as cooks (who specialize in meat dishes) and scrimshawyers. Suuda do not organize themselves on any scale larger than the apprentice-master bond, and those who cannot impress another Suuda to teach them a lore may end up dragging off animals found dead on city streets, or rendering down animals' bones and hooves into glue.
• Thakeli (The Mask): The "Secret-Keepers" are confessors and confidants: the people to whom everyone tell their secrets. Secret-Keepers are organized into lineages of training, each with their own rituals of absolution, oaths of secrecy and methods of operation. Many spy brotherhoods employ Thakeli as their central archivists, and various branches of government employ them for the same reason. Other lineages of Thakeli set up simple parlors or salons where their clients may visit them. The best of the Thakeli are those who know not only how to listen, but who can also dispense wise advice. Thakeli are taught methods of remaining outside of awareness - they know much, and it is best to stay out of the light, for fear of tempting those who might want to know the Secret-Keeper's secrets.
• Vardhaki (The Sorcerer): Architects of excellent reputation, the greatest of the Vardhaki live up to their name, which means "Dragon Keepers," for they are taught the techniques of geomancy. Every city-state has a Temple of the Dragons, where young Vardhaki are taught how to design and oversee the construction of buildings, and its highest initiates learn the secret thaumaturgies. No Vardhaki is ever turned away from the temple for training, though only those of promising talent ever make it beyond the lowest degrees of initiation.
• Sadhiveda (The Corpse): The "Illness-Tenders" care for those who are diseased, poisoned or otherwise face long-term health difficulties. Sadhiveda are the acknowledged master herbalists in Varang (though they do not grow the herbs themselves). It is the traditions of the Sadhiveda to settle down into a single community and tend the residents of that place for their whole lives. Though all Sadhiveda follow the teachings of Sadhiguru, the legendary first of their caste, who was so wise that the plants whispered to him their healing properties, there are discernible variances in how his teachings are interpreted. All Sadhiveda who complete their apprenticeship copy down the Emerald Sutras, the holy writ of the caste, and master Sadhiguru's teachings.
• Kundazin (The Crow): The "Love-Seekers" are a strange and varied lot. Their caste duties involve the aiding of others in finding love. Those without many prospects basically become pimps (although some of the talented Kundazin go to work for the Zhulaa Houses as internal bureaucrats). Others are favored neighborhood busy-bodies who seem to know everyone, finding good in-caste matches for those of marriage age who have not found someone suitable yet. Still others are rakish figures who charge great sums of money to arrange everything for romantic encounters of all stripes - the perfect wedding and honeymoon to follow, the rekindling of a marriage grown stale or even two people whose indiscretions might hurt their respective families, but who cannot live without at least one night of passion together. The Kundazin have no organized training or apprenticeships - they must learn to survive by their wits, and make opportunities for themselves.
• Anakti (The Sword): The "Cold-Handed" are well-named, for they deal with the dead. In fact, by tradition, they must wear gloves if they are at risk of touching or being touched by the living. They are those who prepare the dead for their funerals, arranging the specialized burial styles of the various castes and making corpses look beautiful and life-like.

Favored of the Maiden of Battles

Months of Fire
Most of those born during the months of Fire, the Favored of the Maiden of Battles, have a fated caste associated with conflict, violence or other competition in some way. These castes are cremated when they die. Some examples include:

• Baharata (The Gull): Mercenaries, sell-swords and thugs-for-hire of all kinds, the "Blade-Sellers" are those who hire themselves out for violent purposes. There is no standard of training among these sorts. Some mercenary companies make a point of keeping informants hired in the areas they frequent to keep an eye out for Baharata of apprenticeship age to keep their ranks swelled, putting them through a grueling apprenticeship training. For the most part, however, the Baharata find their own way in the world - a rare few are even known to find creative spins on their caste's destiny. One legendary Baharata was notorious for his complete inability to fight himself, but he was very skilled at manipulating social situations and provoking those around him to violence for the right price.
• Absat (The Peacock): The "Makers in Iron" are, despite their names, not limited to working with iron. They work with all manner of metals, from iron and steel to bronze, brass and finesmithing (although jewelry-craft is not in the purview of this caste). The Absat hold to master-apprentice relationships of nearly-religious fervor and respect, though they do not organize beyond that level. They do have certain traditions, however: no Absat of apprentice age may be turned down by a master who may take on an apprentice, no matter how incompetent he seems. No master may take on more than five apprentices at once. After a year, a master may find a new master for an apprentice if he still finds him incapable, but doing so reflects on the master rather than the apprentice. The child is considered raw steel, and the quality of the smith is at stake in the teaching.
• Patakika (The Banner): The "Horizon-Callers" specialize in communications over long-distances. They work in both civic and military contexts primarily, although some have been known to go into business for themselves. Signal tower operators, battlefield signalers, messengers and even the owners of carrier pigeon and messenger hawk services all have come from this caste.
• Savasaa (The Quiver): Called "Running Arrows," the Savasaa are skirmishers and ranged combat specialists. The majority of them are apprenticed into the armies of the city-states they are born into, but a few find their way into other kinds of employment. Savasaa are quick-footed and lightly armored, and most of them are masters of the various ranged weapons the Varang armies bring to bear - including long-distance seize weaponry.
• Gramikavi (The Shield): The name of this caste is romantic, but also idealistic: "War Seers." They are tacticians and coordinators of battle, and their ability to guide troops can seem like magic sometimes. Gramikavi of apprenticeship age can always find their way into working beside older Gramikavi as aides-de-camp and in similar functions that allow them to see what is expected. Those who truly shine are given recommendations. An apprentice Gramikavi is expected to switch who he works for every six months, and once an apprentice has acquired three recommendations, he may take those letters to the Citadel of Eternity, a war-university that stands alone in the Varang Plains where Gramikavi learn their craft. Those apprentices who never acquire the recommendations to attend the Citadel's training often remains assistants to those who have all their lives, or come to work in much less-prestigious capacities for local law enforcement and the like.
• Sainika (The Spear): "Battle-Hands" are soldiers and police officers, though some also find employment in private security or mercenary companies. The Sainika are, at the end of the day, those who accomplish violence on behalf of others. There have been many methods of young Sainika to acquire training of various qualities over the generations, but none have come out on top - Sainika find a way to learn to fight, or they fail to excel at their profession, and often end up trying to look like tough guys at taverns and festivals to keep rowdy crowds in check.
• Zirora (The Mask): Renowned for their ability to remain out of sight until they are needed, the "Fallen Blossoms" are bodyguards. They provide security to important individuals - or anyone who can pay, truthfully. Across Varangia, there are small temples, all noteworthy for their cherry trees, where young Zirora go to learn their art. And an art it is - the Zirora caste are keepers of the Fallen Blossom Style Terrestrial martial art, though only a small percentage ever learn the disciplines necessary to awaken their Essence to permit them to learn it. Enough of them do, however, to give the caste a reputation of stoic, disciplined defenders across the South.
• Prativeda (The Corpse): The "Wound-Binders" are healers who focus on cuts, bruises, sprains and other more immediate traumas. They find just as much need for their services as Sadhiveda; in fact, it's not uncommon for a Prativeda to open a healing pavilion with a Sadhiveda. Most Prativeda, however, find most of their work in official capacities as combat medics and the like. They inevitably learn their craft through informal apprenticeships, simply following another of their caste around, watching and asking questions when tolerated, until their craft is learned. Most Prativeda seek out multiple such role models throughout their years of learning.

Favored of the Maiden of Secrets

Months of Water
Most of those born during the months of Water, the Favored of the Maiden of Secrets, have a fated caste associated with secrets, lore or professional concerns in some way. Members of these castes are wrapped with weights and buried by submersion in water, either at sea or in one of the great rivers. Some examples include:

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Favored of the Maiden of Endings

Months of Earth
Most of those born during the months of Earth, the Favored of the Maiden of Endings, have a fated caste associated with death, final stages and completion of cycles in some way. Members of these castes are buried, and usually marked with stone or clay memorial plinths. Some examples include:

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