Post by The Jenn on Aug 6, 2007 6:28:36 GMT -5
Cards
The leading society of the world is based on a strictly tiered hierarchy reminiscent of a deck of cards. Your rank determines your place and lot in life, from what jobs you're allowed to hold to who is allowed control over your life.
Ace: Aces are seen as the degenerates of society. They are beneath even the meanest Club and some parents, upon receiving one, are so horrified that they kill them at once. Aces will never possess magical abilities, never be able to rise above their rank, and never be able to attain a Human form. Aces are not respected by anyone and even some members of other Courts, such as the Cats and Jacks, feel that it is beneath them to speak to an Ace as an individual. Aces do the most repugnant jobs and are frowned upon by all. Most Aces tend not to recognize Suits, as an Ace is an Ace and everyone treats them like dirt, but occasionally an Ace of Hearts or Diamons will attempt to lord that small status over other Aces.
Aces can only breed with other Aces, though an Ace can result from any breeding.
Two-Four: Twos, Threes, and Fours are seen as grunt workers in society, or the "lower class". If they are anything but Clubs the they are usually treated with pity and encouraged to move up in rank. They are capable of making friends and aren't seen as worthless, though a Two of Clubs' parents only consolation would be "At least he isn't an Ace..." Twos, Threes, and Fours aren't really distinguished from one another any can usually find jobs in the Courts as servants, cooks, or cleaners.
Five-Seven: Fives, Sixes, and Sevens are the most commonly found members of society and are seen as the "middle class". Since there are so many of them, they are seen as the "norm" and feel that there is nothing wrong with their lot in life if they remain where they are. They tend to be pleased with life and can get mediocre jobs as higher-end servants in the Courts, living their lives comfortably in the average end of society. Higher-ups may still look down on them, but they can all feel justified in gossiping about that moronic snot at dinner or with the neighbors.
Eight-Nine: Eights and Nines are seen as the well-to-do "middle class" citizens and feel that they are on pretty much the same level as their neighboring Fives, Sixes, and Sevens. Some Nines tend to get ambitious, seeing as the "upper class" of Ten is so tantalizingly close to them. They are sometimes hired as secretaries and other non-labor-intensive jobs within the Courts; many also have the freedom to become heads of trading businesses or popular entertainers.
Ten: Tens are the bottom of the "upper class", not a bad thing when society idolizes the rich and powerful; once you hit Ten, however, the thought is always that life could be better. The face cards look down upon Tens for not being high enough to enter the true nobility and the lower numbers snub them for having more magical ability and Court status than they do. Though they are still mostly accepted by the lower numbers, the face cards tend to treat Tens as personal servants, which can feel demeaning. Tens desire nothing more than to move up into the actual world of the upper crust.
Jack: Most Jacks are content to be Jacks; they get a good amount of power with little to no responsibility along with it. They are generally required in Court to deliver important messages and to carry out easy tasks that the higher-ups don't want to bother with. The work is easy, the living is good, and the responsibilities can be foisted on the Tens below them. Some Jacks, however, especially traditionalists, refuse to remain in the rank because of the title. The title, "Jack", is also shared by one of the Other Courts, the Jack's Court, of rabbits. Some Jacks find that sharing this title with rabbits is demeaning and will move up to King as soon as possible to avoid association with the stigma.
King: Kings are usually delighted to remain Kings. They are of the second highest ranking and not many people attempt to kill or misplace them. King is a title of office, much like Queen and Jack, and both males and females can be deemed Kings. They must be attached to a Queen in order to be an actual part of a Court. Kings are usually nicknamed "consorts" because of how closely they follow the Queen and how hard they work to earn their favor. While it is true that the King's infatuation with the current Queen of their following can lead to intimate relationships and that most Kings like to present themselves in a sensual fashion, many are just advisers and friends.
Queen: Queens are of the highest rank available and have nearly everything they could dream of, with more power than any others in their Suit. There can be more than one Queen to a Court, but there is only one The Queen, who is the current presiding ruler. The Queen does not have quite as much work to do, as the responsibility can be shoved off onto the other Queens beneath them, though many like to supply a "personal" touch to the goings-on. A Queen has power, wealth, and the pick of the litter as far as mates are concerned. As with Kings and Jacks, "Queen" is simply the title of the office, and males as well as females can occupy the post. Queens are a bit more paranoid than the rest of the Court, however, due to there only being a limited number of Queens allowed to rule at one time. Murder is certainly a recognized method of moving up in rank.
Joker: Jokers are almost an enigma in the society of the Cards; it was once believed that they didn’t even exist! Unlike other Cards, who have their number and suit emblazoned over their left breast, Jokers have no mark, just smooth skin or fur. Their ability, however, is astounding. Jokers can take on the form and appearance (including voice) of any other Card, regardless of Suit, Rank, Form or gender. The only difference between them and the actual Card at that point is the lack of the individual's powers and memories. Jokers are incredibly rare and cannot change their rank, and other Cards cannot become Jokers. In that respect they are like Aces, though Jokers can mate with anything excluding outside Courts. Jokers are tenacious, mysterious, and loyal. Having one in a Court is certainly something to give the ruler a sense of power, at least in terms of political intrigue.
Some characters fall outside of normal ranking rules. Usually they are members of either the Jack's Court, the Cats' Court, or the Underground Court.
Jack's Court
The Court of the Rabbits is rumored to be located in the Tulgey Wood.
Jack: Jacks are the highest rank attainable in the Jack's Court. The rank is only obtainable by male Leverets who gain an anthromorphic form and desire both power and magic. Jack rabbits have complete power over the others in their Court, though there can only be two per Court. Jacks tend to be loners, as well as snide, talented, and highly intelligent. They hate the Cards' species and will usually attempt to inflict some sort of horror on the Card society if they have the ability, even when it calls for forming uneasy truces with each other to do so.
Jacks can be malignant charmers and ruthless foes. Most Jacks are horrifically sexist and feel that Does and female Leverets are more possessions than people. They will often "lose" or "break" one when they are through with her. Unlike Cards, when a Leveret becomes a Jack, he loses his ability to return to his animal form and only has his bipedal, anthromorphic form. He will also usually wear clothing, as it is rare for a Jack to go about naked. Rabbits can never be Human.
Doe: Does are usually demure and sweet little female Leverets who want to follow their favorite Jack wherever he leads them. Some, though, become angry and bitter at their treatment and wish to gain power in order to get away from the society that has trapped them. Does have slight magical ability but they can never advance out of their Animal form; their magic can increase with age, though. Does are seen as little more than breeding stock by the males of the Jack's Court and most resent this. Some female Leverets will not become Does because only Does are fertile.
Leveret: Leverets are male and female and of the lowest rank in the Jack's Court. They can only have an Animal form unless they are male and rise in rank to Jack. They are treated fairly well in the Court, as the rabbits tend to look out for their own, more so than most Cards. Female Leverets are looked down upon by the Jacks, but most male Leverets don’t have any problem with them and treat them equally until a status change occurs. Leverets are clever and quick; they possess a little magic (better than basic Card powers) and are fond of "disappearing" when chased by foes.
The Court of Cats
A recognized Court is made up entirely of Cats (different from the feline Cards and unable to interbreed with them) and located outside of the Villa en Miir.
Queen: Queens are the rulers of the Cats and, unlike the Card society, the title does apply strictly to females. Queens, like the rest of the Cat Court, are the same size as actual house cats, as opposed to the Card society, where the felines are about as large as tigers. They are intelligent and the Card society, as well as the Jack's Court, grudgingly admits to them being people and not beasts. The Queens hold sway over their own Courts. There can be five Queens per Court, and they tend not to meddle in the affairs of the Jacks and Cards. Not much is known about what it is that they do, however. The Queens have power over a Court of mysteries.
Tom: Toms are second in power to the Queens in the Court of Cats. They must be male and they tend to be rowdy, sensual, and charming. As with the rest of the Cats, it is unknown whether they possess magical powers. Insofar, none have been recognized. Toms have the power to become ambassadors and run most of the Court, and are not permanently mated to any one female. They dance attention on the Queen as is required of them, but they may have any female they wish, so long as consent is given by the other party.
Cheshire:Cheshire Cats are the only ones who can gain a Bipedal form. Like the Jacks, when they gain their bipedal form, they lose their Animal one for good. Cheshire Cats are rumored to be a bit "touched in the head" and possibly powerful. Most Cards and Jacks dismiss the idea of a powerful Cheshire Cat as a children's tale, but nothing has ever occurred in recorded history to prove or disprove the theory. The faces of Cheshire Cats are tighter than most and their lips are often pulled back into grins as a relaxed position, though they can close their mouths if they so desire.
Fela: Felas are the general gathering of Cats in the Cat Court. They don't appear to have any spectacular powers or even note-worthy intelligence, aside from their abilities to speak and reason as individuals. They are generally good-natured and playful, but can be devious if their Queens or Toms will them to be so. Both males and females can be Felas.
The Underground Court
Not many know of the Underground Court and it moves its location constantly so as to remain undetectable. Its members are the outcasts of society, and they intend to stay that way.
Founder: Founders are usually the creatures with enough brains to lead a move, a theft, a riot, or a rescue. They are creative, hopeful, and strong, if not of body then of mind or soul. They lead whoever decides to follow them and usually join up with other Founders in order to help another of their kind or an unfortunate of any species. They do not discriminate or care what species you are; they will help if you are in need.
Follower: Followers are just that: followers of the Founders and people who value their opinions. Followers are usually not ambitious enough to lead a party, but are great at giving ideas or assistance, or are just looking for a place to hide out and be accepted. Most followers are outcasts of the Cards society, runaway Does and Leverets, and a few rouge Cheshires. The rest of the Court is composed of Mythological creatures who are hunted by many in the Card society for sport.
The leading society of the world is based on a strictly tiered hierarchy reminiscent of a deck of cards. Your rank determines your place and lot in life, from what jobs you're allowed to hold to who is allowed control over your life.
Ace: Aces are seen as the degenerates of society. They are beneath even the meanest Club and some parents, upon receiving one, are so horrified that they kill them at once. Aces will never possess magical abilities, never be able to rise above their rank, and never be able to attain a Human form. Aces are not respected by anyone and even some members of other Courts, such as the Cats and Jacks, feel that it is beneath them to speak to an Ace as an individual. Aces do the most repugnant jobs and are frowned upon by all. Most Aces tend not to recognize Suits, as an Ace is an Ace and everyone treats them like dirt, but occasionally an Ace of Hearts or Diamons will attempt to lord that small status over other Aces.
Aces can only breed with other Aces, though an Ace can result from any breeding.
Two-Four: Twos, Threes, and Fours are seen as grunt workers in society, or the "lower class". If they are anything but Clubs the they are usually treated with pity and encouraged to move up in rank. They are capable of making friends and aren't seen as worthless, though a Two of Clubs' parents only consolation would be "At least he isn't an Ace..." Twos, Threes, and Fours aren't really distinguished from one another any can usually find jobs in the Courts as servants, cooks, or cleaners.
Five-Seven: Fives, Sixes, and Sevens are the most commonly found members of society and are seen as the "middle class". Since there are so many of them, they are seen as the "norm" and feel that there is nothing wrong with their lot in life if they remain where they are. They tend to be pleased with life and can get mediocre jobs as higher-end servants in the Courts, living their lives comfortably in the average end of society. Higher-ups may still look down on them, but they can all feel justified in gossiping about that moronic snot at dinner or with the neighbors.
Eight-Nine: Eights and Nines are seen as the well-to-do "middle class" citizens and feel that they are on pretty much the same level as their neighboring Fives, Sixes, and Sevens. Some Nines tend to get ambitious, seeing as the "upper class" of Ten is so tantalizingly close to them. They are sometimes hired as secretaries and other non-labor-intensive jobs within the Courts; many also have the freedom to become heads of trading businesses or popular entertainers.
Ten: Tens are the bottom of the "upper class", not a bad thing when society idolizes the rich and powerful; once you hit Ten, however, the thought is always that life could be better. The face cards look down upon Tens for not being high enough to enter the true nobility and the lower numbers snub them for having more magical ability and Court status than they do. Though they are still mostly accepted by the lower numbers, the face cards tend to treat Tens as personal servants, which can feel demeaning. Tens desire nothing more than to move up into the actual world of the upper crust.
Jack: Most Jacks are content to be Jacks; they get a good amount of power with little to no responsibility along with it. They are generally required in Court to deliver important messages and to carry out easy tasks that the higher-ups don't want to bother with. The work is easy, the living is good, and the responsibilities can be foisted on the Tens below them. Some Jacks, however, especially traditionalists, refuse to remain in the rank because of the title. The title, "Jack", is also shared by one of the Other Courts, the Jack's Court, of rabbits. Some Jacks find that sharing this title with rabbits is demeaning and will move up to King as soon as possible to avoid association with the stigma.
King: Kings are usually delighted to remain Kings. They are of the second highest ranking and not many people attempt to kill or misplace them. King is a title of office, much like Queen and Jack, and both males and females can be deemed Kings. They must be attached to a Queen in order to be an actual part of a Court. Kings are usually nicknamed "consorts" because of how closely they follow the Queen and how hard they work to earn their favor. While it is true that the King's infatuation with the current Queen of their following can lead to intimate relationships and that most Kings like to present themselves in a sensual fashion, many are just advisers and friends.
Queen: Queens are of the highest rank available and have nearly everything they could dream of, with more power than any others in their Suit. There can be more than one Queen to a Court, but there is only one The Queen, who is the current presiding ruler. The Queen does not have quite as much work to do, as the responsibility can be shoved off onto the other Queens beneath them, though many like to supply a "personal" touch to the goings-on. A Queen has power, wealth, and the pick of the litter as far as mates are concerned. As with Kings and Jacks, "Queen" is simply the title of the office, and males as well as females can occupy the post. Queens are a bit more paranoid than the rest of the Court, however, due to there only being a limited number of Queens allowed to rule at one time. Murder is certainly a recognized method of moving up in rank.
Joker: Jokers are almost an enigma in the society of the Cards; it was once believed that they didn’t even exist! Unlike other Cards, who have their number and suit emblazoned over their left breast, Jokers have no mark, just smooth skin or fur. Their ability, however, is astounding. Jokers can take on the form and appearance (including voice) of any other Card, regardless of Suit, Rank, Form or gender. The only difference between them and the actual Card at that point is the lack of the individual's powers and memories. Jokers are incredibly rare and cannot change their rank, and other Cards cannot become Jokers. In that respect they are like Aces, though Jokers can mate with anything excluding outside Courts. Jokers are tenacious, mysterious, and loyal. Having one in a Court is certainly something to give the ruler a sense of power, at least in terms of political intrigue.
Some characters fall outside of normal ranking rules. Usually they are members of either the Jack's Court, the Cats' Court, or the Underground Court.
Jack's Court
The Court of the Rabbits is rumored to be located in the Tulgey Wood.
Jack: Jacks are the highest rank attainable in the Jack's Court. The rank is only obtainable by male Leverets who gain an anthromorphic form and desire both power and magic. Jack rabbits have complete power over the others in their Court, though there can only be two per Court. Jacks tend to be loners, as well as snide, talented, and highly intelligent. They hate the Cards' species and will usually attempt to inflict some sort of horror on the Card society if they have the ability, even when it calls for forming uneasy truces with each other to do so.
Jacks can be malignant charmers and ruthless foes. Most Jacks are horrifically sexist and feel that Does and female Leverets are more possessions than people. They will often "lose" or "break" one when they are through with her. Unlike Cards, when a Leveret becomes a Jack, he loses his ability to return to his animal form and only has his bipedal, anthromorphic form. He will also usually wear clothing, as it is rare for a Jack to go about naked. Rabbits can never be Human.
Doe: Does are usually demure and sweet little female Leverets who want to follow their favorite Jack wherever he leads them. Some, though, become angry and bitter at their treatment and wish to gain power in order to get away from the society that has trapped them. Does have slight magical ability but they can never advance out of their Animal form; their magic can increase with age, though. Does are seen as little more than breeding stock by the males of the Jack's Court and most resent this. Some female Leverets will not become Does because only Does are fertile.
Leveret: Leverets are male and female and of the lowest rank in the Jack's Court. They can only have an Animal form unless they are male and rise in rank to Jack. They are treated fairly well in the Court, as the rabbits tend to look out for their own, more so than most Cards. Female Leverets are looked down upon by the Jacks, but most male Leverets don’t have any problem with them and treat them equally until a status change occurs. Leverets are clever and quick; they possess a little magic (better than basic Card powers) and are fond of "disappearing" when chased by foes.
The Court of Cats
A recognized Court is made up entirely of Cats (different from the feline Cards and unable to interbreed with them) and located outside of the Villa en Miir.
Queen: Queens are the rulers of the Cats and, unlike the Card society, the title does apply strictly to females. Queens, like the rest of the Cat Court, are the same size as actual house cats, as opposed to the Card society, where the felines are about as large as tigers. They are intelligent and the Card society, as well as the Jack's Court, grudgingly admits to them being people and not beasts. The Queens hold sway over their own Courts. There can be five Queens per Court, and they tend not to meddle in the affairs of the Jacks and Cards. Not much is known about what it is that they do, however. The Queens have power over a Court of mysteries.
Tom: Toms are second in power to the Queens in the Court of Cats. They must be male and they tend to be rowdy, sensual, and charming. As with the rest of the Cats, it is unknown whether they possess magical powers. Insofar, none have been recognized. Toms have the power to become ambassadors and run most of the Court, and are not permanently mated to any one female. They dance attention on the Queen as is required of them, but they may have any female they wish, so long as consent is given by the other party.
Cheshire:Cheshire Cats are the only ones who can gain a Bipedal form. Like the Jacks, when they gain their bipedal form, they lose their Animal one for good. Cheshire Cats are rumored to be a bit "touched in the head" and possibly powerful. Most Cards and Jacks dismiss the idea of a powerful Cheshire Cat as a children's tale, but nothing has ever occurred in recorded history to prove or disprove the theory. The faces of Cheshire Cats are tighter than most and their lips are often pulled back into grins as a relaxed position, though they can close their mouths if they so desire.
Fela: Felas are the general gathering of Cats in the Cat Court. They don't appear to have any spectacular powers or even note-worthy intelligence, aside from their abilities to speak and reason as individuals. They are generally good-natured and playful, but can be devious if their Queens or Toms will them to be so. Both males and females can be Felas.
The Underground Court
Not many know of the Underground Court and it moves its location constantly so as to remain undetectable. Its members are the outcasts of society, and they intend to stay that way.
Founder: Founders are usually the creatures with enough brains to lead a move, a theft, a riot, or a rescue. They are creative, hopeful, and strong, if not of body then of mind or soul. They lead whoever decides to follow them and usually join up with other Founders in order to help another of their kind or an unfortunate of any species. They do not discriminate or care what species you are; they will help if you are in need.
Follower: Followers are just that: followers of the Founders and people who value their opinions. Followers are usually not ambitious enough to lead a party, but are great at giving ideas or assistance, or are just looking for a place to hide out and be accepted. Most followers are outcasts of the Cards society, runaway Does and Leverets, and a few rouge Cheshires. The rest of the Court is composed of Mythological creatures who are hunted by many in the Card society for sport.
