Consorts, Concubines and "Marriage" among the Mahdya

"Marriage" as we in the north know it, that is the lifelong exclusive commitment of two people to each other for the duration of their life, is foreign to the Mahdya tribes. When scholars speak about "marriage" in the context of the Mahdya, they are in fact referring relationships categorized more properly in as either carye (roughly meaning "unequal consort") or eşitş (roughly meaning "near equal wife"). Formal relationships are never entirely equal among the Mahdya. Obsessed as they are with status. The 'superior' partner in a given match is always established. Monogamy, while common among the lower orders, is ridiculed among anyone of status or wealth. In fact, among the asalet (the Mahdya nobility) one's number of carye and eşitş is a matter of great interest. The greater the number of spouses, the higher one's status. Indeed, this competition for status through spouses consumes a great deal of the nobility's attention.
carye
First let us deal with the carye. Who are they? What rights and duties do they have? What status do they confer on their Üstüns (Superior spouse)?
The carye are recruited from three primary sources: war captives, low ranking Mahdya, and from among the poorest free non-Mahdya subject people. According to Mahdya law those taken captive in war are subject to the complete power of their captors for the length of one year and one day. During this time the captor must make a description about the future of the captive. Normally a captive is either ransomed back to their family, executed, or made a carye. If made a carye they are then subject to their Üstüns power until such a time as released; but they are also afforded certain rights. Rights which we will examine shortly.
Non-Mahdya who marry Mahdya are always considered Carye. Among the non-Mahdya free poor becoming a Carye is often seen as a way out of poverty for those fortunate enough to enjoy some measure of beauty and charm. It is seen as more honorable than prostitution. Depending on the wealth of the Üstüns one would also expect a significant improvement in one's living conditions. Some Carye become such not out of desperation, but out of love. These are normally wealthy merchants or nobility from non-Mahdya peoples, who frequently associate with high ranking asalet; the rare marriage between low ranking Mahdya and non-Mahdya do happen, but not often. In such cases it is normal for the Carye to be treated as an eşitş. However, their legal status remains that of a Carye. They lack the right of divorce, cannot administer their own property without their Üstüns permission, and have no legal right to care for any children born of the union. For these reasons marriage between Mahdya and non-Mahdya is normally conducted only between high ranking Mahdya and low ranking non-Mahdya.
Not all Carye is equal in their rights and responsibilities. How the relationship was established, the Carye's wealth and status, the wealth and status of the Üstüns and a number of other factors all determine the status of the Carye, and thus how they might be expect to be treated, and what is expected of them.
Generally a Carye of the lowest status (war captives, poor non-Mahdya) are only a rung about slavery. Indeed, the Evonian Republic considers these people as servi (slaves). These people are expected to serve their spouse in all things. Their duties can wary wildly depending on the wealth of the spouse. If the spouse is of modest means, having perhaps only one or two Carye and a eşitş, then their duties might be very heavy indeed. They would be expected to work in the spouse's fields or business carrying out the dirtiest, heaviest, or most monotone tasks. They would be expected to carry the water, prepare meals, care for the children and clean the house, among innumerable other tasks. In a more wealthy household of perhaps a dozen Carye and eşitş a single carye might share these heavy duties with servants and other carye. They are then often expected to carry out a smaller number of tasks to a greater degree of excellence. It is also common for carye in high status homes to excel in at least one form of entertainment for their Üstüns' pleasure; Dancing, singing, musical instruments, reading, etc. In the very greatest households, where there might be hundreds, or even thousands of carye and eşitş along with even greater number of servants, these entertainment duties consume nearly all the carye's duties. They might still be expected to carry out a number of duties at the behest of other spouses of higher status.
The more prestigious the Carye, the lesser their duties are expected to be. However, they are always supposed to carry out some manner of work or entertainment each day in service to their Üstüns.
In general a Carye is expected to enjoy a lifestyle one "rung" above that which they enjoyed before their marriage. A Carye from the peasantry would expect to eat and be clothed in the same manner of fabric as Freemen farmers (that is, farmers who own their own land)". A Carye from among the Freemen would expect to live much like a city-merchant, while a city merchant might expect to be afforded the luxuries of the lower nobility. Carye however should never be treated as equal to any eşitş or the Üstüns themself. This stretches to meals. The carye do not eat with the Üstüns, but rather with the servants; or in larger households with the other carye. An eşitş however, should always eat at the Üstüns table, and be clothed in fabrics of equal value and dignity to that of their spouse. An ability to provide the expected luxuries on a spouse is a matter of ridicule and disdain. An Üstüns will go to very great length to avoid such loss of face. It is less shameful to "divorce" a spouse than to be unable to provide for them. However, a divorced spouse would be expected to receive some compensation from the Üstüns. For carye this is normally a lump sum of money, or some minor property. For eşitş this should customarily be a lifelong stipend allowing them to live according to their pre-marital status. 
A union with a Carye, is normally not for life. It is common for the Üstüns to divorce Carye, frequently. Either when they grow old, or when the Üstüns grow tired of them. 
In the game of status between the asalet a carye is generally of lesser value than an eşitş. Individual exceptions to this rule exist. Usually when the carye is either a non-Mahdya of considerable status, or when they are renowned for some particular talent or trait. In general three carye is considered to confer the same status as a single eşitş.

Eşitş
An eşitş is very close to our northern idea of the husband or wife. It is normally a union for life with someone of near equal status. However, unlike in the north where all marriages are formally between equal (although this is rarely true in reality), a eşitş is always considered an inferior to their spouse, the Üstüns. However, this inferiority is restrained by strict laws and even stricter norms. An Üstüns seen to mistreat their eşitş would loose much status, and might be brought to trial, especially if the abuse was physical. Eşitş retain the right ot divorce, to care for their own children, and can administer their property independent of their spouse. If an Eşitş divorces their Üstüns it is the Üstüns who suffers a loss of status, as the fault is always assumed to lie with the superior partner. Upon divorce an Eşitş may always demand a criminal investigation against their formal partner.
Depending on the wealth of the Eşitş and the Üstüns the lifestyle of the Eşitş varies wildly. In general the Eşitş will expect to enjoy a lifestyle equal to that of their spouse. They are also expected to share in the administration of the common household, to participate in their spouse's business, and to advice them in most decisions. To neglect an Eşitş by not involving them in such matters may be grounds for divorce, and would certainly be the cause of much gossip and loss of status. For these reasons most asalet, even the very wealthiest, keep only a handful of Eşitş. It is common for The Shahanshah himself to only have a dozen Eşitş, and for all others to maintain fewer.