I can't claim to understand the visceral drives that push the Sura towards the debauched use of violence and sex, but I do find it interesting when two seeming disparate drives come together. In this case, the result was a system that encourages hedonism, while maintaining the strict divisions of class and status that are unavoidable in Incaendian society as a whole.
— Eiryen Nesaleen, "Civilizations: Understanding Society through History"
 

Overview

The remarkable and renown siv hari suum, Asmodeus Zanedine. He has been the favorite of the Imperator Samael for nearly 200 years.

As long as Incaendium has existed - and in particular since the Caelestise-Sura War, the culture of the Realm has revolved around a few staples. The most obvious and consistent of these is simply "power-based hierarchy..." but there is another and nearly as significant pillar to Incaendian society as well.

That is, self-indulgence, often leaning into hedonism.

Perhaps the hedonistic bent of Incaendian Society has been created by its fixation on violence and power - when one may die any moment, enjoyment seems a small demand. But, when you mix strict hierarchy and the want for pleasure, you come away with a pot of simmering complications.

In such a system, it's hardly surprising that the Hari Suum came to be.

Defining the Position

Hari Suum are a subset of Dahe-Suum - indeed, they are perhaps the most famous of the dahe-suum, mostly due to the social prominence of siv hari suum, the highest class within the position. This can easily fool people into thinking this is necessarily a pleasant or glamorous position, but of course it is not so simple as that.

Gabriel's Notebook

Okay hear me out. You may be skeptical, Journal, but I'm being honest here. When I got here, I had no idea where I was. I read the webnovel, yes, but they didn't use all this weird language, okay? The people reading it didn't know Zozun so they didn't really use it other than the Dominus thing which isn't even really Zozun, it's Latin! I mean Common! (I think.)

Anyway, once I started meeting the actual people here, obviously I understood - they were in the novel, I knew what they were doing with their spare time (Samael, mostly).

The thing is, that's pretty terrifying. Uh, I'm not saying Samael is some kind of monster (unless you count demons as monsters, but are they even demons really? They seem kind of like anime demons, which is to say not really demons they just have horns but nevermind that my point IS...) he's scary but he's never done anything awful to me. He hasn't even made me go in there and uh, "fulfill the contract." (which might be weird in itself? Is that weird?)

But he could and I haven't really worked out how to feel about that.

Gabriel

Hari Suum are defined as social and/or sexual (usually and) companions contracted to a specific person. The specifics are determined by the parties involved, as with all Binding Contracts.

It's probably no surprise that hari suum contracts are among the most likely to feature exploitation, so it is imperative that anyone becoming one consider their terms very carefully and leverage their assets - which is to say whatever it is that gained the interest of the potential contractee.

This is not a stigmatized position. Incaendian culture places no judgment on sexual professions. For higher ranked hari suum, who fulfil a role somewhere between courtesan and concubine, this can (depending on the arrangement and the contractee's identity) go beyond a simple lack of stigma into social darling status.

That said, the reputation of the contractee can strongly affect the reputaiton of the contracted, and one can make or break their reputation even within a category rather easily. For Siv hari suum or Kytalisuum, their outward facing social actions or demonstrations of skill can affect both the perception of their contractee and their own status within society and the Household.

It is important to remember that the defining aspect of the position is the binding contract. This means that the hari suum cannot simply leave the way a typical lover could, but it also means that the contractee must adhere to the rules they agreed to in terms of standard of living, treatment, or whatever else the contracted demands. In this sense it protects both parties. That said, it also tends to prevent true emotional connection as the relationship remains transactional.

 

Typical Contractual Stipulations

While negotiating specifics and closing loopholes is left to the parties, there are a few things that one could consider default to a hari suum contract. This includes the contractee's responsibility to provide a home, reasonable living conditions, as well as circumstances in which the contract can be dissolved.

 

Variants

While there are infinite variations on the hari suum position possible, as this is essentially a position defined by the specific relationship between contractee and contracted, there are four broad categories into which most will tend to fall.

Terminology Corner

Vavine
"Chosen." This is not an official position - rather it is what a contractee often calls their favorite hari suum (if they have more than one), or to indicate favor/as an endearment.
Siv Hari Suum
A high status hari suum.
Kytalisuum
A hari suum with a high level of skill in some field.
Maci Hari (Suum)
The lowest status hari suum.
Hari (Suum) Tunwa
The general term for whatever housing is provided for the contracted by the contractee. This could be a single nearly bare room or a lavish palace wing, who knows.
Hari Suum Basa
A group of hari suum contracted to the same person.
Note!

"Siv" is an elevating term - it implies that whatever it is modifying is especially good, strong, well-regarded, etc. Maci is the opposite - it is a depressing term, lowering the regard for whatever it is attached to. Kytalis means, simply, one who is skilled.

Siv Hari Suum

Sometimes called simply "Sivs" in the right context. The most favored and high status hari suum. They will generally have something particularly attractive about them that makes them so highly regarded. This could be sheer physical attractiveness, a good family, a sparkling personality, etc.

When a contractee takes on a siv, they are expected to educate the uneducated and provide living arrangements as comfortable and luxurious as their own means can afford.

This is because sivs are not simply sexual partners - they are also considered to be a public representative of their ti-timon. Thus, they are expected to be able to effectively host and entertain during gatherings. They may also be sent as representatives if their ti-timon cannot answer a summon or attend an event.

The Sivs of a powerful person will often be among the true darlings of the social scene in any given place.

Kytalisuum

Kytalisuum are highly skilled in one area or another that is unrelated to their personal position with the contractee. This will often lead to their assuming additional responsibilities and positions or even titles.

It is most typical for these positions to involve soft skills such as diplomacy, or creative/educational soft skills such as musicianship, etc. They may end up doing that job directly, or they may be called upon to tutor others (or lead a team of others) who are doing that job.

It is less common, but not unheard of, for those with physical/technical skills to enter such a contract.

The Pseudo-Spouse

It isn't unheard of for a longterm hari suum to be treated, or even regarded by the contractee, as something of a spouse rather than someone with contractual obligations.

This can work out in some cases... but it is extremely dangerous for both parties... because the relationship, however warm, is still ultimately contractual. The contractee can easily mistake obligation for affection... and the hari suum can easily forget that they are still restricted in their movement and choices. And really, where does a lover go when they are mistreated... if they have no option to leave?

Of course a hari suum can always be mistreated if their contract allows for it, but the additional emotional weight of a true romance can make a difficult situation even more difficult.

Therefore, while the nature of the relationship tends to create emotional bonding, it is strongly advised that the contract be dissolved before true partnership can be attempted.

Standard

A standard hari suum has a fairly comfortable life (level of comfort adjusted for standards of their contractee's means), neither attracting attention nor being especially well known or socially prominent (at least as a hari suum).

They will generally be treated well but not with reverence or an unusual level of respect.

Of course, the vast majority of hari suum fall into this category.

Maci Hari Suum

Typically referred to as "Maci Hari," which literally means "low/diminished sex." That just about sums up the life of a Maci Hari.

Exploited, poorly regarded and generally badly done by, they are all too often the children of powerless families with little means to improve their situation. They may have negotiated payments to their families as part of their contracts, or they may made the decision for themselves, but one does not typically end up in this position if they felt they had other options.

Maci Hari are very common with merchants and nobles of lower means as they often cannot afford the privileges demanded by even standard Hari Suum. That said, there are certainly wealthy people who are so selfish, so cheap or so sadistic as to take this option as well.