Servants
“They hear everything. They say nothing. And they survive by disappearing.”
DEFINITION
A Servant is a trained, household-bound commoner who directly serves a noble family, usually within their estate, court, or academy-related domain. They are one tier above peasants, but far below any titled class. Unlike peasants, they live close to luxury—but never partake in it.
They are the silent machinery of noble life, performing every task from cleaning bloodstains to dressing royalty for execution ceremonies.
TYPES OF SERVANTS
| Type | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Attendant | Dresses, grooms, and shadows a specific noble | Often privy to intimate secrets |
| Chambermaid / Butler | Maintains rooms, schedules, and privacy | The first to vanish if secrets leak |
| Kitchen Staff | Prepares food and drink; may also handle poisons under orders | Vulnerable to being framed |
| Stablehands / Groundskeepers | Manage horses, grounds, magical creatures | Often overlooked, best for sneaking |
| Body Servants | Assigned for bathing, intimacy, or punishment rituals | Sometimes magically bound to their masters |
| Academy Staff | Support noble students; lowest class among servants | Beaten or dismissed with no justification required |
CULTURE & LIFE
- Silence is survival. Speaking out is seen as betrayal.
- Loyalty is expected, not earned. Even abused servants are punished for disobedience.
- Abuse is routine. Physical discipline, magical punishments, and ritual humiliation are common in some houses.
- Intelligence is dangerous. A clever servant may be praised—or executed.
Some nobles test their servants with secrets just to see if they’ll spread them.
EXAMPLES FROM YOUR STORY
Lioren – Maid in the Viermont household
- Likely trained from childhood in etiquette, codewords, and noble manipulation.
- Could be a reluctant observer of Liliane's suffering… or a quiet loyalist to Gaius.
Erevan – Butler
- Cool, efficient, possibly a family retainer passed down generations.
- May have his own agenda—perhaps once loyal to Rein’s father, now hiding it.
Cassira – Planted maid/assassin
- A perfect example of how servants are used as weapons—a spy hidden in plain sight, bound to kill Rein.
RIGHTS & RISKS
Perks:
- Live within noble estates (shelter, regular food—rare among commoners)
- Occasionally gifted items or silver for service
- May be educated in etiquette, writing, and observation
- Can earn favour and rise to trusted retainer status
Risks:
- Cannot disobey without punishment
- Can be discarded, framed, or tortured at their master’s whim
- Forbidden to marry without permission in some households
- Magically branded in more controlling noble houses (especially Viermont)
NARRATIVE POTENTIAL
Servants are:
- The empire’s spies and witnesses—they see what no one is meant to.
- Secret rebels, informants, or assassins—perfect infiltrators for Rein’s schemes.
- Possible allies or enemies—a servant’s loyalty is earned with survival, not honour.
- Victims or manipulators—some cling to power by being more ruthless than their masters.
Rein could:
- Build a network of subservient spies
- Save or sacrifice a servant to gain Villainy Points
- Discover a servant rebellion brewing beneath the palace
SAYINGS ABOUT SERVANTS
- “The walls have ears. The ears have names.”
- “Never strike a servant too hard—you might wake the snake beneath their skin.”
- “They clean the blood, but never forget where it came from.”
- “If you want to kill a noble, start with their favourite maid.”
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