'Imperial Culture' (non-canonista)

[jason taylor]

Cantors:

This job in the present evolution of Ganglic refers not just to leaders of religious liturgy but for narrators of traditional literature or poetry.

Cantors are the centerpiece of a performance called a "reading" or a "telling". They usually use writing as a prompt but some do so from memory. Viewers usually have e readers which download from the mainframe of the building where the reading takes place as an accompaniment. When the reading is original language subtitles are given. Readings often take place in rooms built for sonic effect. As the name implies they usually chant as opposed to singers who use a more balladic form, and often have small bands using traditional instruments like a Caledonian Pipes or a Sword World Hardanger. Cantors often use music too but in a different way, for instance alternating between a chanting phase and an instrumental. Readings are sometimes national events and broadcast across the country. Naturally nobles like this not only for their personal aesthetic taste but for the public relations it gives. There are however some cantors who are subversive, and in more repressive places perform underground, often in performances assisted by a professional cyber-warfare expert to make sure the performance gets through without it's source being discovered.

A Cantor might have Bardic Voice, Claim to Hospitality (in areas where his calling is a high prestige one), Patron, CoH Entertainers, Duty (provide entertainment that pleases employer), etc.

[jason taylor]

Corvee Ransom:

This was originally a Vilani custom. In ancient times and to this day there have been known to been a custom of lending labor from one Li to another for various contracts. This system began to be used for such matters, as ransoming captives and hostages, or redeeming inter-group offenses.

This custom is considered indentured labor rather than thralldom, unlike the similar and perhaps related Sword World "chains and gallows" (which actually is judicial thralldom). A worker paying his ransom has the same rights as any other worker including basic concern for safety and comfort. Mistreating such a worker is considered dishonorable-as the master already accepted his labor as payment it is considered being foresworn. However there are as might be guessed sometimes very high limits before reaching the point that might be considered "mistreatment". Not least because the indenture may be for some rather rough work, like building an outpost on a hostile world, whether or not there is extra mistreatment.

The custom spread to many peoples including the Aslan who regularly use it in payment of debts of honor-usually in tasks like soldiering in the debtholding clan's army, or manning it's merchant or naval fleet.

In a game this might be a vehicle for explaining why the PCs are going adventuring instead of staying at home like sensible people: they were loaned in a negotiation, or they are paying off the ransom of a captive, or a debt of honor.