Slave

Written by Salen

Not a profession per se, but a working class job just the same,, slaves are popular in The Shards as the main means of both economy and entertainment. The orcs enslaved the lesser races centuries ago and now keep them to work the mines and farmland. To be a slave is a daily struggle and the outlook is always bleak. Eyes downcast and hope dulled to a mere dream or myth, the slaves go through their day just trying to earn their food and strive for the arena.

Life Expectancy

The life of a slave is not a long and prosperous one. They do not live to old age or retire as slaves. One can expect to be killed either in the arena or die from exhaustion in the field one day. Slaves rarely live to be over 45 if human, and elven and dwarven slaves have their life expectancy shortened drastically. Dwarves reach an average of 180 years, while the extremely long lived (and near immortal elves) see only 500 years on average.

Daily Life

A slaves daily life consists of repetition. Wake up, bathe, leave to work either the mines or fields, come back and rest until the night then try the arena for food. Fighting in the arena (non death) grants your pen extra food rations (what they get isn't enough for the 5 people) if you win, and the more you win the larger the rewards. Other rewards include library time, Outside time (non work), and even reprieve tickets (1 minor grievance forgiven without punishment). This is why the slaves do not live long lives as constant fighting and injury leave them open to diseases and sickness that can't be treated by the orc healers.

Perception

Purpose

The purpose of slavery was simple. Keep the orcs on top while they could. By enslaving the lesser races while they were vulnerable the orcs could thrive and become the dominant race. Slavery today runs the economy of this land of shattered islands. They mine the iron and coal to run the vehicles and power the ships, they farm the land for the food that every one eats, and they provide the entertainment for the hierarchy of the orcs.

Social Status

Slaves are viewed by the orcs as property and are bought and sold to the orc families for workers and maintenance around the houses of the normal folk.

History

Enslaved almost immediately after Star fall, the races tried to rebel and fight back against the orcs, yet they were over powered. The slaves rose up several times after that in the years to come, but everyone of them failed and was pushed down. The orcs found ways to tame each race, all except the humans, who continue to fight back to this day after centuries of enslavement.

Operations

Tools

They use whatever tools are provided to them for whatever task they are told to do.

Workplace

Either mines or farmland

Dangers & Hazards

Exhaustion, injury, or mine collapse. Daily life of a slave is perilous to say the least.

Alternative Names

Cattle

Type

Forced Labour

Demand

Slavery is pretty much a household thing in The Shards, with every orc house having at least one.

Related Locations

• Slave Towers

Mixed Slaves

While there are an abundance of mixed races in the slave towers, there are not a lot of mixed friendships among them. The dwarves resent the humans and elves for not breaking like they did, the elves hate the dwarves for breaking and the humans for stirring up trouble, and the humans hate both of them for refuseing to fight back. That being said, there have been instances where some elf befriends a human or dwarf, yet the occasion is rare.