Commonworkers : Menicean slaves

You, who bear the blood of someone who betrayed everything we believe in, shall not be able to walk among us like other Gérouns.
You are the proof that sin still exists within our ranks, and that it may never be entirely purged away.
You received the name "Gan," mark of your stigma and your belonging to the Commonworkers.
You will now sweat and build what will serve the future of our species as you stole someones before.

— Part of the recital of servitude

Commonworkers are found in every corner of Ménicéa. They are the bottom of the society, Gérouns who lost their right to be free forever. Even if their treatment is very close to slavery, meniceans refuse this comparison. Commonworkers are outlaws that wash their sins by working for the public good.

Origins

Just like many Menicean values, Commonworkers were introduced by Nélandra. She wanted to avoid murder as much as possible when it came to law and outlaws. The only sin passable of death is killing someone. If the murderer is judged insane, he will be executed. If not, he and his lineage will become commonworkers.
Legends state that Nélandra came up with this concept after days of hesitation when she had to judge a few traitors of the Aigleran Clan. She wanted to stay true to her believing and therefore decided to make them work for her clan. After the war was over, she decided to include this idea in the Menicean laws.
It quickly became a vital part of the Menicean society as it was rising from the end of the Clan Wars. Whether some may recognize it or not, Commonworkers played and still play an essential part in building the magnificent cities Gérouns have nowadays.

First sentences

Around -24

Part of the Menicean population

~8%

Becoming a commonworker

At first, only murderers or violent people could become Commonworkers. Shortly after the reconstruction of Menicea began, booming cities and nobles needed a lot of workforces that sometimes they could not afford. That's when temporary commonworkers sentences first came out. Burglars and people who would not pay taxes were introduced into commonworkers.
Every person that committed what's considered a "light sin" can become a commonworker for 1 to 9 months. They will most likely work in cities, as janitors or workmen. Light sins are things like small thefts, larcenies, aggression, insulting a noble or not paying taxes.
Contraband, associating with people from the outlaw world, unintentional murder or being a Revoked can end up with a sentence of commonwork for some years depending on the gravity of the case.
Intentional murder, insulting Nélandra or the royal family is the worse case. People who did of such sins end up commonworkers for their whole lives, and any children born after the sentence will be a Commonworker aswell. Their entire lineage is now meant to serve the public good.

Commonworker types & society

When Nélandra created the temporary contracts, she had to review the loss of rights that these would have. In fact, temporary commonworkers would be back in society after their labor, so they deserved more dignity than their permanent counterparts.
This later led to the creation of different worker statutes with defined rights.

Serjio Glen Ganio, noble for three generations, acquired a born commonworker, the young Jaspa Gan Trifis, 4 years old, for fifty golden claws without the high taxes paid in cash. Glen Ganio is promised on honor that the child is in good health and will grow able to work indoors.
This promise was made by Flins Glen Darfin that ensures the truth of everything stated above. Glen Darfin certifies that he was paid the same day the child was handed over, will not ask for further payment of any kind and that the child no longer belongs to him.
Written in Irisport, at Glen Darfin's house on Nélandra's day.

— A sales contract

Permanent commonworkers

Permanent commonworkers have a really tough life. They lost their right to travel, their value as a Géroun, every possible benefit they could have. They are basically slaves, that doesn't even have a place in religion. For them to be recognized, the particle "Gan" is added between their first and last names, just like "Glen" is for nobles.
When a whole lineage falls into the commonwork, they're often sent to be a part of a noble's household. While this may seem comfortable, the fact that those slaves are out of religion implies a lot of things. First, they don't have to reach happiness anymore in every possible way, which of course means sexual relationships and children.
Having only one permanent commonworker parent is enough for a child to be recognized as one as well. This gave place to countless stories of nobles who would abuse their workers, illegitimate children who were often given away to another noble house to keep rumors away.
While this is a hard truth in many houses, some are still compassionate and treat their workers with respect. They see their household as a part of their family and make sure they look beautiful and healthy to provide a right image of themselves.
The last important thing with permanent workers is that killing one is not as bad as killing a free Géroun. They are judged the same way as if they would have stolen an object.

Slave mentality

As commonworkers a real part of the Menicean culture, it is seen by everyone as a normal and natural thing for their children to be like their parents. This led as generations went by to the birth of an extreme servile mentality.
As far as born commonworkers remember, they were told that their only purpose in life was to make others happy. They exist so they can free their masters of the pain of everyday housework and hardships. In the past, some masters tried to release some of their commonworkers as a sign of rebellion against this tradition, but the slaves came back by themselves. They just didn't know how to survive on their own, as they never even thought about it.

Temporary commonworkers

Temporary workers may have more rights than permanents, but they have a worse image in society. In fact, they are criminals that will be released after their work. To the law, they committed serious crimes but not enough to lose their Géroun rights. Their sanction is considered to be a final warning.
They still have to reach happiness one day, and only lose their right to freedom.