Yeofolk of Dawn
Technically, anyone in Dawn who has not passed a Test of Mettle is a yeoman, whether they are a farmer, a merchant or the daughter of an Earl.
Aspiration
Most yeomen in Dawn absolutely accept that if they petitioned a noble house for a Test of Mettle they would be offered it, and if they passed it they would be embraced by the noble house as a fellow noble. Many are put off by the danger inherent in the tests, or lack confidence that they are glorious enough to join a noble house, but that belief in the system helps tie the nation together.
Many yeomen spend their entire lives looking for a chance to be ennobled. The more glorious the deeds they perform before they attempt their Test of Mettle, the reasoning goes, the better the chance that the noble house will set them an achievable task.
Ennobling Retainers
It is a common practice in Dawn to ennoble Seneschals and trusted retainers on their deathbeds, to offer them a simple Test of Mettle so that they might be rewarded for their service.
Less commonly, but perhaps more effectively, an Earl might offer to adopt the child of a yeoman couple in return for some service. A well known tale that exists in numerous versions through the Nation tells of an Earl who is protected from their enemies by a virtuous old couple and returns some time later to offer to bring the elder yeomen into their house. The wise yeomen instead ask the Earl to adopt their eldest child, claiming that the Test of Mettle and all it entails would be wasted on those whose lives are already half-over, wheras their child will be able to make the most of the opportunity to seek glory. More than one noble has gained a fresh start in life due to incidents like these.
Leaving Dawn
The Imperial Constitution extends certain basic rights and responsibilities to all citizens, whether they are nobles or yeomen. While most of the political power lies in the hands of the nobles, yeomen are not property. They are free to move around as their inclination and resources allow them.
Some yeomen leave Dawn permanently. Sometimes these are people who have failed their Test of Mettle for one reason or another. Sometimes they have political reasons to wish to leave the Nation, and an occasional few simply want to start a new life far away from everything they know. Many of these self-exiled yeomen end up in The Marches, while others are drawn to the prosperity of one of the cities of The League, especially Holberg.
Playing a Yeoman
The assumption is that most Dawnish characters will be nobles, or at least aspiring nobles. Characters who don't have at least some interest in becoming nobles either find a role for themselves within the social structure of Dawn, or leave the Nation and start new lives elsewhere.
Yeomen have some social mobility, and may prosper in the Bourse or even the Synod, but they will almost certainly never become Generals or Senators. Those yeomen who do well in the arenas of power that are accessible to them will probably find themselves being approached by noble houses and offered a Test of Mettle - after all, if nobles are glorious then it makes sense that they want to make glorious people into nobles.
Roles for Yeomen
The most common roles for Dawnish Yeomen might include:
- A Knight-errant - a a noble-born character who has not passed their Test of Mettle, but is either actively engaged on it, or is seeking glory prior to making an approach to a noble house.
- A seneschal - a skilled professional who oversees elements of the day-to-day running of a noble house.
- An advocate - an aide to the Dawnish senators who makes a study of history and bureacuracy.
- A Retainer - a character who serves as the personal aide to a specific noble.
- A member of a Weaver Cabal - a ritual magician who is part of a structure that exists outside normal social rules in Dawn.