There are many different professions in Borra, some of which are presented here as archetypes - examples to use as a guide. Feel free to imagine characters that aren't described here, though!
As your character progresses through the chapters of character creation, you'll have opportunities to move between professions (or your character may strive to create opportunities), by meeting people, or simply being lucky - or unlucky. During the four chapters of character generation you can expect to experience life from several different places within society.
There are no classes, as such. If you're interested in playing as a Murian Ascetic, for example, you needn't start as one, you could instead join the order during the chapters of character development. It is possible to start out where you want to be, but if you choose this, there's a cost, usually to your Destiny.
When you develop your character's initial story, make sure that your trait priorities are chosen to match.
A character starting out as a middle-aged woodcutter, poor, but satisfied with his life, might have traits as follows:
In the past hundred years, the province of Borra has suffered greatly, and many people have chosen or been forced to turn to unsavoury ways of earning their bread. There are no requirements for starting out in these professions.
The vast majority of the citizens of Borra work its lands or its industries. Wealth and Ties must be sixth or better in your trait priorities to start out in these professions.
In times of hardship, there are those who turn their backs on their bretheren serve the rich, and as a result, eke out a slightly better living for themselves. Wealth and Ties must be fifth or better in your trait priorities to start out in these professions.
Under the Baron's fickle rule, the wealthier classes enjoy a precarious niche in society, necessary for its continuation, but expendable if they overstep their position. Wealth and Ties must be fourth or better in your trait priorities to start out in these professions.
Near the peak of Borran society are the aristocrats - the noble-born families who once ruled the land from their mountain-top palaces. Famine and war have brought them down in the world, literally, for their extravagent estates are far too expensive to maintain in these impoverished times. Still, even in times of strife, money and connections open doors that mere talent cannot. Wealth and ties must be third or better in your trait priorities to start out as a noble.
The specialized archetypes are those that are particular to Borra. Participation in these professions is achievable, but to start out in one requires a contribution of destiny. Note that this Destiny is used up as part of obtaining this as a starting profession.
The members of the various monastic orders of Mur served many roles in centuries gone by - missionaries, military officers, theological scholars, saints, administrators, even rulers. Now, the Borran temple, impoverished and cut off from Torin, is a fraction of its former power. Its resources have dwindled, and it can only support a handful of knights. Nevertheless, joining the order grants access to one of the greatest warrior traditions of the empire. Destiny must be third or better in your trait priorities to start out in a monastic order of Mur.
For a time after their invasion of the coastlands, the Seree clung to the old ways learned from the Rumeans, though these antiquated superstitions were formally abandoned upon the establishment of the Temple. Nevertheless, the ancient necromantic rituals survived, passed down quietly from generation to generation. Destiny must be third or better in your trait priorities to start out as a Seree Drusu.
The harsh conditions of the northlands, where survival was a constant struggle, had a profound influence on Mirese theology. Those who mastered its peculiar philosophies were said to be able to bargain with fate, and watched over the welfare of their people. As very few pure Mirese families live in Borra, Destiny must be second or better in your trait priorities to start out as a Mirese Choumetic.
Originating in Rielle, the Cult of the White Palm was an ascetic order of healers who worshipped Mur as a god of fertility under the name Ebraxa. Their unique powers made them indispensible to those who could afford their services, despite the vivid discoloration their work produced (hence the name of their order). This preserved them from the crusading zeal of the early Temple, and the cult was officially recognized as an Order of the Temple of Mur during the formation of the Dolus empire. Destiny and Wealth must be fourth or better in your trait priorities to start out in the cult.
To start out in a secret tradition as an initial profession, Destiny must be second or better in your trait priorities.
Before there was a Temple, Mur's bidding was carried out by his chosen, the few that could hear his whispers and receive his blessings. Of course, Mur's chosen vessel is the Temple, and those outside of its orders who claim to hear his voice directly are guilty of the most viscious blasphemy. Their extraordinary feats of prowess and the summoning of demon spirits only further proof of their corruption.
The cult of radiance was at the peak of its power near the end of the first century, when some unfortunate similarities between its rituals and fey enchantments (as well as some ill-advised edicts on the part of its spiritual leaders) caused it to be associated with fairy worship, and its practitioners were burned en masse. Over the centuries, Radiance has emerged periodically, mainly in rural areas, before being stamped out.
Among the techniques the Mirese learned from the trolls of Lizorl were the secrets of working quickstone, the art of seamless and nearly indescructible masonry. The black stone cultists were reputed for their peerless sculpture and masonry. Their art is practiced only in secret now, because the profane invocations it requires are antithetical to Murian values.
The cult of the Phoenix died out with the Dolus lords, and does not survive in Borra except in the heraldry of the Baron, and is included here for completeness.
