Hraathkhildr Society and Status
by OneEyedZealSocial interactions among the Hraathkhild trolls are arbitrary and chaotic, in their own unique fashion. In principle, the Hraathkhildr are intensely hierarchical, with any troll of higher status able to command trolls of lower status without question. In practice, though, what determines ‘status’ and pecking order is immensely nuanced, complex and ever-changing, with inputs including lineage, wealth, insight and prowess, reputation, notable accomplishments and transgressions, and more. The task at hand may also play a role–a master smith may have high status when dealing with metal ores or distribution of crafted tools, but rather less status when it comes to dealing with rampaging burrowworms. Most serious conversations between two Hraathkhildr begin with a series of statements and probing questions meant to ferret out which of them has, in fact, the higher status at the moment.
Even once established, a status relationship isn’t entirely one-sided. When a Hraathkhildr obeys an order and successfully executes a significant task, both the troll that accomplished the task and the troll that gave the order gain in status as a result. It’s not uncommon for high-status trolls to willingly submit to sensible orders given by a lower-status troll, to boost both trolls’ status and establish an obligation to be claimed later. Likewise, being ordered to do a task and then failing results in a loss of status for both trolls involved–and while a lower-status troll can’t refuse an order, they can object to it and dispute its intentions, and if the stated objection turns out to be germane to the task’s failure, the loss of status for the troll who gave the order is magnified. Wise Hraathkhilkdr either withdraw orders that are clearly unwanted, or else make careful arrangements to insure that the troll they’ve commanded can’t deliberately botch the task.